Commercial Callback! (Or The Anatomy of a Disaster. You Decide.)

Callbacks are always heightened situations. You’re that much closer to getting the job and the win is palpable – fun day on set, big payday, and national exposure.

All these thoughts and more were running through my head as I drove to my Dunkin Donuts callback this morning. The thought of having my face associated with one of my most favorite brands ever was especially exciting. (Did I mention how much I love Dunkin Donuts?!)

Simply put, I wanted this. Bad. That should have been warning sign #1 for me.

I walked in to 200 S. La Brea to find a much smaller crowd of actors hovering around the sign-in sheet, which had "Callbacks – Day1" written across the top. My nerves took another leap as a line from A Chorus Line jumped into my head – "I hope I get it! How many people does he neeeed?" Warning sign #2.

The casting director gave everyone an explanation. Same deal as the first audition – standing in line holding a jar of coins – except this time we’d then be walking up one by one and dumping our imaginary coins onto the counter.

Then he gave a pre-emptive note to everyone – "Don’t act!" Not an altogether unfamiliar note in the commercial world, which is moving increasingly toward real people, real people, real people. "Seriously, don’t act," he said again. "Don’t do anything. Just stand there."

What I should have done was listened to him. Unfortunately, the instinct to do something kicked in with a vengeance. Surely he didn’t really mean just stand there, I thought. I should come up with a few actions to separate myself from the rest of the actors, right? Warning sign #3.

I walked into the room, still struggling in my head between doing nothing and doing something to stand out. When it was my turn to dump my imaginary coins onto the counter, I tried to stay natural and not act, but I couldn’t. I imagined my coin jar to be especially heavy and cumbersome, requiring a big sweep of my arm to get the coins out. Too big, I thought immediately, TOO BIG!

The callback was over before I knew it. Who knows if I pulled it back in time. I wish I’d heeded all the warning signs and taken a deep breath before going in, but alas, that’s what callbacks can do to you.

And a love of Dunkin Donuts.

All in a Day's Writing

Before:

After:

A modest Monday's work, made easier thanks to these:

Muppet feet!

Movin’ Right Along, Doog-a-Doon, Doog-a-Doon

CBS approved my 2-page pilot story area yesterday, so I’m moving on to writing my 12-page pilot outline! Hooray! I’ve already written an outline, of course, but now it’s time to turn it from a steaming pile of poo into something readable.

My executive producer and I are hoping to have a solid draft of the script done by Thanksgiving, which only leaves me a few weeks to deliver a stellar outline, go through the notes process on the outline, get approved to go to script, and actually write the script.

And that means...it’s crunch time.

Sometimes I feel like my entire career as a solo writer has been spent in crunch time. I’ve always been pushing to get something done as soon as possible and battling fears that I’m behind the ball. Writing is a daily challenge in and of itself, but I’ve learned that managing my panic when approaching a deadline is a daily challenge as well.

When I’m in a heightened panic state, I’ll beat myself up for anything I do that’s not writing. Those minutes I spent doing my laundry or getting my oil changed? Horrible. "I should have done that later! Why am I wasting time eating and sleeping? I should be writing! Aaaagh!"

I have to remember that what I’m striving for is a balance – between writing and functioning as a human being. And much like my action plan theory for actors, staying on track as a writer means pacing myself – breaking down my list of notes and addressing them one at a time. Slow and steady wins the race. Staring at the long track ahead and freaking out isn’t going to do me any good.

So I take a deep breath and move into crunch time, knowing that I can do it. Bird by bird,as Anne Lamott says. Bird by bird.

A Day in the Life of a Commercial Audition

The Client: Dunkin Donuts
The Role: Ethnic Businesswoman
The Location: 200 S. La Brea

That’s all I knew before my commercial audition yesterday. And that’s typical – information always seems to be sparse and general when it comes to commercial casting. Walking into the casting office and seeing who else was called for the audition tells me much more about what I’m in for.

On this particular day, the waiting area at 200 S. La Brea was packed full. There was an audition happening in every casting studio with a corresponding crowd of actors hovering about, waiting to get called. In one corner, a gaggle of little girls in ballet tutus with their moms. In another corner, tall, gorgeous models in high heels.

The crowd gathered around the Dunkin Donuts sign-in sheet appeared to be every shape and size possible. Black guys wearing gas station shirts, Asian people in business suits, redheads in tight skirts, etc. – clearly a cross-section of America. Because America runs on Dunkin!

I signed in and passed the waiting time by catching up with old friend Stephon Fuller, a working actor I met my first year in LA. He’s worked steadily for years in TV & film, chronicling his acting adventures in his blog My Long Ass Bio. We’ve always shared a belief in working smarter and harder to put ourselves on the Hollywood map. Case in point – he booked a role opposite Tom Hanks in The Terminal from a headshot drop-off. That’s badass.

Finally, the casting director called my name along with about 25 others to go into the room for an explanation of what the audition would entail. CDs often do explanations in large groups so they don’t have to repeat themselves all day. This setup couldn’t have been simpler – stand in a single-file line and act like you’re waiting to buy Dunkin Donuts. Got it.

When it was my turn, I filled my head with images of pumpkin muffins and breakfast flatbread sandwiches and hot spiced apple cider. I channeled my passion for Dunkin Donuts and acted the hell out of waiting in line, I tell you whut. (Kidding.) After about 10 seconds, the CD said, "Thank you!" and I was done.

Needless to say, I don’t stress about commercial auditions. They probably saw 100 actors yesterday for a handful of standing in line roles. The people who ultimately get cast will probably be a diverse collection of looks and types. They’ll know if they want my look and type in less than those 10 seconds and that’s all there is to it.

So I concentrate on having fun. And what could be more fun than auditioning to wait in line? And get paid to do it!

David Mamet Does It Again

Ten years ago, reading David Mamet’s book True and False: Heresy and Common Sense for the Actorwas a revelation.

Unlike so many of the method acting books I was reading at the time, Mamet laid out an incredibly simple view of how to be a good actor – just show up and say the words. A playwright-centric opinion of acting, to be sure, but a refreshing change to what seemed to be a long tradition of overthinking.

Yesterday, I finally read David Mamet's missive on television writing that was allegedly intended only for the writers of The Unit,but got leaked and spread around the Internet like wildfire.

Again, Mamet impresses me by breaking good television writing down to the basics – every scene starts with a character wanting something and ends with him failing to get that thing, which leads to the next scene. That’s it! Practical wisdom that I’ll be applying to this pilot outline I’m working on. Thanks, David!

Check out his television writing theory for yourself, if you haven’t already. He tells it like it is.

My Interview on Tubgoat

Al Natanagara was one of my favorite co-workers at The Wild Wild Web, my first job out of MIT. (I still have my mug!)

Al was a tech-savvy rock and roller who hosted an epic barbecue every year called Meatfest. Sadly, I was a dork back then and never went.

We reconnected a few years back through wonderful Facebook. He’s still a tech-savvy rock and roller, but now he’s also a dad and a blogger. He recently interviewed me for his blog Tubgoat in his usual, hilarious fashion.

Check out my Tubgoat interview here!

Non-Acting Tips for Actors

Take or leave the career advice I give in my Tools of the Trade blog posts on the business of being a working actor. Everyone has the right to navigate showbiz in their own way.

But here are some non-acting tips that I think all actors should heed. Because working on your craft can be impossible if the rest of your life doesn’t work.

• Learn to eat out cheap – I’d love to eat Umami Burger every day, but those acting classes cost money! As do headshots and online submission services and demo reel editing and everything else I need to run my career. Save money by locating a few go-to cheap eats in your area and use coupons when you can. My favorites – Taco Tuesdays at Del Taco (3 tacos for $1.09!) and the snack bar at Costco.
  
  
• Wear sunscreen – Aside from being Asian, my secret to younger looking skin is definitely wearing sunscreen on my face every day of the year. In California, the sun is no joke. A sunscreen that contains zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, or avobenzone is a necessity for protecting your skin against sun damage that creates wrinkles. Apply liberally (a nickel-sized dollop for your face) and re-apply throughout the day!
  
  
• Have health insurance – Your budget may be tight, but this is one expense you CANNOT skip. Defending yourself against monster medical bills is one of the best investments you can make with your money. If you don’t qualify for medical insurance through SAG or a day job, buy an individual policy. Use ehealthinsurance to shop around and compare rates, then go directly to the insurance provider’s Web site to apply. (My policy costs less than a grande Starbucks coffee & a bagel a day!)
  
  
• Get a Roth IRA – Just because you don’t work at a company that offers at 401K doesn’t mean you shouldn’t plan for your retirement. Saving early pays off big time later in life. And you don’t need that much to start. You can find great Roth IRA accounts made up of no-fee mutual funds at do-it-yourself personal finance sites like Vanguard, Fidelity, or TD Ameritrade. But you don’t have to take my word for it.
  

What non-acting tips for actors would you add to this list?