Published on Wednesday May 16, 2007 · Filed under: Technology .
Update: 10,000 Joost invites now available here: http://www.joost.com/presents/techcrunch/
If didn’t already know… convergence is the wave of the future - the merging of Hollywood and the Internet creating a new digital media landscape. Joost is the company/buzzword of the moment which was started by the lucky bastards who created and sold Skype to Ebay for a couple billion. Joost is TV on the internet delivered to your computer full-screen with added features such as instant messaging and search baked right in. Right now, Joost is still in beta and is invite only. But you can get your own invite right here. But they only have 20,000 invites so you better click the link right now.
I’ll be trying it out on my MacBook Pro tonight.
Published on Monday February 13, 2006 .
Out of frustration with the stagnant state of my acting career (and my failed eBay publicity stunt) I decided to meet with my theatrical agent for a little career counseling. I’ve been with the Ann Waugh Agency for almost 9 years now. Things started off pretty good with me booking a role on General Hospital and consistant auditions for film and TV roles. Over the years things have started to slow down and now my theatrical auditions are very few and far between. What I found out today was both encouraging and discouraging. Shelley told me that I am now the only one of my “type” that she represents. This is good because that means I will be the only person submitted by the agency for roles that match my exact type. But what is discouraging is that I’ve been submitted for around 16 projects since the beginning of this year but have not been called in for any auditions. Something is not working. So Shelley and I came up with the following action plan:
- Post new photos on Actors Access, which is the online service the agency uses to do electronic submissions to projects.
- Update resume on Actors Access
- Send out postcards to casting directors
- Get listed again on the EWP ACTS directory
- Send a postcard/note to Gwen Hillier, one of the casting directors for General Hospital who has hired me twice in the past
- Consider joining a well known theater group such as East West Players
- Get listed in the directories for film schools such as the AFI and USC.
Ultimately it would be awesome to work with an up-and-coming USC film student who has vision and talent. Just imagine having the opportunity of working with the next Steven Spielberg or Quentin Tarantino. This would be my first choice over some small role on a national TV show or major film.
The other option is of course to create my own opportunities - be the next Matt Damon or Vin Diesel who wrote and produced their own film which became the vehicle into Hollywood. Or use my web development skills and convergence knowledge to create some new media project that gains a lot of attention.
So that’s the plan - to do it all. A full brute-force attack on the Hollywood system.
Published on Wednesday February 8, 2006 .
Today I discovered that I was worth $46 on eBay. Not exactly the outcome I was hoping for. No publicity or leads either. Pretty sad. Especially after hearing that the 4 average joes in Australia who were auctioning a weekend to sit around and drink beer with them went for around $16k.
What I was hoping for was a shortcut into the Hollywood system while benefitting a good cause.
What I gained from the experience was an introduction to PR, press releases and guerilla marketing.
Well, they say that the most successful people are the ones who fail try the most. So this is just another “experience” point for me on my journey to the top.
On a positive note I did some ADR work on the indie film “Mah Jong” which was shot last summer. The footage looks great and my performance wasn’t half bad either! I can’t wait till it’s complete!
So it’s back to the traditional struggle of getting into Hollywood. Submissions, agents, managers, indie films, classes, etc, etc.
That is, until I hatch another crazy idea.
Published on Friday February 3, 2006 .
No new bids today. The auction is now halfway done. I’m trying to stay hopeful that eventually the right connections will be made and I will receive a legitimate bid. But whatever. This was just a crazy idea I had to try.
Today I had a print go-see for an Intel ad. I legitimately forgot my headshot so the casting studio had to call my agent - who in turn called me to say “WHY DID YOU FORGET YOUR HEADSHOT!!!” My agency faxed over my headshot which looked like crap. Honestly I don’t care for these print auditions. They don’t pay all that much (well that’s not completely true), but it’s not something I particularly care for.
My weekend is jammed pack full of acting stuff: an ADR session for the indie film Mah Jong, the last day of principal shooting for the comedy pilot “Jake Off” and scene study class.
Published on Thursday February 2, 2006 .
Today ended with 500 page views and one new bid of $43. That’s +265 page views from yesterday. The guerrilla marketing campaign seems to be working but I’ve noticed there is hardly any conversion from eBay to my website. So I’ve decided to add a couple links to some of my audio and video clips. I’ve also received no comments or questions from my auction or website - though I’ve received emails from other actors and a few producers/directors I know who think my idea is innovative and original.
I know that what I’m proposing is a little crazy and unconventional for the normal Holywood production process. The only way that this kind of campaign would be gauranteed to work is under the wing of a well connected PR company such as PMK/HBH. But heck, if some no-talent hack reality-tv “star” can get a role in a movie or guest-star on a TV show, why couldn’t I? PLUS, I’m giving away the proceeds to charity!!! Then again, there are all the technical details that would need to be worked out such as how do SAG, AFTRA and my agents fit in. But my mantra is:
The opposite of bravery is conformity.
Published on Tuesday January 31, 2006 .
Watching the visitor counter on my ebay auction is like watching the stock price of a company you are 100% invested in. It’s exciting and nerve-racking at the same time. Today my auction ended with no new bids but 235 page views. That’s 128 more views than yesterday. I’m just hoping that my charitable auction will be just as successful as the 4 guys in australia who are auctioning a weekend of partying with them. Their current bid is $13,700.00 (AU) with over 26k page views.
No worries though. All I can do is keep up the guerrilla PR campaign and try to connect with the right people.
Published on Tuesday January 31, 2006 .
The second day of my eBay auction ended today with 108 page views, 10 bids and an auction price of $40.
I want to thank all of my friends for supporting this crazy idea. I spent most of the day doing guerilla PR sending the press release to the newswires and also sending copies to individuals at different media outlets and personal blogs.
I also want to remind bidders that if you have a legitmate project you would like me to mention here please email me after your bid and let me know so I can post the details.
There are still 8 days left in the auction. Within this time I’m hoping to make a contact with someone who has the power to put me on a show or project.
BTW I had a Toyota commercial audition this afternoon. It’s the first audition for the new year. It went pretty well. Nothing special really.
But the big news is the progress I’m making in scene study class. I feel like I’m coming unto my own on-stage. The scene went surprising well considering we never rehearsed last week.
Published on Sunday January 29, 2006 .
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Actor Auctions Himself on eBay — Winning Bid will be Donated to “World Vision”
Los Angeles, CA; January 30, 2006 — So far, eBay has seen its share of unusual auctions. Past items for sale have included “Virgin Mary in Grilled Cheese” (sold for $28,000) and Pope Benedict XVI’s former Volkswagen (sold for nearly a quarter million dollars U.S.). Both items were purchased by GoldenPalace.com, an online casino.
But if you think you’ve seen it all on eBay, you haven’t yet.
Actor David Chiu is putting himself up for auction on eBay to work on any legitimate show or production, and 100% of the auction proceeds will be donated to World Vision (www.worldvision.org). The winning bidder will have Chiu’s acting services for up to two weeks to complete its project.
“It’s a situation where I feel everyone wins,” says Chiu about his decision to auction himself. “The studio gets an actor by donating to something worthwhile. World Vision will receive much needed funds. And of course I’ll hope to show the studio the kind of talent I can offer long-term.”
A member of the Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television & Radio Artists, Chiu has been acting for 10 years, appearing in numerous independent films and commercials and having a couple of smaller parts on General Hospital.
Clips from Chiu’s past work can be found on his blog at http://www.davidchiu.net, and his auction can be found at eBay
(www.ebay.com) by searching for “David Chiu”.
# # #
Published on Wednesday January 25, 2006 · Filed under: Acting,
Goals,
Life .
At the beginning of this year I had set a couple of goals for my acting career:
· Land a guest starring role on a prime time network tv show
· Land a supporting role in a major motion picture film
· Land a lead role in a feature length, high visibility indie film
· Get a manager who can help jump start my career
These goals seem pretty high especially since I can’t even remember the last time my agency sent me out for a theatrical audition. (ok I lie, it was last summer for a guest starring spot on Malcolm in the Middle) I’ve been really wanting to find a way to “make things happen”, to make that permanent transition from the office cubicle to the movie set. Anthony Robbins has been telling me for weeks that if I really focus and meditate on my goals I could make it happen. Just as he did with his own life in creating his motivational empire.
So for these past 2 weeks my mind has gone into over-time trying to devise ways to accomplish my goals and dreams - from becoming financially independent, to becoming that award winning actor I see in my mind. And I have come up with a few crazy ideas that just might work.
One of them is happening right now.
I decided to put myself on eBay and auction my acting skills to the highest bidder who would put me in a TV show or feature film. To up the ante I decided to donate the proceeds of the auction to charity. Crazy huh? I intended to just post the listing and leave it to “fate” to see if anything happened, but I started getting a lot of positive feedback from friends and family. They said I needed to get this in the press. So I started tweaking the listing and doing guerrilla PR by sending the link to various blogs and news sites. I started getting more hits and H urged me to send out a press release. I wasn’t sure if I really wanted to spend $500+ on an official press release and distribution but then I found www.prfactory.org who would write and distribute my press release for $179. So that’s where it’s at now. An official press release is being drafted and will be sent out in a couple of days. Steve McCardell, the man behind PR Factory even mentioned how much he liked the idea.
So maybe I have something here? The chance to score an additional 15min of fame which if used properly, could jump start my career? I dunno. At the moment I have 198 hits on my ebay page but 0 bids. It’s a chance. But that’s all I need.
Published on Wednesday January 25, 2006 .
UPDATE: I now have an official press release that I will be sending through the newswire and to different media outlets. The bad news is that PRWeb has rejected the press release stating that they no longer publish stories dealing with ebay auctions. I think this is a load of BS because if you search the PRWeb site for recent press releases concerning Ebay, it will turn up several articles within the last few days. In the meantime, I will be submitting the news release through eworldwire.com.
At the beginning of this year I had set a couple of goals for my acting career:
· Land a guest starring role on a prime time network tv show
· Land a supporting role in a major motion picture film
· Land a lead role in a feature length, high visibility indie film
· Get a manager who can help jump start my career
These goals seem pretty high especially since I can’t even remember the last time my agency sent me out for a theatrical audition. (ok I lie, it was last summer for a guest starring spot on Malcolm in the Middle) I’ve been really wanting to find a way to “make things happen”, to make that permanent transition from the office cubicle to the movie set. Anthony Robbins has been telling me for weeks that if I really focus and meditate on my goals I could make it happen. Just as he did with his own life in creating his motivational empire.
So for these past 2 weeks my mind has gone into over-time trying to devise ways to accomplish my goals and dreams - from becoming financially independent, to becoming that award winning actor I see in my mind. And I have come up with a few crazy ideas that just might work.
One of them is happening right now.
I decided to put myself on eBay and auction my acting skills to the highest bidder who would put me in a TV show or feature film. To up the ante I decided to donate the proceeds of the auction to charity. Crazy huh? I intended to just post the listing and leave it to “fate” to see if anything happened, but I started getting a lot of positive feedback from friends and family. They said I needed to get this in the press. So I started tweaking the listing and doing guerrilla PR by sending the link to various blogs and news sites. I started getting more hits and H urged me to send out a press release. I wasn’t sure if I really wanted to spend $500+ on an official press release and distribution but then I found www.prfactory.org who would write and distribute my press release for $179. So that’s where it’s at now. An official press release is being drafted and will be sent out in a couple of days. Steve McCardell, the man behind PR Factory even mentioned how much he liked the idea.
So maybe I have something here? The chance to score an additional 15min of fame which if used properly, could jump start my career? It’s a chance. But that’s all I need.