My Acting Life

06/01/11

I haven’t really done as much on camera acting in my career as I would have liked, perhaps because in the past, I pursued a music career with much more drive. So, rather than say I’ve neglected to commit to the discipline of learning to becoming an actor, I’ll say that my efforts were placed elsewhere, but that my interest in this performing art never ceased. I have a unique voice and a unique look, and I’m definitely not shy in front of a camera. So, I started by acting in some independent films while living in New York, just to get my feet wet, and those were fantastic learning experiences for me. Living in LA, I have many more opportunities to audition for roles I believe I’m right for, as I continue to strive to establish myself in this fascinating field.

My film acting career started in 2002, when I was cast in a starring role in the film production of “Folklore”, directed by Michael Nasutovitz.

In 2003, I was cast as a lead in the film”The Experience”, directed by C.J. Etterle, a story about the life of Edgar Allan Poe before, during, and after the years “The Raven” was written. I played Edgar’s boss at his part time job.

In 2004, I was cast as a lead in the film “Heaven and Hell”, also directed by C.J. Etterle, in which I played a fading porn star, who’s looking for an opportunity to revive and re-establish his career.

In 2005, I played a featured role in the Troma Films Production of “Poutrygeist: The Night Of The Chicken Dead”, directed by B-Movie legend Lloyd Kaufman. This film screened at the Cannes Film Festival in 2007, and in Hollywood in 2008. From 2007 to the present, I’ve also appeared as an extra in many films and TV productions.

06/03/11

I attended an acting class last night taught by actress Dee Wallace…very informative. Her acting methods are based on high energy to set up your character. “Never question impulse” is one her big proponents. “Make the choice, then the decision…be joy, be authentic, be love.”  The most important quote of the evening: “You can’t create something by recreating something you don’t want.”

This was time well spent, I must say. I look forward to our next class together.

06/30/11

I had a great time this evening reading an audition script for Robert David Hall of C.S.I. during a class I attended in Glendale, CA.  An excellent  learning experience from a wonderful actor and teacher. He has so much to offer and it was certainly a pleasure working with him. I wish him all the best, and hope that our paths cross again in the very near future.

01/18/12

I had a very enjoyable evening in a workshop hosted by Russ Woody, the renowned writer and producer. This workshop (Actors helping Actors) meets bi-monthly with different special guests each workshop. It’s moderated by Katy Kurtzman, a noted Hollywood actress. There certainly were pearls of wisdom to be gathered at this meeting, as Russ is a hotbed of knowledge and experience. We had a great workout with a new script he presented to us, and so many talented actors showed up – a real plus.

02/06/12

We started filming today for four episodes of “LA City Works”, a pilot airing on Time Warner Cable starting in June 2012. The subject matter of this series deals with the awareness of water, air, and land pollution in and around the Los Angeles area, and that the commitment to be a part of the solution is everyone’s responsibility; the goal of environmental cleanliness can only be reached if everyone does their part. I’ve got a few different roles in this series, and it should be a fun time, but with a very important message.

02/09/12

I started a four week acting course studying with actor/producer Steven Wishnoff, and the class today was very strong and motivating. I look forward to the next time.

02/16/12

Another very inspiring class with Steven Wishnoff…I’m progressing in slow, steady steps and learning quite a bit about who I am as an actor.

02/23/12

Week three with Steven Wishnoff…my toughest class yet. One more class to get myself where I need to be.

02/24/12

We continued shooting today for “LA City Works”, and will resume early next week. Lots of fun, and working with some very skilled actors. The crew is great too…pros that really stand out.

02/28/12

Our filming day started at 7:00am today aboard the La Mer, a 142-ton, 82 ft-long, fiberglass-hulled, twin-engine vessel docked in Marina Del Ray, Ca. The boat went out into the shallower waters up the coast off Malibu and Santa Monica, as we shot more footage for the LA City Works series. Some members succumbed to seasickness, which is common. Thankfully, I was able to retain all of my cookies for the duration of the ride. Great experience and nice weather for most of the day; we finished at approximately 4:00pm. In the early evening, I attended my last workshop class with Steven Wishnoff, and what a dynamic and energetic experience THAT was! In this workshop, I have grown so much as an actor in four short weeks, and I’m very excited about what the future holds for me, as my journey continues.

03/09/12

Since all of my scenes have finished shooting on the “LA City Works” series, at least for now, I’ll be filming scenes this entire weekend in Redondo, California, for a movie entitled “The Frog and the Snake”. It’ll probably wrap late Sunday afternoon or early evening, and I’ll be meeting some industry people around mid week.