Watch my new short film

I starred in The Cure, directed by Sidney Diongzon. To see it go to my Myspace page. As of right now it is posted in the first comment space. The link to my myspace is over there in the links section --> and labeled "Personal Myspace"

With love from the lobby of the Hampton Inn in Scottsburg, Indiana -

Joe

Christmas in the Midwest

This New Year's Eve Debbie and I will celebrate our 12th Wedding Anniversary. I'd put this last year toward the top of the list to be sure. It is hard to believe that the last time we were "home for Christmas" was before we were married. After twelve straight Las Vegas/So-Cal Holiday Seasons we are flying east tomorrow morning to be with Deb's family in Indiana.

We did all of our Christmas celebrating today since we have to leave for LAX before 8:00 in the morning. Today was a very casual day. The kids got a Nintendo GameCube, which is about five years behind the times but they think it is the pinnacle of technology. I was able to usher Deb into the 2000's with her first i-pod. But mainly today was about doing very little together.

I'm looking forward to a week of rest, family, and dietary freedom...followed by a month of (hopefully) work and weight loss :)

Merry Christmas. Here's to the celebrating the unpredictable, unimaginable, irrepeateble birth of the most rebellious, counter-cultural, optimistic conspiracist the world has ever seen.

I got sick.

Tuesday night Eli came down with a sore throat. I followed suit an hour later. We both were in bed for two days and went to see the doctor together on Thursday. He said that a lot of people were getting this virus that knocks you out for four or five days. This is day four and I am feeling a little better. Eli seems to be ahead of me in the healing process as he is already terrorizing his brother.

I felt terrible but was able to fulfill my commitment at Lifelines last night. Luckily (I guess) I haven't have any auditions or work since Tuesday. I was scheduled to work The Ultimate Poker show on Friday and a film called Space Reserved today and tomorrow, but both postponed the shoots until January. I do have an audition tomorrow for an indie film...things will start to shut down next week for the rest of the year though.

Peace -

Christmas Card

In my ongoing effort to save you from paper cuts (and myself from postage) and in the spirit of the season...I'm happy to electronically present the family in matching shirts. Happy Holidays.

Things are Improv-ing

More and more I am realizing that my Improv background helps me out in tinsel town more than anything else. I have finally started to get a little connected with the casting directors and producers who focus a lot on improvisational shows. Thursday I am auditioning for the first time for Reno 911. It's an improvised show on Comedy Central. I'm excited for it.

Later the same day I have a general interview over at NBC regarding a series regular role in an improvised pilot that they said was "Punk'd meets Wedding Crashers." The show is produced by Ashton Kutcher and Jason Greenberg who do Punk'd, which I have auditioned for about five times in the last year. I've had a few series regular auditions at a network, but never a "general meeting." I'll be interested to see what it involves.

I also have a callback for a Chevy commercial tomorrow. It's been really busy and hectic since Thanksgiving for me. Today was the first day that I actually had some "free" time which I spent working on Hitting the Nuts and Lifelines.

We are having several house guests over the next few weeks...Mom and Dad are coming for a few days this weekend which should be nice.

Tis the season afterall - sunny and 80 degrees today in LA. Ho. Ho. Ho.

"I hate living in LA just like everyone else, but I make the best of it because I am virtually unemployable anywhere else in the nation" -a quote as best as I can remember it from Matthew Perry on Studio 60 last night. It made me laugh.

Blink.

I cannot overemphasize how quickly the weeks go by. It's eerie. People tell me that it is because I am getting older. I'm not sure if that makes sense or not to me. I think it has something to do with my life having no definitive pattern and living in LA/Orange County. This week Monday and Tuesday were very busy with work and auditions. (The Ultimate Poker taping took ten hours on Monday alone.) By the time I took a breath it was Wednesday. Tomorrow is Friday and I feel like this week hasn't even started yet.

Ah well. It's probably all in my head. We will be going to Indiana for a week from Christmas to New Years. I'm looking forward to slowing down...though I know myself well enough to know that I will grew restless of resting come day four or five. January promises the beginning of pilot season and the finalizing of fund-raising for my film. Those weeks should crawl by...

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving awaits. Over all, a pretty nice holiday when done correctly: friends/family, football, no dietary restrictions and the annual viewing of National Lampoon's Christmas Vacations. I'm looking forward to it.

Monday is a very full day of auditions. I'm reading for a guest starring role in the CBS show Numbers in the morning. Then off to HBO for an audition and finally a callback for an AMEX commercial. Any one of those three would be a nice little holiday gift for the Boyd family budget.

The Ultimate Poker Challenge show is supposed to start next week too, but I haven't been given the day yet. I'm still on hold for the soap "The Heiress" as well. It shoots down in San Diego sometime before Christmas. So, yeah. Things are still going on the acting front. Even with all of that, I spend the bulk of my time working on producing Hitting the Nuts. We could have some big news to officially report next week regarding some of the cast.

I'm off to attempt to do nothing for four or five days. Hopefully I can stick to that plan.

Today: Pretty Much a Waste

Pretty much these days I am trying to balance three jobs (not counting the whole parenting and husbanding professions.)

Those three jobs would be acting, producing and the part-time work that I do for The Crossing. For a while the producing and acting felt like one in the same, but as both progress I am starting to realize that managing my time and my schedule becomes even more important. I did not have an audition today so my plan was to spend the day working on several things for the film as well as my lesson for Lifelines tomorrow night. That's a solid eight hour work day. The problem with my plan came when my agent called and told me to get to Santa Monica asap for a straight to callback Office Depot commercial audition. Somebody messed up in the planning of the commercial because you never get called an hour before the audition...and it shoots in two days, which is a very fast turn-around. I should have been suspicious early on.

The audition was a complete embarrasment. Not on my end, because I never got to actually audition. I drove for one hour and sat in the waiting room for over two hours waiting to get in. Everyone in the room (and there were lots of us) grew more and more impatient. Finally, the casting director just came out and sent most of us home. This violates about a dozen SAG rules, so maybe I'll get some fat penalty check in the mail next month...but it was a complete waste of time. Then Los Angeles conspired against me and it took me another three hours to get home in rush hour traffic. Now it's 9:43 and I didn't get to do anything I was supposed to do today.

All that, and to appease my lovely wife Grey's Anatomy is our number one priority Tivo show (her favorite) and The Office (my favorite) is our number two. The geniuses at NBC decided to run them head to head tonight so Tivo killed The Office gang in favor or a bunch of brilliant Seattle surgeons all of whom aren't bright enough to have a normal social life.

Well, I think I'm done complaining now. I need to get to work anyway...

Booked UPC

I got an offer today to co-host The Ultimate Poker Challenge syndicated TV show. My agent is negotiating the terms on Monday, so I'll know more details then. Figured you would all like to know...I'll post more info as it comes in.

Most of my days this week were spent working on the Hitting the Nuts project. We are trying to finalize investors...lots of e-mails and phone calls, etc.

If you haven't checked out the website, it's linked below and to the right -->

The Website is up!

The website for "Hitting the Nuts", my first feature film as a producer, is now live. We are still fixing some minor things with it, but go ahead and take a look around. Garrett Curry, a buddy from college, designed the artwork. If you like it and need someone for yourself, let me know and I'll give you his info...I really like his stuff.

So...click over and look around: www.hittingthenuts.com

Network Improv Pilot

I just returned from an audition for a new NBC pilot as a series regular. I did pretty well considering...it was straight to producers and only about eight guys were there. I recognized most of them from the imrpov world-all really talented guys. I wish I had time in the room to do more. I was a solid B+. We'll see how it translates.

A few more auditions tomorrow as well. Pressing on...

We have lots of candy now

The boys made out tonight trick or treating-both in our neighborhood and with the Van Druffs. Eli counted 188 pieces of candy. (That's a very Eli thing to do.) Aidan made up a higher number without bothering to count his candy, which caused a fight between them. (That's a very Aidan thing to do.) Overall, a good time was had by all and we have roughly 350 more pieces of candy than we started the day with. This is great news for me because I am currently completely off of sugar and carbs.

I booked tomorrow...working on an industrial video for a company called Northrup Grummon. It is supposed to wrap by 5:00 and then I go immediately to an audition for a new series of short films/commercials for Mini Cooper. They are very fun spots. I'm waiting to hear back from a few film auditions that went well last week as well.

Things progress with "Hitting the Nuts" as well. I sent the first official offer out today to a "name" actor. I'm hoping that he comes on board. It's a great part for him and he seems somewhat interested.

Good Meeting

We had the Lifelines leadership community over this evening. It was very refreshing. We had two deaths in the community this weekend, so it was especially good to be together.

I hope to have lots of exciting news to report in the coming days about the film I am producing. Stay tuned for details.

Too Much Information?

Yesterday I threw up for the first time in twelve years. It wasn't fun. I was really out of practice. Today I pretty much feel better. Thanks for your concern.

From the set of "THE CURE"

A few pics from my work today on my friend Sidney's film...yeah, it'a a comedy.

Soap Operas, Pigeons and Mini Vans...

Well...tomorrow I had booked a principal role on a soap opera called The Heiress for the new MyNetworkTV channel. They called this morning to say that they are still using me but the shoot is postponed for a week or two. Turns out to be a good thing because I had an audition come in for CSI:NY tomorrow. That's a little odd, because my worst audition of the year was for that show a few months back. Maybe it wasn't as bad as I remember. I'm reading for a pigeon wrangler who gets murdered. So...yeah. It's hard to know exactly how to dress for a pigeon wrangler, but I think it involves a warm jacket.

I've agreed to play the lead in my friend Sidney's senior thesis film at Champan University. It will shoot Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Fun part.

The short film that I am producing (My Take) is going to shoot in November. I'm also working everyday on the feature. Generally, lots of good things happening with it.

Our van is busted again. The starter went out at 59,110 miles. The warranty expires at 60,000. So for today I am not an atheist :)

Full Speed Ahead

I try to post two or three times per week...it's really hard to believe that it has been seven days since my last entry. In the last week I have started and completed a film called PERSPECTIVE. It's an art-house piece going the festival route. I played the lead...a guy who loses his job and has to deal with the pressures associated with that. It was a good time and I met some really cool people whom I hope to work with again.

I am down to the final few guys for hosting the Ultimate Poker Championship TV show. I got an email yesterday that said they had not made a decision. I feel like I would have heard today if I got it, but you never know for sure. It would be over 100 shows and create some stability...would be an interesting thing to have happen. I'll post when I find out.

Two auditions today that went very well. I've had a strong run this month.

And I am actively seeking investors for my feature film in my spare time. I took a whirlwind trip to Vegas...less than 20 hours total, to meet with several people who are helping me secure funding. We're movin and grovin with this thing. It's going to happen. The official website for the film will launch Oct. 25 and I will be sure to post a link here. Until, then you can check out the myspace page on the side margin -->

Personally, the family seems happy. The boys are taking tennis lessons after school on Mondays and they both really like it. For those of you who know mom and dad, I'm excited to announce that dad took a new job in Kansas City with a different oil company. We've been praying about that for a long time. It will be odd to not visit them in Columbus, but it's a very good thing.

Here's to life as an adventure. Cheers.

Ramping Up

Whew. Today I had three auditions. One was to host the next season of The Ultimate Poker Challenge. It went very well and would be an interesting gig...100 shows over the next year. I also booked a film today that shoots Friday, Saturday and Sunday. I already have two days of work scheduled for next week...a day on General Hospital and another on a sit-com.

Production stuff is still ramping up too. I actually made a to-do list today for the first time in a decade or so.

I want to get back to telling stories at Lifelines so I've decided to spend three weeks in the book of Judges. Lots of blood, violence and questionable sexual ethics...it's everything you could hope for in and Old Testament book. It's all about how our lives get in the same pattern of calling out for help, getting help, forgetting that we need help, screwing up our lives by refusing to be helped, and then calling out for help again. I think it relates to recovery.

Coming Together

I'm loving the producing work that I have been doing the last few weeks. It uses a different part of my brain and skill set. Things are coming together quickly for "IN TNE NUTS...THE TRUE STORY OF THE 2007 SCOTT COUNTY SERIES OF POKER." (See the official myspace link to the right -->) I'm in the process of building a team for pre-production now, and it is exciting to see friends of mine from all different seasons of my life jumping on board. We are seeking investors now, which actually is enjoyable if you believe in the project. A few recognizable actors are reading the treatment this week...all good things.

A few auditions this week as well and back on General Hospital for the first time in a long time next week. I booked a web-based sit-com that shoots in a few weeks. I'll post the link when it's up.

All for now...

My Bacon Number is 3

I was just informed that I have an official Bacon Number on imdb now...

Joe Boyd was in Devil Girl (2006) with Billy Bryan...
who was in Army of Darkness (1992) with Bridget Fonda...
who was in Balto (2005) with Kevin Bacon.

See...I've made it.

Hitting the Nuts...

My first feature film as a producer is offially in pre-production! It's called HITTING THE NUTS...THE TRUE STORY OF THE 2007 SCOTT COUNTY SERIES OF POKER. I've created a myspace page for it and I will post updates here too. The next few months will focus on finding investors...it's considered "ultra-low budget" with a total budget of $269,000. It's a poker comedy set in Scottsburg, IN...which happens to be my lovely wife's hometown. It's kind of Rounders meets Spinal Tap, inspired by Napolean Dynamite. It'll be fun.

If you myspace, go to www.myspace.com/hittingthenuts and befriend us.

Some fun people are jumping on board already...

Studio 60-Week Two

OK...it got better. There was a scene in which I literally sat up in my chair and clapped my hands. (Luckily everyone else in my house was sleeping.) I have to admit that I love the show in large part because it hits every major interest and passion of my life in one show, even including the atypical Christian working in Hollywood.

I also tivo'd Heroes with high hopes. I hated it. Ah, well...

Why do I do this again?

I sort of freaked out this week. I'm not sure why. On Monday I went down to San Diego for my second audition for the TV show "Art of Betrayal"...the role of a policeman. They immediately called me back to read again at 2:30 pm. I did very well in the first reading and not as well in the callback. This happens sometimes. It happened to me last week too. I was called back for a TV show called Mystery ER on the Discovery Channel. I nailed the first reading and not the second. I don't think in either case that I totally blew it...but I could have and should have done better. In golfer terms, I get the yips at callbacks. I choke on putts I should sink simply because the stakes are higher. Not always...but recently for some reason.

So for a few days I looked around on monster.com and craigslist trying to imagine something else I could do...

Yeah. There's not really anything.

Today was better...coming out of the funk. I wrote a seven-page script that I'm proud of. It will be submitted for use in a 48 hour film festival in December. My agent finally called after a week (in the middle of my funk, I assumed they had fired me and forgot to tell me.) I have two auditions for the show Vanished (Fox) tomorrow ("policeman" and "security guard")...I've already read there once this season as well. It's a good sign when they bring you back like that. (Based on my most recent auditions, maybe I should consider a career in law enforcement.)

So, I'm back off the edge. Ironically, I received several e-mails from long lost friends this week telling me how proud they are of me for following my dreams and all that...I figured quitting this week might be too hard on them anyway. And by the way, following your dreams sounds so awesome until you do it. Then it just feels really hard and a little pointless...and kind of like you should get a real job...and, to be honest, sometimes out of nowhere...it does feel a little awesome.

On a side note, I've been listening to the audio book BLINK from the other of THE TIPPING POINT. It's pretty cool...there is a whole chapter devoted why improv is the greatest thing people can do together. (My interpretation-but it's not so far off.)

To my Lifelines friends...my Vanished audition is at 5:00 in Hollywood so if I'm a little late tomorrow night, talk among yourselves and I'll get there asap.

I think I'm in love...

...with a TV show.

Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip (NBC, Mondays at 10pm).

I was looking forward to it, and blown away at the pilot last night. Enjoy.

Devestating News

I'm sitting at the Diedrch Coffee on 17th Street in Newport. There are forty of these coffee shops in Orange County. Diedrich's is one of my favorite things about living in OC. Sitting at the Diedrich's in Laguna Beach was one of the fondest memories of my early vacations here with Debbie before we had kids.

They just sold to Starbucks. All 40 stores.

Lame.

I shouldn't let this make me sad. It really sucks though. I've never been a Starbucks hater...I just like this place better-the coffee tastes a little better, the people are a little friendlier and the wireless internet is free.

I might have to start hating Starbucks for this. Only time will tell.

If the prophet Nathan were here, he would march up to Seattle and tell Starbucks the story of the one little ewe lamb...but, alas, Nathan is gone...and so is Diedrich's.

RIP.

Poof.

This week went fast. I had five auditions on monday and tuesday, drove to Reno all day tuesday, shot the Harrah's gig and drove back yesterday, got home around 4:00 am, slept in, and here we are. Tomorrow is Friday already.

I woke up with a terrible hang over, which is really odd since I didn't drink anything. I think I'm getting a little too old to stay up 22 straight hours.

A few updates

Aidan turned five yesterday. Hard to believe.

I booked a print job next week in Reno for Harrah's Casino. It shoots Wednesday, so I'll be traveling up on Tuesday and back late Wed. night. Nothing too exciting, but a gig's a gig.

I read for for a web-based sitcom today and just got the callback for it. A lot of networks are experimenting with this sort of thing this year...It will be interesting to see how they all pan out. I hope they work...it means a lot more work for people like me.

I now officially have six different projects that I am working on either as a producer or writer as well...keep the plates spinning until all but one breaks...my theory lately.

Watch Goin' Down

So I met these two young film makers named Sam and Syd who are students over at Champan University. I did a short film for them last year...a piercing coming of age drama with significant social implications. OK, it's about passing gas in an elevator. Click here to see it on youtube.

Goin Down

Here's a picture of me from the set of the short "Goin Down", a little "high brow" comedy about passing gas in elevators.

And...I'm goin down to San Diego tomorrow with some of my buddies from Vegas...we are going to root on the Cincinnati Reds as they play the Padres. It will be nice to hang with them.

Producing...

I started REBEL PILGRIM PRODUCTIONS about 18 months ago to make my first short film. Since then I have been trying to figure out what to do with it. I'm happy to finally have some direction with my little company. I'm preparing now to produce the My Take shorts in November and it looks very likely that I will be producing my first feature film in early 2007. I have meet some new people over the last few weeks who are excited about my concept...and have a few old friends who are willing to jump on board. It's a mockumentary style comedy. I can talk more about it once I get it registered.

It has been fun to find my way in the entertainment industry. I love acting, but I'm beginning to enjoy the idea of producing, writing and directing as well.

The in-laws are visiting from Indiana. It's nice to have them here.

Today I audition for a motgage company...typical "talking head" commercial. Not my favorite thing, but I am being called in by a casting director who has been very good to me.

More to come...

A Break

Life has finally slowed down a little bit this weeked...lots of doing nothing. My last four or five auditions have gone very well, but no word on anything yet.

So...I'm going back to doing nothing now.

Busy Summer Days

The last few weeks have clipped by for our family. Both Debbie and I have been working non-stop on one thing or another. The kids are doing well, but a little testier...likely because we are so busy. The ancient fathers have taught me that busy-ness is a sin and that life is lived in the serenity of each moment. I wish the ancient fathers had lived in Orange County with a mortgage payment...but they generally lived in monestaries and the desert wilderness...sometimes perched atop large wooden poles. Since I'm not moving to the mojave to live on a pole anytime soon, I'll try to figure it out as I go.

My new San Diego agent (Shamon Freitas Agency) has landed me an audition tomorrow for a new soap opera called "Art of Betrayal." As you know, I'm nothing if not a soap star. Today's audition was for a feature film called Grindin'. It was at Sunset-Gower studios in Hollywood...several network shows are made there. I've been to most all of the major studios now. The quality of my auditions has grown exponentially since my return from the Hampton tour. I feel like something is close to breaking...

In my spare time (he laughs as he types), I am producing the My Take films and another 3-minute comedy short. I hope to have these done by the end of the year. Right now I'm building a production team, looking for final funding, and dusting off the books from my production company, Rebel Pilgrim Films, which I started in Las Vegas last year.

Now I must go watch Rock Star: Supernova. It fills the American Idol void. (Wow, those two sentences makes me look really lame.) Lost and The Office will be back soon...then I can feel a little more hip in my TV watching.

Shalom.

Tired

Man, I'm tired. It has been a busy week...over 1,000 miles driven this week. Five auditions. A booking. Signing with a new agent in San Diego. Throw in a conference and teaching tonight, and I'm spent.

I'm not complaining...it's all good stuff.

The audition for Adam Sandler's film went very well. I think it was the best I could do. No nerves or anything...now we just wait.

Going to bed. I have an audition tomorrow :)

Big Audition Tomorrow

I'm heading over to the SONY to read for Adam Sandler's new film. Guess what? I'd play a preacher. I think this movie will be funny. For a while it was called "Chuck and Buck", but the sides called it "Chuck and Larry." I just read about it in Entertainment Weekly. The part has several lines and concludes with the preacher getting punched by Kevin James...would be great fun.

The commercial went fine today. I met George Clinton. He was very funkadelic. I spent most of the day sprinting down a Burbank culd-e-sac in my business suit...chasing an ice cream truck. Yeah...Hollywood is glamorous. It was a national promo, which means no residuals.

I'll be over at Saddleback church tomorrow and the next day for a recovery conference during the hours that I'm not auditioning.

Hyper-busy week.

Booked a National Commercial...

I booked a commercial for tomorrow featuring George Clinton...gotta get my funk on I guess. It's a comedy spot that will be largely improvised...I'll be the playing the white guy in a suit. That's happy good news. On the producing front, the MY TAKE winners have been announced. (See link over on this side -->) Now we start the effort to produce the five films. I'm in the middle of seeking co-producers/investors now. If you have any leads, shoot me an e-mail.

All of this and I'm planning on going to a Recovery conference Thursday and Friday with some folks from Lifelines. Big thanks to Kris Brown for helping us with our kids this week...some weeks are harder than others to manage two careers and two kids.

I think we are going to go to the Block at Orange tonight to celebrate the commercial with a round of family bowling. Good times.

Reely?

I have three new ACTOR REELS on my other website. Go there and click on "reel." www.joeboyd.net

This and that

I finally updated my acting reel today. It should be up on www.joeboyd.net in a few days...
No big-time auditions yet this week, but I will read for a little indie tv pilot tomorrow. The part is a (terrible) boxer, which seems fun. Thursday holds some meetings with producers in LA regarding some future projects.

Otherwise summer rolls on...the kids are staying up a little too late and sleeping in a little too long...ah, summer. Deb's working a lot these days. I think we are enjoying summer but also looking forward to the daily schedule that school will bring in a few weeks.

Making progress.

My audition yesterday went very well. The casting director was laughing, which is usually good for a sit-com audition. I did well enough that if I don't get it, I think they will have me back again. That's all that really matters. I also auditioned for an improv show last night. They called today and offered me the part, but I may not take it. I'm not really sure why I went in the first place...I think I just wanted to improv at the audition more than anything else.

It's been an eventful summer for sure. I'm starting a new teaching about prayer at Lifelines tomorrow and have been re-reading a few of Richard Foster's books. I forgot how helpful they were to me a few years back. I'm looking forward to see what will happen with our community there this fall.

Pretty good day...

The Disney gig today was fun. I worked with the ABC folks who do all of the web and mobile content for the network. They were great to hang out with...it was interesting to see how many of them were nervous to act or write or be creative given where they work, but once they got into it they had a lot of fun. I hope to work with the guys from teambuilding again.

Here's the good news: First of all, it looks like I've landed an agent for the San Diego market, which is harder than you might think. I also have my third network audition since returning from the tour. It's at Warner Brothers for a new ABC sit-com called NOTES FROM THE UNDERBELLY. Another day livin the dream...

I'm going to Disneyland.

I have an interesting gig coming up Tuesday. I'll be taking Disney employees through a team building exercise which includes creating a commercial (non-airing) from inception through to post-production. The company that runs the event has hired me to lead a team of ten people as they do this. I seem to be the master at booking acting gigs that aren't quite acting gigs, but aren't really anything else either. This seems right in my skill set and should be a fun day. Maybe I'll meet some hot shot Disney producer...or Mickey Mouse.

The group that hired me is www.teambuildingproductions.net out of Phoenix.

Just regular stuff...

We went to the Orange County Fair yesterday. It was our second year in a row, so I guess that means we've been here a year now. No auditions yet this week, but I have one tomorrow and one friday. Eli did a face plant in the driveway tonight and took a nice chunk of flesh out of his knee...he now has a big bandage and he got Taco Bell and Krispy Kreme out of it. I had a bite of each...so I went to the gym.

It's hot.

So, someone who spent the last ten summers in Las Vegas and the last four weeks in Houston, Atlanta and Orlando should not be complaining about the weather in southern California. But I'm going to for a minute. Yesterday it was 97 here and over 100 everywhere inland. Today was almost as bad. The big difference is that, for the first time in my adult life, my home does not have air conditioning. They promised "coastal breezes for natural cooling" when we moved in. That works when it's 79, not 97. So we have been leaving our home as a family this weekend and hanging out at the mall, the bookstore, Starbucks and the movie theater. Turns out that strategy is as expensive as a regular power bill...I guess its a wash.

I'm going to stand in front of a fan now.

Vanished

The Vanished audition went much better than CSI. Two network nods in my first week back was quite unexpected. This week has gone fast and been very busy. I still feel like I'm waiting to rest from the journey. It looks like this weekend might provide that.

CSI...not so great

Back at it. I've hit the ground running with a big audition today for CSI: NY and tomorrow for a new show this fall called Vanished. My CSI audition was a complete mess. I wasn't myself and I could feel myself getting nervous, which very rarely happens. Blah. I'll try to make up for it tomorrow.

No Place Like It

I'm home. I realize that I didn’t share much of the details about my 53-day journey…so here are fifty things I have been busy doing:

1. Flying. (From LA to Dallas to Houston to Atlanta to Orlando to Dallas to Orange County.)
2. Driving. A Chevy HHR with my picture on it. 3,750 miles.
3. Sleeping. At eight different Hampton Inns.
4. Wearing Pajamas most every day.
5. Eating out every day for 150 straight meals.
6. Gaining Weight (about ten pounds)
7. Losing Weight (about eight pounds)
8. Doing Radio Interviews.
9. Giving away Bobble Head Pens.
10. Giving away T-shirts.
11. Giving away Starbucks gift cards.
12. Making web commercials that never seem to make it on the website.
13. Sweating. (FYI, Texas, Georgia and Florida are hot in the summer.)
14. Losing my Blackberry and all of the information inside.
15. Buying a new Blackberry.
16. Returning my new Blackberry because it was broken.
17. Getting another new Blackberry.
18. Turning down about eight auditions.
19. Embracing the simple beauty of the text message.
20. Hanging out with local improvisers in LA, Orlando and Atlanta.
21. Eating at the original Chick-fil-A (the Dwarf House) in Hapeville, Georgia.
22. Getting rained on during fireworks at Stone Mountain Park in Georgia.
23. Getting rained on at Disney World.
24. Getting kicked out of an LA Dodgers game.
25. Getting kicked out of the CNN Building in Atlanta.
26. Getting kicked out of Downtown Disney in Orlando.
27. Getting kicked out of a mall in Houston.
28. Doing improv with my friends Mike, Jarrad and Marla.
29. Finishing 4th place at a Texas Hold Em tournament at a bar called B-52’s in Atlanta.
30. Watching Nacho Libre. (not what I had hoped for)
31. Watching A Prairie Home Companion (not at all what I had hoped for)
32. Watching Superman Returns (surprisingly what I had hoped for)
33. Waiting patiently for Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby.
34. Getting new songs on i-tunes.
35. Listening to Rich Mullins when I get sad.
36. Pondering Dallas Willard’s comments on pity.
37. Strangely missing Kentucky when I was in Atlanta.
38. Strangely missing Ohio when I was eating at Buffalo Wings and Things.
39. Strangely missing Las Vegas most everyday.
40. Not-so-strangely missing home.
41. Missing Eli’s birthday, Aidan’s pre-school graduation and all the little moments of the last month.
42. Talking to Debbie everyday on the phone.
43. Writing the great American screenplay. (12 pages down, 100 to go.)
44. Loving my new Mac.
45. Having huge breakthroughs in regard to life being a journey and my identity as a pilgrim on the journey.
46. Talking about Jesus with my new friends.
47. Praying differently.
48. Preparing to come home and help some friends through a memorial service.
49. Counting down until today.
50. Being grateful for the time away and the refining power that it has. Nothing has made me value what I already have than leaving it for a month. I’ve come home a better person.

Every Bedhead must come to an end...

Disney World Today.
A Mall Appearance and a Radio Interview Tomorrow.
Flying Home the Next Day...Priceless.

Florida is wet

In Orlando now. It has rained everyday and is supposed to continue through Tuesday. The end is very near now...five days.

Atlanta wrapped.

We finished early today...we went to a 10-K race in downtown Atlanta. This was our last work day here. Tomorrow we have a day off...then on to Orlando. Only five more work days and eight more days until I make the five hour flight home to OC.

We are going to Stone Mountain tonight to watch fireworks and then to the Georgia Aquarium tomorrow to hang out.

I wish I was having a BBQ at home...or at the Caldwell's house in Vegas...but we'll make the best of it here.

This is day three of a very strict diet for me...I think that I've gained about ten pounds since this thing started and I'm hoping to return home without them.

ATL

Day three of eight in Atlanta...thus far I have really enjoyed my stay here. We're going to a Braves game tomorrow which should be fun. We are staying 1.5 miles from The Dwarf House, which is the original Chick-fil-A. I've eaten there twice already and will definately be back. It makes me happy.

12 days left!

Time to come home yet?

I'm on a two-hour break before heading to downtown Houston for our last stop here. Tomorrow is a day off and then we fly to Atlanta. It's hot and humid in Texas. 17 days and I'll be home. That sounds like a long time, but it feels short compared to the 53 day contract that I signed back in April. I miss my family, but the end is near now.

Everyday is different, but also very much the same.

Peace.

Oh no.

My Blackberry Saga continues. I left my phone in a cab about eight hours ago and it is still MIA. If you have called, sorry. I'm going to have to replace it tomorrow if it doesnt turn up...

It is unreal how losing your cell phone can effect you. I've felt naked all day...like I can't function. (Not that I can't function naked...those were two different feelings I guess.)

Anyway, maybe the universe will let my phone find me...if not I'm getting my third new blackberry in 13 months...

Deep in the heart of Texas...

I've been in Dallas for about five days now...it's hot and very different than LA. It reminds me of Ohio with Las Vegas weather. The people are generally very nice and excited to see us. They think the stuff we are doing is cool. We spent a Day at Six Flags and another at the Fort Worth Zoo. The zoo was my favorite venue yet because I like zoos and we were given a tour before the park opened.

I miss everything about home. Debbie and the kids first of all, but also the work at church and in Hollywood. Strangely, I've missed my friends from Vegas more than ever. Just part of being alone I guess.

It's not a crippling or anything, just noticable. I'm actually very glad to be removed from the people and things I love because it is making me love them more and helping to sharpen my thinking about the future. I look forward to coming home a little different.

My new friends are great. They bought my dinner tonight at Olive Garden for Father's Day. We have had a lot of laughs and some very deep and spiritual discussions. I'm happy to be on this particular journey.

For Eli

HAPPY BIRHTDAY BUDDY!

I'll be home in 27 days....have a great day. I love you.

Daddy

Improv Matters

I wish I had more exciting things to report from the road, but time is passing quickly as we work in different venues and places along the way. The promotional work has overtaken the perfomance work of late. I have been able to see Debbie and the kids a lot so far...they spent the weekend at the hotel with me and we had my team over for dinner last night. I was very happy that Deb could meet them. It's the same old story and probably the deepest reason why I am an actor/improvisor...there is, generally speaking, an instant friendship, respect and understanding among fellow actors. This seems magnified among improvisors since trust is so important in the craft. I was glad to bring that feeling to my home for a few hours.

But...now begins the time away. Exactly one month as it turns out. A week in Dallas, Houston, Atlanta and Orlando. I fly home the morning of July 13,

Hopefully the next four weeks will move as quickly as the first three.

Peace from the journey...

Long Day Again

We are in Anaheim for two days before flying to Dallas. Debbie and the boys are here at the hotel with me. We had a twelve hour day today. To those of you who keep calling to check in, thanks! I hope to have some down time to call you all soon.

Things are good...no more panic attacks and the team is getting along.

Peace.

From the Hampton LAX

The last few days have been very busy and it looks like it will continue. The filming and performing is great, but the promotional stuff is difficult work. I get to go home for two days after work tomorrow. I'm very ready for that...which is daunting considering I will be gone for 29 straight days coming up. Overall, I'm still pretty happy about the whole thing.

I'm OK

So, I went to the doctor and she's pretty sure that I did have a panic/stress attack. She urged me to see a psychiatrist, which I will do when the tour is over or sooner if I have another episode. All of the heart tests came back fine. Thanks to all of you who checked in on me.

Today marks the official launch of the website (www.hamptonbedheads.com). Feel free to visit. We also had a full page ad in the USA Today and Wall Street Journal today. We were at Hilton HQ in Beverely Hills early this morning and have a few hours off before hitting the Dodgers game at 5:00. It's work for sure...but fun for the most part.

I'm getting lots of emails and calls...thanks for the support and keep them coming...I'll have slower days coming up to return the favor.

Maybe I'm Stressed?

I'm home tonight and tomorrow, then back to LA for the official launch of the tour. Things went well overall with training and our first show was great. On Friday I had what appears to be a panic attack while watching X-Men 3, which may or may not be a commentary on the film. I nearly fainted. I'm going to see my doctor here in OC tomorrow for a check up. They tested my heart, blood pressure and sugar levels and found them normal. I've never really had anything like that happen before, so it was a little freaky.

I think I'll pull through...

It's On...

Just finished the first day of media training. It was actually rather fascinating. Our trainer was in the White House press corps during the Reagan administration. He had some cool stories and taught us how to not say stupid things on the radio. The Hampton website will launch June 1. It's www.hamptonbedheads.com, but you won't be able to see it until June.

There will also be a full page color ad in the Wall Street Journal and USA Today on June 1 showcasing my messed-up hair if you are so inclined.

For you so-cal people, we have a gig at Westside Ecclectic in Santa Monica (In the Third St. Prominada next to the food court) this coming Saturday at 9:30 pm. It's an hour of long form improv and the unofficial kick-off.

More to come....

Punk'd

The auditon went well today. I was there over an hour...it was much like the first two times. The producer remembered me. Ashton was there for the first part and then left. He had a beard not unlike one the others on Lost.

I certainly did well enough to get the part, now it's just whether they want me and whether I am available.

I leave in a few hours to go to the Hampton Inn near LAX. Three full days of training in Beverly Hills and then a few days off before the tour starts June 1.

Argh.

Months ago I auditioned to be a series regular on Punk'd. They called my agent today and want to see me again Wednesday afternoon...straight to Producers (Ashton Kuthcer and a few others). This would be great news if I WASN'T LEAVING FOR SIX AND A HALF WEEKS THE NEXT DAY! I'm guessing that someone didn't work out...it has to be a short list. This will be my fourth callback.

Argh. Well, I'm going to go meet with them anyway. I'm rather certain that filming would begin before July 17 though.

So it goes...

Jehovah-Nissi, Neurosis and I-pods

Six days left before the tour starts. Tonight is my last Lifelines meeting...I'll be teaching on Exodus 17-seeing Yahweh as the One who Fights For Us. Imagine the peace that would invade the planet if we trusted one greater than us to do the fighting. We can barely be trusted to love, how could we possibly be trusted to fight? This is generally why I am a pacifist...not because there is never a time for battle, but because there is no human being wise or loving enough to discern when that time is. At least I am not.

As I prepare to leave I am excited about performing and having a steady, good-paying job for seven weeks. I'm excited to spend time in new places with new people. But, I'm less than excited about leaving home for so long-mainly leaving Debbie and the boys, but also my work with Lifelines and in Hollywood. I'm auditioning very well this month and getting callbacks...you hate to leave when you are in a zone. See why this career path is so screwy? You hate BOOKING because you can't audition to BOOK the next gig...it's just dumb like that.

In other news...I now have an ipod which came with my new computer....as a result I have, really for the first time in my life, been able to actually choose a soundtrack for my life. I have found a few things about my musical tastes. 1. I'm a lyricist more than a musician. If I can't understand and connect with the lyrics, I tend to not care about the sound. 2. I'm very across-the-board in musical syles. For better or worse, here are the most common artists in my ipod: U2, Rich Mullins, Counting Crows, Jenny Lewis & The Watson Twins, Billy Joel, Green Day, Mindy Smith (we went to college together), Bruce Hornsby, CCR, Bob Dylan, Norah Jones, Elton John, Indigo Girls, Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Ray Charles, Joe Cocker, Nirvana, John Mayer, Oasis, and The Eagles.

Guess I don't really rock too much...it is a little jarring when Green Day follows old blue eyes on shuffle...but it's me.

Beach

In a rare fluke our entire family was home this afternoon, so we took the car into the dealership for a check up and wasted a few hours at the beach. The new camera loves the new mac...my pc wouldn't acknowledge it.

Guess I didn't get the poker commercial...I have a 3:30 photo shoot tomorrow morning in Hollywood...so I'll be taking a nap in a few hours and heading out. Enjoy the pics.

Book of Doyle

Had a callback today for an online poker commercial with Doyle Brunson. I feel like it went well. It shoots Wednesday, so I should hear in the morning if I got it...maybe would have heard already though. It would be nice to knock out a commercial before leaving next week...

Legoland

We have spent the last two days at Legoland in Carlsbad with the Caldwells. Overall, a good time was had by all. Eli loves roller coasters...I tolerate them, but something about seeing his excitement helped me like them more. Aidian's a little more fearful of them, which is odd because he's a pretty adventurous kid.

This is the last full week before my tour starts. I'm waiting to hear back from a few auditions and have booked a little print gig for Nissan. Other than that, not too much is planned.

The kids picked out Debbie's Mothers Day gifts which included a candle, a book and an electric can opener. Good times.

A Better Day

I have seen the light...converted...started over...begun life anew...

I have bought a mac.

It's a good thing...kind of like joining a cult though...a tragically hip, technolgoically superior cult.

Also, I'm getting a lot of submissions for the My Take writing contest. Pretty cool stuff from all over the world. Visit www.mytakefilmcontest.blogspot.com if you haven't yet.

Pictures from my new camera

Here are some pictures from the new camera that my buddy Steven gave me. That's Aidan at home and a few pics from Hollywood.

Just for fun...

I had this brainstorm tonight that might work...might not. I've started a writing contest through my production company. If you want to play along, feel free. It's a simple concept. I've posted the rules for submission at www.mytakefilmcontest.blogspot.com.

That's all.

Hectic few days

I haven't stopped since Friday. I spoke for Tim at The Crossing this weekend on David and Goliath. Overall I feel like it went ok, but I felt a lot better about the last two attempts than the first two. On Monday I worked on an industrial video shoot and yesterday was packed with errands and paper work associated with the Hampton gig. Several meetings today and an audition in Beverly Hills...

It looks as though I did not get the TV portion of the Hampton project. I could tell in the room that I wasn't giving the director what he wanted...some sort of face that I couldn't produce on command. Commercial acting is this odd mix of "subtle" yet entirely produced and manipulated. I think it's much harder than typical film or tv stuff...for me anyway.

All for now.

Back at it.

Thanks for all of your comments on the last post. I'm always struck by the diversity of my friends across the world. I actually think it's something I'm quite proud of. I had an audition today for a series regular as the host of an ABC reality show. It's kind of Extreme Makeover meets ebay. It's already been sold for a summer run though. I didn't feel great about it, but stranger things have happened. Tomorrow is the final callback for the TV commercial for the Hampton campaign...which is seperate from the web, print and improv tour that I have already booked. It's a little odd because I will be auditioning for the people who just hired me in Chicago along with several other guys who auditioned here in LA earlier this week. Part of me is very confident and part of me isn't. I have another commercial audition tomorrow as well. They should start slowing in a week or two since the shooting days will start to conflict with the tour.

We are settling into the house nicely. We've been here exactly one month, but this was the first week with all of us here everyday. The kids are loving the backyard and the extra room to play. Debbie meet several neighbor ladies at a birthday party last weekend for one of Aidan's pre-schoolmates. It's starting to feel like home.

And one last note, Terry from Survivor rules.

I'm a Hampton Bed Head

OK, so I got the Hampton Inn gig. I flew into Chicago on Wednesday and the callback was all day Thursday. The first hour of the callback was short form improv, a la, Who's Line is it Anyway. That was my first clue that I might do well. They brought in 8 improv actors from LA, 8 from NYC and 8 from Chicago. By 5:00 they had selected six guys and two girls for the job. The job includes web commercials, print and a seven-week tour across the nation doing improv and marketing for Hampton. I was made the manager of the western/southern tour which goes to LA, Dallas, Houston, Atlanta and Orlando. We are in LA for at least eleven days which is a great bonus in terms of spending extra time with Debbie and the boys. All of us are also being considered for a naitonal commercial series for TV...

I almost didn't go because I was worried about leaving my family for so long, but it seems right to both Debbie and myself...the Hampton people were great about considering my family and placing me in the west. They also said that Debbie and the boys could visit and stay for free at the hotels. We are concluding in Orlando and may attach a family vacation at Disney there.

For better or worse you will be able to follow me around the nation via the website when it launches in late may. (The same day the tour starts-May 25.) We will be making short films of our adventures and posting them on the site. The campaign is called "The Bedheads" and we will be wearing messy hair for the entire tour as we travel around entertaining America. Shakespeare it aint, but it's a real gig.

More to come...

Yep.

I'm going to Chicago tomorrow...I made the final 14 for the Hampton Inn Improv project. I don't know if I want this job or not, but I'm going to go see what it's all about. They will let six go after Thursday's auditions...the other eight are offered the job.

San Francisco was great today. It is one of my favorite places on the planet. We shot all over town and I had a lot of fun. Today was the 100th anniversary of the Great San Francisco Earthquake...a very interesting day to be there. I awoke at 5:12 am to the earthquake sirens blaring in memory of the exact moment the quake hit. Needless to say, I was pretty confused and not feeling too secure in my hotel room on the 29th floor.

I'm glad to be home, if just for a few hours. If you are a praying type of person we could use some help in discerning this job if it's offered...

What will be...

This week could go so many different ways...It's hard to know how to plan for it. Today at 3:00 I fly to San Francisco to do the Intel gig. I fly back tomorrow at 10 pm. (That much we know for sure.)

A few days ago I audutioned for what amounts to a traveling improv team. It's part of a Hampton Inn promotion and may also include national commercial spots. They auditioned improv actors in LA, NY and Chicago. They called to say that I was in the top ten from LA and of the top 30 overall. They will be selecting 14 to fly to Chicago Wednesday for the final callback. They will be deciding tomorrow, so I won't know if I'm going until a few hours before the plane leaves.

Once there, if I make it there, they will cut the 14 down to 8 who will be contracted and immediately go into shooting commercial spots. It would involve about six weeks of travel this summer...and I'm not honestly sure if I really want to be gone that long. They have only said that it "pays well" which could mean anything.

If it comes to that we will be needing a lot of discernment to walk through the decision process in a short amount of time.

I'll post when I hear from them.

Good Things...

Debbie and the boys get back tomorrow morning. Bachelorhood is overrated. It will be nice to be back together again. My buddy Gregg Stokes has come through yet again...I will be doing my third project for his company next week. I fly to San Francisco Monday to do a "man on the street" video for Intel. Looks like fun. I also found out today that I am on avail for a project in Las Vegas next week. Good things.

Being a loner this week I was able to watch two movies, both of which were great. I saw Walk the Line on video a few days ago. Also, I saw Thank You for Smoking at the Arclight Theater in Hollywood before my Cold Reading Class a few nights back. It was very witty and well done. I liked it a lot. Now I'm going to watch Good Night and Good Luck.

So...Good Night. And, Good Luck.

I'm on TV TONIGHT!

I just found out...

8:00 pm on the HISTORY CHANNEL. I play "Doug" the father of a girl who has a near death experience. I'm unsure of the exact title of the show...something about Heaven.

Finally back home

I haven't stopped to think for a few days now. Debbie and the boys left Thursday night to go to Indiana for the week. The next morning I shot a commercial for Lending Tree all day until Lifelines. It was close. I wrapped at 5:00 in LA and pulled into the church parking lot at 6:55. Today I read for the casting director of How I Met Your Mother. It went well.

I'm home now and very tired. I was considering going back to Vegas this week sometime, but now I'm unsure if it will work out with my audition schedule. I'm going to crash tonight and see what tomorrow brings.

Tomorrow is my 33rd birthday. Perhaps some great epiphany awaits...I'll keep you posted.

We're in

We have made it in the house! For the most part things are in order now. The cable and internet was hooked up yesterday. We have been enjoying the little things not associated with apartment living: doing the laundry without going outside, hanging pictures on the wall after midnight, getting the mail without a key, etc.

We had a huge team of people help us move this weekend. Thanks so much to you guys if you read this.

Movin on up...

Tomorrow is moving day. We have a crew coming in the morning and should knock it out rather quickly. Deb leaves tonight to make the big 30 mile trip up to Venice Beach with her friends from Vegas. The kids are going to Knott's Berry Farm all day tomorrow with our friend Lori and then spending the night with another friend.

So, let's review:

1. Debbie's Saturday: Fun at the beach with friends.
2. The boy's Saturday: An amusement park and sleepover.
3. My Saturday: Moving crap.

I'm not really bitter...it's just fun to complain. The house will be so much better for our family.

This week held four auditions, two for major parts in indie films. I'm back on GH monday. I feel like something is going to come in soon. I'm auditioning well.

House Dwellers, yet again

We got in the house early today! They called and said we could have the keys this morning. We are still planning on moving all of the heavy stuff on Saturday, but Debbie can get the kitchen, etc moved in before she leaves for the weekend.

I drove down to San Diego today for an interview with a film producer to play a leading role in an indie film. Looks promising, but it's definately too early to tell for sure. By the way, it's about twice as far to drive to San Diego as it is to LA, but takes about the same amount of time due to less traffic.

Off to teach a class at church now, and will return to my "half-packed" apartment to watch a freshly Tivo'd American Idol tonight.

Keepin' Busy

This week went by very fast for me. Five auditions and two cold reading workshop classes made for a lot of time commuting. Today I read for a commercial for a Japanese chewing gum that is made of green tea and claims to prevent tooth decay. I did very well and hope to hear back...it was a comedic improv audition. I was playing a dumb American...the role I was born for I think.

I rather butchered my Philly accent at the Hardees commercial on Monday, but beyond that I feel like I'm auditioning better than ever. I'm going up to Vegas tomorrow to meet with some people who might be interested in making a feature film with my production company. I will turn around and head back Sunday.

The packing officially starts tomorrow here at the apartment as we prepare to move across the street in just seven days. Next week will be busy as well. I'm back on General Hospital for at least one day apart from getting ready for the big move Saturday.

I taught on Jonah and Matthew 12 tonight at The Crossing. They are now posting my teachings online at www.thecrossing.com. Look for the "Lifelines Messages" and you can listen online or podcast if you want.

That oughtta do it for tonight. I have to get up early and hit an audition in Venice Beach before driving to my meeting in Vegas.

Sorta Booked

I booked a print gig for Harrah's Casino in Reno this weekend...then they pushed it back due to the weather there. They plan to reschedule in the coming weeks. I had a commercial auditon yesterday for Hardees/Carl's Jr. doing a thick Philly accent. I worked really hard on it, but I still feel like I didn't nail it. Callbacks are Friday but I'm less than hopeful on this one.

I have another audition for a film tomorrow and yet another on Saturday.

Will update again soon when I have more time....

Little Good Things

This week so far has been good. Tonight Debbie and I celebrated her birthday at our favorite new restaurant around the corner from our house. It's called Chat Noir, and it ain't cheap. But it was a wonderful birthday treat.

I've also had some auditions come in. One Friday for an AFTRA industrial, a film next week and an interview for another film project. Still working on some of my own projects and enjoying easing back into a producing role.

Just 15 more days until we move into the house...excited to get in, just a little less than excited to pack again.

Weekend wrap-up

This concludes a very active weekend. I had four auditions and had to turn another one down because I couldn't fit it in on Saturday. I have another tomorrow at 20th Century Fox. It will be my first time at FOX and I always love being at the big studios. I'm auditioning for a non-speaking role on a sit-com pilot. I would play a Russian basketball player.

Eli and Aidan got haircuts today and are looking quite daper. Debbie turns 32 in a few days! We are the same age for about three weeks each year and then I'll lap her again. 33 is just around the corner for me. Most people date Jesus' death at that age and I've always associatde that number with him and his life. I feel it will be a year of communion with him in a new way.

Producing, Following

I went to the SAG Signatory Seminar at SAG HQ last night to learn more about producing low budget indie films. It was helpful in that regard, but I also discovered that I happened to be one of the only actors in a room full of producers. I was able to give my card to a few people...I felt very sly.

Out of nowhere I have four auditions this weekend. I officially give up on trying to figure anything out in that regard. Take them as they come.

I'm meeting in a few hours with a potential partner for my LLC, Rebel Pilgrim Productions. I have about ten projects that could or could not happen this year and I'm realizing that I need help on the business side.

Lifelines is tonight and it will be nice to continue the journey through Matthew. We are in chapters 11 and 12 now and Rabbi Yeshua continues to reveal himself as a radical socio-economic revolutionary, mystic teacher and powerful leader. I regret how misunderstood he is in our culture, particularly among the religious. But why should we expect him to be any more palatable today then he was when they killed him? It's nice to be a part of the revolution.

Oscar Night and I'm Teaching Improv Classes

My favorite Oscar moments:

5. David Letterman cameo-nice.
4. The comedy that Jon Stewart actually influenced, ala the "campaign videos"
3. Reese Witherspoon's speech. Very real and authentic.
2. Philip Seymour Hoffman winning. He's superhuman good at acting.
1. Every time George Clooney was on screen. This is gonna sound a little gay, but I can't take my eyes off of him. I predict he will be president in twenty years.

My least favorite Oscar moments:

5. The theme of downplaying DVD's in favor of cinema. Don't beg, just make better movies.
4. The countless montage videos. You could tell Jon Stewart hated them too.
3. Ben Stiller. I reall really like him, but the green suit made me feel weird.
2. Winners bringing props (bowties, penguins, etc.) It feels less than humble.
1. The celebrity reporter people asking stupid questions. They are embarassing.

And in other news...

I've decided to teach a four-week Saturday morning Improv class. I've gathered about six students via Craigslist and will limit it to twelve. E-mail me if you are an interested Orange Countian. The cost is $30/class for four weeks. It will start sometime in April.

SLOW

So much for pilot season. This has been the slowest audition season since I moved to socal in July. I've only had two auditions from my agent in the last two weeks and only one from self-submissions. I have to assume that it has something to do with joining the unions, but it's driving me a little crazy. I've tried to focus more on writing and producing...some good things from that I guess.

By the way, the new house is a done deal. We move in April 1. No foolin. The last thirty days of apartment living should go by quickly.

I'm going to go stare at my cell phone until my agent calls now.

The House, etc

They have officially accepted our application and offered us the rental house across the street. It was a little iffy at the end. They were worried about the insecurities of our finances. Half of our income (Debbie's commissions and my acting work) is never sure or secure. There was about 30 minutes when it looked like we wouldn't get it. It was a little rough on my ego...to be a home owner for 8 years and then not be accepted as a renter does things to a man. But, they called back and said they felt good about us afterall.

So...we go over Sunday to inspect the house closer and sign the lease. We would move April 1,which means that, yet again, Debbie will be gone during moving day. She has this uncanny ability either be out of town or deathly ill when we move. Since it's so close though, I'm hoping we can gradually take things over and just move the big furniture on the first.

We're tired of moving. Since leaving our first home in Vegas less than four years ago we have lived in six different places. We hope to be in this house until we can afford to buy our own...so that puts the over under at 18 years, but you never know...

In other news...I have a beard because I have an unwritten policy that I don't shave between auditions. I haven't had an audition since Monday.

But...things have opened up in other ways. It looks as though I may be writing and producing again. A friend of mine from Las Vegas has met a man who wants his life story turned into a feature film. It looks like there is already some money for it. I would write, co-produce and play the lead. It will be a period piece set in Las Vegas in the fifties surrounding a casino cheat. That's all we know right now. I'm going to interview the man in April and we'll go from there. Gerald Gordon would direct and much of the team from my last short would be involved, but it would be more in the $200,000 range. My guess is that if things come togehter quickly we could shoot in the fall.

A similar situation is developing with a feature comedy here in Orange County.

I've also been forcing myself to write regarding spiritual matters three days a week. It looks like something may come of it. Too early to tell.

Busy Weekend, Possible House, New Baby (not ours)

I had a very busy weekend. Friday night I taught at Lifelines and then went to Debbie's office party. Saturday I had an all-day rehearsal and an evening performance in Santa Ana. Today was full of meetings. Most of the chaos was worthwhile, but I have enjoyed NOT doing anything for a few hours tonight.

Last week was slow, though I did audition and get called back for a Boston Market national commercial. I don't feel like I got it, but I'll know for sure by tomorrow afternoon. I have another commercial audition tomorrow for Ameritrade. The auditions have definately slowed down since I joined SAG. I was averaging about five a week and now it seems like two or three, but the difference is that all of them are for good paying gigs.

In other news, it looks like we may have found a house to rent across the street from where we are living now. It feels huge to us compared to our last few places, but I actually think it's a little smaller than our first house in Vegas. Still, it's 3BR/2 Bath and has a really big yard for the kids. It also means that both kids can attend the same school where Eli is now, which was important to us. It stretches us a bit financially, but it seems right. We should know for sure in a few days.

That's all for now...I should be an uncle again the next time I post...Debbie's brother Dave and his wife Sarah are delivering as we speak!

A remarkably uneventful week

I think that I am finally not sick...at least not very sick. That took forever to get over. I went to Boulder City this week for the film festival. It was good to see some old friends including Sean Critchfield, Dale and Darren. This week was the first week since August that I did not have one audition all week. That does things to a man. Makes you question everything. I did have one scheduled for today, but we were unable to work Debbie's work schedule to allow me the time to get to Burbank and back. I sent a very needy e-mail asking to reschedule...we'll see if they buy it.

No word from the big one last week. It seems right to assume nothing will come of it, but I did OK and maybe he will remember me someday. It's all about patience.

We've started looking for rental houses in the same school district we live in now. In the last four years our family has lived in five homes and the next one will be the sixth. I'm ready to live somewhere more than one year and I'm definately sure I don't want it to be this apartment. I'm sure it's very American and a little self-absorbed, but I'm ready to live somewhere with a back yard and a laundary room.

Film Festival

Some people have asked for info on the Dam Short Film Festival in Boulder City this week. My film is called "Happily After Forever" and shows during the Nevada showcase, this Thursday night. All the info is at this website: www.damshortfilm.org.

Obligatory Update

Still sick. Being sick reminds you how wonderful it is to be well. I haven't heard either way from the big audition. I have no auditions scheduled this week as of right now, though I am planning on driving to Boulder City on Thursday. My film, Happily After Forever, is playing a festival there.

Peace.

Recap

I know that you are all waiting up tonight to get an update on the big audition. You're thinking if Joe really hits it big, I can hit him up for a few bucks...

Well, it went very well. I had probably done the scene 100 times before getting there and the one that actually counted was in the top 20 of all my efforts. Just a little nerves, but definately not as nervous as I was when I first started all of this.

I saw this guy: Mystery Guy. He said Hi.
I saw this person walking her dog. Mystery Gal.

Being at Paramount was pretty cool. Then I read for Jeff Greenberg, who is a veteran casting dirctor for shows like Cheers, Frasier, Wings, etc. He has several shows running now including According to Jim, Four Kings, Out of Practice, Stacked, etc...So even if nothing comes of this I think that I did well enough to help my cause to get guest-star auditions for those shows. It was definately an exciting day. Lots of real Hollywood moments. I actually was able to get there early and spent some time meditating on a park bench in the middle of Paramout studios. It's very strange where the paths of life lead a person.

After that I did the Kellogs audition which I don't think I will get, but William Shatner is in it and it would be nice to get an autograph for my Trekky Dad.

I guess that's all, here's to Hollywood and keeping the Prime Directive.

Big Audition

Of course it would happen this way. I was literally in the doctor's office waiting for her to come into the room. I woke up with a fever and a very sore throat. As I'm shivering and coughing, my agent calls with the most promising audition yet.

Tomorrow I will read for the leading role in a sitcom pilot also starring Paul Reiser (Mad About You, etc.). It's at 11:00 on the Paramount studio lot. My agent had me come to the office tonight and rehearse it with her. I'm ready for it...wish I wasn't sick.

Oh, by the way...it's a virus. Nothing I can do but wait it out, take vitamins and advil, and chew on ginger (this according to my new groovy Indian doctor-lady whom I really like.)

I also have a Kellog's commercial audition tomorrow and a meeting with a potential personal manager. Hopefully I can convince myself I'm not sick until tomorrow night...

Another One

I shot another sit-com pilot tonight. It was a lot of fun...much like the last one. It's independent without a buyer, being shopped, etc. We shot it in a studio near downtown LA. Desperate Housewives is shooting there next week. Pretty cool. I was to be a guest star, but they had me improv a bunch and bumped me up to series regular. I go back one day next week as well. (That's a big deal if it does get picked up...not so much if it doesn't.)

No word on the four auditions from Wednesday, but I did my best at all of them. I would like to land a commercial soon to have some residual paychecks roll in. It's really freakin' expensive to live here.

I got my SAG card in the mail yesterday. It does make everything seem more real and legitimate. All that and we hooked up our Tivo this week. (It was our Christmas gift to each other.) It's way cool.

4

Four auditions tomorrow. Three of them came in after 6pm today. That beats the previous record of three in one day. Just call me the Kobe of auditioning.

Slowing Down

I took Aidan to school this morning, came back home and crashed until noon. I haven't had a full night's sleep in over a week. It was nice to catch up. No auditions yet for this week. I'm shooting a small role in a TV Pilot called "The Imposter" this weekend though.

It's nice to be home...

Comedy Show Tonight (Sat)

Some of you asked....and this was the easiest way to let everyone know. I'll be performing with the OC Crazies tonight at 8pm.

Location:

DePietro Performance Center and Don Cribb Theater
809 N Main St.
Santa Ana, CA

I think tix are $15...

Keepin' On

I joined SAG earlier this week, so I'm a real actor now I guess. No getting around it really. It means, at least at first, that auditions will slow down a bit. I'm no longer permitted to do projects that are non-union. I read for a small roll in a Sharon Stone movie and also had an interesting audition for Hugh Jackman's body double in another. Normally it wouldn't be too exciting to be a body double, but it sounds like this is a green screen thing where I would actually be acting a lot opposite of Hugh...I think he's very talented so that would be cool if it happens.

I have another audition tomorrow for a romantic comedy. So...a few less auditions since joining, but from here on out they will all be worthwhile projects.

I leave for Las Vegas to do some convention work Monday. I'll have to work eight hour days like a grown-up. Good pay though.

For you OC locals, I will be performing in a sketch comedy show with the OC Crazies on Saturday, January 21. It's the same theater as last time. I'll post the details here next week.

Mac Attack

I just want to thank Miah, Greg and Robb for convincing me that I need a Mac. However, I think that they should take their passion to the next level and organize an international fund-raising effort for the cause. I mean, talk is cheap. I'd be happy to accept the check for such a worthy cause.

Humbly...

Joe

Can I do today over again?

All of my technology has conspired against me...

I dropped my Blackberry into the toilet. Let me know when you are done laughing.

...

Ok. So I had to buy a new one today. Turns out they cost more the second time around. That's why they are also called Crackberries.

The good news is I had my old one backed up on my home computer so I wouldn't have to re-enter all of my info. The bad news is my home computer is currently the technological equivelant of sandstone. (By the way, thanks for the help Miah, but it won't even let me get online to download the program. I'm going to have to take it to a pro.)

It's days like this I want to be Amish...

New Year's Computer Virus

Argh. I was doing a websearch for this director that I worked with last year and my computer was attacked by "spysheriff" adware. It has shut down everything including access to the internet, norton anti-virus, and even the ability to click on "my computer." If you have had this happen please post a comment as to what I should do...

Until then I'll be suffering by using my laptop only...I know, it's rather sad.