The Iceman Cometh

Yesterday was my first day as an actual paid actor on set. The night before I was sent my call sheet for the next day. A call sheet has all the information to what will be going on that day. It has the names of the actors that will be on set, what time they will arrive and which scenes will be shot for the day. It also tells Other misc. info would include lunch time, how many background extras and the crew call. There was a sense of accomplishment when I saw my name on the call sheet, rather than a random number that is apart of group of background. Everyone was really cool. I didn't take me long to figure out that everyone, including the crew, had worked on other projects. So I was the odd man out for the most part. But on the other hand, I told myself that I was chosen from many others to join this cast. They must have seen something in me that made them think that I would be great to work with.

So I started my day going through hair and make up and running through the scenes with the other actors in my scene before we went and camera blocked the scene. The other actors had been apart of commercials and other projects, so it was humbling to be around talent that was my age to learn from. It was refreshing to have the director talk directly to me and tell me what she wanted. On the flip side, it was also nice to ask questions and receive good feedback. The scenes we shot were of me and two other bully's picking on this nerd. A lot of my lines were stepped on, or given to another actor, which was a total bummer, but I didn't let that ruin the experience I was enjoying. But I think what made me the most happy was the fact people knew me by name and not as "hey you" or "who did that cross by the table?"

This experience couldn't have come at a better time. With a lot of the shows on hiatus I have downtime that makes me second guess what I'm doing. Not to mention that the last couple days I have worked background the people have really done me in.

I had a guy follow me around the other day on set that got on my nerves. I'm all for meeting new people and all, but this guy made me want to do a swan dive off Mt. Rushmore. I made the mistake of saying hello. From there all I heard about was how he loves to skate and to act. But he doesn't want to be a pro skater or just an actor. He wants to be skating on camera with a little acting thrown in. . . WHAT?!? He kept telling me how his agent hasn't done much for him. Over and OVER. Which made me believe had a little something going for him. UNTIL, he started to complain how it was "so hard to get SAG Vouchers and THAT'S ALL he wanted to do. Was get SAG Vouchers. Right there, he basically blew his cover and something he could have worked off of to get a little further. But he basically straight up told me really didn't have anything going for him. He was just another person that is limiting themselves, in his case, to skateboarding/acting and NOTHING ELSE.

The greatest thing you must realize is to be open to anything and everything. Still have some boundaries. I'm not saying you gotta do porn or eat a cow's intestine to be recognized. Just don't limit yourself right out of the gate.

"As an actor and as a person you come together with being in familiar territory although that has not been my whole life. That's been a part of it. I think a lot of people associate me with the west because of Sundance." - Robert Redford