My first Hollywood musical theatre audition.

I submitted to be in a musical theatre production, which I don't do often, because it was based heavily on Vaudeville, and Vaudeville is wonderful. The last time I auditioned for a musical theatre show, I got it, so why not try again. But I didn't realize how big of a production this was.
I got the call confirming the audition, which meant they wanted to see me. So far so good. But they told me to prepare two sides, a song, and a Vaudeville act. They wanted to see something entertaining, it could be anything, but I had to show them something! So I spent two days trying to put together some Vaudevillian comedy/tumbling act. Every idea I had wasn't practical, so I finally decided I'd just roll around and hope for the best. Besides, I still had a song and two sides to get familiar with.
I brushed up an old audition favorite, something I felt I could pull out of my back pocket and be comfortable with. Also thought I'd include my classic audition tune, "Mr. Cellophane," just in case. And for the sides, I brushed up, read them over, jotted some notes. I felt I could give a good audition without having it memorized. Then I noticed some names on the bottom of the sides, "Book by Milt Larsen, Richard M. Sherman and Joseph Hoffman. Music and Lyrics by Richard M. Sherman & Milt Larsen." Particularly Richard M. Sherman. That's one of the legendary Sherman Brothers, who wrote pretty much everything for Walt Disney. And with my history and love of Disney, I wish I had prepared any of the music I could so easily perform, like for example ANYTHING FROM MARY POPPINS. Which I have the music for. But it was the night before, too late, I'll use the song in my back pocket.
The audition morning finally came. Wasn't feelin' too good about it, but by golly, I was gonna make it a good audition. I arrived signed in, and another auditioning actor asked the runner where he could find Milt Larsen. Okay, pay attention cuz what happened next happened very fast. He was saying he was supposed to talk to Mr. Larsen, which meant that he was here, which meant that Mr. Sherman was probably here. It hit me, I would be auditioning for the writers of the play. This wasn't a local theater's production of a classic musical that I just never heard of, this was a brand new musical written by these legends. Richard Sherman is the executive producer. And I was somehow auditioning for the opening cast. Those are promotional candies for the new show!! ohgodohgodohgodohgod this audition is way bigger tha-- wait a minute, Richard Sherman is here? He's right behind me! That's him! He's introducing himself. I'm introducing myself! I'M SHAKING RICHARD M. SHERMAN'S HAND.
This was unreal, and I was ecstatic, so I was determined to being entertaining, or at least charming. In the downtime before the auditions started I admired the Mary Poppins autographed theatrical poster in the hallway, as I do every time I'm at Debbie Reynolds Dance Studio. I went over my sides again, and I was ready.
I was the first to audition. Somehow that happens to me often. And I entered a room with a tarnished old piano, and a little old man behind it. There was the auditionee's table, with several old men all wearing matching blue jackets. I was smiling genuinely and felt this wonderful comfort being among people I just assumed were from the good ol' days or Walt's era. I talked to the pianist about the song, we had it figured out, I thanked him, then greeted the rest of the men, spoke with them a moment. And then it was like I was back in college at all those theatre auditions I went to. I told them my song, the pianist played it, and I went into it. I could tell I was off time. I've been told that I should let the pianist catch up to me, rather than risk us stumbling our tempos around each other. And I figured I'd just sing the song and focus on me. Bad idea in hindsight. The director stopped me before the big note and told me that there's a lag in sound or something, and that I should be closer to the piano. The men all talked about how the piano was closer to center last time, so we pulled it over, and tried again. He asked if I had a second song, and for the first time ever I did and was thankful I remembered to do that. The pianist suggested I start right before the chorus and do a few quick bars, making sure I get to the chorus. I did it. The director however, wanted to hear the beginning verse. So we started over. Then I forgot the words and had to start over. And it occurred to me, it's been way to long since I sang this song, and I really didn't have it prepared as much as I had it on hand. So it didn't go well, but I got through the chorus. The pianist and I stopped, the director kept tapping his toe and prompted me to sing the chorus again. I was lost. I didn't know what to do with the song and the audition quickly ended. I hoped that my impromptu playfulness during the song would help, but I'm sure it backfired. They took a look over the profile sheet I filled out before the audition, where I listed every basic special skill I had that related to Vaudeville, which is pretty much everything that doesn't involve sports equipment. They told me they didn't need to see any more from me. I thanked them and left smiling. For a train derailing, I still had a good time.
I was disappointed that I committed some hamartia in focusing so much on the Vaudeville act, and not so much on the singing or acting. Now that I think about it, I should have worried about those first. Wowed them with my acting and singing talent, rather than the specialty stuff, just in case they decide to cut me off early. Makes sense now.
So lesson learned. And I'm sure I would have lost it during the dance, since I'm not a dancer. But I still feel bad that I got to audition for Richard M. Sherman, and pretty much blew it. I am better than that, and I feel like I let him down.
And he was so nice!

My first Hollywood coffee meeting.

Back in February I met a recognizable humorist at a convention. By the way, I have this thing about using names in blogs, so I'm probably not gonna say more than that. Anyway, we chatted, I mentioned in live in North Hollywood, and he said we should meet up to hang out. Awesome, I love hanging out with people. Then I lost his business card and it wasn't until the convention happened again, luckily for me a second time in the same year, that I could get his contact info back. So after half a year or so, I called him, somehow he remembered me, and we started to plan a meet up.
This took a few more months, cuz of the holidays an all. But a few days ago, we finally met up! I got there early, but showed up late cuz the clock in my girlfriend's car is slow and I always forget about it when I'm sitting it killing time! So though I planned to show first, he beat me to it, and texted me "Im the nappy haired Asian guy with a laptop." This was confusing, I don't remember him being a nappy haired Asian guy. Even more confused when I saw him there, with his laptop out and headphones on. So... I thought.. well, first time I met him he was in costume... and it's been a while... and he does have a laptop out. This must be the guy. I walked up to him awkwardly, and cautiously, until he noticed I was there. He pulled his headphones off, looked up and I asked, "are you Angus?" He wasn't. Angus was in the other corner watching the whole thing for his amusement.
Damn I used his name. ... Moving on.
I greeted him again, for the first time in months with a smile and "You're a jerk!" We talked for about twenty minutes about his project and my resume, the we got into our broken cameras. The meeting was shorter than desired, like I said, I thought we were supposed hang out, but I did know it was a business meeting and therefore expected a quick business chat and that's it. Anyway, it went well, he's a great guy, fun too. Not nappy haired. And as for me, I think I talk too much.

My first Hollywood acting class.

I attended my first acting class in Hollywood. Technically Burbank. And technically it wasn't an acting class, more of an auditioning class. And technically it wasn't a class, but a demo workshop audit thing. But it was my first acting class in Hollywood.
It was taught by Billy O'Leary, who I recognized as Tim's brother from "Home Improvement." I read up on his class and it seemed pretty legitimate. My friend Jo came along to attend the class with me, and we're both glad we did. Billy taught an excellent, informative, and very helpful class. I wish I had taken it before I had that major audition a couple months ago. After getting to know him and everyone else in the class, Billy taped us doing a side reading, and after that we watched and got notes. I learned some very helpful tips to audition with, and was also given a big note to take for future auditions. All in all it was an excellent class and I would love to take a full course with him. Ya know, if I had the money.
Jo liked it too. He also wants to take the course. Ya know, if he had the money. And let me say that the problem is that Billy's class is expensive cuz it's not and that makes the situation all the more upsetting. It's that Jo and pretty much in debt from living in LA over a year. I'd still recommend Billy O'Leary's classes to any actor in LA who isn't acing every audition they go to. Which I think is all of the ones who go to auditions.

goodbye Two Thousand and Tenacious, hello Two Thousand and Elevated

2010 is soon behind us. Myself included. I loved 2009, a year full of adventure and experiences for me. In comparison, 2010 was dull and unsatisfying, even disappointing. I didn't have many adventures, and the ones I had didn't meet expectations. I didn't get to travel. I didn't meet any resolutions that I can remember. I didn't really move forward or up or much of any direction this year. But I don't mean to say 2010 was all disappointment.
Like all things it had it's good points. I didn't get to be Bert or The Grinch this year, but I got to play Peter Pan and Jack Skellington. Those are lifelong goals that I got a taste of this year. I didn't land an agent or a regular acting gig, but I got a feature film, I got to be a working actor for a while, and I even got to audition for the lead of a major motion picture!! I got to shoot a sketch comedy show, and for a good while I managed to be part of a pretty successful improv troupe at one of the biggest improv houses in LA! My 2010 Resolution project was also kind of a failure, but I did it, and it's given me tips to make it better next year. And that's really what I'm looking forward to, getting 2011 right, especially where 2010 fell short.
I've already checked, 2011 is going to be an awesome year for me. This is the year where I get things done! I get around, I make things happen, I make better puns... Not only is the whole acting career thing gonna hit off, but entrepreneurship gets started. I get the agent, and better auditions, and I'm pretty sure I land a gig that a lot of people notice. I can't recall what it was, or maybe I do and I'm just not telling you, but trust me.. it's awesome! (yes, I sang that last part.) And, lots of adventures. I get to travel, frequently, though a good chunk of it is work related. Thought getting to visit Orlando and all is still very cool. I also got to conventions and fairs and parties. Lots of cool events. It ends up being a really interesting year. And I end it not owing money to anyone! Which is a welcome change from these past few years. It's especially noteworthy since I finally get those video games I've been wanting. But that's beside the point. 2011, awesome year.
I'm really looking forward to the coming year and all the many wonderful things I get to be a part of. The 2011 Resolution project turns out really cool because of it, and there's not so much a silver lining, just silver. Sterling silver. And I make it rain!
Anyway... 2011. Awesome year.

My bad. It seems that zombies didn't rise up for a new pagan world order like the recalculated prophecy foretold.
But this only proves that it's going to happen in two years. Tell everyone!

I thought I had at least two more years, but I just found out, like five minutes ago, that early tomorrow morning might bring the "Shift of the Ages."
I heard that around 1am tonight (I still count that as tonight, not tomorrow. get used to it cuz I'm gonna say it a lot) was a big lunar eclipse that happened to fall on the Winter Solstice. I figured it just meant that the moon would look especially mystical, and I had read that both of the America continents could see. I had also read this coincidence was an extremely rare occurance.

Since Year 1, I can only find one previous instance of an eclipse matching the same calendar date as the solstice, and that is 1638 DEC 21", Geoff Chester of the US Naval Observatory.

Still, I figured it was just a coincidence. But then I read that not only will there be a lunar ecclipse on the Winter Solstice, there will also be a meteor shower, and Mercury is retrograding, and the entire galaxy is going to line itself up. Thus beginning a "3 year galactic journey ..., ushering us into a new world age." Oh my god! Or gods!
So a miraculous event is occuring tonight, the aligning of the galaxy. But does it mean anything? YES! We've all heard of the Mayan calendar's prediction that the world will end on Decemeber 21st, 2012. Years from now, tonight. But there's a theory that we may have gotten it wrong. Dead wrong. Supposedly, we may have been off translating the Mayan calendar to match ours, because of a 16th century switch between the Gregorian and Julian calendars. We may have been off by 2 years. It just makes sense! This year's Decemeber 21st is the only one with the galatic alignment!
The only question that still remains is how. We know the why, and the when (later tonight!), but the how is still a question. I haven't heard of any asteriods coming to hit the Earth in a few years, and we're nowhere near ready for the robot takeover, and the crystal skulls are still missing. I'm not sure what it is, and I'm probably better off not knowing, but I have an idea: zombies. I just now found about this, so I haven't made much sense of it yet. But it's got to be zombies. I thought there was more time. And I didn't think retail super centers were gonna help them! I was gonna hide out there, now what do I do?!
I know it's last minute, but we still have a chance. Tell everyone!

Secret Audition (which I'm still not telling)

Last Monday I had an audition for a huge project. So big that I signed a confidentiality agreement for the audition. And since then I've been losing my mind over whether I'd hear back from them on it, and that I can't tell anyone about it!
I changed my Facebook status to inform my friends "Kevin Allen has his biggest audition yet today at 3. He asks for your good thoughts and energy. Thank you." I've mentioned that I've had auditions and asked for good luck before, but this time I was overwhelmed with response from my friends. Not only in how many wished me good luck and were rooting for me, but in quality too. One friend of mine mentioned she was praying on my behalf. That's incredibly sweet and thoughtful, and I'm grateful for my wonderful friends. And they helped. I had a practically perfect audition, everything went just how I hoped it would, and I think all that good energy was a big part of it. When I saw the audition noticed, I really wanted the part, and I knew that I would be perfect for it. I started doing research on how to best portray the character, and in doing so, I stumbled across info about the movie. I discovered it was a MUCH bigger project than I thought, there was buzz on the internet, and I was pretty far out of my league. So, I was already putting a lot of attention and energy into it, but now I had reasons to be very nervous. Nevertheless, I treated it like every other audition I've been to; was calm and professional, made friends with the casting director taping the audition, and had a great time. And I'd like to think that part of that was in thanks to my friends and their support.
The other thing that with all my friends' loving wishes, was their restless curiosity. Everybody wanted to know what this big audition was for. And I did my best to let them know that they were not going to find out. I made an agreement, and I was going to honor it! Not only because I signed my name, but I want to honor the wishes of the people behind the film, and because I like fun of surprises, and I wasn't about to ruin that! Maybe a little bit for good karma too. But still, they were determined! I had a few people claiming that they could figure it out. One person even saying that she had physic abilities and pretty much knew, then asked if I wasn't allowed to tell. YES! She had this marvelous talent to write comments on my Facebook that, to the people who would be looking for any evidence of me breaking my word, could easily appear as if I had told her. I had to delete that, delete another comment, delete an article someone posted on my wall about another very similar casting which was a complete coincidence that she was oblivious to by looked like I had told her about my secret audition. It was driving me nuts.
Now I'm freaking out that the producers had a team of people checking the internet for any leaks and that they had stumbled across my page, saw this stuff, got the wrong idea, and nixed me from any future consideration. Not only that, but the audition was the day before my girlfriend and I drove up to the mountains of Northern California to visit family for the holidays, and I didn't have an internet signal to check for any of this stuff. I was losing my mind that I was going to have this opportunity ripped away from me. And that was on top of not being SAG, wondering if my read was what they were looking for, and every other usual audition paranoia inducer. And since it was the holidays, I wondered if they were going to get back to me right away or wait until the holidays were over. Then the scope of the project and having taped auditions in cities outside where it's being filmed made me wonder if a response would be be soon at all.
Well, it's been a week and a half now, so I'm going to let the nerves go and move on. Focus my attention on new auditions coming up. Though I'll still have to deter my friends from asking me about the audition. And I keep getting reminders of the project from the world. At first it was like a sign, continually seeing keywords or mementos everywhere. As if the world was telling me, this movie was for me. But now, it's like I'm just going crazy.
And I can't tell anyone!