Now Playing - NCIS

The season finale of NCIS is now streaming!

STREAM IT ALREADY

I play a Russian inmate with a penchant for violence. Typecasting I guess.

You can catch glimpses of my stunt double here and there in the big fight scene. Here is Nick Epper and I being twins on set:

Gotta do this spiderman meme shot w/ your stunt double. It’s in my contract.

Here’s this guy who kept kicking my ass:

Here is my Russian prison gang (Themo and Chris):

Super fun shoot. Most fun I’ve had on a TV set. Great crew. Talented actors. Stoked for people to watch it.

We look VERY friendly here. I assure you our onscreen relationship is very contentious.

Now Playing - The Company You Keep

Very fashion, very eyes wide shut, very enigmatic doorman.

Check it out streaming on the Hulu and the ABC and wherever else you can find this show.

Here’s one of said places -

This was the first time I’ve heard an apple box* be requested for me. It was later decided that I was indeed tall enough for the desired effect.

Very grateful to hop up to Malibu to shoot this fun scene.

*apple box - a wooden box of standard size that serves to raise one actor or crewperson to a higher position (not an official definition)

Wrapped - NCIS

Finished shooting the season finale on this long running cornerstone of procedural drama. Very honored to have taken part. Much of the crew on this show has been together since JAG, and that translates…one of the crew members described it as having the spirit of an indie film crew on a network show, and I think that’s pretty apt.

Had the absolute pleasure to work opposite Wilmer Valderrama, Themo Melikidze, and Chris Petrovski, the dp Billy Webb, and director Diana Valentine. All the rest of the crew (Avery/Wyatt/Nick/Elion/Aaron/Carrie/Rich/Karen/Jose/Kurt/errybody) were incredibly welcoming, professional, and all the other things you hope for.

Oh man, also was really stoked to have worked with stunt coordinator Diamond Farnsworth, and my first stunt double - Nick Eppers! I realize how much I miss the choreography of combat. It was also magic to see someone else turned into a clone of myself.

Very excited to see how it all turns out.

What's Up - The Rule of Booking Pt. 4

You’re on paternal leave and auditions start coming down the line. Some start shooting after or almost after your leave is done (which, by the way, as an artist is arbitrary but completely necessary to allow time to adjust to life with a new baby).

Do you…?

A. Turn down the auditions that aren’t worth it.

B. Do the auditions that are worth it.

C. Do auditions while sleep deprived.

D. Book a substantial role on a network TV show.

E. All of the above.

The answer is E. And to sum up all of these series so far - being busy with life is a great reason to do an audition, not the other way around. I’m beginning to think that a little bit of chaos helps with focus.

Wrapped - The Company You Keep

Finished up a shoot on a show led by this very talented, humble, and hard working dude.

Have been a fan of Milo’s since Heroes, and am grateful to have worked with him. It’s clear he’s using his extensive experience to helm an extremely efficient set. When every single person seems content, that’s a signal that leadership is on the right track.

Very excited to see what comes of this show, and for my appearance as an enigmatic gatekeeper.

What's Up - The Rule of Booking Pt. 3

The Rule of Booking Pt. III - it’s not hard to book, and it never was. It’s fun.

You cannot game the rules of booking. You can’t pretend it’s not hard if it is.

But if there’s any pattern it’s this - you’re busy working on so many different things (creative work included), which creates a state of mind that’s too busy to obsess over your work. You have just enough time to do the work necessary, so you do it, and then share it.

It’s a small relief that it doesn’t need to be hard. But still - you work hard so that it’s not hard. Many of life’s truths are a paradox.

Wrapped - Law and Order

Still reeling from an early morning shoot on Law and Order.

I got the opportunity to work with Jeffrey Donovan, Mehcad Brooks, and Carl Weathers using the writing of Peter Blauner to tell a lil crime story.

Each set up only took 2 takes, maybe 3, so it seemed to just whip by. Probably went so smoothly because the director and leads on that show are very supportive of the artists coming in, so I’m very grateful for the experience.

What's Up - The Rule of Booking pt. 2

The Rule of Booking Pt. II - when you leave town for an extended period of time, you will book a Network TV job in another town for an extended period of time.

You cannot game the Rule of Booking Pt. II. The logistics must be so complex to pull this feat off in a short amount of planning time that your brain will be too fried to be excited about the job. It must cost you and your family a small amount of sanity at least. You will have time later to be grateful.