Tag: actors

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.

Chasing The George

I Popped My Cherry…Again.

And I did so in front of a room of very talented artists and an incredible acting teacher. On Thursday, February 18th at approximately 9:30pm, Lindsay Hopper and I took to the stage and got into place. The lights went down in the theater and Robin Karfo called out the name of our scene. Accompanied by her amazingly talented boyfriend, Jordan Bull, on the guitar, Lindsay and I began to sing “That Would Be Enough” from the insanely brilliant Broadway smash musical, “Hamilton”.

Weeks leading up to our song, she and I received texts, emails and in-person shout outs from various people who couldn’t wait to see us sing together. After our song ended Thursday night, we received a wonderful round of applause and cheers. We sat downstage center and received our assessment from Richard Lawson. It was a great first take.

I popped my cherry again because the first thing I said when I sat down for the assessment was, “I have to say that this is the first time I’m singing in front of an audience, with someone else and with accompaniment in 9 years!” I cheered and everyone in the room immediately cheered and applauded for me.

Singing in front of my peers and friends was a big moment for me. To give you some context of the magnitude of this event, please check out two previous blog entries I wrote in 2015 that addressed a failed purpose I had with singing and what I did to fix that:

Part 1: How A 15-Year Old Inspired Me:
http://wp.me/p8uI5M-3d

Part 2: Care-Fronting My Director:
http://wp.me/p8uI5M-3c

The rehearsal process was fun and it was a re-training of my ear in terms of singing with someone else and singing with an instrument and being able to re-learn the song quickly whenever the key was changed. It was like stepping into a dance studio after not having trained in a long time…you’ll always be a trained dancer, but you start re-learning, you start rehabilitating, you start re-awakening and the rust slowly but surely comes off.

I was like a giddy five-year old kid during rehearsals. I would then obsessively rehearse the song on my own. I also found myself singing additional songs in my free time. I started to remember how much I love to sing. I started to remember that I once sang at Madison Square Garden!

Lindsay and I will repeat the song and take it to the next level with the notes we received. I’d like to continue putting up musical scenes in class. How singing will fit into my overall dream remains to be seen, but maybe it’ll find its way into characters I write for myself in feature films and TV series. Perhaps my character will be that one that busts into a song in the middle of the restaurant to profess his love for someone. Or maybe when my character comes home from a long day of work, he busts out in a musical number to shake the day off. Sky’s the limit as a writer.

But in terms of staying in alignment with the concept of “Chasing The George”, singing “That Would Be Enough” after 9 years of not singing in public is an example of and testament to that: To move full steam ahead and commit. To not flinch. To have fun. To do the work and then let it go the minute I get on stage because I know the work is in me.

Here’s to more!

Chasing The George.

Armed, Fabulous & Dangerous

Chasing The George

For those of you just tuning in, my blog is called “Chasing The George” because it’s a play on the phrase, “Chasing The Ambulance”. In emergency mode, ambulances will cut through traffic with intention to get to their destination. And because ambulances do this, some people illegally follow behind them in order to get to their destination as well. “Chasing The George” has been and is a weekly chronicling of my journey…my intention to carve out and forward my career…with humor and passion thrown into the mix as well. Get to the destination.

I’ve already shared what I wanted to achieve on a personal level for 2016. Now, I would like to share what I want to achieve on a professional level for 2016. I have spent the last three weeks creating an entire Declaration of Independence (DOIN’) aka a business plan for one of my postulates. My DOIN’ will definitely keep me on the path and keep me intentional. It’ll keep me “Chasing The George”.

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 this is the postulate I have chosen and am focusing on for 2016:

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.

I presented my DOIN’ in class this past Friday and I am incredibly excited. I am now armed, fabulous and dangerous. My road map for 2016 is clear.

My DOIN’ is on the wall. So if I ever fall off the path or get diverted from it, I just have to look at it again and it’ll put my sexy Dominican & Puerto Rican ass back on it.

I will do everything in my power to get closer and closer to achieving my postulate. The postulate is the top of Mount Everest. I am climbing this mother fucker every day.

I am armed, fabulous and dangerous because my plan is clear.

Cristela Alonzo. Tyler Perry. Mindy Kaling. Lena Dunham. Jorge Ortiz.

Diversity.

Subversive.

Open the closet door to topics people are afraid to talk about.

Actor. Writer. Stud.

Armed, fabulous and dangerous in my acting work, my writing projects, the relationships I continue to cultivate and nourish.

Laugh with Harvey Weinstein.

Selfie with Madonna. Dance with Madonna. Shout out from Madonna.

Eduardo Cisneros.

Vladimir Caamano.

Writing competitions.

Internships. Apprenticeships.

In front of the camera.

Behind the camera.

Engage. Inspire.

TRANSCEND.

James Franco.

My Story Can Beat Up Your Story and Contour.

In demand.

I belong.

Armed, fabulous and dangerous.

I Have Artistic Tourettes

Chasing The George

It felt weird not posting a blog entry last Sunday, November 8th! But I’m back! So let’s get right into it.

I have a confession to make.

Are you ready?

It’s something I’ve never admitted before. Not even to my lover James Franco. Not even to my second mother, Madonna.

Ready?

I HAVE ARTISTIC TOURETTES!

No, seriously. I have artistic tourettes.

Before I get into the WHY I have it, let’s get into the WHAT. According to the official website, tourette.org:

“Gilles de la Tourette syndrome (Tourette Syndrome or TS) is a neurological disorder which becomes evident in early childhood or adolescence. The first symptoms usually are involuntary movements (tics) of the face, arms, limbs or trunk.  These tics are frequent, repetitive and rapid.”

This paragraph below really resonated with me:

“Many persons report what are described as premonitory urges – the urge to perform a motor activity. Other symptoms such as touching, repetitive thoughts and movements and compulsions can occur.”

That’s it! That’s exactly what I have! I have the URGE TO PERFORM A MOTOR ACTIVITY on a daily basis. COMPULSIONS. In other words, I have a compulsion to be an artist 24/7. And this compulsion to be an artist expresses itself in the form of motor activities. Okay, who’s still with me on this one? Have I lost you yet? Have I lost the plot? Or do you FEEL what I’m saying and you’re yelling “AMEN!” right now?!

And whenever I’m in public, the compulsion is at its highest. I mean, come on, it’s a free audience waiting to receive your brilliance. For example, I’m currently experiencing the “joys” of public transportation here in Los Angeles. Yes, Los Angeles has a public transportation system. I know, I know, it’s hard to believe since it feels like everyone drives. Now, is the LA public transportation system as extensive as the one in NYC? No, but Los Angeles DOES have a public transportation system. Anyway, I’m on public transportation because my “Tesla” is currently at Express Auto Shop. Sam and his crew are simply THE BEST. Here’s their address and tell them George Ortiz sent you: 8927 W. Pico Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90035.

Anyway, taking public transportation and being forced to interact with people has been an interesting learning experience. We spend so much time in our cars that we start losing touch with human connection. We start forgetting how to interact with people and how to handle and manage energy. Taking the train and bus has been a great way for me to observe people and life. As actors, we sometimes say, “The character would never do that” or “That’s too big/bold of a choice to make”. Um, stop for a second and take a look at LIFE and you’ll see the bold, crazy, daring, evaluated choices that people make on a daily basis. They are committed to their choices, they are moment to moment and they let their scene have a beginning, middle and end LOL.

Anyway, when I stand on the subway platform or I’m walking down the streets to the train station, and I have my headphones on for example, I can’t help but perform. The streets, the subway platform, the bus stop feels like a stage and it seems like such a waste to not take advantage of it. I’ll be walking down the street and then all of sudden, all of a sudden, all of a sudden, WOO HOO! I’ll start dance-walking. I’ll be in the zone with my music. I’m moment to moment with the music and my body becomes the vessel for which divine inspiration flows through. I don’t fight it. I can’t fight it.

I’ll be standing on the subway platform and then all of a sudden, all of a sudden, all of a sudden, WOO HOO! I’ll start performing a monologue to myself. Or I’ll recite lines from an audition I’m working on or from a film (The confrontation scene between Woody Allen and Kirstie Alley in “Deconstructing Harry” has been my go to scene lately)

I’ll be on the bus heading home and then all of a sudden, all of a sudden, all of a sudden, WOO HOO! I’ll start writing dialogue for a script I’m working on. Or I’ll start singing. Or I’ll be re-inspired with creative ideas for my career administration.

At the supermarket, WOO HOO! HERE WE GO AGAIN! GET DOWN! Dancing down the aisles. My body becomes a vessel and Bob Fosse enters. Madonna enters. Jerome Robbins enters. Michael Bennett enters. Prince enters. Whichever musical act I’m listening to enters. But they filter through my interpretation and my experience.

I can’t help it. I HAVE to perform. I HAVE to create. When the MUSE, when the COMPULSION comes, I have to express it. I can’t NOT perform and create and express. I don’t want to be a regular, normal human being. It bores me to tears. I don’t want to be like everyone else. I want to stand out. I want to shock myself. It’s almost like I’m creating performance art in the public eye.

I come home and I see the courtyard in my building and it looks like a large arena with a raised stage and everything. And then all of sudden, all of a sudden, all of a sudden, WOO HOO! GIVE IT TO ME! I’m on that stage and launching myself into an hour and a half dance extravaganza with a beginning, middle and end. During that time, I go on the classic hero’s journey from Orphan to Wanderer to Warrior to Martyr–Read “My Story Can Beat Up Your Story” by Jeffrey Alan Schechter if you don’t know what I’m talking about 🙂 🙂 🙂

And look, I know some people look at me like I’m weird cause it’s more “important” to be cool. To be unaffected. To be glib. Fuck that. They don’t pay my bills. I do. So they are of no significance to me. If anything, I’m hopefully inspiring them to chill out, to relax, to get out of their middle-class thinking and behavior, to stop being so uptight, to have fun. FUN. FUN. FUN. My God, when did we stop having fun? Who said that being an adult meant that you stop having fun? That you’re supposed to be dead on the outside and the inside? Being around the public, I truly see how unhappy a lot of people are. And how people don’t like seeing other people happy. That only makes me, that only makes me, that only makes me, GOD DAMMIT! WOO HOO! GIVE IT TO ME! It only makes me want to perform bigger and harder (wait, am I still talking about art or am I talking about sex? Then again, I’ve experienced incredible art that was the equivalent to experiencing amazing sex. No lie.) And I’m sure there are videos of me on Youtube, but whatever, I don’t care. I don’t want to be normal. I am extraordinary and it needs to come out. If it doesn’t, I become miserable. I become restless. I go crazy. I need to stay sharp with my creativity.

I smile when I see other artists performing in public without apology, without fear, without self-consciousness. These two male dancers got on the train recently and did their thing. I loved it. And of course, the stanky, snooty, middle-class thinking people sneered and snickered. Why???? They weren’t bothering anyone or harming anyone. What makes you better than these dancers? Why are you bothered by their artistry? Why are you not smiling? Are you secretly jealous and upset that you can’t be that free? I’m inclined to believe that the last question has incredible validity as I remember a former teacher saying, “We criticize the things that we ourselves cannot become.” I applauded the two dancers on their bravery and their artistry.

On the other hand, I’ve also made many people smile because of my artistic compulsions. They’ll clap for me. They’ll cheer me on. They’ll ask what I’m on and if they can have some of it. I remember seeing the fireworks this past July 4th with a buddy of mine. Afterwards, we went back to his car and waited for the crowds to disperse from the parking lot. We were listening to music, talking, killing time. Before we knew it, the parking lot was almost empty. A great, infectious song came on and I told him to turn on his headlights. He was confused by my request, but eventually complied. I got out and started dancing in front of his headlights to the song. I felt like Nicole Kidman in that iconic dancing scene from “To Die For”. I got such a rush. This guy walked by and said, “I’ll have whatever you’re on.” I said, “I’m on life, baby, life!”

I remember jogging through Barnsdall Park in Los Feliz and I stopped by this secluded, quiet area. I put on a mini-concert to about three songs. When I was done, I turned around and realized I was dancing in front of Kaiser Permanente Medical Center. I looked up and saw a young kid looking at me through the window. He waved and had the biggest smile on his face. I don’t know if he was a patient or not, but I became his hero and brought joy and happiness into his life. Can you imagine if I held back my compulsion to create?! What a crime that would have been! I smiled, waved back and continued on my jog.

I guess the point of this blog, the bottom line, is that we are artists. How BLESSED are we to be artists?! To know that any given moment, we can create and express in so many ways and in so many places?! To move, inspire, heal people in some way. I am an artist and I have to share and express it.

I HAVE ARTISTIC TOURETTES!

According to tourette.org:

There is no cure for Tourettes.

THANK GOD FOR THAT. I NEVER WANT MY CREATIVE COMPULSIONS TO STOP.