ACTRA > Equity..

Abyss,

Well don't we have a situation. Due to my recent persistance about whether I have garnered any union status I have discovered something rather positive...

First off, when I took this contract that I am currently on I assumed that i would be getting at least one credit towards Equity. I found out today that this would have been the case had it been expressed when the contract was signed.. needless to say it was not due to my naivety. I will have to be more aware next time, but do not despair for since I was cast in Blackbird I have been given my ACTRA status! With this I feel like I am no longer just some kid doing acting for fun.

I am now of legitimate status and can be considered for bigger things :) While still maintaining my availablity to partake in community theatre.

So needless to say I am stoked beyond reason.

Tomorrow is the end of our 5th week on tour and then we move into the last phase of the tour. 2 more weeks then sadly we are done. Time has moved so quickly, I cannot get over how fast it has gone. I am grateful for every minute.


I am still waiting to hear from NTS and am looking forward to start filming. I am going to attempt to get a little bit more in shape before the shoot, just to improve my physical presence on screen (haha).

That is kind of it for now, haven't heard from any new auditions.. but at this point I don't need anything till after the film is done.

I will update accordingly.

Night Abyss

Skin

Hey Abyss,

Today is a transitionary day. Meaning its one of those days that I want to move quickly though and just be done. I actually want this week to be a transitionary week, I want it to be Friday.

Granted not as bad as Rebecca Black, but still a sufficient amount.

There is three more weeks left of the tour and I am stoked for that, so I guess I don't necessarily want to breeze through the shows, but I need money and I get paid on Friday..

This weekend was Easter weekend and I couldn't go home because I had to work saturday night and by the time I got off no more busses went. So I spent Easter Sunday sleeping, literally for like 18 hours. When I did decide to wake up I decided to purge myself, figuratively. I cleaned my apartment and washed everything down as well as shaved my head.

I felt clean.

On Friday I went to see a show called When it Rains. It was an awesome new play that was extremely innovative and thought provoking, isn't that an original review, it actually was though. The director used technology as a medium in which I have never seen used before, it almost reminded me of a movie.

Wow, I could never write theatre reviews... Anyway it was awesome and I highly recommend it.

I am still waiting to hear back from NTS, I think I have decided that I am not going to go to Sheridan. It is just not where my heart wants me to be. The more I think about it I know that it is not the place for me.  So I am going to let them know that they can take me off the list.

I hate not being able to make plans for September, I really want to know if I am going to Montreal or not. I would give my left arm to got to NTS, probably wouldn't help my chances as an actor with only one arm but I feel you understand. And if I am not going to NTS in September then I want to be able to let people here know. There are a couple theatre companies interested in me and I want to be able to tell them I am available.. I hate not being able to make plans for September.

Good News: I got the part in Blackbird that I auditioned for! My name is Danny and its a principle role, so I am stoked. This will be my professional film debut! Thus giving me an ACTRA credit as well as hopefully opening some film doors.

I am so grateful to have the opportunity. My parts don't start shooting till later in May, so my goal is to get in peak condition for that time. Starting May first I am going to get a gym membership and get back to pumping some iron as well as taking care of myself. I haven't been eating well and just really stressing out over stuff, so it will good to get some structure back.

I had an audition last week for a new project that is being workshopped, about Sable Island, I am hoping to get involved in it. It seems like an awesome project, really physical and impulsive. I hope things come of that, also there is another TV series shooting here so I am hoping to be submitted for some episodes of that.

Summer is coming and I just want it to be awesome, I just really want to work and get out there as much as possible.

Im off to work my joe job.

Night Abyss

Rainy Day

Hey Abyss,

So as stated in the title; it is a rainy day. Genius title, I know.

I am writing this before I leave to go to yet another jail with the tour. On Monday we went to two jails to show the play and it was surprisingly well received we really affected the inmates and they were genuinely interested in their own way. We had some of these men crying by the end of the show, people who were murderers and sexual offenders were crying at the impact the show had on them.

It is these moments when I know I am doing the right thing. These people walked away affected, changed even the slightest, and that is all I can ever hope to do as an actor. I want my audiences to walk away thinking about new ideas, new outcomes. The opportunity to forge new thoughts in people is just amazing. Luckily  the show is made up of extremely talented people and are able to make this happen. I am so grateful to be a part of such a wonderful project in association with awesome people.

There is only 5 weeks left of the tour and I am both sad and thrilled how fast it is going. I am sad because I love being able to do my art and have people see it and walk away with something they came in without, but I am thrilled because of how we are changing people and provoking new thoughts. It is like when you feel so confident about something that you want as many people to see it and hear what they have to say about it. That is what is happening with this show. I am proud.

I recently auditioned for the movie Blackbird, which I am sure I have talked about before, this was my 5th audition for the director and I am at a loss over how the audition went. I feel like I could have done better, but so does every artist. The director said all good things to me and has seen me 5 times so I feel like there is something that he potentially wants me for. Then again, I cant really say that because some directors are just nice people and want to encourage you as a performer. Then there is the fact that the director is young and this will be his first feature film and he is doubting his casting abilities. However it turns out I hope to at least obtain some kind of role.

Also, there is a television series that is shooting right now in the city where I live and I am hoping to get at least an audition for that once the tour is over.

I forget if I already mentioned this but I am still waiting to hear back from NTS as to whether I have a callback for the school, but I did get placed 4th on the waiting list at Sheridan, which is apparently good. I am still debating on what I want to do, I know that if I somehow miraculously get into NTS then I am definitely going. Sheridan is just a lot of money and the living costs in Toronto are ridiculous, and I wouldn't be able to work on the weekend to make extra money due to the homework load. SoI would be student loans all the way, which is an idea that I am not fond of.

Suggestions?

I have an audition on wednesday for a new show that is being workshopped, and I am submitting for a new musical that is being produced in October. I will tell you how these things go.

Night Abyss

Mac; Attempt Two

Hey Abyss,

So I am currently on my second Macbook Pro in the span of four days. The first, as previously stated, was a dud. Just kept going into something called "Kernel panic" which apparently has something to do with the Kernel endings...

Anyway I went back to the shop and exchanged it for a new one today, everything seemed fine at first with this new one then it did the same thing after about 10 minutes. So, I did what it said and restarted my computer and then loaded it back up... It seems fine now as I am typing and using some of the applications, but I am still hesitant. Hopefully in the next few hours/ days I will find out exactly if everything is good. I pray it is.

I have wanted a Mac for about two years and to finally have one is wicked, I just want one that works. A simple request if I do say so.

Today we had a another show where three schools composed the audience, they were great. It is funny, they are always really restless at the start of the show then as soon as the yelling starts, they all calm down and are attentive. I am glad we are keeping them interested.

They didn't have a whole lot of questions today, probably due to the age group, but thats cool. I just was always the kid that had questions so I find it weird when no one asks anything.

I am honestly just rambling today, this is one part killing time as well as trying to see of my Mac is a time bomb. Sorry if I am not being as entertaining as usual.

I received some great news today about two auditions: One being a film called Blackbird, which my friend Thom Fitzgerald is producing, and then another audition in Toronto for Daniel MacIvor's "His Greatness". I emailed the casting director about auditioning in hopes that they will see me and they replied that they are. Alas, since I am on tour I cannot fly up to TO to audition on Friday, so I am hoping that they will allow me to send a tape of my audition.

I would kill for the role in the movie, I really need to garner some film experience, other than the short films I have been doing over the last couple months. Also, it seems like it is going to be a well composed cast and to be part of the project would be awesome. So, here is hoping.

I will of course keep you posted on those things.

It is a beautiful day out today and I don't want to miss too much of it so I am going to end early.

On a last note, I am thinking about singing in a fundraiser where the performers choose a song that they would never, other than this event, get the opportunity to sing. I am contemplating singing, "Run and Tell That" from Hairspray. Thoughts?

Night Abyss

I am an April Fool

Hey Abyss,

So today is April Fool's day and the only joke that was played on me was the weather. The day turned from clear skies to hail.

I love when this happens.Especially when the last few days have been warm and awesome. I was really hoping for my day off to be good.

Instead I have spent the whole day inside and have accomplished nothing.

My day started off with a show at at school this morning. The kids were mildly disruptive and bothered some of the cast. This is understandable. Yesterday has been our best show so far, well for me anyway. I just felt the  most emotionally connected yesterday.

We are receiving great reviews though and the word is getting out.

I am in my home town next week so I am stoked for them to see the show. Good old High School.

I applied for another theatre gig today, Daniel MacIvor is premiering his shoe. "His Greatness", in Toronto and they are casting for the younger man in the show. I am am a little too young for the role, and I cant actually fly to Toronto cause I'm  on tour so I asked if I could send in a tape. I probably wont get anything from it becuase im not Equity yet, but I do have Daniel's email, so perhaps I could drop him one...

I am super pumped for the rest of the tour, I am so happy to see the impact we are having on kids.

Oh, by the way, I bought my Macbook Pro and it conveniently was a dud. So now I have to wait till Monday to exchange it for another one. I really think the world is against me for this computer. I have just had to go through so much to actually get one. Its annoying.

My birthday is in 5 days and I really don't want it this year. I realize that I cannot turn away my birthday like a homeless person asking for change, but I just am not looking forward to it. Maybe because it is a pivotal birthday, 20, I just don't want to be old. I feel like I need to accomplish so much more.

I want to get my motorcycle license this summer, so I can do what Ewan McGregor did and go on a road trip with his best friend. Two dudes, two bikes, open road. I have wanted my license for a couple years, just no money or time. I think I will have both this summer.

Me and my buddy are in the process of finding a new place for the summer, so far everyone is very unorganized for the visitations.

Not really a whole lot else going on..

Movies I need to see: Hobo with a Shotgun and Insidious.

Night Abyss