New Favorite - Mr. In Between

This show falls into the fantasy of ‘older guy who is still a badass’. I fully acknowledge this is a feature of this entertainment that draws me in, being squarely advancing towards middle age (depending on what metric we use here), and yet I enjoy it anyway.

I usually internally chuckle at these shows/movies and how ridiculous they are in fulfilling the protection fantasy of older dudes who are righteously violent. I can’t fully invest in the reality of a story if it seems to be fulfilling these fantasies, but I do enjoy them all the same. It’s entertaining, but at a distance. A couple of examples are ‘Nobody’ and the later movies of the series ‘The Equalizer’ - I have no problem with enjoying the entertainment of these, but I’m just bemused by the amount of violence these older gentlemen are capable of inflicting because they’re just THAT GOOD at it. It’s fun, I get it, beware old men in the trade of violence because there’s a reason they’re still alive and all that.

At what point do they stop due to the invulnerable enemy of entropy? Why not see a movie of a badass in a walker slamming people about? Would love to see that dark comedy.

I digress, again - no beef with this genre. I just want to celebrate this show, because the violence within it seems plausible. This fellow Ray here has a sharp instinct for when to use violence, he employs it quickly/usually pre-emptively, he gains the upper hand through tactics (experience), and it ends quickly. He also endures injuries that remain for the entire episode, if not through multiple episodes. He loses things dear to him that he can’t get back. The episodes with his disabled brother are heartbreaking, tackling the pains of a debilitating condition from the POV of the person going through it. Their storyline was incredibly moving and possibly the best part of it.

There’s also a great teen/dad dynamic going on, a few oddball friends that are fun, and a great deal of comedy, often peppered with sage perspectives on how the world works. Also - accents. Good on ya if you watch it.

In Development - TV Greenlight

I know I’m one of a thousand fathers/mothers on this victory/success, but a project I’d been developing/consulting on just got the greenlight. My fee of late has been a character in the project, so I’m looking forward to having some fun on what’s going to be a delightful show.

And of course all of the credit belongs to the showrunner. I’m a big fan of hers. Maybe her biggest? Likely if size is a factor that’s true. I will fight anyone for that title.

The lead of this show was the lead of a show I first booked a featured spot on when I came out here and got into the game. So if it all pans out this will be a full circle kind of thing.

What's Up - Training

The movie I’m working on involves a big fight scene. I’ve always loved fight choreography. It’s all just pretend, until now. I think I’ve rediscovered a new love - boxing. It’s killing the two birds with one stone - trimming down my mass and turning my body into a believable force for violence.

What's Up - Development Wins

While TV production slowly ramps up, I’ve been developing various projects with my people (wife and friends), and just wanted to share some wins there. My success rate with this is pretty solid, so I may soon officially add a second shingle to my shop.

A friend had a rare opportunity to pitch an animation show to a production company with the rights to a very popular IP. He’s a talented writer, been in the running on quite a few ‘lists’ for a screenplay he submitted to ‘the contests’, has some very funny sketch content out there, but not quite worked on TV yet. YET. I’ve been coaching him through pitch after pitch on this, and it has gone as well as it could possibly go, so here we are in the final running, pitching to one of ‘the streamers’. And I’m still in his corner.

In Development - Untitled Horror Feature

I am stalking a story set in the woods with my writer/director friend. It’s a horror. The thrill of the hunt floods my veins as I develop a feature wherein I will play the lead.

It brings up questions - in what ways can I carry a story forward? What do I have to say about the subject matter? How the hell are we going to fund this thing?

It’s a rare chance for creative control that for actors is mostly only inherent in film. It’s just the beginning of the expedition, which is to say - extensive planning. Journey of a thousand steps and all that. Catch you in the wild.

Wrapped - Reel Scenes

With a stagnation in new shows (from negotiations with the IATSE, and a more conservative approach to production) comes another break I’ve decided to make what can.

Fortunately, life with kids is an embarrassment of riches as far as things to do, and moments to behold. I’ve very much enjoyed spending time with the two little ones.

But still, duty calls from time to time - this time in the form of other actors needing scene partners for their reels. Just wrapped two shoots, one with Relentless Filmworks, and the other with I Look Like Myself, two great reel production companies in LA that will shoot and edit scenes that belong in a variety of genres and mediums.

Check em out if you’re in the market for such a thing. I might even be your scene partner if you’re looking for a farmer, or a high fashion thug skimming his boss, or a lovelorn widower.

New Favorite - Fallout (TV Series)

Ahhh Hakunin. The beginning of a great journey.

Ol tree in the head Harold. So fun.

Adaptations are tough - especially for something very widely loved. Balancing what fans originally loved, the challenge of creating something new within an established world, and the input of your producers/distributers is probably challenging.

You needn’t read my praise to know that - the new Fallout TV series is widely lauded by critics for good reason - it’s very well done. It’s clear the tone of the game has been translated faithfully, the world design is immaculately detailed, and the story is something new and surprising.

The balance of tones immediately made me think - “oh, these people have actually played the game.” Or more likely, all of the games. The detail on the set and props made me think that the people making them really enjoyed it. The story is familiar and in the spirit of the game, but has its own surprising turns, and actually provides the world of Fallout with more clarity.

I’ve loved the game series since it was in bird’s eye view. Fallout 2 is particularly memorable because of the characters you meet (both the writing and voice acting is stellar). I’m stoked there’s a second season coming, and hope they continue to explore what they can do with this thing.

What's Up - Tony Awards

Very proud of my wife today for her hard work on The Notebook: The Musical. For her, being a book writer was kind of an invisible job - that is, if you’re doing it right it’s not really noticed. So I know she feels very lucky to have been honored in this way.

It’s a strange thing to parse out the pieces of a collaborative work like this, being that the actors and book are very directly related to the music and direction and design and everything else that goes into it.

On the set of a network procedural, I thanked the director for his help in getting me to where I needed to be, and he kept chalking it up to, “well it’s a collaborative art,” kind of saying - ‘you did this too, and everyone else, no other way it can happen’. It’s true. Which is why those awards shows take so damn long. So many people to thank.

And lets be real - nobody loves a good award show like the entertainment industry. We’re out here congratulating each other left and right. We really do need the validation though - we’re not making something that lasts or that you can tangibly hold. We need the validation as fuel to convince us to keep going on to the next thing.

Also - now a great thing that will never/immediately get old is I can introduce Bekah as my ‘Tony nominated wife’.

What's Up - New Manager

I have joined up with a new manager at Aegis Talent.

Aside from having an amazing person in my corner, their company’s name implies that I will be heading into battle with either a ‘shield of Jupiter’ or ‘mantle of Zeus’. It’s a breastplate or shield of majesty, possibly made of goatskin or covered by it. Adorning myself with a kingly god’s boon can likely only be a good thing.

This was made by AI, and I’m wondering what this great role is that AI thinks I’m bound to play. Looks pretty rad.

Red Carpet - The Notebook Opening

Photo by Michaelah Reynold

Photo by Michaelah Reynold

Here’s me being very proud of my wife for her work writing the book for The Notebook musical.

My sister in law Jacy Ceccarelli styled us both. What a whirlwind rollercoaster ride this, and our visit to New York in general, was.

This production is the culmination of 6, maybe 7 years, of consistent work. It garnered rave reviews in the Chicago production, and generated mixed reviews in New York. Most people love the show, but it is slightly different than your average musical, and it’s about a movie, so I understand it’s an easy target.

I would expect a more diligent approach from New York professionals though - it’s disappointing that some of them cannot engage with what is moving to the majority of the audience around them, even if they are not moved themselves.

The music and book reflect the piece - a layered construction of a love story grasping to be remembered by the lovers, which builds toward a final transcendent moment that celebrates one of the best and enduring capacities we can hold. It takes the core themes of love and loss from the book and elevates them in symphonic beauty.

I’ve never been a fan of performative, campy, or splashy musicals that seem to delight the biggest energy vampires in any drama class. I prefer plays with music, or musicals with heart, and this is both, probably more the latter. A couple of my favorites have been Passing Strange (mounted at the public), and Three Penny Opera (mounted by a South African troupe in an old church in London using drums and sticks for percussion and sets).

In that way, my wife’s work adds value to the market. It provides another option that people love to embrace and celebrate.

What's Up - Work Life Balance

The aforementioned work life balance is a relatively new concept, previously known as life. I’m a fan of the simpler term, but want to acknowledge how one can prepare you for the other.

With my wife out of town for work, I’ve been in charge of the mornings/nights of both children, which has been an adjustment. To all the caregivers who do this always, I am impressed/humbled. It’s a multi-tasker’s dream, and minimalist’s nightmare. Here’s a small stream of consciousness of me in the midst of it at before dinnertime - is she on the couch? no, playing with that - good, maybe a minute then, careful cut carrots not fingers, did he say dad? oh he found it, zucchini? no, still more carrots - is she on the couch? put her in here? no still playing with that, nuggets 20 seconds maybe 25 will he eat some? no, no letters left - what else? has he pooped? when? fiber - apples first so cinnamon doesn’t scatter - does she have fruit left? etc.

It’s a flow, I’m a shark, always moving from one microtask to the next, a flurry of meal prep for three different ages.

When an action comedy project comes through the pipeline, the clearly written character and action gives me a direct path through an enjoyable experience. There are quick transitions that require focus, but none of them feel very challenging given the number of transitions my life requires, and the focus is a delightful break from the frenetic pace of whack-a-mole that happens when two children need different things at the same time.

What's Up - Stylist

Fashion cycles around and around. It’s funny to see kids wearing what people wore in high school. The clothes are getting bigger, the hair floppier, and the pants baggier.

I’m on board with baggier pants, as long as it trends 20s 30s 40s and not 90s. The rest of it I’ll leave at Hot Topic. Skinny pants don’t fit these legs that have to hold up my big ol butt and body. Baggier pants make me feel Swooshy ™. Some kinda karate master, or painter, or jazz dancer - something masterful that requires movement.

Got a big opening night coming up to celebrate my wife’s hard work. Sister in law’s a stylist. Sent along this reference point based on my ideas. We’ll see how close I come to this lewk. This guy is an ambassador from some land of mastery. If I get halfway there I’ll feel great.

Point is - ask your people for help. If I didn’t I wouldn’t be having as much fun with this mission.

What's Up - Surf's Up

Now that the strike is over, work flow can return to normal.

Here is a normal workflow - calm calm calm calm, swell - 5 PROJECTS AT ONCE - GO!

The calm will return, but I’m looking forward to getting ‘the best barrels ever…get pulled in and spit right out…and just drop the lip and smack in WHABAP, drop down - SWABAA, and after that just drop in, just ride the barrel, and get pitted, so pitted’. Look up funny surfer interview for this reference and an internet legend.

Actually, here you go anyway.

Merry Chrimbus - HERE HE IS

Wrapped - Harmony

Since I didn’t take any pictures on this set, here’s one the director took of the DP.

Maybe it tells the bittersweet story of the end of a finely crafted piece of collaborative art.

For me this was an opportunity to represent part of what it means to be a parent. It gave me a glimpse into the future of how devastating it will be to send my children off into the world, and a reminder to enjoy the time with them now - when they are still so small that one uses my body as a training mountain to climb, or when the other follows his curiosity to ask me - ‘did you make any friends at your acting work?’

I believe I did. I’m eager to watch what becomes of it all.

What's Up - The Rule of Booking Pt. 5

There’s a strike happening. It’s up and down, talks and then no talks.

Still there are some projects out there, if you look for them. Get back training weekly, get your chops back together, and put some tapes down on the ones that come your way.

One of them catches. It’s the type of role you’ve wanted to do for awhile. It doesn’t rely on your height. It doesn’t rely on your mean mug. It relies on an experience you have every day to your children. It feels like your life, but in a slightly different universe.

Additionally, it’s a film. You can take space to let more of your life in. Unlike TV, there’s not a clock ticking in the back of everyone’s head. It’s all a huge relief. You are grateful.

But then you realize you have to work out the schedule of your real children and this parallel family. Fortunately you have a real wife, unlike the absent one in the story. Again you are grateful.

What's Up - So Proud

This is just here to say that I’m very proud of my wife and the whole creative team behind The Notebook The Musical. My wife wrote the book, and I was just there for support. I’m on Team Jock Strap. Or Team Bra. Or Team Back Brace.

It’s been illuminating to see the degree of talent and work that goes into something like this. I was privileged enough to see the show in Chicago a few times, and it does what only live theatre can do - send you and everyone in the room on a beautiful transcendent journey that momentarily takes you out of time and into the heart of humanity.

So far it’s been a 6 year process, which apparently is short for musicals. I am beyond impressed, and can’t wait to celebrate in the city that never sleeps. Seriously, NYC, why do your trash tracks clang around at 2 am? People are trying to sleep. I love you but you’re loud.

Wrapped - New Reel Scene

Thought I’d refresh my current work by shooting something with a friend during these doldrums.

Here are a couple pics of it. They say write what you know, so I wrote a little scene about the time I took my landlord to court. My agent gets some lawyer jargon to send out to all the lawyer jargony shows, and it fulfills my desire to tell stories about deserved justice. I contacted the team at Relentless Filmworks to direct, capture, and edit it, because their work is so stellar.

For my scene partner I contacted the very talented Blake Boyd, someone who embodies ‘action bias’ as I sometimes do.

Action bias is what may save us from this strike.

What's Up - STRIKE!

I’m sure you’ve heard. The SAG-AFTRA guild of TV/film actors, including myself, are going on strike.

I’m proud of my guild for not settling. I’ve long taken issue with streaming residuals, their obfuscation of numbers, and plenty of the other issues on the table.

This has happened before - a new technology has arisen that restructures an industry, and for a time those who control the technology realize they can take advantage of this new structure, until the workers realize they must stand together and demand their fair share according to their contribution. The controllers of the technology are only special in that they got there first and were willing to assert their avarice.

What's Up - Downtime

The WGA is on strike, which means the auditions for film and television have dried up.

So, I pivot to another arena of my life. Family, friends, housework, writing my own projects, etc. Our 4 month old baby takes up quite a wonderful part of my day.

Got a moment to catch up with my Texan friend Blake Boyd, a talented, humble, and very productive fellow actor. He gave me some pointers on riding, we talked about scenes we were gonna film, we had lunch, and were serenaded in Spanish by fellow diners.

My horse for the day, Blue, was a big dude like myself, so I was grateful that he could bear my weight. Some places don’t accommodate for big ol butts.

Here’s some shots of us riding around.

New Favorite - Dungeons and Dragons : Honor Among Thieves

As an actor, TV/movie developer, player of D&D, and DM of D&D, I’m extremely happy this movie did a fantastic job of overcoming all the challenges that might have sunk an amazing opportunity.

As an actor I’m stoked on how truthful everyone played the world and their own storylines. With high fantasy, I’ve seen many actors go too big, maybe to match how big the world seems. This didn’t happen here. It felt like real humans/tieflings/elves living in a world with different rules.

As a TV/movie developer, I’m impressed with their ability to translate the experience and source material into a tone appropriate adventure that feels plucked out of a campaign book, without getting lost in the weeds of rules/abilities that might have slowed it down. Everything was in service of the story, as it should be for a movie or TV experience.

As a player, I’m excited to see something reflect the fun of what playing is like. Some, if not many of the creators, must have played, or at least listened to the experience of what it’s like to play the game. Or at least they did such a good job of imagining what it would be like they might as well have played.

As a DM, I’m gonna be plucking some of the content from this and retooling it for my own nefarious purposes. Also, the runner of Jarnathan was a great touch - just because as a DM, you prepare a whole campaign, elaborate with details, thinking you’ve prepped for every main route the party might take. But more often than not, the players focus on one NPC for some reason, wanting to know his name and backstory - so you come up with one on the spot, sometimes resulting in a very stupid name like Jarnathan. Now all of a sudden Jarnathan is an essential aspect of your players’ plan, and saying Jarnathan out loud becomes the running joke that keeps on giving. Jarnathan.

I’m hoping this strike ends soon so that in the DND TV series, Rawson Marshall Thurber can write me a recurring role as a Ranger who speaks almost exclusively in seemingly stupid riddles that mean nonsense at the time, but turn out to be surprisingly apropos later on. Basically Minsc but with a beard.