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

Hiatus Numero 2

Hey Abyss,

I know it has been A WHILE since my last post. There is an explanation; as there always is.

I stopped posting because some wicked news came about, ironic I know, I just had to wait before I released it. You see, back in December I was involved in a workshop of a new play called "Tough Case" it was written by playwright David S. Craig, who resides in Canada. He collaborated with a woman who had commissioned a project on Restorative Justice and making it aware to teens through a provincial tour. It has been a project in the works for about three years and has just now been finalized and cast.

I, who had the opportunity to be exposed to the play through the workshop, have been cast as, the lead character, the felon in the show and am currently on the provincial tour. The reason I had to withhold this information was due the fact that I had to leave the program I was training at and I didn't want my classmates/teachers to find out before I was able to break the news to them.  Thankfully they were all supportive and understanding.

So I have been in reahearsal for the last three weeks and it qualifies as my first Equity show! I am almost positive this makes me an Equity Apprentice with the CAEA.

For those of you who may not know exactly what that is, it is basically the union for Theatre Actors. If I am Equity I am able to be part of the union, thus giving me more protection and support as well as benefits. I feel it is a big plus to be within the union. Of course I need to gather 5 more credits within a 3 year span to become full Equity. Lots of legal jargon.

So, rehearsal was awesome I am working with a lot of talented people and I am so grateful to learn from them. We are on tour for 7 weeks so I will make sure to keep you updated.

I am getting my first Mac tomorrow and I am super pumped, and will of course be using it more than my current computer which I loathe. Hence more posts and less apologies.

On Monday I attended the Theatre award ceremony for the province and it was wicked, kind of like a mini Oscar ceremony. Loads of talent in one room and just a wonderful night of fun and recognizing the talent that comes out of our province. We have so much. It is amazing how much society undermines art, when it is the one way we can always express ourselves. Without art we have nothing. That may be bold, but I feel it is true.

This Month I auditioned for two of the schools I applied to, due to the touring schedule I could not audition for all 4, Sheridan College and National Theatre School. I have not heard back from either but I did receive Recommended Direct Admission at Sheridan which puts me into the top picks for the school. This is wicked.  I have yet to hear anything from National Theatre School due to they are still auditioning till April then will release the callback dates. So here I wait, like a good actor.

A lot of little things have happened during my absence but I would go on forever retelling it all. I feel that this a sufficient amount at the current moment and you can expect more frequent updates soon.

Any questions dont hesiate to comment or drop me an email.

Night Abyss.