Sunday, February 23, 2014

When You Lose A Day

I was rather excited last week about landing a two day shoot on a TV show that at this time I can tell you little about. Yeah, that's going to be an ongoing refrain in this blog. Anyway, it was good to be in front of the camera for the first time since "Incendiary", which filmed in August.

This leads me down two avenues which will converge into one. I loved working on "Incendiary". It was one of those one day shoots that you won't forget. Then the months went by. Certainly plenty of auditions, but no in front of the camera gigs. What the hell? Then along came this two planned days gig!


(Here is a rare behind the scenes shot during a take of a scene for "Incendiary". Look closely, I'm the one behind the viewfinder.)

Since I love being on set, like a kid on a playground, I arrived early and found out I was in three short scenes. It was fun and it was like, "oh, how I missed it so" and other such inner exclamations of cliché. I even had a short solo scene, just walking, and felt good about the whole atmosphere. The cast and crew were gracious and hard working. As an actor, you'll find out, if you don't already know, how important that is.

Then came the news. I was only needed one day after all, not two days. Hmm, well that is too bad I thought. Not only because I had a great time, but because of the less money aspect of the news. I must stress here, my friends, that this was not a guaranteed two day gig. It was one of many gigs available that are, up front, one, two, three, or possibly whatever amount of days. A lot of that comes down to the type of contract you signed. But, that's not what I am here for.

Now here is where the avenues converge. The avenue of keep trying during your droughts of no on camera work and the avenue of not allowing bad news to ruin a great day on the set. Of course no one wants to go through a drought and no one wants to lose a day of shooting and pay. I realize that I was spoiled my first few months in Los Angeles. I was getting several bookings and then it happened. That creeping sensation when you have gone two months without a gig and then three and so forth, and as they say, so on. But you have got to persevere, not only with constant daily submissions but also with constant, when need be, submissions to TV shows asking for characters you really match.

When it comes to losing a scheduled day because of whatever occurrence which you, as an actor, truly have no control over, go home happy. Because you love your work and because you do like being like a kid playing on the playground.
 

Sunday, February 9, 2014

We're All Poor Here

The other day I was standing in a line with a bunch of other actors and, of course, the wannabes, outside a studio in Hollywood. As I was feeling pretty good about securing a gig, I pulled out a fresh pouch of tobacco and rolled a cigarette (that skill is listed on my resume). A guy standing next me remarked how quickly I rolled my smoke and sure enough I was maybe three drags in before he asked if I'd roll him one.

I didn't have a problem with that and within sixty seconds he had his own cigarette. He again remarked how fast I rolled and how evenly the tobacco was distributed. I thanked him and we chatted for a bit about "the biz". Apparently, word spread fast along the line of two facts: one, I had tobacco and two, I could roll pretty fast; for within a brief few minutes a fellow came up asking for a smoke. Again, no problem, I was already in a good mood. Seconds later, yet another fellow came up wanting a smoke. I then joked that I should set up a little table and charge 50 cents a pop.

When the fifth person came up to bum a smoke, another fellow who was standing next me and had been observing this scene finally piped up in a very clear, loud theatrical voice, tinged with just the correct amount of bitterness and regret. He exclaimed, "You guys should get your own tobacco. We're all poor here!". I paused. He was absolutely correct. The cigarette hand-out was over. It's not that I'm against handing out a smoke every few days as I wander the mean streets of Los Angeles, but the fellow was right. We were all standing in the line for the same reason: get a gig, get some money, pay some bills and eat a little something.

(photo by Tammy Harrel-Fraley)