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...