Tag: actors

This Week, I Commit Myself:

Chasing The George

To sit in the front row.

To speak my mind immediately.

To follow my impulses and instincts.

To lead.

To dance while in the passenger seat of a car when a good song comes on or when the driver dances.

To spice things up.

To dance in the streets.

To make extra money.

To be myself without apology.

To hold my own space.

To dance without consideration at the top of acting classes.

To continue administering my acting and writing careers.

To engage in conversation with a new person.

To ask various industry people for something I want.

To excite my agent again with a new piece of administrative evidence that will push my career forward.

To be submitted on 3-5 TV series and 3-5 feature films.

To impinge!

A postulate is something I see for myself and claim. A prediction. A proposition that requires no proof. Being self-evident. A postulate is what I see. It’s a way of life. I have to live it and be it. I will do these things above to live out my postulates, to be my postulates. Live them now so that when I eventually achieve them, it will be déjà vu.

On Sunday, October 23rd, I will give a full report on the above commitments.

I Sent My Business Plan To My Agent

Chasing The George

As I gear up to shoot a pilot presentation with some fierce artists, I wanted to first share with you all a great and powerful action I took on my journey as an artist. On September 12th, I signed with a new theatrical agent. A week later, I emailed my agent a copy of my DOIN’ (which stands for Declaration of Independence) A DOIN’ is a business plan, a concise road map, for your career. This powerful document is part of the training and development of every artist at the Richard Lawson Studios.

I emailed my DOIN’ to my agent so that he could see what I’m about as a whole, 360 degree artist. This is who and what I’m about. When I pulled up my DOIN’ on my computer, I read my dreams in a new unit of time and was blown away by them. I have some large dreams! And I loved reading through the specific administration plans I created to get closer and closer to achieving my dreams. I was also amazed by how much I had already achieved and I took pride in crossing things off my DOIN’. I was also very happy to see that certain administrative actions were now a routine part of my life.

I also added some new things to my DOIN’ and made a few things more specific–which is totally cool because your DOIN’ is a living document. A business plan evolves and changes as a person/business evolves and changes. Your DOIN’ should be alive, passionate, personal, specific and fluid. You grow and your DOIN’ grows as well.

I emailed my DOIN’ to my agent with such a tremendous sense of pride. My subtext was, “Wait till you get a load of this!” By sending him this document, we are starting off on the right foot. There are no guessing games. This is it. It’s all laid out and transparent.

Within a few days, he responded and said what a great job I did. He was really impressed with my DOIN’!

Onward and forward!

 

Creating The Evidence Equals Power

Chasing The George

Creating the evidence seems to have been the recurring theme this past week! I must have told several people that there is no greater joy than creating your own evidence. Yes, I love having representation in the form of an agent and a manager, but there is something really special and powerful about creating evidence for yourself. Evidence that is a direct extension and expression of who you are.

Several times this past week, I said to various people that when you create your own work, people look at you differently. They pay more attention. They take you more seriously as someone who is really about something. They are more interested. You’re standing face-to-face and toe-to-toe with other industry professionals with quality product that you’ve created. You’re in the arena with other industry professionals.

Two days ago, a film that I executive produced, co-wrote and co-starred in, “Human Revolution”, was submitted to Sundance! How freaking cool is that?! We also submitted to the Santa Barbara International Film Festival! How freaking cool is that?! And we have several other film festivals that we are targeting in the near future. How freaking cool is that?! It’s so exciting to get my work out there!

To be able to send people your evidence, your product, is amazing. Whether it be a short film, a pilot script, a sizzle reel for a film, a demo reel, a feature film script, etc. It’s incredibly empowering, satisfying and rewarding. At the end of the day, this product is yours. No one can ever take that away from you. You can stand firmly behind it with pride and joy.

People take me more seriously when they see how involved I am in the 360 degrees of my career. They see that I’m not just a devastatingly handsome face 🙂

My agent, who I just signed with, was thrilled that I write and create my own work. He believes that actors should create their own work in addition to the hustle that an agency provides when they go through the breakdowns, pitch their clients and negotiate contracts. I can create my own work and empower my representatives on our journey together.

A classmate of mine recently printed up a new script she wrote and held it with beaming pride. That’s what I’m talking about! That script is a direct extension of who she is and what she’s about as an artist.

Two classmates recently screened their pilot presentation and they talked about it afterwards with tremendous pride. Hell yeah!

This week, I’m going to push and shock myself with two powerful actions towards the advancement of the script I have written for James Franco (and for MYSELF!) By pushing and shocking myself, I am staying in alignment with the concept of “Chasing The George”. In this way, we can see the week-to-week progression and construction of my journey as an artist.

From Dead Last to Top 3!

Chasing The George

Am I talking about being dead last on RuPaul’s Drag Race (You know, the wildly-addictive, funny and touching reality show that looks for America’s next drag superstar)? Am I talking about the drag queens who get eliminated on the first episode of every season like Porkchop, Shangela, Penny Tration, Kelly Mantle, Magnolia Crawford, Tempest DuJour, etc.?

Nope!

I’m talking about being dead last when my classmates and I in the Professional Development Program 3.0 class created a comprehensive points system in January 2016 to track our progression as the CEO’s of ourselves as artistic businesses. The points system covers many different categories of career administration and the value of the points varies from one category to the next. For example, putting up a scene in class is worth a certain amount of points whereas booking a guest star role on a TV series is worth a higher amount of points. Mailing out postcards is worth a certain amount of points and making an industry phone call is worth another amount of points.

What I love about the points system is that it gives me an accurate picture of where I am thriving as an artist and where I am not. Which areas I am strong in and which areas I need to put more attention on. And you have to be honest about giving yourself points in the different categories because it’s an honest look at your career administration. To cheat the points system in order to be ahead of others only hurts yourself. To cheat and add points that weren’t earned only hurts yourself in the long run. We are a business. We punch in and we punch out. The points system tracks our progress. It’s our profits and loss statements. It’s our growth statements. No point in cheating.

When we started tracking our points back in January, I was shocked to see that I was dead last in terms of points earned. Out of all my classmates, I was dead last for three or four weeks straight. I was mortified! How could I, of all people, be dead last in the areas of career administration?!?!?!?! I’m supposed to be Chasing The George every week!!!! I’m supposed to be the motherfucking man, careering gaily over the waves!!!!

Instead, I looked like the screaming man in the famous painting, “The Scream”, by expressionist artist Edvard Munch. The horrors! The horrors!

Instead of giving up, I decided to focus and study the facts. First of all, I wasn’t clear about what I wanted 2016 to be about on a professional level. That was problem number one. Public enemy number one. Without clarity, my career administration was general and uninspired. I didn’t have clearly-defined goals to work towards. So being dead last was a wake up call for me to get specific about what I wanted 2016 to be about.

Once I got specific about the professional design for 2016, I moved pretty quickly into the second to last position on the overall points earner list. I was earning more points in different categories and that excited me! The points system also forced me to administrate and take action in certain categories that were uncomfortable for me. Categories I had a flinch on. Why does this section have no points at at all? What am I scared of? Focus on this area. Confront it. Be a better artist at the end of the day because I am confronting uncomfortable categories.

As I gained momentum on my career administration, I continued to move up the overall points earner list. If I saw someone gaining up on me, I worked harder and pushed myself further. What risks could I take this week to stay ahead?

On July 8th, we assessed our six-month progress in class and it was really nice to hear the points list administrator acknowledge how cool it was to see me move up the list over the last six months. By the time we assessed our progress on July 8th, I was in the Top 3! I was positioned at #3!

In RuPaul’s Drag Race terms, I was the drag queen who made Top 3! I joined the ranks of past Top 3 Drag Race contestants like Nina Flowers, Alaska Thunderfuck, Roxxxy Andrews, Adore Delano, Courtney Act, Pearl, Ginger Minj, Kimchi, Naomi Smalls, etc. When you make Top 3 in RuPaul’s Drag Race, your career is pretty much set for life. Top 3 is still a rocking place to be even if you aren’t crowned America’s next drag superstar (the person who ultimately comes in at number one) Top 3 is an achievement. These three have shown consistency week to week on the show and also Charisma, Uniqueness, Nerve and Talent. C.U.N…

Instead of being told to “Sashay away”, I was told, “Shantay, you stay”. Or, more importantly, I told myself to stay and keep fighting.

It was such a gratifying experience to see my hard work pay off.

On July 8th, the points system got revamped and became more streamlined. All our points have been reset and we’re all starting from ground zero again. I hope to be Top 3 again. I’d LOVE to be number one by the time 2016 comes to an end, but I’ll be just as happy with Top 3. Why? Because being Top 3 is still a cause for celebration. It’s still an indication that the work flow I’ve created and maintained for myself is working. It’s still an indication of how consistent my career administration is. Having a work consistency that produces results, that makes an impact and that is in alignment with what I’m about is more important to me.

And at the end of the day, I can rest assured knowing that if I make Top 3 again, I can come back for the All Stars Season…okay, okay, enough of these RuPaul’s Drag Race
references!

(By the way, RuPaul and Michelle Visage, I would LOVE to be a guest judge on a future season of Drag Race! xoxo)

Like A Virgin

Chasing The George

Like a virgin. Touched for the very first time.

On July 1st, I had the pleasure of seeing the first rough cut of a SAG film titled “Human Revolution” that I executive produced, co-wrote and co-starred in. As the lights began to fade and the screen came on, my heart started to race. I was excited and nervous. Excited and nervous because this was my first time watching the film after months of pre-production and filming. The wait was finally over! This was the first time seeing how the words in the script translated onto the screen. This was the first time seeing how the performances translated onto the screen. This was the first time seeing how different elements of production from direction to cinematography to wardrobe translated onto the screen.

Like a virgin. Touched for the very first time.

Watching the first rough cut is like a virgin. The anticipation. The excitement. The nervousness. The heart racing. Not knowing whether the first rough cut will be painful or enjoyable to experience.

As the film screened, there were many moments where I beamed. There were also moments where I wrote down notes for our fabulous director and editor. Being discerning and clear with my notes. Some notes were technical. Other notes were storytelling-based in terms of when I thought a moment was delivered and we could cut out or when I thought a moment could be heightened.

Overall, I was very pleased with the first rough cut! And because a lot of pre-production went into this film, it presented itself beautifully in the rough cut. I could clearly see where the film is headed and how the final product will look.

Our goal is to have a final cut by August 1st. By this date, notes will have been implemented, sound design and color correction will have been implemented, etc. After this date, we will start submitting Human Revolution to various film festivals from Cannes, Sundance, South By Southwest and Tribeca to Academy Award qualifying film festivals.

Like a virgin. Touched for the very first time.

The first time watching this was great. Not painful or traumatizing at all. Rather, it was exciting and orgasmic (Yes, I had to go there!)

An Audition I Did

Chasing The George

Our teacher, Richard Lawson, recently assigned us to find audition sides, do a self-tape and then submit it to the casting director of that particular project.

I found sides from a TV series and quickly began using Richard’s technique
for audition preparation called The Subtees Process. I spent a total of five hours on The Subtees Process to create the product I wanted.

I did the audition in class and delivered my product. I delivered exactly what I had worked on during The Subtees Process. After the class watched my audition, our teacher that morning, the amazing Kelly Tighe, gave me my assessment. She started off with what worked about it and what I could fix in the second take. Here at the studio, the philosophy is “Find The Good And Praise It”. Find what works about it first, praise it, and then present the adjustments and fixes.

Kelly thought I did a great job. That I allowed myself to be seen. That I am a leading man. That I had no judgement on the character or on myself. I had no walls up and I wasn’t hiding: What you see is what you get. She clearly got my apparent event (what we think is going on in the scene) and the actual event (what is really going on in the scene) The actual event is where the character’s subtext and inner life occurs.

I identified and carved out the following apparent event:

I’m showing off my new restaurant space to a friend.

I identified and carved out the following actual event:

I’m actually in love with her.

Kelly gave me the following notes to work on for the second take:

  • In your moment before, what are you looking at? Be more specific with what you’re looking at and let it impinge you. What you were looking at in the first take was a little general. (I was looking at the restaurant space during my moment before, but it was general. I didn’t really see anything in particular.)
  • How does Jorge react when someone critiques him? (I ask the girl what she thinks of the new space and she uses general, uninspired words like “Very nice” and “Fantastic” I reacted well to her comments in the first take, but how do I really react?) What’s the sting for Jorge? In this way, the other character’s words land on me in a more personal way.

I repeated the take in five minutes and nailed the notes. My audition elevated to another level. In those five minutes, I kept what worked and added the new notes Kelly gave me. In my moment before, I looked at a cable that ran along the wall and I actually became interested in the yellow velcro ribbon tied around it. I also became interested in the screw that held the cable up against the wall. I really looked at these things and became interested. On camera, I looked like I was beaming with pride over my new restaurant space, but I was actually in love with the cord on the wall. That specificity helped me to create a stronger moment before. My eyes focused on something specific. It helped me to pull in the environment even more into the audition and to be more connected to it throughout the audition. The specifics of the environment enhanced my storytelling, my belief and my pride in the restaurant on camera.

When the character gave her reaction to the new space, I reacted as I would. So, it became more personal to me. In the five minutes I had to apply the notes, I looked at how I respond to critiques and how I respond when I expect a certain answer and I don’t receive it.

After the second take, fellow friend and classmate, Lindsay Hopper, said, “You were able to still be flirty with her…even though you were clearly affected by what she was saying, you had good-humored inflexibility in what you wanted to hear from her. But you didn’t make her feel bad about it because you clearly like her. So that was a subtlety you brought in the second take that I don’t remember you doing so much in
the first take.”

So, for your viewing pleasure, here is the second take of the audition I sent to casting:

https://youtu.be/IFdmuVLe70M

1st Quarter Assessment

Chasing The George

Four months down, eight more to go! The first quarter of 2016 is over and I am here to honestly assess my progress thus far. After all, I am my own business. As you may or may not remember, I wrote a blog entry back in January detailing my focus for 2016. I wrote:

Cristela Alonzo, Tyler Perry, Mindy Kaling, Lena Dunham, Jorge Ortiz: Self-generating artists who have carved a name and empire for themselves in Hollywood and in the world.

The above statement is a postulate. And a postulate is defined as:

A proposition that requires no proof, being self evident, or that is for a specific purpose assumed true, and that is used in the proof of other propositions; a self
evident conclusion, decision or resolution; a self generated truth, a prediction.

So let’s assess. Let’s see how I am Chasing The George and really moving forward with my postulate:

  • Met Cristela Alonzo twice…and we took two different selfies together.
  • Met a Latino TV showrunner for coffee and pitched myself to work for him.
  • Had a wonderful, hour-long conversation with a TV writer and received advice from him.
  • Finished writing the pilot script for my new TV series, “Anthony”.
  • Finished writing the third draft of my feature film script (where James Franco plays the villain) I have a title for the film, but I will keep it under wraps for just a little while longer.
  • Registered my “Anthony” pilot script with the Writers Guild.
  • Copyrighted my “Anthony” pilot script with the U.S. Copyright Office.
  • Registered my feature film script (where James Franco plays the villain) with the
    Writers Guild. 107 pages.
  • Researched a plethora of writing competitions.
  • Submitted the pilot episode of “Chris/Tina” to the Cannes Film Festival.
  • Submitted my “Chris/Tina” pilot script to the Back In The Box, Slamdance and ScreenCraft writing competitions.
  • Submitted my “Anthony” pilot script to the Back In The Box and Slamdance writing competitions.
  • Prepared and executed various postcard mailings, phone calls and email mailings
    to literary agents from CAA to UTA to Paradigm to Innovative to Heroes & Villains to Rothman Brecher, etc.
  • Manifested three direct connections to James Franco.
  • Promoted my work as an actor and writer on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram on a weekly basis.
  • Started pre-production on a short film with a handful of my friends that we will use to showcase our talents as actors and writers. We are shooting on June 5th and 6th. We are shooting on the Black Magic Camera. My role in this film is actor, co-writer and executive producer. Creating the evidence. Creating the evidence. Creating the evidence. And then promoting the hell out of it.
  • Launched my own personal website so that everything is centralized in one location.
  • Put up work in Scene Study and the Professional Development Program 2.0 classes and threw down to stay sharp as an actor.

1st Quarter Assessment: Pretty good! Grade: B

I gave myself a B because I flinched on an impulse in one instance and I accepted “no” too easily in another situation. Not following my impulses has cost me in the past and will continue to cost me in the future if I don’t honor them.

Accepting “no” too easily is also not acceptable. I have to use more charm, humor and irony to exhaust possibilities.

2nd Quarter Assessment and Goals:

  • Get laser-like with my James Franco project and move it further towards completion. I’ve created a timeline to accomplish this using Ken Kragen’s concept of backwards thinking with forward motion (Ken was a top manager to many of the biggest stars in the world)
  • Shoot short film with my friends and promote the hell out of it.
  • Cut trailer of my written works.
  • Shoot new headshots.
  • Be more assertive. No is not an option. Flinch is not in my vocabulary. The word “no” does not come into contact or agreement with my postulate. I must maintain dogged, unwavering belief in my postulate.
  • Follow my impulses.
Chasing The George

Are You In My Gang? (aka Building My Stable Of Muses)

The insanely-talented Justin Huen and I last night at a play he directed in Hollywood called “MINE”. I attended closing night and it was great to reconnect with him. One of the first things he said to me was, “When are we working together again?” (I had previously directed Justin in a pilot called “Chris/Tina” and he was amazing.) And he was very genuine with his question.

I promised Justin that we would definitely be working together again. In fact, he is someone I have bookmarked in my brain of actors I want to write for and work with on a consistent basis. Think of Martin Scorcese and Leonardo DiCaprio, Quentin Tarantino and Samuel L. Jackson.

I’ve been a big fan of his acting work for quite some time and it’s exciting to see him continuing to push himself artistically with another directing effort for the stage.

There are other actors I’ve bookmarked. Are you in my stable of muses??????

Stay tuned!

Chasing The George

My Current Mood: Picture of the writer. Phase Two of my writing attack has begun. WGA registration, U.S. Copyright, Without A Box writing competitions, other writing competitions, WME, UTA, Paradigm, Innovative outflow. TV series, feature film. James Franco screenplay deadline of April 20th.

My Current Mood: Picture of Madonna. I’m passing through the challenges. Remember that time when…? Because I’m having breakthroughs and the bigger ones are coming. I’m the real motherfucking deal. Remember my face.