It’s been a long time since I’ve gone to a commercial print audition but tomorrow I will be going out for an IBM print job. I considered turning it down, but $1,500 for a 10 hour work day is actually more than I usually make doing freelance - so I figured why not?
0 CommentsArchive for the 'Auditions' Category
There have been plenty of times when I have left an audition and thought “I wasn’t feelin’ that performance”. Luckily, this wasn’t one of those times. I spent the whole morning mentally preparing for the audition and every time I went to the restroom I would practice my lines in the mirror - remembering the notes that Lisa had told me. I just needed to make sure that I had personalized both scenes so that they were real to me. Then I needed to trust that I didn’t need to “act” or “show” any emotions. Just “be” in the moment.
I left the office early in order to arrive at the casting office 45min before my scheduled audition time. The casting office was a small little blue bungalow in santa monica. I parked my car up the street from the office and just sat in my car prepping myself for the read. 15min to my scheduled time I walked into the office and sat down in the very small waiting area. There wasn’t anyone else in the waiting room. It was one of those indicators that this was an important audition and that they were being selective in who they were considering for the role. About two minutes went by and the casting director came out and said “David Chiu”? I replied “yes” and she asked my to follow her into the back office. There she had a portable blue screen setup and a very tiny handheld camera mounted on a big tripod. She mentioned something about “the first time” and “bi-coastal”, but honestly I wasn’t paying attention. I was doing my final mental preparation for the read. The casting director looked at me and said “Oh! You look like you’re ready to go! Let me just turn on the camera real quick!” This was a good sign - the fact that the casting director could see that I was already emotionally prepped and ready to go. But I didn’t let her rush me. I said, “give me one more moment” and I just stood there centering myself. Then I moved onto the mark and started the scene. We did the first scene twice. The first time, I did it exactly how Lisa coached me to do it. The casting director said it was really good but to try doing it a little less intense - and to save the intensity for the second scene. The second scene we did twice as well.
I felt really good about my performance. I feel like I demonstrated the intensity they are looking for. Now it’s just a waiting game. I can’t help but to think how cool it would be to work on this movie with Jude Law and Forrest Whittaker….
0 CommentsThis Friday I have a audition for a new Jude Law/Forest Whittaker movie currently called Repossession Mambo directed by Miguel Sapochnik, a one-time storyboard artist. I’m trying not to get too excited, but it’s hard for me not to think that this could be the break I’ve been waiting for. I’m reading for the role of:
[RAYMOND PEARL] late 20s - mid 30s. Another of Frank’s top-notch repo men, he is a “psychopath with a Union scalpel.”
What was interesting was that I received not only my sides for the audition, but FTP instructions to download the short movie “The Dreamer” by Miguel Sapochnik. The short movie was awesome and in the same vein of Children of Men or Blade Runner with a similar storyline to “The Island”. I understand why Hollywood came knocking.
So my reading is this Friday and I’m getting private coaching from my fabulous acting coach Lisa Mililo Clarkson who teaches scene study and audition technique at Joanne Baron/DW Brown and is currently the on-set coach for Days of Our Lives. The actual audition will be taped and sent to the director who is currently in Toronto. I’m just hoping to make a good first impression and make it to a second reading.
1 CommentIt’s 2.40am. Tonight I answered some emails regarding some freelance web development work I’m in the middle of, then I did some initial MYSQL/PHP coding for this sweepstakes promotion website I need to have finished before the end of this week. I’m now in the middle of setting up subversion across our dev, staging and production machines, importing all the code and establishing a production workflow using subversion to deploy files across the machines. Tomorrow I have a commercial print shoot for McDonalds in the morning. I’m not sure what the usage of the photos will be for (billboard, product packaging, in-store ads, etc, etc) so I could be possibly be appearing in future McDonald ads, or on McDonald product packaging, whatever. I’m just grateful for the job and the chance to make new contacts. You know what they say in Hollywood - it’s who you know. After my commercial print shoot I have an audition for another commercial print gig. This would be for some dog medicine product. It’s all good. Auditions - print, commercial and theatrical have been non-existent this year, especially since my commercial agency dropped me last year. But that’s why I’ve been creating my own projects such as IT Gangsta. IT Gangsta is still evolving and I will be producing one, if not two new episodes this week. It’s just hard when you have to write the script, plan the shots, setup the camera, lights, shoot it, strike the set, digitize it, edit it, score it, then upload it and publicize it. But that’s what it takes to be on the cutting edge.
0 CommentsI had a Wells Fargo commercial print casting today. This morning I was seriously debating of not going to the casting because:
#1 It was in Studio City which is a pain in the ass to get to from the west side, having to battle traffic both ways on the 405 and 101 freeways.
#2 It’s a $1250 buyout which means that once they take your picture, they own the rights to use it as long as they want and for whatever purpose they want - in perpetuity.
But my wife reminded me that one little job could lead to bigger and better things. So I went. This is actually the first casting I’ve had since dropping 20lbs. When I arrived at The Sportsman Lodge and found the room they were using for casting, I discovered I was the only one there (besides the casting people). First they took a couple of photos, then they wanted to see a couple reactions based on getting rejected, then getting accepted for a loan. This next section they videotaped. I felt I did really well at the casting. I guess we’ll see what happens next.
This experience did remind me of the fact that I no longer have a commercial agent, nor current headshots. I will have to start looking for headshot photographers again.
0 CommentsSo this week I had a last minute audition for a new Boost Mobile commercial. Looks like Boost Mobile will be introducing GPS functionality in their phones since the lines went something like “I know where you at. I can SEE where you at.” while we stared at our phones. It’s funny ’cause the breakdown I was told was Asian Gangsta. They wanted to see a gangsta swagger. Crazy huh? The cool thing is that for most of the people there it was actually a callback, so the audition was in front of the ad agency. I guess they wanted to try to mix it up a little and throw some Asians in there. We’ll see what happens.
Tuesday was the CBS Comedy Showcase auditions. They kept to a strict 1min time limit and would cut you off if you went over. Luckily for me I developed my 1min monologue from my old stand-up material and also got coaching from an acting coach who loved it. I feel like I really knocked it out of the park, but I guess we’ll see if I get invited to perform at the showcase. I won’t hold my breath.
This Sunday I return to the open-mic scene and will be performing stand-up comedy at Mezclao in Hollywood. I haven’t really told anyone because right now I just need to work out my material and try some new things (along with some old stuff). I will eventually be performing spoken word at different open-mic venues as well - once I get my spoken word material written 
If you decide to come out and see me sweat it out on stage (possibly literally) - keep in mind that I’m an artist and I’m sensitive about my sh*\t :). Also, don’t be afraid to come by and say Hi!
And if you really want to see me act you should join my scene study class every Sunday at the Joanne Baron/DW Brown acting studio (the website sucks but classes are intense and very methodical).
I gotta remember to start interviewing headshot photographers so I can get new photos with my shaved head :)!
0 CommentsI think the turning point for me was the moment I realized that I didn’t have to “act”. I just had to be comfortable being me.
I had been waiting for at least an hour sitting in front of the elevator outside of the casting office. I was surrounded by other asian guys who were similar to me. Tall and skinny with deep voices. They all seemed to know each other and every time the elevator opened another asian guy would enter the mix heartily welcomed by the group. I felt like the outsider. Their names sounded familiar, but I didn’t really know anyone. They all talked about other auditions they had had or what projects they were working on. It was hard for me not to be a little envious, but I just sat silently barely studying my script. One by one they were called into the casting office and I just sat outside reviewing my actions line-by-line and going over the script breakdown I had done earlier. I noticed a couple of guys strutting around in leather coats trying to act “hard”. That’s probably the same approach that I would have used in the past, but now I know better. Instead I reminded myself that I just need to rely on my training. I just need to engage the casting director and take my time.
So that’s what I did. I was surprisingly relaxed in the casting office and I took my time and created moments. I listened and responded and reacted. All very natural. I didn’t try to “act” anything. In the end it worked! The casting director said “very nice work”. I’m confident that I left a very good impression. That’s the best you can hope for really. That the casting director sees your talent and keeps you in mind for future projects.
That was the best audition ever.
3 CommentsAnother apropos project title for my life at this moment.
I just received notice of a last minute theatrical audition for TONIGHT. It’s a recurring guest spot on the show - which I think is a new action/drama pilot. This is the kind of opportunity I’ve been waiting for. No pressure of course. There’s 5 pages of sides for the audition and this is just a pre-read with the casting director. This is where the training kicks in. I need to break down the sides, make some choices and plan out my actions. At the very least I need to show the casting director what I have to offer as an actor - even if it might not be right for the part. This is a pretty big casting agency so if I can impress them they will remember me for future projects.
I feel pretty good momentum with my acting this week. On Sunday, since my scene partner was not in class, I performed Vin Diesel’s monologue from Boiler Room. I received a very positive critique from my acting coach who was impressed that I was able to memorize that amount of text within two days. One of his few criticisms was that, as a person, I have an essence of culture and refine-ness and no matter how tough or how harsh I act, even though I’m able to pull it off, you can still see that essence of culture and refine-ness. He said that after working with me for a year, he sees me more as an Asian Pierce Brosnan than some street-tough guy I’m always trying to portray. Personally I never would have thought that. But after telling H, she agreed. I guess I’ve been really fighting against my “true self” trying to be something I’m not as a result of my insecurities. In the past I found strength in trying to be “hard”, cold and indifferent. Now I’m finding out that I will find true strength in letting go of and just being myself.
I just find it so ironic that for months I’ve been working on a play called “Doubt” and now that I have been working on my own personal feelings of doubt I now have an audition for a show called “Daybreak”.
0 CommentsAfter my chat yesterday with my theatrical agent, she sent me a listing of all the projects I’ve been submitted for this year:
| Date | Project | Role | Casting Director |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1/03/06 | Las Vegas, “URBAN LEGENDS” | E.M.T. #1 | Liberman/Patton |
| 1/03/06 | CSI: Miami, “Dead Eyes” (EP 416) | E.M.T. | Nan Dutton |
| 1/04/06 | Charmed, “The Last Temptaion of Christy” | Guard | Kimberly Lenae Foster |
| 1/04/06 | MTV Series | Males | Nicole Garcia |
| 1/13/06 | Pepper Dennis, “Frat Boys May Lose Their Manhood - Film at Eleven” | Stage Manager | Stiner/Block |
| 1/16/06 | Wizard of Gore | Chinese Mickey | Aaron Griffth |
| 1/18/06 | The O.C., “The Journey” | Guy With Drink | Stordahl/Terry |
| 1/21/06 | All of Us (Asian Male) | Male Asian | Monica Swann |
| 1/26/06 | If I Had Known I Was A Genius | Costco Customer | Betty Mae Casting |
| 2/01/06 | Las Vegas, “Like A Virgin” | Walter Kim | Liberman/Patton |
| 2/01/06 | Medium, “Lucky In Love” | Bank Teller | Liberman/Patton |
| 2/13/06 | Love Lies Bleeding | Hotel Employee | John Papsidera |
That’s 12 submissions with no auditions. That means that my picture isn’t working for me or that my “type” is not what these people are looking for. So I have changed my pictures to my newer photos. Hopefully that will help.
1 CommentToday I had two more chances at landing national commercials for this year - 1st National Bank and Verizon. I felt comfortable at both auditions so now it’s just a waiting game. The callbacks for Verizon are the 28th and 29th so I will know soon enough.
As this year quickly comes to a close I find myself swamped with work. It’s the whole game of balancing life responsibilities with your dreams. Right now I’m working as much freelance as I can get to pay the bills. It’s frustrating and exhausting. But I know I can’t get caught up in the rat race. I’ll never get ahead. I’ve learned that we need to think bigger and work smarter, not harder. That means investing in ourselves first financially, emotionally and creatively. That means I’m also really working on my self confidence everyday to achieve that breakthrough I need which will transform my acting to the next level.
I always go back to m example of JK Rowling. If she didn’t invest in her creative writing and instead got caught up in the rat race struggling to stay financially afloat, she still might be struggling today instead of being the owner of the billion dollar Harry Potter creative franchise that she created.
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