Published on Tuesday April 26, 2005 .
I nailed it! I went into the CBS “Let’s give Asians a chance” Diversity Showcase audition and threw down with a passionate one-minute performance of the Edmund Pollard monologue from Edgar Lee Masters’ SPOON RIVER ANTHOLOGY. The casting director was kind enough to tell me that my performance was very good and that I handled the material very well. What more could I ask for? Even though I’m a little jaded with these network (CBS, ABC, NBC, FOX) “diversity” showcases I went in today to show passion, to inspire, to leave an impression and I’m confident I achieved my goals.
I left the office with a big smile on my face knowing that I gave a very good performance using probably the most difficult material that anyone else auditioning was bringing in. Big thanks to Tom Patton from the Joanne Baron/DW Brown studio who introduced this material to me as part of the two-year acting program and also gave me the skills to perform it.
Published on Saturday April 23, 2005 .
H and I were talking the other day about the short film projects I’m developing. She pointed out how interesting it was that ever since I started making a strong commitment to “make something happen”, people have rallied arond me. It’s as if my creative energies are being validated telling me that this is the way to go. A lot of opportunities have opened up recently and things are moving in the right direction. Over the past week I have developed and written a short film which will shortly be in pre-production. I’m excited about my script because I have been watching a lot of short films recently on iFilm and other places and most of the films aren’t all that great. Even the ones which have won multiple awards. My film actually conveys a serious message that I hope will get people thinking. So far, response to my script has been great but I’m still in the process of doing some small revisions and tightening up the story.
I also happened to meet with a producer friend of mine whom I first met when I was a host on the short lived tv show “IZ”. We had a great meeting over lunch last week and now we are working on a short film based on a great monologue he wrote.
So there it is. I now have two short films in pre-production and I’m still developing a couple more scripts. I’m hoping to have at least one of my projects in the film festival circuit this year. Hopefully these projects will give my acting career a good jump start.
On the pure acting front I have an audition for the CBS Showcase. It’s a yearly thing that all the studios do. It’s actually a little like American Idol, except for the fact that you have to be “invited” to be seen by the “judges”. For the audition I have to perform a 1 minute monologue. I’m thinking I will do the Edmund Pollard monologue…
Slowly things are changing for Asian actors. More opportunities are starting to appear and Asians are gaining more visibility. Just check out this article on the New York Daily News. What is interesting is that the article hints at the fact the we (as Asians) are our own worst enemy. We complain that we are not properly represented in the media, yet when one of us breaks through and gains success, we try to tear them down. Interesting.
Published on Saturday April 16, 2005 .
Tonight VH1 aired the show ego trip’s race-o-rama “a series focusing on funny and provocative racial observations.” I was very happy to see a TV show take on racial stereotypes and ask the provocative questions. It was the best hour of TV I’ve ever seen. I hope they run it on repeat for months so that all of America can see it and learn from it.
H and I were talking to one of our neighbors tonight and it turns out there is a rumor going around about me. For some odd reason there are people in the ‘hood who think I’m a CHICANO GANGSTA, who’s been in prison!!! We prodded for more information but our neighbor laughed and was reluctant to say whom.
A Chicano? A Chicano gangsta?
I do have 1/8th (or less) of Spanish blood in me from my Philipino side - and I do walk around my ‘hood wearing a tank top looking sideways and mean-muggin’ strangers - but personally I think it’s a stretch.
BUT if I can be this convincing in real life, why can’t I get a break in Hollywood?
I kinda like the fact that some people think I’m a “bad boy”. At least I might get some respect from some of the rougher elements in the ‘hood.
Don’t mess with me Esse!
Published on Saturday April 9, 2005 .
So I Tivo’d the Masters Golf tournament just so I could see the SBC Yahoo commercial I’m in. Click here to see it. But don’t blink ’cause you’ll miss me. I actually had to step through the video frame by frame just to catch my appearance - but I’m in there! Here’s the proof:
Published on Thursday April 7, 2005 .
(It’s just me talking to myself.)
The Alter Ego Project: A film that explores issues of race, identity and the desire to “fit in”.
(yes that is me playing both characters. neat editing trick huh?)
(I’m no Ray or even Jamie Foxx, but I can play. Click to watch.)
H and I were lucky enough to get an incredible deal on an old Hamilton baby grand piano from someone in the neighborhood. The piano itself is in great condition and just needs some reconditioning and tuning. I usually only get to touch a piano once a year during the holidays - at either my parents house or H’s family’s house so it is nice to have one that I can actually practice on.
Although my repertoir consists of intros-only to various 80’s love songs (I learned them to impress the girls in high-school) playing the piano helps my creativity.
Published on Saturday April 2, 2005 .
I read a very inspiring article about Robert Rodriguez in Wired Magazine today. Robert Rodriguez has been a rebel in Hollywood ever since his debut with his $7000 film Il Mariachi which was picked up and distributed by Columbia pictures. Since then he’s become a big Hollywood director who doesn’t play by the rules. He still lives in Texas, where he started, but instead of having one hand-held 16mm camera and no budget, he now has built his own state of the art production facility with the latest hi-definition cameras, top of the line computers and now commands multi-million dollar budgets. For his latest movie Sin City, he shot the footage on high-definition cameras, did his own special effects and edited the movie himself.
Absolutely amazing.
I haven’t seen the movie myself, but just the fact that he did it and that it’s playing in wide release is incredible.
Anything is possible if you put your mind to it.