Madness (Day 288)

I filmed my first SAG authorized commercial last week for the MA State Lottery! No lines, but then again, nobody got lines...  Commercial work pays, a LOT, but it also is pretty soul-sucking.  Production sees you as a piece of the set, not as an actor with your own unique set of ideas and abilities, it's pretty much- "dance, monkey, dance"...
In other news, i've finally put together my first reel!!!!
check it out:

https://vimeo.com/52667064

Elections and Corrections....(Day 282)

I just voted- yeah, so didn't we all.  But I realized this morning, while being halfway dragged to the polls by my fiancee' (yes, I did say FIANCEE'- September 1st!), and complaining bitterly about the near-freezing temperature, lack of coffee, and two-hour long line, that how spoiled we all are...  People complain about having to wait in line to vote?  This is but the singularly most important thing we can do as citizens of this country!
and then I saw this...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QdpGd74DrBM&feature=youtu.be

What the fuck people?!  How can we let this stand?  Things like this undermine the very fabric of our very fragile democracy (and all because Republicans pushed through multi-state legislation that allowed a totally partisan private and very corrupt company 'Diebold' to install digital voting machines with no paper trail, no voter reciept, no accountablility!)  This isn't a conspiracy theory- this is actually the truth!
ARGHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Back from the dead (day 205)

Welcome back my fellow readers!  It's been almost two months since I've written, and for this I apologize...
It's been a crazy summer.  Since my last post, I've done background work in all four movies shooting in Massachusetts this summer, including:  Grown Ups 2, The Way Way Back, Labor Day, and "The Heat" (yet to be titled) I've been close enough to kiss (or punch, depending on your preference) all the stars, with the exception of Kate Winslet on the set of Labor Day.  Out of everyone, she's the one I really wanted to meet... she's a fearless actress and I admire her ability deeply.  I suppose there's always next time, right ;)
So it's been 15 hour days since the last week of July.  I also finished an Industrial back in July. Now, it's onto making that elusive reel, and beginning the long scary slog of trying to get work in NYC...  Along my travels, I've run into many an actor from Boston or NYC that are facing similar barriers (such as what pseudo-scam showcases to attend, who to train with, where to put your money... etc.)  It's looking more and more like you have to be in the city to actually make this thing work.  Duh, right?  But before I go to that dark place of self-doubt and recrimination, and feed the specter of hopelessness that's omnipresent, I need to take a breath and remind myself that this is just the beginning...
I've also included a few new additions to my work:

The Devil and Harm which I'm in for 1 second at the end (I get shot)

Moonsmilers
WARNING: this is very graphic!  I thought i'd be proud to be part of a violence-laden bad B-movie like this (i've always wanted to do one)  but then they added a few scenes in the middle that are just disgusting and downright disturbing...so if you do watch this, avoid the material between the 7:54 and 11:15 marks, or don't say I didn't warn you!
Enjoy!

New Short Film! (day 148)

Hey campers!  Just got my grubbies on a new short I co-starred in, it's called 'The Witness' and has some very disturbing imagery (about the level of CSI, SVU, or any other tv show out there).
I also just finished up an encore performance of "Waiting for Lefty" at the Arsenal Center for the Arts this past Sunday.  I'm sure I'll write about my experiences of that later, so I'll keep it short today...
Enjoy!
The Witness


:)

how NOW, brown cow?! (and happy 1000th viewing of my blog!) (day 139)

Hello Fellow Travelers! It's been awhile since my last post... miss my prosaic ramblings?  I'll fill you in...  Cory and I moved in together at the beginning of June, so it's been a little crazy, but were settling in just fine, thank you very much!  I felt compelled to write tonight as I had another one of those epiphianc moments on my way home from seeing my folks...
Our place is small, 540 sq feet small.  But it's in the South End, in a great location, and aside from the usual hunt for parking- things have gone better than I could have hoped for on all fronts.  The size of our apartment has resulted in the necessary purging of a great many items, many, beloved by one or both of us.  So as part of this ritual, I brought a box of old paperwork/memento's from my former life as a Social Worker to my parents today when I went to visit.  As I was culling through what to save and what to throw out, I happened upon some of my professional notepads, which doubled as 'poetry journals' as serendipity would have it.  I read through many of my old poems that I wished to have someday published as a type of "Poetry of the embattled Social Worker" or something to that extent...  Reading through these old poems and, um... prosaic ramblings, it dawned on me just how depressed, or at least how restless I was in this profession.  Here's an example if you'll indulge me:

The worn and battered doors open

like a tired womb.

A new person crosses the threshold;

a mix of concern, resentment,

and duty on their ageless face.

Why have they come this far?

Are there others to follow?

I don't blame them for not 

coming this far...

 The foreboding black threshold gives way

to a stained mosaic of a floor-

too many old memories, this floor.

It will never be white again.

Countless years of wax+polish have indelibly sealed in forever;

the secrets, the shame, the humiliation for all to see and despise.

It's kinda funny how sometimes, 

no matter how hard you try, 

these stains can never be washed away...

~Epilogue~

Why so somber?  I have yet to figure out.

But I don't really want to know.

Give me something good- something that

I can really sink my teeth into.

So after reading through 20 or so of these, I realized something- almost all my "poems" end with me questioning myself, my purpose, my sanity...  Since I began this amazing, terrifying, exhilarating journey to pursue a passion almost two years ago, I've realized that not only have I stopped writing these whining soliloquies, but I no longer question "WHAT" I'm doing with my life...  it's shifted to "HOW"!  After 34 years, I'm no longer questioning what I'm "meant" to be doing.  In Acting, I don't question, what does it all mean, how am I making a difference, is this what I want to be doing with my life...  I KNOW this is what I want to be doing, and the shift from "What" to "How" was so subtle I didn't even realize it until tonight.  And it's fucking AMAZING!!!

Money mouth time...(Day 114)

It's here, IT'S HERE!  Finally the project I've been waiting for has finally been completed and turned over to me for use in my own personal reel.  I've been waiting a year for this project and have been delaying the completing/creation of my reel and website until I got this footage.  Now I have it, and although it's not as good as I hoped, there's still some usable stuff in there, and I know a lot of you have been listening to me jabber on about it for quite some time...  Not like I'm making excuses to procrastinate, but now that I do have it, it's time to spring into action and make my reel- hopefully i'll have it up by mid-june, gods willing!
here it is:
Approved by Durjaya

Waiting for Lefty (day 114)

A quick update for you, constant readers!  I just got selected to play Dr.Benjamin in Clifford Odets 'Waiting for Lefty'!  This play rocks, and I can't wait to do it!  The historical significance of the play, not just as a revolutionary art form, but also the subject it addresses and how it affected society at the time is just as fascinating as the play itself!  My first official play... yes!
Here's a link to the wiki page for those of you who don't know it:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waiting_for_Lefty

here's the production page and info:
http://www.zptheater.com/

Lessons learned-or not, aka 'Tempting Fate' (Day 104)

Upon coming home from the gym (1st time this week), I stopped to pick up my mail, and what did I find?!  A random letter from Edy's, accompanied by a coupon for a free 1/2 gallon of ice cream!  WTF?!  Oh why do the Gods tempt me so?
Two weeks ago, I auditioned for an Advanced Auto Parts industrial- to which I sucked.... allow me to elaborate:  It's for a corporate training video, one role was a manager the other a trainee.  The day was raw and rainy, I showed up just in time for my time slot, and they are never "on-time" so I figured I'd have 1/2 hour or so to get comfortable and prepare.  No such luck... no sooner had I hung up my coat (I was actually still in this process) when a woman came out and barked my name- I sheepishly raised my hand and she gestured for me to go immediately into the audition room with a fellow auditionee.  She then told us that this was for a very blue-collar type of population, so be a little 'gruff' with it.  We than flipped the script and it was my turn to play the manager... I never adjusted- I was as polite and good natured as you could imagine, a poster boy for the church of latter-day saints- too bad this wasn't an audition for that...  I left there feeling irritated with myself for not giving it my best and being adaptable, something I pride myself on.  It just added to the already miserable day.  Long story short, I was doing another commercial this week for $50- something in which I'll never do again, they exploited the HELL out of us!  One of my acting comrades got an email from AAP, letting her know she didn't get the part, which was nice of them to do (as you rarely hear back from these types of auditions).  I told her about my experience as I actually saw her at this audition two weeks ago.  She told me she felt the same way and not to worry about it, they were auditioning tons of people anyway...  On Thursday, I checked my email, looking to see if they were nice enough to send my a rejection email as well.  They were, only it wasn't a rejection... they offered me a PART!  I mean what the hell is going on here?  I kick-ass at an audition and I never hear back, I suck the hell out of an audition and I get offered a role?  What  am I supposed to learn from that exactly???  Ok, deep breaths, easy does it, one day at a time, and every other AA axiom every uttered.  I just have to continue to train and do my best, and not allow complacency to set in.  Or learned helplessness, that's what I'm afraid of- that I'll lose the edge I haven't even acquired yet.  I have to remember to let auditions float away on the wind the second I leave the building, and onto the next one, big boy...
Here is is, our moment of Zen: Diablo III
(what I would be doing with my "down-time" if my computer, and Cory, could handle it ;)
http://games.yahoo.com/blogs/plugged-in/five-things-know-diablo-iii-193952711.html

Is there anybody out there?(Day 96)

A crazy week to say for sure!  I've completed another short film, 'Payday'- which was shown at the Tufts Film Festival on Wednesday.  Amazed was I at the talent these 8 teams of prodigal film makers demonstrated. By far the most interesting student film festival i've attended! ( I also attended one on Sunday at Emerson, which was incredibly disappointing to say the least...)  I'm looking forward to getting a copy to determine it's 'reel worthiness'.  I've also got another film coming up in June with an actual rehearsal and table read starting next friday. It's called 'Super' and MFA thesis at Emerson- it's got a unusually high budget and tons of support for a student film, so I'm looking forward to it!
Oh yeah, and Cory and I are moving in together... found a cute little place in the South End, moving June 1st.  Anybody able to lend a hand?  I'll give you a 1st edition signed copy of one of my films?!  ;)
Here it is, our moment of Zen:
http://movies.yahoo.com/blogs/movie-talk/jake-gyllenhaal-convinced-cops-one-them-end-watch-212813132.html

The Slog (Day 81)

So it's been a quiet week, I've been working on one short film, which might actually be pretty good- since joining the union (so far) it's been difficult- the only auditions I've had have been through Model Club, and even those are somewhat sparse.  I've been told that I can go on a NY audition site and actually have MC submit me, for free- so I'll start doing that ASAP!  I'm also getting ready to crew up on a project filming in Martha's Vineyard the next couple of weekends, so stay tuned for updates on that...
I've attached a link to the names and descriptions that you see at the end on the movie (the credits), no one really knows what a 'grip' or 'gaffe'r or 'best boy' does or what a 'DP' is (although you should! ;)
A pocket guide to on-the-set crew names/roles


Here it is, our moment of Zen (at the 14:57 mark):
 chimp hits finger with rock...

Check this out, SO worth it!!!

Of Unions and Men...(Day 68)

 So year #2 into my acting career having been in; 17 films(8 as a lead), 3 theater/live productions, 3 television, and 5+ industrial/commercial shoots (not to mention another couple in the can and a few on the way), taking stock, I've actually had a pretty charmed year.  Not that I'm bragging, I'm really just grateful for the opportunities that have come my way, not to say there haven't been moments of sheer and bitter disappointment and doubt...  And now, since SAG and AFTRA both voted to merge, as of this April, I'll be officially SAGAFTRA (insert witty anagram here)!
Next step, push to get that final material from past projects, and make my pro reel!  The goal is to have it completed by the end of May- then, beat the streets in NYC... and by next June, day 824 (starting from 3/1/2011 if your counting) I should have landed on my feet* running and be featured on Law and Order: SVU sometime in the fall of 2013 (*show, date, and what body part I land on, T.B.D.)
Now, if only I knew how to pay the rent until that happens...

Here it is our moment of Zen:
http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/41a08d1106/charlize-s-aspca-spokesperson-audition-tape?rel=player

Pirates and Photography (Day 59)

I just finished a busy week of shooting!  First was Gilded Lily's: a resounding success- from a lowly place last Wed to quite a high Thurs- I got a featured extra role woo-hoo! I then shot a student film 'Pocket Hat', and even though they had to cut half the script for lack of celluloid (stoopid college kids), I think it's still gonna look pretty good.  I then shot another film that I'm not supposed to talk about, so here's a news story about it:
http://www.thebostonchannel.com/video/30765451/detail.html
So, on the set, this is the camera they gave me for a prop as a photographer.  All I had to do was give them my license, I could of walked away with it... It was just lying there, used, but worked fine, and the pictures it took OMG!  It made everybody look better than they really did (I must of taken 50+ award winning headshots, seriously)  I wanted to learn more about it when I got home and forgot until now. Holy shit! No wonder it took such great pictures...  and I could've walked away with it for the low, low cost of my license ;)
here it is our moment of Zen:
http://www.amazon.com/Sony-12-24MP-Digital-18-70mm-Aspherical/dp/B000VRJC5Q/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1332942102&sr=8-1

PS- Tom Hanks, class act!

A new low...(Day 52)

I passed on a few gigs in order to get on the set of  'Gilded Lily's' as background for 2 days.  After receiving a phone call at noon yesterday confirming my role for both days, I was told that I'd get an email after 7pm last night.  Never got that email, and after a confusing email correspondence with the casting director, I decided to go this morning anyway (after getting the call time and location from an actor friend).  I went to the set, which was on the stage at the Wang- pretty fucking awesome!  The check-in dude, of course, couldn't find my name and called the CD to which she replied, I emailed him last night that he wasn't coming in today, he's coming in on Thurs...  WTF?  All I got was a "sorry, someone made a mistake"...   I'm also giving up a SAG voucher gig tomorrow (but unpaid) for this shoot.  I now have been called (again) with a 7am call time tomorrow- cross you fingers...  UNGH, this industry is cold, I mean COLD.  Better get used to it, I suppose.
To make matters worse, I just applied to be a 'Mystery Shopper'- yup, it's a legit site secretshopper.com, but now another faceless business that's quasi-legit has my EID... and it also has my pride...
Here it is our moment of Zen (god help me!) :
  http://runforyourlives.com/

Auditions A Go-Go (Day 44)

 I've got auditions coming in from everywhere right now!  I auditioned for a Neil Simon play last night 'Laughter on the 23rd floor'- was pretty good- although I screwed up the first reading (it was a group read, and I didn't notice there was a back page... OOPS!)  I'm shooting an HVAC commercial tomorrow, and just got called for a bud light commercial tomorrow as well which shoots next wed 3/21.  Now the problem is, is that I still haven't been told what time the HVAC commerical shoots tomorrow, so I don't know if I can make the 4:50pm audition time for Bud Light.  Even if I can make it to that audition, I won't know the shoot time of that project on 3/21, and I've got another project up in Andover that is shooting at 5pm that day!  Not to mention that I've still got to master my personal monologue for class tonight, get prints of my headshot, and research for my role on Thursday (as a serial killer).  And only the commercial stuff pays!  Argh!!!
Still loving it though... :)

Speaking of love, here's a personal hero of mine and our moment of Zen:
http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/power-players-abc-news/legacy-congressman-dennis-kucinich-101438630.html

When it rains... (Day 38)

Just got back from an awesome long weekend in Naples, FL for my buddies wedding.  Now I'm sick- it's probably SARS or the Swine Flu... and of course I've got 3 auditions in the next two days for PAYING commercial gigs...  such is life.
Anyway- here' the big news... I've got another movie out- and it's pretty good if I say so myself- Check it out:
http://vimeo.com/38056250
Would love to hear your thoughts, Fellow Travelers!

Love's Leap(Day 31)

Happy Leap Day fellow travelers, hope you enjoy it as it will be our last...  >:P
 I'm really stoked!  I just got offered the part of 'Jacques' in a short silent film called "Pocket Hat".  It's a homage to Tati and Chaplin (I'll be the Tati-esque character), and it's going to be a lot of fun and an even bigger challenge!

Now on a different note, I feel compelled to share this experience with you-  last saturday, Cory and I went on a ski trip up to Stowe, we happened to go up there during a major snowstorm (the first of the season and it's already the end of feb...anyway...), and we were skiing in up to 3 feet of powder in the glades.  While taking an expedition into a gladed area, Cory and I found this cool powder-filled gully maybe 6 feet across and were swishing down it blissfully.  I was in the lead, looking for hazards and bail outs and such.  I picked up too much speed and ended up wiping out on top of the left side of the gully, so I was actually sorta upside down facing the bottom of the gully.  No problem, tons of snow so it was actually fun!  Cory was coming down a chute on the right side of the gully and had stopped just before it, in a little copse of trees to prepare her descent, out of my sightline.  Just as she dropped in, another skier came whizzing down the gully and they collided!  Well almost, they just missed a direct hit by a millisecond.  The other skier ran over the back of Cory's skis and Cory went down with a yelp in a heap, as I lay there lazily in the snow watching helplessly as the whole thing transpired.  Before I could even react, Cory was yelling, "Sorry! Are you okay?" to the other skier.  The crazy girl didn't even know her own status yet, if she was dead or severely injured or unharmed- and she was apologizing to the other skier, worried about their well-being, despite her own.  I mean who does that?!  Cory does, that's who- and even though it must be a little nuts to be that selfless, I love her all the more for it...

Here it is our moment of zen:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LE9t98Gox60

A night at the Theater (Day 30)

I just saw an amazing show last night called "Blood Rose Rising".  It's a live action serial, with a supernatural element, both eerie and compelling- also pretty damn good acting!  Here's more info, definitely check this out...http://www.bloodroserising.com/
My acting buddy, Andrew Cromartie is starring in it, and it was inspiring to watch him nail it!

Also, I just got done shooting a spot for NEW TV- playing 'Viator' in "The Folklorist".  I'm told that it's premiering on March 24th- stay tuned for more details

Here it is, our moment of Zen (the irony is not lost on me that I'm using a clip from the Daily Show as the MoZ):
http://www.thedailyshow.com/full-episodes/mon-february-27-2012-neil-degrasse-tyson?userClipStartTime=311.82&userClipEndTime=414.37&startIndex=0

A moment in time saves Nein (day 25)

So it's been a busy week, I've been cast in 3 upcoming films (all shorts)- YAY! but enough about me, I'd like to share with you, fellow traveler, an experience that I had during my training session on Tues night...
Scott (my coach) had us all sit in chairs, and we went through a number of centering exercises designed to bring our individual focus completely inward.  He then told us to feel our asses glued to the seat, and the legs nailed into the floor.  As we sat with that uncomfortable, claustrophobic feeling, he then told us to feel an immediate and urgent need to get out of the chair- as this feeling grew, he told us that whatever reason we had, was right outside the door of the room we were in.  I struggled initially with genuinely feeling that urgency.  I could feel my ass glued to the chair, but no real reason to need to leave it.  Then I began to hear my nephew (ungh!) crying, this transformed to Cory screaming due to something of a sinister nature.  I felt myself on the edge of completely losing it, but held back for concern of distracting some of the newer members of the group, as well as the possibility that Scott would direct my 'coming out' as it may and that would be devastating to my development- I think? (I know wrong)  I was also worried about what I might do to the chair should I totally 'let go'.  Lastly, I was scared to let go, I mean I was on the verge, the very edge- but I just didn't trust myself to go over it (there ain't no coming back...;).  And I cursed myself for not having the balls to do it, to not make the more difficult choice.
Then, a strange thing happened... as I felt the frustration and disappointment in myself grow- I also began to feel a genuine feeling of hopelessness- like it was 'too late' I had missed it.  In reality, I did 'miss' that choice to really lose it, but then that feeling of hopeless, of loss, brought about a new awareness to my situation.  I  felt that whatever was outside that door, my chance to do something (the duality of heroically saving Cory/making a choice to 'go there') was gone, and nothing I could do could bring it back.  As I felt this helplessness, I just sat in the chair and quietly sobbed, not dramatically, there were no tears-  There was no Danny Glover moment from Lethal Weapon, there were no threats, no purple-faced vein-engorged soul edifying screams- just me in a chair feeling utterly defeated.  It wasn't until afterward, after much discussion with colleagues, that I realized that this experience was just as valuable.  Acting is never defined by just one moment in time, it's defined by the infinite moments and the choices we make (inaction is a choice as well) in each of those moments.  Argh! it's terrifying and exhilarating just to think how difficult and amazing this process really is.  And I feel like I'm just seeing the tip of it all...

Here it is, your/my moment of zen (sorry Jon Stewart):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tTqbdxL_gmU

"The quickest way to a woman's heart is through her clit."(Day 24)

-Wanda Sykes-
(Hilarious, must-read link below)
Now that i've got your attention, I've got some awesome news, I'm LEGIT! Check me out on IMDB!!!
 Link to Matt's IMDB page

I've also just been cast as the lead in a to be named later production filming in March- I play a thrill-kill type serial killer... Gonna be a major challenge for me!
 

http://www.esquire.com/women/10-things-you-dont-know-about-women/relationship-advice-for-men?link=rel&dom=yah_shop&src=syn&con=art&mag=esq#slide-2

Babies and Barf-o-rama! (Day 22)

I have exciting news (for those of you whom are not of the faint-of-heart)!  Check out the brand new trailer for 'Moonsmilers' I play Pell Grant, a burnt-out ne'er do well who tries to escape the coming zombie invasion.  It was a lot of fun to shoot, and looks like it's going to be one hell of a movie!
I'm also going to audition for Bye Bye Liver tonight at the American Repertory Theater- looking forward to it!
Here's the trailer, WARNING: NOT FOR THE SQUEAMISH, really this isn't a ploy to get you to watch it, it's really gross, especially the last 6 seconds...
Moonsmilers Trailer

So close.... (day 19)

Today was an exciting day- i've been notified that I'll be getting my hands on 2, TWO films that i've worked on!  'Moonsmilers' and 'You're It'!  I've seen one version of YI and it wasn't half bad- definitely some usable stuff for my reel!  So today is a good day, and now I'm off to an audition...
I'll leave you with this, toddlers are so stupid :P

http://screen.yahoo.com/toddler-rescued-from-toy-machine-in-lexington-28323501.html

Starbucks IS the future

At what price will coffee become so expensive, people will stop buying it?  I know that as a self-employed individual with the least amount of disposable income I've ever had, the amount I've spent at Starbucks is obscene ~$425/year...
I challenge YOU dear Fellow Traveler to disclose your shameful spending habits at this notorious establishment...

http://shine.yahoo.com/shine-food/most-expensive-starbucks-drink-ever-23-60-plus-214200067.html

Panda Sex and You! (Day 17)

So after a wonderful Valentine's Day evening with Cory (although officially we both couldn't care less as it's the most stupid of all holidays), i've been a bit out of it today.  No headway yet on IMDB, and I have a monologue that needs to be mastered for next tuesday's intensive.  So what better way then to catch up on the Daily Show...
Ricky Gervais and Jon Stewart talk interspecies coupling

PS- it was worth it!

 Also, now that i've shared this with  the woman I love, I'll share it with you, my Fellow Travelers!
One of the most beautiful songs ever...

Happy day-after >:)

To IMDB or not to IMDB (Day 15)

I had the pleasure of finding out that one of the films I have worked on in the past year is finally up on IMDB!  Unfortunately, they added me as "Matt Matt Rouillard"...  So now, another film that I am to be credited in has linked me with this moniker.  I've contacted the unseen faces at IMDB to address this problem, but they are notoriously slow, especially for little fishies like me.  I guess from now on you'll see two people with the same credits.  Hey at least somebody now is up there with my name- even if he doesn't exist :P

Here I am:  http://www.imdb.com/name/nm4890035/

This is NEWS?! (Day 12)

First of all, happy palindrome day!  I spent it with James, my "personal" photographer fooling around with headshots, came up with a new one here it is... thoughts?  I dunno, the more I look at it, the less I like it- but then again, that could just be because of my ugly mug....  It's a work in progress (the mug and the headshot).  But a shout out to James for helping me out- you can find his website here:
http://jameswangphoto.com/

I had another couple of auditions tonight- the first was a great script, but they got the production dates wrong on the casting call info- so I found out when I went to audition I had a fatal conflict, if that's not what they call it in this business (like in computer language) they should start calling it that :P
The second audition went pretty damn well, cross your fingers!!!
Oh yeah, here's something that I really don't get...  WTF?
http://gma.yahoo.com/blogs/abc-blogs/sydney-spies-third-yearbook-photo-rejected-seeks-redress-190100571--abc-news.html
Beauty apparently is the most important thing in the world when it comes to 15 minutes...  I really hope this isn't true, or I'm SCREWED :)

The benefits of following something... (day 10)

Two auditions today, one was blown from the start as I have a conflict with the shoot dates (stupid Ryan and his wedding)- they had me improv a little scene that they may hire someone for on 2/24, but this was more out of an annoyed professional courtesy on their part...  worse yet, one of the main casting directors at Boston Casting was there and watched me crash and burn- awesome first impression! I then went to CP for an audition- Alexander Hamilton. I actually think I did a good job at this one, but my friend Adam showed up- who coincidentally, when reading the script, I thought would make a great AH (at least he looks a lot like him).  In the audition they had us turn a 180 shadow profile- I look nothing like AH, even in shadow...
World 2, Matt 0

But all's not drowned kittens and chopped-off puppy dog tails  :)

I've added "Matt's cooking corner" it's a link to recipes  that I've found yummy, or I think sound yummy- would love to hear your thoughts...
Enjoy!

The 'rage' in tragedy- thank God for closed captioning(day 9)

So what if the Pat's lost for the second time to those godamned NY bluemen, I don't care!  Okay...I do, I really do, and that's what makes it so hard.  Especially when (again) at the gym today, all that was on the multiple TV's were reports of the aftermath of the SB and images of the Giants drive and Welker missing the catch that would've won it for the Pats!  Except...
Apparently Giselle (Tom Brady's supermodel wife extraordinaire) came to his defense when a heckler told her that her husband sucked- good for her!  What made this even better was that the CC on ESPN kept referring to Giselle as "He" instead of "She"- so that it read something like this,
"I don't blame him at all, I mean he's the wife of a superbowl champion and one of the best players of our time, good for him for sticking up for his husband, I'd do the same thing.  He's hot, makes more money in one year than most entire NFL team rosters, what has he got to lose..." 

That almost made it all worthwhile... almost...

2012, get it in gear already! (Day 5)

So apparently I've hit a 'slump'... as last year at this time I was just getting back involved in the industry- and had one project after another (~ 20 all together in 2011), I've seemed to hit a wall.  I went on 5 auditions in the past week and didn't get nothin'!  I know I have to keep up a cat-like memory (meaning whatever happened 5 minutes ago is now non-existent and had nothing to do with my shortcomings anyway ;)  but with all the training I've been doing, along with consistent auditioning (especially for non-paying gigs) I figured I'd have a little better track record than this!
Argh, glad I'm going away this weekend- I need a break...
Oh and by the way, 'Thinking with Richard'... I was fucking in that!  So credit me on IMDB godamnit! http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2137406/
I'm done whining now >:P

An ominous sign...(Day 2 or is it 3?)

So I was good, and in keeping with my "new" exercise regimen (to get that Donnie Wahlberg physique- a casting director recently said that I reminded them of him?- I'll take that as a compliment ;) , I went to the gym on my birthday.  I usually chat up the people working there when I come in, and this day was no different.  We got into a conversation about the quality of this particular gym, and one of the staff pointed to an award hung on the wall and said, in a self-mocking way, "Best Gym in Brookline, 2006".  I immediately thought, that was 6 years ago- what's wrong with them, why haven't they been voted 'Best Gym' since- which I think was the staff's point as well...
So this got me thinking...  why is it that we often devalue past accomplishments and place judgement on the present based on these accomplishments.  Is it that we are so focused on the pinnacle of accomplishment, whether it be the recognition from our peers in terms of an award, or an attained goal that only we, ourselves know about- that we lose sight of the process, the journey?  There are countless reasons why this gym hasn't been voted "Best in Brookline" since 2006.  Maybe the truth is that it 'has' gone downhill and no longer can compete for that moniker, maybe it's a bullshit award handed out to new businesses to attract customers, or maybe, they just pissed off someone on the Committee that hands out the award.

So what's my point?  I guess it's that you can't look back on past accomplishments, and assume that that's the best you will ever do. Or, rest on your laurels basking in your greatness.  The same goes for your failures. You can't allow yourself to be knocked down by those individuals, the nay-sayers, who assume the worst.  All you can do is focus on the here and now, and continue to strive to achieve a new level of greatness.  Take stock of your accomplishments, then forget them!  Now's the time to shine...

And if you haven't yet tired of my pretentiousness, here's a little bonus for you from my old friend, RWE:
  
"What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within"

On the Eve- Day 1

Okay, I've finally done it!  After much prodding, pleading, and threatened social gulag from those closest and dearest to me...  Welcome to my grand experiment!  Feel free to follow me on an incredible journey untold by the likes of men (until now ;)  This blog will chronicle my struggle as an actor, trying to make it in a business fraught with hardships unlike anything I've ever encountered. Sharing with you all, in complete, and unfiltered brutally honesty my experiences along the way.  Hopefully, I learn something valuable in chasing a passion, and maybe, just maybe, you will too...
That doesn't mean we can't have a little fun in the process, so you can continue to look forward to my usual random rants, disturbing diatribes, and tantalizing tangents (yes, they ARE tantalizing damn it!- you just need to follow me down that rabbit hole!)
So...Let's begin shall we!!!