Friday, January 25, 2008

Quintissential New York Day.


Neck deep in rehearsals for RAGTIME at a new theatre in White Plains, today became one of those days that you can only imagine having in New York City. With a fair amount of down time during rehearsals, much of our cast lounged in the hallway to avoid disrupting the ongoing work. I watched as Harvey Keitel walked back and forth to his rehearsals for "Jerry Springer the Opera". Each time he wandered past, an assistant followed carrying a wooden dowel used as a prop microphone. Oddly surreal.
I left rehearsal early to go to a call back for a film that Nora Ephron is directing which will star Meryl Streep, Stanley Tucci and Amy Adams. On my way to the upper East Side, I found myself walking through a sea of news trucks observing Heath Ledger's memorial service. I'm not sure why, but his death has bothered me more than I would expect. It was disheartening to see bystanders armed with camcorders lurking outside the funeral home. Mourning as spectator sport. I though about an interesting quote I read from Leonard Maltin about the nature of mortality and the immortality that film bestows upon people. I also recalled an article I'd read about Heath Ledger's potential to become an icon along the lines of James Dean and the marketing dollars that could follow. Death as big business.
On I walked and soon found myself in Nora Ephron's apartment (or more likely apartment-sized office) where I auditioned and was told that I was "perfect". If this all sounds exciting, bear in mind that it was a very small role and many others have been seen for it. Still, it was nice to be in the same room with someone with the career of Ms. Ephron and to feel encouraged, no matter the outcome. Today's brush with immortality, both hers and the chance of a small piece for myself. A bit of what Mr. Maltin spoke to in his interview.
I left and walked downtown through the departing news vans, all moving on to their next assignment. Good and bad. Hope and finality. And a day that I could only imagine having in NYC.

Wednesday, January 16, 2008

Without Horton, the who doesn't get heard. Unless he yells louder.


It was an opportunity for which I'd been waiting. A major revival of a show that seemed so right for me. Irish themed. Needing my type. Music directed by someone I know. I went to the union call, not willing to risk the casting director not calling me for an appointment through my agent. However, even the casting director knew me and had used me in the past. All was well, especially when the casting office called later for a call back. Slight problem: I was out of town. Not to worry, they said, more auditions would be held in a week. Great. A week passed. No call. I checked in with my agent who was told auditions had been pushed to after the year. OK. January is half through. I call back. Suddenly, the story is different. Turns out auditions were held and the show is cast. It all happened in December when I was told they were postponed. Nothing to be done.
Now was it intentional or an oversight? An office snafu? It matters little in the long run. I didn't get to audition for a show I had a legitimate chance of booking. It would have been a Broadway debut for me. Not to be. I was frustrated. I complained to my agent (not at her...to her). Got it off my chest. Sometimes, if you 're not a star or a "name", you get overlooked. Horton doesn't hear your who-cries of "we are here". The light at the end of the tunnel is atrain and there's not superman to stop the runaway truck.

The only thing to do is pick yourself up and go on. I leave for New England today to do some work on the television project and start rehearsals for RAGTIME on Tuesday. If they won't help you out, make your own luck. Sometimes it's the only way.

Saturday, January 12, 2008

Fighting the down time.


Acting is a constant struggle with yourself. To motivate, compete, learn, extend, refresh. It's not always easy and the ebb and flow can take a toll. Imagine being in the photo above, but without the super powers. So...for the last few days I've looked elsewhere for inspiration and you can see it in the posts here: graffiti that amuses, a political hot dog stand, anything to spark me out of a damp, gray, not-yet-wintry winter. These are the dark days of January, when auditions are scarce and it's easy to close the door and stay in your hole. The gremlins move in-- why didn't I get that job? Maybe they'll still call...There are no auditions. I probably won't get anything anyway...Maybe I'm not good anymore.

However, the importance of being alert and prepared came home to me a few days ago. Out of the blue, a television producer contacted myself and my partners about a project we've been shopping. It's a travel/history/pub culture show and he thought the timing was right to begin a push toward selling. No more wallowing in confusion or inertia for me, it was time to mobilize.

Now, a week before I begin rehearsals for the production of RAGTIME in CT, I find myself heading to Maine for a family trip, but now to catch some video of an historic/local/haunted tavern. It's exciting and intimidating and exactly what I'd like to be doing. I've noticed that as actors...ahem...age, many of us try to find new outlets for creativity and for giving air to their own voices. This is, in part, something like that for me. I'm just fortunate that it also is attracting some attention on a business level, also.

The next few weeks will see an enormous increase in activity. Hang on. Here we go.

Thursday, January 10, 2008

Hot dogs and Politicians. Another NY Seen.



In light of the N.H. primary results and the continuing rumors about Mike Bloomberg joining the race for the White House, I found this sight on Manhattan's upper west side amusing. Why listen to a hot dog stand? Why not? They couldn't be farther off than the CNN pundits were in N.H. Besides, obviously these aren't your ordinary hot dogs...If Hillary is photographed with one, will they consider switching their endorsement or will she only pick up the endorsement of Gourmet Magazine? So many questions... (By the way, to tie this back to acting, Gray's Papaya is a favorite of under-employed actors. A meal for less than $3. In NY!)