Last summer I was invited to teach an Acting course for my Alma Mater's (SUNY Buffalo) Masters of Humanites program.
The class mostly caters to Grad Students who are studying to be Directors, Writers, Producers, Editor as well as some Actors too. I guess it was pretty popular last year and I've been asked to do it again this summer.
So this weekend was spent revising my syllabus to better pack the two weeks chock full of information.
One new aspect I was able to implement this year, since the department wanted me to delve more into filmwork, is that I'm having my students do scenes from great plays such as "Proof" and "The Shape of Things".
Then once we get into the subtle aspects of film acting and camera movements, I'll film their prepared scenes like a movie and then screen their feature film counterparts (that a lot of people, including myself, have probably yet to see) to compare/contrast.
I always start my students out with improvisation so they can begin to trust their gut instincts and feel comfortable with just playing. Then I move onto Script Analysis, then on-camera work/camera angles, screenplays and having them actually go through the audition process.
I then culminate it all by giving a first hand account, from the lead actor nevertheless, of a studio feature film's timeline from Conception to its Premiere.
And on the last day, no class is complete without the nuts and bolts about the "The Business" of The Business. Imparting information that schools hardly ever touch upon that can only be gained through grinding it out on a daily basis. I sure as heck wish I had something like this when I started out!
The only drag was having to come up with exam questions, grading system and administrative things to incorporate some objective structure for such a subjective subject. But as you can see, my exams only account for a mere 20% of the grading -- and they're open book from the notes they take in class. Participation is the key with me. My motto is: "If you're game to play, you're gonna get an 'A'". I'm such an easy Prof. 
And exactly one year and 174,000 vistors ago, this xanga page was born... Happy Anniversary and thanks for reading!
As you may have read from the Feb 15th entry, I've been prepping the last two weeks for my upcoming test date for a new NBC show called, "The Book of Daniel" that has a 
great Asian-American character as a series regular.
I went into the Wednesday work session with pretty much the same performance I did two weeks prior. The lead actor playing my adopted dad, Aidan Quinn, was there to read opposite me alongside the casting director. After my read, I was instructed to play the character a bit more "cool/natural" and not force the comedy as much. I did the read again with the adjustments and soaked up all the notes the director and producers had to give. 
And just as I got home, ready to reconfigure my audition by incorporating the adjustments, my agent calls to inform me that the producers just called him and said they were not going to bring me in to test for Sony and NBC -- at all. 
My agent mentioned that they said my true age played a factor (damn you, IMDB!)with an ongoing debate between the creators on how old this character should be (16-20 yrs.) but no other reasons. So I'm still in a tizzy over what happened in that room for them to be absolutely positive on the spot that they didn't want to go any further with me after a work session (which is pretty unheard of... but allow me to be the first) -- did I just really sucked so bad or didn't take the adjustments well enough? 
But honestly, I gave them the same performance that originally made me one of their final choices and felt I took the adjustments pretty well. But maybe: 1) I'm Delusional. And/or 2) Somewhere along the way, another actor changed the producer's outlook on the take of this character, which was not anywhere in line with what I presented. I don't know. I'll let you know if the show gets picked up, so you can check it out as a bookend to this entry. Afterall, it still should be a really great show and the Asian-American character will hopefully break some barriers. 
Although the project would've provided much needed creative stimulation and some luxuries (ie: the wife being able to quit work and stay home with the baby) -- ultimately it's not the end of the world and I 've still got a baby girl coming into this world in a few months and a wife that loves me -- so it was a 'win-win' no matter what happened. 
As you've probably heard, Paris Hilton's T-Mobile Sidekick was hacked and all of her phone numbers were displayed on the internet for all to see.
Besides being immersed in Pilot season (btw: my test date is now next week), I've also been taking a Voice Over class offered by a casting studio for the past 6 weeks. In my career, I've been exposed to bits and pieces of this art form through: an animation voice for "The Wild Thornberrys", walla group for "Spider-Man 2", various characters for an old-time radio play, narration and trailer Voice Over for "
Also, thinking as a future parent, you just can't beat the hours. 
It pays basically as much as an on-camera gig with all the residuals but with much shorter hours. An animated episode like "The Simpsons" can be recorded in one day in less than 5 hours as opposed to shooting eight, 12-hour days to get an episode of "
People are casting natural voices these days. For example: A talking ant doesn't necessarily have to have a tiny squeaky voice. As long as you take into consideration the truth of the scene, whatever voice you come up with... will make sense. Ex: Say the role is of an ant trying to hush the entire colony announcing the Queen's arrival... He may be very regal and professional (like he was born to announce). Or he could be a nervous young ant who was just shoved this responsibility minutes ago. 
Another distinct lesson I learned was that unlike being on-camera, where you want to avoid being stereotyped; when starting out in voice-over... you WANT to be stereotyped. There is such a huge pool of Voice Over actors that even if you can do an Irish accent (like myself), they can call in an Irish Actor or even patch in an Irish Actor's voice from Ireland via the phone! Hey, my Irish Accent's pretty good but not THAT good. 
And that's how it's done. You want your name to pop up when they are looking for characters with your "truths" and be known as the best: "Quirky/Nerdy/Lovable Guy" in town. For example, Michael Douglas' "truth signature" would be: Distinguished, aggressive, CEO, businessman, slick, charming, cunning, guy's guy.. Rosanne Barr's would be: Crass, loud, in your face, obnoxious, grating, bullying. George W. Bush's would be: Clueless, idiotic, over-simplifier, good ole' boy, conniving 
After 6 weeks of hearing me do various types of material, here's what my instructor pegged as my "truth signature" and what she entered into the casting company's database: Guy next door, boyish, cool, cynical, conversational, eager, mellow/laid back, endearing, fresh, genuine, good energy, hip, naive, intelligent, irreverent, natural , playful , quirky, real, reassuring , thoughtful, intense, trustworthy, honest , vulnerable, nurturing, best friend, gentle, warm, sweet. 
You want to get your foot in the door by being very specific in what you can easily do. Once you're "in", then you can fool around in the booth doing alternate takes and using different signatures. If anyone's interested in these classes: 
Next time you're watching TV, close your eyes and just listen to ABC's guy announcing what's happening on the next "The Bachelorette". What "truths" does his voice contain? His truths are quite different from the Zales announcer whose soothing and passionate delivery is quite effective for selling diamonds. Notice how regal and sophisticated Christina Pickles' (Ross & Monica's mom on "Friends") voice comes across when she does those radio ads for the upscale Pavilions' supermarket chains? Her "truth signature" falls very much in line with everything that Pavilions represents. 
Hmm, judging from my signature notes above, I'd be a really good pitch person for something innocent and "aw-shucks" like... cupcakes. Maybe even the new voice of the Cowboy Twinkie dude! I'm sending a CD to Hostess as we speak! 
To get everyone up to speed, the "pilots" being currently cast from Jan- April are the potential new shows for the Fall 2005 TV season. The networks have to fill these shows with new cast members, so it gives a lot of actors a chance to be working regularly if their show is picked up. So far things this pilot season have been pretty busy for me as I've been going out on an average of 1 to 2 every week for the past month. 
The guy who's very adept at his technical job yet is all thumbs when it comes to talking or interacting with the opposite sex. Not to look a gift horse in the mouth, because a series regular gig is a series regular gig, but you can begin to see how the "Emasculated Asian Male" image continues to get perpetuated. Where any Asian Actor cast may as well be a priest because he ain't savin' the girl, he ain't gettin' the girl and he sure as heck ain't kissin' the girl .
But there is this great NBC pilot that I'll be testing for this week and he's described as: A jock, in great shape, handsome, cocky. His favorite pastime is pushing people's buttons. He loves and admires his family and enjoys goading them but also has the ability to make any one of them laugh when he wants. And he likes girls - a lot.
Before an actor tests for a pilot in front of the network's higher ups (after you see the casting director and producers), all contractual money must be agreed upon before you even get the role. This is to prevent any actor reneging after he/she is cast saying, "Okay, now that you want me, I want this much money now." So everything from how much you'll make per episode from Season 1 to Season 8 is all hammered out before you go into that room to meet the executive "suits". 
Each of us thinking, "Which one of our lives are about to change in the next half hour?" 
No matter how non-materialistic you are, it is definetly an aspect that comes into play when you're down to the wire. How can you not think about all the things you can now get for your family or the security it will buy? I always warn actors testing for the first time, "Don't think about the money". And time and time again when I see their dejected faces after their test and ask, "You thought about the money, didn't you?" They all sadly nod. 
When I first purchased it, I was initially going through "Buyer's Remorse" after seeing 70" screens in stores, for thousands of dollars less.
My only initial hesititation was that since a lot of newer homes have built in recessed niches for an entertainment center, a wall mounted plasma would be nestled 3 feet back into the niche. But now they can mount it on an "articulating arm" to pull it out from the wall. It can also turn 180 degrees towards another room (say if you're cooking in the kitchen and following a recipe from Alton Brown), tilt down so the kids don't have to crane up their necks and then push it back flush to the wall when you're done... so getting a plasma was pretty much a no brainer besides the dough factor.
See? Now, I think this is cheating.
It looks like my episodes on "Tru Calling" will be airing on the correct dates that the IMDB has stated, starting this Thursday... but in New Zealand! I don't think my DiSH signal reaches that far.
With the baby coming, there's just no way the wife's 2 door, Acura Integra would be practical for getting a baby out of a car seat.So the wife's new Shen mobile is the 2005 Honda CR-V SE. 
It's your smaller SUV that still gets as good of mileage as your average sedan while getting a little more room in exchange. The two aspects that sold us on it were: 
1) The center console folds down so you can walk into the back seat area to unbuckle the baby without having to get out of the car. And here's what sold me...2) There's a secret compartment in the trunk that slides out a hidden picnic table!
I mean, it's definitely a good thing because it means your agents are submitting you if they're running out of your photos. Actually, it's a great test when trying out a new agent: Give him/her about 50 headshots and see how long it takes 'em to go through them all. If they ask for more within a few months, they're submitting you pretty frequently. But if it's been a year and they've still got plenty... then it's time to move on. 
STEP 3) Attach the 8" x 10" headshot and resume together (now the same size), both facing out, with a single staple on top. 
Do not staple the top and bottom corners. Casting people flip through these photos in a pile very quickly and if their fingernail gets caught on a staple, guess whose photo is smiling back at them when they're all bleeding and pissed off?
But when you're at a higher-level agency, they will usually update your resume on their database and attach it as your photo is sent out for submissions. So you only need to provide them with a stack of photos, like so (right). 
The former stack of photos was for my commercial agency. Commercials are cast very quickly and directors don't really care about updated credits so much. 
I was recently in a casting office and was appalled to see sitting on the desk: Britney Spears' demo reel of her hosting duties on "Saturday Night Live" labeled: "Brittany Spears" -- who incidentally is repped by the aforementioned agency above and hence responsible for typing up that label. (But they're also repping the script I co-wrote, so I can't knock 'em too much.)
So the film that six people came out to watch in 2004, "First Daughter" just came out on Dvd last Tuesday. And as I was looking to review my scene to possibly put on my demo reel, I was surprised to discover how simple it was to locate. 
When doing "Smilodon", I was surprised to learn that Robert Carradine had yet to show his 12-yr old son his film, "Revenge of the Nerds" -- just because it was such a huge part of 80's pop culture (I mean, his character invented the whole "white tape around the middle of the eyeglasses" thing!). But then again, it is Rated-R so I guess it does make sense that his son hasn't seen it yet. 
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