We actor types get all trained, savvy, eager, and practice “attitude” – But then what?
I was advised to subscribe to several services that place casting notices on their websites. I did and found two movies that were to be filmed that intrigued me and I applied to both. One that I thought would be fun specifically asked for -- [REX] male, “a man in mid-50s, sometimes graceful, almost “English” in his style and manners, but he gets sucked into his young executives’ partying ways. And, this next sentence really caught my eye. “If you are a real-life CEO of a small business and wanted to act in movies, guess what, today is your lucky day,” – supporting role.-- Oh, so me! I’m that person and I jumped on it! However, I never heard from them. Crocodile skin is necessary in this profession. Such is the life of a budding actor. The next one was -- [DUTCH] – Male, Caucasian, 55-60 years old, blue collar, gruff, grew up in the country, doesn’t take much crap. Co-leading role. -- I can throw off my pussycat demeanor and be this person. They were also looking to fill the role of -- [REVEREND JAMES] – Male, Caucasian, 50-60 years old, small town preacher.-- Why not go for both roles? This latter movie was to be filmed in Dallas.
I submitted for both parts, but was mostly interested in “Dutch”. I thought I might hear on one, but to my surprise, I was sent sides (lines from a scene in the movie)for both of them. The “Dutch” part had two scenes and the preacher just one.
After my last experience with Joy doing the filming (and mostly getting my stomach on camera) I decided to go for a more professional look. Contacting one of my early instructors to coach me, I met with no return email after my first response. I needed to get something done since I had a deadline for submission. I wasn't sure what to do. I saw a casting notice for a Hibdon Tire commercial to be filmed in Tulsa and they were looking for someone around my age. So I called Michelle De Long, a casting agent in Oklahoma City to place my name in the hopper. She told me I would not work out because I looked too young for my age. (I had a secret crocodile grin on my face over that one!) Some of the women who were auditioning for the female part had gray hair and she needed an equally gray mate. Oh wow! How neat – Too young? Bring on the booties and pacifier! I had just turned 69 (should I change the tag line of my blog?) so I felt pretty good. Reporting that I am just a kid, met with a quizzical eyebrow at home. That woman’s no fun. She told me I was getting a little sold on myself and was getting a little big in the head.
During our conversation, I told Michelle about the audition I needed to make and she said she would coach me for the spot, and said we’d get it done in two hours. Three, if I was really bad. She wanted to make sure I had the lines memorized. I have found memorizing isn’t the beast I had expected it to be (see my earlier blogs) and with a few tricks, learned from the internet, via Anthony Hopkins, and some from Michelle I was doing fine. I had those lines nailed. Wish I had known these shortcuts in high school and college.
Michelle worked with me to develop the part of the father, both as a gruff Dad and as a grieving one. This movie is heavy. A son commits suicide and his older brother joins a crisis hot line and learns a lot about why his brother committed this act. She really helped me examine the character of the father and how to bring him out. Felt like I was acting for the first time and I enjoyed it.
We moved on to the role of the reverend, who was presiding over the funeral service for the young man. Pulling my previously used priest collar out of the handy-dandy costume box, I figured I was prepared – even though he was a preacher I figured they were both religious figures. And the collar should work. And, we finished filming in one and a half hours. Hooray!! Once we finished the auditions, she emailed them to the director in Los Angeles. Now, it is just a waiting game. Also, this is for an independent film and that means it may or may not get filmed. They have to raise the money. I am not inclined invest.
Michelle sent me a copy of the audition and I promptly emailed it to my family, some friends and a few of my new actor acquaintences. Since they all like me (I hope), the comments were very good. Well, almost all. An old high school friend said, “I think you were really good, but if I were the casting director, you wouldn't make the cut.” Ouch! Working on the crocodile skin again. Can’t let critics dampen my spirits.
While I was at Michelle’s, she asked me if I would want to be a redneck in a short film being shot Memorial Day. This was to publicize the opening of a King Kong exhibit at Universal Studios in Los Angeles. Turned out I end up as a "Can you say 'crazy street person'?" Hate this type casting. More about that later.
Sunday, June 6, 2010
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
My Guest Blogger
I was sitting at the computer this past weekend getting ready to write the latest installment of my blog. One of our two cats, Summer (so named because we got her from someone living in the Summerfield addition of OKC), decided she would like to take her favorite spot on the desk nestled up against the computer keyboard. I’m not sure what she did next (probably wanted to go outside since she is always on the wrong side of the door), but somehow she gave me the idea to have a guest columnist. And that is what follows:
My wife, Joy, writes a weekly column for a local newspaper in Oklahoma City. The newspaper is FRIDAY, and she has been writing this social / humor column for 17 years. In her latest column, she named the steps she went through to help me with a movie audition I was to send to a director in Austin. Technology has caught up with the film auditioning world and directors will now accept auditions by DVD or email. This is the process I went through for this particular audition. I could have gone for a live audition, but Austin is six hours away and I opted to go with the DVD. The email I received from the director specifically stated that the DVD did not have to be award winning cinematography. With those words, I decided to do this myself with the help of Joy. And the following is what happened:
EXCURSIONS by JOY RICHARDSON (Friday May 14, 2010)
Even on its finest day, this is a wacky household. Add to it my husband making an acting audition tape, and it escalates to bizarre. Jerry’s been taking acting lessons in Norman for about nine months – he could have had a baby in that time, but NO! He wants stardom.
It’s pretty adorable that a guy in his late 60’s has just now started acting – is there a chance of that working? Apparently so, as he’s been in four commercials and a movie – the guy is good! (I’m married to him, so of course I think that) No, he hasn’t had a principle part yet, but he gets paid as an extra, has made a whole group of new, mostly young, friends – and he’s having such fun.
Holding a script sent to him, he gave Marcel Marceau a run as he could be seen mouthing his audition part, that of a priest. We don’t own a video camera, but I’d purchased a fairly sophisticated camera to take images of my paintings, and it had a video capability. We hadn’t yet even learned how to work the camera, much less the video. Instructions, let’s see, gotta’ be here somewhere. There they are! Dad gum, those are in Spanish. We looked for the instruction booklet, instructional CD, and power cords for two days. I awakened with a jolt, remembering where I’d put them for safekeeping (that safekeeping thing - always a bad idea).
First we needed a Priest-y outfit. Easily acquired at the costume store. We had components: priest, script memorized, church gear, camera-woman, and the other actor, Stephen – the later two being me. Talcum powder to the rescue, as I began graying Father Hayden’s hair. He so looked the part.
Barely able to do one thing at once, two things at once were stretching it. I was the cinematographer PLUS “Stephen’s voice”. In an effort to keep my place in the script, speaking to prompt Jerry, (my voice, a suspiciously too-girly Stephen), I kept letting the video camera slip down, cutting off the priest’s head. But after several “takes”, we’d accomplished something fairly good.
Next scene, formerly nice Stephen has tied up Father Hayden and is being nasty. I know nothing before or after as I only am holding four pages of this script. But, the joy in this is tying the priest/husband to a chair. We filmed, and it was, “a wrap”. I left to put laundry in the dryer, as we camerawomen multi-task. In a rather un-priestly state of sarcastic growl, I heard, “Would you mind un-tying me?” Told him I’d think about it.
After being released from his bonds, Jerry downloaded, minimized, and created a file for his audition. Naturally he didn’t have the correct disk, and of course when he got to Staples, it was closed. But with the dawn all was rectified and he sent his taped audition to Austin, with the dream of getting this part. Some people nap and watch golf on the weekends, please; can I just be “some people”? Now he informs me that he is to send two more video auditions off, oh, the tormented life of a groupie. When you’re awake in the middle of the night and need entertainment, check out his website: http://actingyourage1.blogspot.com --------
Her column continues on, but since the remainder of the column is not about me, I opted to delete the rest of it. You can see this column and many of her others at http://okcfriday.com.
Also, check out her website
http://joyrichardsonart.com
As it turned out I did not get the part. I have been taught not to look at the camera when giving an audition. However, when the person giving you the other lines and is also holding the camera it is hard not to look. I now know how to fix that next time if I opt to do it myself. But, I plan to go to one of my acting instructors and have them guide me next time. I do have to send two auditions before the end of May and that is what I plan to do.
Stay tuned to see how that one turns out
Friday, April 30, 2010
A plan almost came together
I had this great plan last week for me to get to Hollywood. The Los Angeles Lakers were in town to play the Oklahoma City Thunder for the third and fourth games in the NBA playoffs for their division. The Lakers had already won two games in LA and were now in Oklahoma City. It just so happened that these two games coincided with the OKC Arts Festival.
The Arts Festival is one of the largest in the country and lasts for six days. Over 700,000 people normally attend this event. My wife, Joy, is a very talented abstract artist who uses a lot of color in her work and she was showing this year. Check out her website at http://joyrichardsonart.com. This was her second year to be invited. This is a juried show and it is very difficult to get a spot in this event. Over 1000 artists apply in various categories and only 144 are allowed to enter. She has attempted three times to make it and last year she made it to the alternate list and then made into show when someone dropped out. She did quite well so she was invited to return this year without having to be juried again.
So here was my plan. With the Lakers in town for games Thursday and Saturday evening, they had to do something on Friday besides practice. Kobe Bryant, the top player in the game, and Phil Jackson the Lakers coach, would come by the Festival and stop at Joy’s booth. They would both like her paintings and would each purchase a piece and take it to back to Hollywood. Jack Nicholson, a staunch Lakers supporter, would see her art at one of their houses. He would like her art, contact Joy and then buy one himself. That would then get Joy into the Hollywood crowd. She in turn would meet some directors who would certainly want one of her abstracts. That would in turn get me to meet these directors, and therefore that would get me to Hollywood. As Lance McDaniel said, “Jerry, there are easier ways”.
But, neither of them showed up. And, I know the reason. Not the fact that they would be instantly recognizable and be mobbed, or would be twice the height of anyone else at the Festival. No! The reason they did not show was because Oklahoma City Thunder gave them such a whooping on Thursday evening those guys must have sat in their hotel room (only two blocks away) sulking. They just did not feel like crawling out of bed. I am an Oklahoma City Thunder fan, but I bet they did not give Joy’s art or my Hollywood aspirations a second thought. No, they were more interested in winning the game. I’m really glad the Thunder won the fourth game on Saturday and the Lakers went back home.
So even though it was a marvelous plan, it did not come together.
I did get to make another commercial for a casino last week. This time it was for Remington Park in Oklahoma City. You have to look really hard and do not blink or you may miss me even though I had the male lead. But, I did have some extemely talented supporting actors: Tony Williams, Lacey Lett, Tara Hood, and Shawana Shafer. You will have to copy and paste the below link onto your browser. If the commercial does not load immediately, the ad is the fourth button from the left. But, just in case you do miss me, I have placed two pictures of me from the ad for you to see.
http://www.am.com/#/home/VideoModule/1570
I am the one on the right with a very pretty Lacey Lett on my left
I'm in the buffet line with talented Tony Wiliams in the background
The Arts Festival is one of the largest in the country and lasts for six days. Over 700,000 people normally attend this event. My wife, Joy, is a very talented abstract artist who uses a lot of color in her work and she was showing this year. Check out her website at http://joyrichardsonart.com. This was her second year to be invited. This is a juried show and it is very difficult to get a spot in this event. Over 1000 artists apply in various categories and only 144 are allowed to enter. She has attempted three times to make it and last year she made it to the alternate list and then made into show when someone dropped out. She did quite well so she was invited to return this year without having to be juried again.
So here was my plan. With the Lakers in town for games Thursday and Saturday evening, they had to do something on Friday besides practice. Kobe Bryant, the top player in the game, and Phil Jackson the Lakers coach, would come by the Festival and stop at Joy’s booth. They would both like her paintings and would each purchase a piece and take it to back to Hollywood. Jack Nicholson, a staunch Lakers supporter, would see her art at one of their houses. He would like her art, contact Joy and then buy one himself. That would then get Joy into the Hollywood crowd. She in turn would meet some directors who would certainly want one of her abstracts. That would in turn get me to meet these directors, and therefore that would get me to Hollywood. As Lance McDaniel said, “Jerry, there are easier ways”.
But, neither of them showed up. And, I know the reason. Not the fact that they would be instantly recognizable and be mobbed, or would be twice the height of anyone else at the Festival. No! The reason they did not show was because Oklahoma City Thunder gave them such a whooping on Thursday evening those guys must have sat in their hotel room (only two blocks away) sulking. They just did not feel like crawling out of bed. I am an Oklahoma City Thunder fan, but I bet they did not give Joy’s art or my Hollywood aspirations a second thought. No, they were more interested in winning the game. I’m really glad the Thunder won the fourth game on Saturday and the Lakers went back home.
So even though it was a marvelous plan, it did not come together.
I did get to make another commercial for a casino last week. This time it was for Remington Park in Oklahoma City. You have to look really hard and do not blink or you may miss me even though I had the male lead. But, I did have some extemely talented supporting actors: Tony Williams, Lacey Lett, Tara Hood, and Shawana Shafer. You will have to copy and paste the below link onto your browser. If the commercial does not load immediately, the ad is the fourth button from the left. But, just in case you do miss me, I have placed two pictures of me from the ad for you to see.
http://www.am.com/#/home/VideoModule/1570
I am the one on the right with a very pretty Lacey Lett on my left
I'm in the buffet line with talented Tony Wiliams in the background
Thursday, April 15, 2010
An out of town shoot
I was pretty excited when I was selected to go on an out of town shoot for a commercial. How many times have I seen television shows or movies being filmed in exotic locals such as Paris, London, Hawaii, or New York? But, Thackerville, OK!!! Be still my heart! Earlier this month my agent (it is still fun to say you have an agent) submitted me for a commercial to be filmed in Tulsa. Alas, I wasn’t what they were looking for at this time. This is a very humbling business. Thackerville is on the border of Oklahoma and Texas and the home of the gigantic Winstar Casino. Gigantic doesn’t even come close to describing the size of this place. From one end to the other it is 1½ miles long and has almost 600,000 sq. ft. I am told it is the third largest casino in the United States by size and number two in the number of slot machines. It is ginormous.
My “call time” was 8:00 in the morning and since it is a two hour trip south I had to leave around 5:00. That road between the state line and OKC is in continuous repair and it really sucks to drive. Especially, when driving while dark. Anyway, I arrived on schedule, but trying to find the correct area to check in was interesting. I drove around back and after asking several employees, finally found the correct door through which we “stars” were to enter.
I was in a very select group for this commercial – only nine of us. I had worked with two other actors before. Tony Williams was in my first commercial for the Riverwind Casino. He had just finished a film where he had played the antagonist. If you know Tony, you know he is definitely not that kind of person. What a great thing acting is because you can be any character. Emily Ward has been in all three casino commercials I have worked and she had just finished a successful run in “Side by Side by Sondheim” at the Sooner Theatre in Norman. (I have a soft spot in my heart for this musical because I was one of the original investors when it first hit Broadway in 1977.) It was good seeing my actor friends again. Ashlee Webster, a new friend, lives just around the corner from me in Oklahoma City and has a son who is in the same class and school as my grandson. Small world. Ginger Lynette, Jodie Moore, Emily Tabb, Jed and Shellie Fox rounded out the extras. Jed, Shellie, and I have been in several classes at the Actor Factory together. Jed is a retired Lawton policeman and he and Shellie have a fun time acting in movies around this part of the US. Cassie Self, from Rogers, AR, was the main spokesperson for the casino. She has had this role for several years, is very pretty, and very professional.
The idea of this filming was to show the various areas of the casino where activities take place. This series of commercials were not to be shown as a television commercial for the public to see. Instead, they were to be shown on in-house hotel room televisions or on tour busses. Our first shot was in an inside restaurant and while Cassie spoke to the camera the rest of us walked around as though we were either entering the restaurant or leaving. Emily Ward and I were in this first spot and we decided she would be my daughter and I was treating her to lunch. In reality, she could easily be my granddaughter. Lance McDaniel was our assistant director and as always he was very professional. I can still hear him calling “Action”.
That was the way it went for the rest of the day. We filmed scenes in around the slot machines and blackjack tables and other areas. During the time we are filming, the casino has our area roped off so casino patrons will not walk into the scenes. One man was insistent that the ropes be put down because they were restricting him from getting to his favorite machine. He crossed the rope in front of Ashlee who promptly grabbed him by the shirt to restrain him. A security guard came over to the man and rescued him from Ashlee. Though she is pretty, she’s tough. The guard asked her if she would like to have a job. I find people are very possessive about their particular slot machines. Some even do strange rituals before pushing the button that will take their money.
The last filming of the day was an outside shot. We were to be seen getting off a tour bus as we arrived at the hotel entrance. It had been quite cold in the casino and poor Emily Ward was freezing so I loaned her my sport coat between scenes. As we went outside, she decided it seemed warm enough so I took my coat back. Actually, it was cold, but I needed my coat for the continuity of the scene. We were to get off the bus and head to the hotel while Cassie spoke to the camera in front of the bus steps. That did not work out the way the director had planned. So all of us went to the other side of the bus, away from the camera while Cassie did her spiel on the steps. The idea was to have us walk toward the hotel when the bus started to pull away and that way those viewing the scene would then see us heading toward the door. While we were waiting, Emily started performing dance steps while trying to keep warm. I told her I took dance lessons years ago as a child and I remember something about shuffle ball step. She said it was shuffle ball change.
She proceeded to teach me how to do that. Unbeknownst to us, the bus pulled away and the other actors started moving toward the hotel. We did not notice and Lance and the other crew members were a little non-plussed to see everyone else walking to the door while Emily and I were practicing dance steps. Blew that take. Next take we did not dance, but forgot about not moving until the bus moved. When we heard “Action”, she and I started moving and were at the door when we looked around to see that the bus had just begun to move, but no one else had. You just can’t take us anywhere. The next take worked and we were allowed to leave for the evening. I went to Ardmore where I had found a room while others went elsewhere.
That night in the hotel room, I studied my lines for an audition I had to film the next week. I was going to audition for the role of a priest. I had been sent sides (sides are the lines of the script they give you to learn for an audition) for a kindly priest who was welcoming a young man back to his office after dropping out of seminary. So, I needed to put on my friendly face. The next set of sides had to do with the priest being tied up by the same young man and being rather upset. So, I had to put on my “po’d” priest face. More about that later. Especially, if I get the part.
Next morning our call was 6:30am. Some had gone to Dallas and others back to Oklahoma City and they really had to get up early to be at the Winstar on time. But, all were there in plenty of time. However, some of the perky actors were not quite as perky at that time of the morning.
More scenes were shot in and around the blackjack tables and slots. I can fake talk and fake laugh quietly with the best of them. We had to always act as though we were winning at slots or blackjack and be very excited about it. Jumping up and down, waving arms, clapping hands (quietly). Now that I am a TRAINED CASINO COMMERCIAL ACTOR, I can do this quite easily. At one time or another, I worked with most of the others. Ashlee and I worked together on several slot shots. One would have me walk up to her as a old friend and she would show she me is winning and then asked me join her at the next slot machine. Another time, she and I were walking arm in arm through the row of slots when we see our old friend Shellie. Unfortunately, we made to much noise greeting each other and were called out. Forgot my training. Emily Tabb and I walked into a scene and went immediately to the box office to purchase tickets to an up coming show. Cute Emily was the one the director used as a stand in for Cassie when a scene was being set up. Cassie was not normally with us extras because she was always with the make-up-artist who made sure each hair was in place and no shiny spots on her face. Ginger and I sat at a blackjack table and were being fake dealt with fake cards. Seems like I always was getting a fake blackjack. Ginger is delightful to be with and is in the real estate business in Norman.
The last shot of the day was to be in the lobby of the hotel. Now that was quite interesting, in that we had to shoot the scene while people were checking into the hotel. So there was always someone coming or going, but Lance being a true professional got us all corralled, including some hotel guests, and the shot was finally finished and we could go home. It was a long two days, but it was fun.
Left to right: Ashlee Webster, Lance McDaniel, Emily Ward, Emily Tabb, Tony Williams, Jodie Moore, Shellie Fox, Jed Fox, Ginger Lynette, me
My “call time” was 8:00 in the morning and since it is a two hour trip south I had to leave around 5:00. That road between the state line and OKC is in continuous repair and it really sucks to drive. Especially, when driving while dark. Anyway, I arrived on schedule, but trying to find the correct area to check in was interesting. I drove around back and after asking several employees, finally found the correct door through which we “stars” were to enter.
I was in a very select group for this commercial – only nine of us. I had worked with two other actors before. Tony Williams was in my first commercial for the Riverwind Casino. He had just finished a film where he had played the antagonist. If you know Tony, you know he is definitely not that kind of person. What a great thing acting is because you can be any character. Emily Ward has been in all three casino commercials I have worked and she had just finished a successful run in “Side by Side by Sondheim” at the Sooner Theatre in Norman. (I have a soft spot in my heart for this musical because I was one of the original investors when it first hit Broadway in 1977.) It was good seeing my actor friends again. Ashlee Webster, a new friend, lives just around the corner from me in Oklahoma City and has a son who is in the same class and school as my grandson. Small world. Ginger Lynette, Jodie Moore, Emily Tabb, Jed and Shellie Fox rounded out the extras. Jed, Shellie, and I have been in several classes at the Actor Factory together. Jed is a retired Lawton policeman and he and Shellie have a fun time acting in movies around this part of the US. Cassie Self, from Rogers, AR, was the main spokesperson for the casino. She has had this role for several years, is very pretty, and very professional.
The idea of this filming was to show the various areas of the casino where activities take place. This series of commercials were not to be shown as a television commercial for the public to see. Instead, they were to be shown on in-house hotel room televisions or on tour busses. Our first shot was in an inside restaurant and while Cassie spoke to the camera the rest of us walked around as though we were either entering the restaurant or leaving. Emily Ward and I were in this first spot and we decided she would be my daughter and I was treating her to lunch. In reality, she could easily be my granddaughter. Lance McDaniel was our assistant director and as always he was very professional. I can still hear him calling “Action”.
That was the way it went for the rest of the day. We filmed scenes in around the slot machines and blackjack tables and other areas. During the time we are filming, the casino has our area roped off so casino patrons will not walk into the scenes. One man was insistent that the ropes be put down because they were restricting him from getting to his favorite machine. He crossed the rope in front of Ashlee who promptly grabbed him by the shirt to restrain him. A security guard came over to the man and rescued him from Ashlee. Though she is pretty, she’s tough. The guard asked her if she would like to have a job. I find people are very possessive about their particular slot machines. Some even do strange rituals before pushing the button that will take their money.
The last filming of the day was an outside shot. We were to be seen getting off a tour bus as we arrived at the hotel entrance. It had been quite cold in the casino and poor Emily Ward was freezing so I loaned her my sport coat between scenes. As we went outside, she decided it seemed warm enough so I took my coat back. Actually, it was cold, but I needed my coat for the continuity of the scene. We were to get off the bus and head to the hotel while Cassie spoke to the camera in front of the bus steps. That did not work out the way the director had planned. So all of us went to the other side of the bus, away from the camera while Cassie did her spiel on the steps. The idea was to have us walk toward the hotel when the bus started to pull away and that way those viewing the scene would then see us heading toward the door. While we were waiting, Emily started performing dance steps while trying to keep warm. I told her I took dance lessons years ago as a child and I remember something about shuffle ball step. She said it was shuffle ball change.
She proceeded to teach me how to do that. Unbeknownst to us, the bus pulled away and the other actors started moving toward the hotel. We did not notice and Lance and the other crew members were a little non-plussed to see everyone else walking to the door while Emily and I were practicing dance steps. Blew that take. Next take we did not dance, but forgot about not moving until the bus moved. When we heard “Action”, she and I started moving and were at the door when we looked around to see that the bus had just begun to move, but no one else had. You just can’t take us anywhere. The next take worked and we were allowed to leave for the evening. I went to Ardmore where I had found a room while others went elsewhere.
That night in the hotel room, I studied my lines for an audition I had to film the next week. I was going to audition for the role of a priest. I had been sent sides (sides are the lines of the script they give you to learn for an audition) for a kindly priest who was welcoming a young man back to his office after dropping out of seminary. So, I needed to put on my friendly face. The next set of sides had to do with the priest being tied up by the same young man and being rather upset. So, I had to put on my “po’d” priest face. More about that later. Especially, if I get the part.
Next morning our call was 6:30am. Some had gone to Dallas and others back to Oklahoma City and they really had to get up early to be at the Winstar on time. But, all were there in plenty of time. However, some of the perky actors were not quite as perky at that time of the morning.
More scenes were shot in and around the blackjack tables and slots. I can fake talk and fake laugh quietly with the best of them. We had to always act as though we were winning at slots or blackjack and be very excited about it. Jumping up and down, waving arms, clapping hands (quietly). Now that I am a TRAINED CASINO COMMERCIAL ACTOR, I can do this quite easily. At one time or another, I worked with most of the others. Ashlee and I worked together on several slot shots. One would have me walk up to her as a old friend and she would show she me is winning and then asked me join her at the next slot machine. Another time, she and I were walking arm in arm through the row of slots when we see our old friend Shellie. Unfortunately, we made to much noise greeting each other and were called out. Forgot my training. Emily Tabb and I walked into a scene and went immediately to the box office to purchase tickets to an up coming show. Cute Emily was the one the director used as a stand in for Cassie when a scene was being set up. Cassie was not normally with us extras because she was always with the make-up-artist who made sure each hair was in place and no shiny spots on her face. Ginger and I sat at a blackjack table and were being fake dealt with fake cards. Seems like I always was getting a fake blackjack. Ginger is delightful to be with and is in the real estate business in Norman. The last shot of the day was to be in the lobby of the hotel. Now that was quite interesting, in that we had to shoot the scene while people were checking into the hotel. So there was always someone coming or going, but Lance being a true professional got us all corralled, including some hotel guests, and the shot was finally finished and we could go home. It was a long two days, but it was fun.
Left to right: Ashlee Webster, Lance McDaniel, Emily Ward, Emily Tabb, Tony Williams, Jodie Moore, Shellie Fox, Jed Fox, Ginger Lynette, me
Saturday, March 20, 2010
My First Movie
Oklahoma City is just movie central! There is a movie currently being filmed in Oklahoma City that is titled “Heaven’s Rain.” A true story. It is based on an actual event that took place October 15, 1979 outside of Okarche, OK. A young minister and his wife were shot and killed and their son and daughter were also shot, but survived. Brooks Douglass, the couple’s son and a former Oklahoma state senator, is producing this film. A harrowing recital of those events and how he came to forgive the killers is the basic theme. It is a movie of redemption. Brooks is a strong individual, full of faith, and I don’t know how he was able to find forgiveness in his soul. There have been numerous casting calls for extras the last several weeks, but I have never applied for one. However, since my bucket list includes a speaking part in a movie, I thought I had better see how movies are made. Thursday was to be the last day of filming in Oklahoma City, and I had not quite made up my mind to apply until I was talking to my actor friend, Dorothy Shaw. She convinced me I should. I applied and was accepted as an extra.
The filming was to take place in Junior’s, a very nice restaurant in Oklahoma City. Because it is such a nice place, we were told to come dressed as we might have in the 1980’s as if we were going to dinner. I don’t know that suits were much different than now, but I had my wardrobe mistress (my wife) go to work on finding the right outfit for me to wear. She came up with the perfect suit and tie and I headed off for the restaurant. I went into the extras holding room and ran onto one of my acting friends, cute and perky Emily Ward. She was not working as an extra but she was the “extra wrangler.” That meant she was in charge of herding all of us around by telling who does what - and where. She had told me at the last Riverwind commercial filming that she had been the “prisoner extras wrangler” at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary in McAlester when a scene was filmed there. The people she wrangled were actors, and fortunately, not actual prisoners.
I was sitting in the waiting room with about 25 others when Brooks Douglass and Paul Brown, the director, came in to say hello to the extras and to thank them for participating. Paul Brown has been involved in “Quantum Leap” and “The X-Files”. As they were leaving, Brooks turned and asked me to come outside into the hallway. I have known Brooks for a number of years and when he made a run for the congressional seat for Western Oklahoma, I helped him raise money.
Brooks told me he wanted me to play the part of an Oklahoma state senator. However, I wonder if it is an upgrade to go from car dealer to senator? Well, I tried to keep my grin from going ear to ear, but I was pretty excited. I left the extras room and moved into the restaurant where I met the other would-be senators. They were Joe Gilliland, Jim Hughes, Richard Phillips, and John Trebilcock. John is a current member of the Oklahoma House of Representatives and Richard is a past member. Jim is with the Alcoholic Beverage Laws Enforcement (ABLE) commission and Joe is an excellent real estate broker. All looked properly senatorial.
A makeup lady attacked us with face powder and hair spray to make sure that we were not shiny and then we took a seat at a table in the bar area of Junior’s. They placed various props around the table such as: cocktail glasses with a mixture of tea, apple juice, and water to resemble scotch or bourbon. There was a bottle of O’Doul’s beer. At least, that is what the bottle cap said. The two regular labels on the bottle had been removed and replaced with a label that had a generic name, but it certainly looked authentic. There were dirty plates on the table at several places, rumpled napkins, several ashtrays, and a martini glass with an olive in front of me. Drat, it was, unfortunately, filled with water. And to top it off, I was asked if I would mind smoking a cigar. Now, I haven’t smoked in almost 47 years. I quit when I married Joy, who never smoked, and I received my orders to report to an ammunition ship. Both happening simultaneously. Let’s see -- amo ship – fire? Not so good. I was never much of a cigar smoker anyway, but, heck!! It is all for art. I am surprised that I did not get sick or that Joy even let me into the house smelling of smoke.
Lance McDaniel, the AD (assistant director), attended to details and made sure everything was going smoothly. He was very efficient and all the crew I met and saw were very friendly. It is quite interesting to see how a scene is shot. I have seen small railroad tracks for moving cameras in various movie trailers over the years when films are being made. We had one at the bar. It probably did not go 12 feet but someone actually sat on the camera as it was moved up and down the side of our table.
The young man Mike Vogel, who played Brooks Douglass’ part, sat at the head of the table and we were to respond to him after he spoke. I can’t remember his exact line, but I know it included iguana and orgasm. I know. I know. It doesn’t make much sense so you will have to see the movie. Once he said his line we then had to laugh at what he had said and then talk to each other. The director told Richard to light a cigarette after the scene started, but to count to five and then light. As Paul Brown walked away he turned around and added, “DON’T count out loud.” I must be a seasoned actor as I already knew that!! We did the take about 10 times. Me smoking my cigar and sipping my martini, the others smoking and drinking. Reminds me of the old days when you could smoke in a restaurant. Plus, they had a smoke-making machine to add extra smoke to make the place hazy. Hmmmm, I wonder if I can receive SAG eligibility for drinking a martini, laughing and smoking?
Mike is in the movie “Cloverfield, and “She’s Out of My League” (just recently opened), and soon to be seen in “Miami Medical” on CBS beginning April 2. Amusingly, he told us he went to doctor school for a week to learn how to speak like a doctor and learn all the technology. Interesting insight I thought you might like to know. Mike is a very nice and polite person and I wish him well in the movie business. I talked to him after the scene was over and told him I was a retired automobile dealer and just beginning this journey. I told him I did not know how much call there was for someone my age. He told me I would be surprised, but at least I didn’t have to depend on this life to make a living. He has a wife and two little girls and I gather this is tough work if you have to fight through auditions all the time.
Overall, it was a blast and l look forward to the time when I have a scripted line. Thanks, Brooks. This was a lot of fun.
This was taken with my cell phone.
me, Joe Gilliland, Mike Vogel, John Trebilcock, Richard Phillips, Jim Hughes
Below is a website to find out more of Brooks Douglass' life
http://www.people.com/people/archive/
article/0,,20142085,00.html
The filming was to take place in Junior’s, a very nice restaurant in Oklahoma City. Because it is such a nice place, we were told to come dressed as we might have in the 1980’s as if we were going to dinner. I don’t know that suits were much different than now, but I had my wardrobe mistress (my wife) go to work on finding the right outfit for me to wear. She came up with the perfect suit and tie and I headed off for the restaurant. I went into the extras holding room and ran onto one of my acting friends, cute and perky Emily Ward. She was not working as an extra but she was the “extra wrangler.” That meant she was in charge of herding all of us around by telling who does what - and where. She had told me at the last Riverwind commercial filming that she had been the “prisoner extras wrangler” at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary in McAlester when a scene was filmed there. The people she wrangled were actors, and fortunately, not actual prisoners.
I was sitting in the waiting room with about 25 others when Brooks Douglass and Paul Brown, the director, came in to say hello to the extras and to thank them for participating. Paul Brown has been involved in “Quantum Leap” and “The X-Files”. As they were leaving, Brooks turned and asked me to come outside into the hallway. I have known Brooks for a number of years and when he made a run for the congressional seat for Western Oklahoma, I helped him raise money.
Brooks told me he wanted me to play the part of an Oklahoma state senator. However, I wonder if it is an upgrade to go from car dealer to senator? Well, I tried to keep my grin from going ear to ear, but I was pretty excited. I left the extras room and moved into the restaurant where I met the other would-be senators. They were Joe Gilliland, Jim Hughes, Richard Phillips, and John Trebilcock. John is a current member of the Oklahoma House of Representatives and Richard is a past member. Jim is with the Alcoholic Beverage Laws Enforcement (ABLE) commission and Joe is an excellent real estate broker. All looked properly senatorial.
A makeup lady attacked us with face powder and hair spray to make sure that we were not shiny and then we took a seat at a table in the bar area of Junior’s. They placed various props around the table such as: cocktail glasses with a mixture of tea, apple juice, and water to resemble scotch or bourbon. There was a bottle of O’Doul’s beer. At least, that is what the bottle cap said. The two regular labels on the bottle had been removed and replaced with a label that had a generic name, but it certainly looked authentic. There were dirty plates on the table at several places, rumpled napkins, several ashtrays, and a martini glass with an olive in front of me. Drat, it was, unfortunately, filled with water. And to top it off, I was asked if I would mind smoking a cigar. Now, I haven’t smoked in almost 47 years. I quit when I married Joy, who never smoked, and I received my orders to report to an ammunition ship. Both happening simultaneously. Let’s see -- amo ship – fire? Not so good. I was never much of a cigar smoker anyway, but, heck!! It is all for art. I am surprised that I did not get sick or that Joy even let me into the house smelling of smoke.
Lance McDaniel, the AD (assistant director), attended to details and made sure everything was going smoothly. He was very efficient and all the crew I met and saw were very friendly. It is quite interesting to see how a scene is shot. I have seen small railroad tracks for moving cameras in various movie trailers over the years when films are being made. We had one at the bar. It probably did not go 12 feet but someone actually sat on the camera as it was moved up and down the side of our table.
The young man Mike Vogel, who played Brooks Douglass’ part, sat at the head of the table and we were to respond to him after he spoke. I can’t remember his exact line, but I know it included iguana and orgasm. I know. I know. It doesn’t make much sense so you will have to see the movie. Once he said his line we then had to laugh at what he had said and then talk to each other. The director told Richard to light a cigarette after the scene started, but to count to five and then light. As Paul Brown walked away he turned around and added, “DON’T count out loud.” I must be a seasoned actor as I already knew that!! We did the take about 10 times. Me smoking my cigar and sipping my martini, the others smoking and drinking. Reminds me of the old days when you could smoke in a restaurant. Plus, they had a smoke-making machine to add extra smoke to make the place hazy. Hmmmm, I wonder if I can receive SAG eligibility for drinking a martini, laughing and smoking?
Mike is in the movie “Cloverfield, and “She’s Out of My League” (just recently opened), and soon to be seen in “Miami Medical” on CBS beginning April 2. Amusingly, he told us he went to doctor school for a week to learn how to speak like a doctor and learn all the technology. Interesting insight I thought you might like to know. Mike is a very nice and polite person and I wish him well in the movie business. I talked to him after the scene was over and told him I was a retired automobile dealer and just beginning this journey. I told him I did not know how much call there was for someone my age. He told me I would be surprised, but at least I didn’t have to depend on this life to make a living. He has a wife and two little girls and I gather this is tough work if you have to fight through auditions all the time.
Overall, it was a blast and l look forward to the time when I have a scripted line. Thanks, Brooks. This was a lot of fun.
This was taken with my cell phone.
me, Joe Gilliland, Mike Vogel, John Trebilcock, Richard Phillips, Jim Hughes
Below is a website to find out more of Brooks Douglass' life
http://www.people.com/people/archive/
article/0,,20142085,00.html
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
My First Audition……..
AND I BLEW IT. Yes I really did. I had the opportunity to audition for a principal role in a Riverwind Casino commercial last week. My agent, Magna Talent, called me (you know how much fun it is to say I have an agent?) and asked me if I would be interested in auditioning for a principal in this ad. Of course, I would. I had just signed with them and immediately get a call to audition. Pretty exciting for me. I was sent the script so I would know what to expect. Yeh-Right!! (As you will find out later) I called my new acting buddy, Dorothy Shaw, and asked if she was going to the audition and she told me she was. For moral and acting support, we decided to practice together. From the script, the format was that a casino customer could win various trips around the US and each spin of the slot machine would bring you a better prize. The final spin would be the big time winner. Dorothy and I drove to Norman for the audition and stopped for lunch where we entertained the luncheon crowd with our dialogue. We sat opposite each other in a booth and went over the lines. Being a veteran, Dorothy mentioned that it was possible that they’d ask us to improvise, and we’d best create some other scenarios.
In the original spot, I was dreaming of fishing in Florida, and then WHAP! The wife is slapped upside the head with a fish. She was to respond in offense, “Eeeew, How about a SHOPPING trip to New York”. The excitement level escalated as various vacation spots were mentioned. And, that is the way the spot was to go: we were to show rising excitement as the various locales were mentioned. We had the script down cold so now we started improvising.
She slid to my side of the booth just as the waiter came up behind us. “So, are you feeling LUCKY?” she asked coyly. Where would YOU like to go?’ The waiter gave me a knowing look. I took Dorothy’s hand in mine, and I showed her how to cast. “How about fishing in Florida?”
“EEEEEEEW,” she grimaced as the waiter set food in front of her and she was simultaneously slapped in the face again with an imaginary fish. “I don’t think so.” The waiter look offended. “How about a shopping trip to New York?”
“Oh no no.” I had to explain to our confused waiter, “that was not about the food. We were just rehearsing our lines. The food looks delicious.”
During the real audition, they completely changed everything and there were/was (here we go again with that were/was thing from one of my earlier blogs. Where is Robin Garner, my cute English teacher acting friend, when I need her?) a huge bunch of people auditioning. We had not planned on that. They split us up and matched us with other partners. From the audition room, we heard loud oohing, aahing and screaming. The squeals were so orgasmic you would have thought there was a porno film next door. As people exited, we asked, “What is going on”? The script has changed. The prizes are now a trip to Mt. Rushmore, San Francisco, New York, and the final prize> OH, Be still my heart – a camping trailer with a pickup truck. At least that was WHAT I MIGHT WIN. Others may have been told differently.
When Dorothy emerged from her audition she told me they went through the tryout twice (as it turned out, we all did) and that her partner even kissed her both times. A friend I had known for many years, S, came out and told me that her partner had kissed her also. I then turned to Laurie Cummings and told her that if she and I went in together, she had better plan on getting kissed, but unfortunately, she was not to be my partner. Too bad, sometimes luck just runs against you. She’s very pretty. S’s partner, the man who kissed her, was awarded the male lead. Guess that kissing stuff works.
My turn came and I was the last one to audition. There were six people in the room watching. My partner was not an actress who had any interest in a part. She was a lady helping Chris Friehofer, the casting director, with the auditions. All the other women had left. I was told by the representative from the advertising agency what I should do. We were first going to Mt. Rushmore and then to the other exotic places I mentioned and was instructed to get more excited each time a different location was mentioned. That is why we heard all the screaming. The noise had come at the end of the spot when the final prize appeared. But, somehow the explanation just wasn’t clear to me. I had been told in acting class not to speak past the camera and here I was supposed to really shout out loud - make up your mind! So, I didn’t get excited enough and yell very loud, and I wasn’t chosen for the part. Oh well!! If I get a chance to audition for something like this again, I will know what to do. As I have found out from this audition, EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED. I went home to pour a scotch and water on my wounds.
However, I was hired as an extra in the same ad and appeared at the Riverwind Casino several days later to be filmed. This time I knew fewer people than last time, but they were all fun people. I did renew acquaintences with Cindy Hanska, Jerome Braggs, Emily Ward, Shawana Shafer. It seems we have a cheer leader each time. This time it was a pretty lady from Tulsa, Jennifer Fisher. She always had a smile for everyone and one time did a Miley Cyrus dance for us. I wish she had shown us that earlier in the day. I might have been able to learn a few steps and really impress Jordan, my 13 year old granddaughter. Another nice lady I met, Debbie Evans, had spent some time in the automobile business and we swapped stories about the business. I’ve developed a community of delightful new friends.
There will be three commercials made from all the shooting we did that day. Including the one with the trips. So, if you are in the Oklahoma City area, look for them. And, look for my left hand. It must be very manly and attractive as it seems to get all the play these days. In my previous, currently running, commercial, my left hand was very prominent. I have attached a photo from the last commercial that shows me in all my glory. If they give Emmys for commercials, I and my cohorts at the blackjack table will surely win. By the way, you also may use this picture as a screen saver just like you did with my headshots.
Now that I have an agent, I am still after that elusive speaking part in a movie or a television show.
Ronnie Deane, Lauren Synar, Jerome Braggs, me, Cindy Hanska
Click link below to see the commercial
In the original spot, I was dreaming of fishing in Florida, and then WHAP! The wife is slapped upside the head with a fish. She was to respond in offense, “Eeeew, How about a SHOPPING trip to New York”. The excitement level escalated as various vacation spots were mentioned. And, that is the way the spot was to go: we were to show rising excitement as the various locales were mentioned. We had the script down cold so now we started improvising.
She slid to my side of the booth just as the waiter came up behind us. “So, are you feeling LUCKY?” she asked coyly. Where would YOU like to go?’ The waiter gave me a knowing look. I took Dorothy’s hand in mine, and I showed her how to cast. “How about fishing in Florida?”
“EEEEEEEW,” she grimaced as the waiter set food in front of her and she was simultaneously slapped in the face again with an imaginary fish. “I don’t think so.” The waiter look offended. “How about a shopping trip to New York?”
“Oh no no.” I had to explain to our confused waiter, “that was not about the food. We were just rehearsing our lines. The food looks delicious.”
During the real audition, they completely changed everything and there were/was (here we go again with that were/was thing from one of my earlier blogs. Where is Robin Garner, my cute English teacher acting friend, when I need her?) a huge bunch of people auditioning. We had not planned on that. They split us up and matched us with other partners. From the audition room, we heard loud oohing, aahing and screaming. The squeals were so orgasmic you would have thought there was a porno film next door. As people exited, we asked, “What is going on”? The script has changed. The prizes are now a trip to Mt. Rushmore, San Francisco, New York, and the final prize> OH, Be still my heart – a camping trailer with a pickup truck. At least that was WHAT I MIGHT WIN. Others may have been told differently.
When Dorothy emerged from her audition she told me they went through the tryout twice (as it turned out, we all did) and that her partner even kissed her both times. A friend I had known for many years, S, came out and told me that her partner had kissed her also. I then turned to Laurie Cummings and told her that if she and I went in together, she had better plan on getting kissed, but unfortunately, she was not to be my partner. Too bad, sometimes luck just runs against you. She’s very pretty. S’s partner, the man who kissed her, was awarded the male lead. Guess that kissing stuff works.
My turn came and I was the last one to audition. There were six people in the room watching. My partner was not an actress who had any interest in a part. She was a lady helping Chris Friehofer, the casting director, with the auditions. All the other women had left. I was told by the representative from the advertising agency what I should do. We were first going to Mt. Rushmore and then to the other exotic places I mentioned and was instructed to get more excited each time a different location was mentioned. That is why we heard all the screaming. The noise had come at the end of the spot when the final prize appeared. But, somehow the explanation just wasn’t clear to me. I had been told in acting class not to speak past the camera and here I was supposed to really shout out loud - make up your mind! So, I didn’t get excited enough and yell very loud, and I wasn’t chosen for the part. Oh well!! If I get a chance to audition for something like this again, I will know what to do. As I have found out from this audition, EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED. I went home to pour a scotch and water on my wounds.
However, I was hired as an extra in the same ad and appeared at the Riverwind Casino several days later to be filmed. This time I knew fewer people than last time, but they were all fun people. I did renew acquaintences with Cindy Hanska, Jerome Braggs, Emily Ward, Shawana Shafer. It seems we have a cheer leader each time. This time it was a pretty lady from Tulsa, Jennifer Fisher. She always had a smile for everyone and one time did a Miley Cyrus dance for us. I wish she had shown us that earlier in the day. I might have been able to learn a few steps and really impress Jordan, my 13 year old granddaughter. Another nice lady I met, Debbie Evans, had spent some time in the automobile business and we swapped stories about the business. I’ve developed a community of delightful new friends.
There will be three commercials made from all the shooting we did that day. Including the one with the trips. So, if you are in the Oklahoma City area, look for them. And, look for my left hand. It must be very manly and attractive as it seems to get all the play these days. In my previous, currently running, commercial, my left hand was very prominent. I have attached a photo from the last commercial that shows me in all my glory. If they give Emmys for commercials, I and my cohorts at the blackjack table will surely win. By the way, you also may use this picture as a screen saver just like you did with my headshots.
Now that I have an agent, I am still after that elusive speaking part in a movie or a television show.
Ronnie Deane, Lauren Synar, Jerome Braggs, me, Cindy Hanska
Click link below to see the commercial
Friday, February 5, 2010
WOW…..There IS money to be made in this business
After six months of all these lessons, I was hired for my first acting role at the Riverwind Casino on Wednesday. However, it was as an extra with no speaking part. Submitted my information to the casting director, Chris Friehofer at Friehofer Casting, and my sterling acting abilities were apparent as I was picked. Curtain call, or whatever the term is for a television ad, was at 7:00AM. I’m always up early anyway, so getting all cute and fluffy and driving 45 minutes to the filming site was not a problem. However, I had not counted on a heavy fog and a 40 car pile up on one highway and a smaller pile up on another. But, listening to the traffic reports on the way down kept me out of trouble. I checked in a little after 7:00AM with my other 31 co-stars.
We were asked to bring three changes of clothing, but wear the one you liked the best. My wardrobe coordinator, my wife, picked out what she thought would best show off my features. Eager and compliant, I was there with my stuff. We all lined up and faced the AD (assistant director, a term I now know). Almost felt as though I was in a police line up and someone was looking through a glass, pointing to me and told the police he “dun it”. However, it was just to check the outfits all of us had on. Instructions were – no solid black, white, red, green, no extreme patterns or plaids. My dresser did just fine.
This felt like home week to me as many who were there, I had met in acting classes previously taken. The AD picked out about 25 to go to the first shoot in an area loaded with blackjack tables. Here I was all dressed to go – and no place to go - as I was totally overlooked. Sobbing is so unattractive on a grown man. However, there were several actors (notice I use the term since I now consider me one) whom I knew and we had a lively discussion. Pretty sure I would need entertainment so I had brought the book I was reading for my men’s book club. I had it so that I could read during down times, but I had such a good time visiting that I never picked up the book. There were several of us who were overlooked on the first shoot. Laurie Cummings, Normanda Pelton, Rick Eager, Tony Williams, and I had a great discussion. Laurie had acutally read my blog when I first started writing and before I met her and commented on my blog that she too was a beginner. Normanda has been in several classes with me and Rick and Tony I just met. Rick is retired from General Motors and is a screen writer and told us about what he was writing. He has even written a sequal to Maimi Vice and hopes to get it filmed. There were also discussions about what agents to use in the OKC area. I still have to find one. But, after this shoot, I have decided to interview several and pick the one that recognizes my immense talent and will send me to audition for parts that will get me to the red carpet.
Finally, the first group came back and I was chosen to go for my shoot. I was fortunate to sit at the blackjack table that was the focus of most of the shoot. My table mates were Cindy Hanska, Jerome Braggs, Lauren Synar (I found out when I got home that my wife is friend’s with her mother – oh yes, again I was the oldest of the group – I’m getting used to this), and Ronnie Deane. We got to know each other since we were back and forth at the table throughout the day. Our cute and lively Riverwind blackjack dealer, Jacy Clift, taught me how to stack chips. This is one-handed stacking combining two stacks of chips. Well, I got to be pretty good at three chips, but could not quite master four. Unfortunately, these were all fake chips and could not be cashed anywhere. Even the ice in my cocktail glass was plastic.
One of the cameramen saw me stacking the chips and asked me to continue doing this throughout one particular shoot. How do you spell palsy? I stacked those chips so many times I now have a frozen claw – but hey, it’s all for art. At one point, I thought my hand was going to fall off.
During a period between shots, I was sitting with a group of actors when Lorrie Chilcoat asked if we wanted to play a game. This was an absolutely hilarious interactive fun new game to me. Joy and I take bi-yearly trips with a group of friends and she and I are in charge of bus games. This will certainly be a new addition. I am not even sure what it is called, but it is like the old gossip game we played as kids, but this was done with paper. There were seven of us who were in the game. Stephen Goodman, Cindy, Jerome, Shawana Shafer, and Leslie Hippensteel. This game required both writing and drawing. It is a good thing this group of talented people are actors as they could never make it as artists. We ran out of paper so our next game was Mafia. Another fun game. Jerome was in charge of this one and Emily Ward joined us. About the time this was over, a large group came back from filming and we got almost everyone to play the game. About 20+ of us sat in a huge circle on the floor of our waiting room and played Mafia. One thing I learned is that the camaraderie of actors is really great. We were all there under the same umbrella with no one trying to out audition another. As you can see, my book was just a heavy nuisance.
We even did a scene where they wanted those of us with shiny shoes to come forward. My newly polished black loafers got me in the spot and they put the camera on the floor to shoot us walking back and forth. I did not expect to be upstaged by my shoes.
All and all it was a fun learning experience. I never realized how much time is spent setting up the camera and lighting. And being paid was pretty exciting. At he end of our 12 hour day, I was waiting for in the payroll line with Ed Smith, the police chief of Seminole. He has really taken to this acting and I admire him. He and I talked about agents and he suggested I talk with his agent. He was cast in “The Killer Inside me” and of course, I appear to be the only one who auditioned for that movie who did not get picked. So my quest continues to find that elusive speaking part.
If you see a hand stacking chips or a pair of black shiny loafers in the Riverwind Casino spot, that may be me. Because I am now a seasoned actor, I know not to look at the camera, so I do not know if my face will end up on the cutting room floor – or in the commercial. However, I do think I should be paid extra because of my shoes.
The spots will air around St. Patrick’s Day.
We were asked to bring three changes of clothing, but wear the one you liked the best. My wardrobe coordinator, my wife, picked out what she thought would best show off my features. Eager and compliant, I was there with my stuff. We all lined up and faced the AD (assistant director, a term I now know). Almost felt as though I was in a police line up and someone was looking through a glass, pointing to me and told the police he “dun it”. However, it was just to check the outfits all of us had on. Instructions were – no solid black, white, red, green, no extreme patterns or plaids. My dresser did just fine.
This felt like home week to me as many who were there, I had met in acting classes previously taken. The AD picked out about 25 to go to the first shoot in an area loaded with blackjack tables. Here I was all dressed to go – and no place to go - as I was totally overlooked. Sobbing is so unattractive on a grown man. However, there were several actors (notice I use the term since I now consider me one) whom I knew and we had a lively discussion. Pretty sure I would need entertainment so I had brought the book I was reading for my men’s book club. I had it so that I could read during down times, but I had such a good time visiting that I never picked up the book. There were several of us who were overlooked on the first shoot. Laurie Cummings, Normanda Pelton, Rick Eager, Tony Williams, and I had a great discussion. Laurie had acutally read my blog when I first started writing and before I met her and commented on my blog that she too was a beginner. Normanda has been in several classes with me and Rick and Tony I just met. Rick is retired from General Motors and is a screen writer and told us about what he was writing. He has even written a sequal to Maimi Vice and hopes to get it filmed. There were also discussions about what agents to use in the OKC area. I still have to find one. But, after this shoot, I have decided to interview several and pick the one that recognizes my immense talent and will send me to audition for parts that will get me to the red carpet.
Finally, the first group came back and I was chosen to go for my shoot. I was fortunate to sit at the blackjack table that was the focus of most of the shoot. My table mates were Cindy Hanska, Jerome Braggs, Lauren Synar (I found out when I got home that my wife is friend’s with her mother – oh yes, again I was the oldest of the group – I’m getting used to this), and Ronnie Deane. We got to know each other since we were back and forth at the table throughout the day. Our cute and lively Riverwind blackjack dealer, Jacy Clift, taught me how to stack chips. This is one-handed stacking combining two stacks of chips. Well, I got to be pretty good at three chips, but could not quite master four. Unfortunately, these were all fake chips and could not be cashed anywhere. Even the ice in my cocktail glass was plastic.
One of the cameramen saw me stacking the chips and asked me to continue doing this throughout one particular shoot. How do you spell palsy? I stacked those chips so many times I now have a frozen claw – but hey, it’s all for art. At one point, I thought my hand was going to fall off.
During a period between shots, I was sitting with a group of actors when Lorrie Chilcoat asked if we wanted to play a game. This was an absolutely hilarious interactive fun new game to me. Joy and I take bi-yearly trips with a group of friends and she and I are in charge of bus games. This will certainly be a new addition. I am not even sure what it is called, but it is like the old gossip game we played as kids, but this was done with paper. There were seven of us who were in the game. Stephen Goodman, Cindy, Jerome, Shawana Shafer, and Leslie Hippensteel. This game required both writing and drawing. It is a good thing this group of talented people are actors as they could never make it as artists. We ran out of paper so our next game was Mafia. Another fun game. Jerome was in charge of this one and Emily Ward joined us. About the time this was over, a large group came back from filming and we got almost everyone to play the game. About 20+ of us sat in a huge circle on the floor of our waiting room and played Mafia. One thing I learned is that the camaraderie of actors is really great. We were all there under the same umbrella with no one trying to out audition another. As you can see, my book was just a heavy nuisance.
We even did a scene where they wanted those of us with shiny shoes to come forward. My newly polished black loafers got me in the spot and they put the camera on the floor to shoot us walking back and forth. I did not expect to be upstaged by my shoes.
All and all it was a fun learning experience. I never realized how much time is spent setting up the camera and lighting. And being paid was pretty exciting. At he end of our 12 hour day, I was waiting for in the payroll line with Ed Smith, the police chief of Seminole. He has really taken to this acting and I admire him. He and I talked about agents and he suggested I talk with his agent. He was cast in “The Killer Inside me” and of course, I appear to be the only one who auditioned for that movie who did not get picked. So my quest continues to find that elusive speaking part.
If you see a hand stacking chips or a pair of black shiny loafers in the Riverwind Casino spot, that may be me. Because I am now a seasoned actor, I know not to look at the camera, so I do not know if my face will end up on the cutting room floor – or in the commercial. However, I do think I should be paid extra because of my shoes.
The spots will air around St. Patrick’s Day.
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