© 1993 - 2006 stephonfuller.com All Rights Reserved
The Business of the Acting Business Consultations!!!
| Chapter 1 May '93 to Mar '02 | Chapter 10 Nov '05 to Feb '06 |
| Chapter 2 April '02 to Feb '03 | Chapter 11 March '06 to April '06 |
| Chapter 3 Mar '03 to Jan '04 | Chapter 12 May '06 to May '06 |
| Chapter 4 Feb '04 to Aug '04 | Chapter 13 June '06 to July '06 |
| Chapter 5 Sept '04 to Nov '04 | Chapter 14 Aug '06 - Aug '06 |
| Chapter 6 Dec '04 to Jan '05 | Chapter 15 Sept '06 - Sept '06 |
| Chapter 7 Feb '05 to April '05 | Chapter 16 Oct '06 - Nov '06 |
| Chapter 8 May '05 to July '05 | Chapter 17 Dec '06 - Feb '07 |
| Chapter 9 Aug '05 to Oct '05 | Chapter 18 Mar '06 - April '07 |
DECEMBER 1st '04*Ahh! This morning I went to a dental specialist to have my gums looked at. I'm planning to have some major dental work done in the future and I want to check the health of my gums first. The news wasn't particularly good, so I may have to get some work done there first.
I haven't had an audition in almost in 2 weeks. That's cool. I'm not sweating it too much because I am so ready to get out of town for a minute. I can't wait, I'm tired and I need a break from all this running around.
Screening: "Fahrenheit 9/11" with a Q&A with Michael Moore. I'd seen the film back in the Summer, but my friend Jennifer is a huge fan so I figured we'd check it out again. I don't know a lot about Michael Moore, but he is dedicated to his cause. I'm not particularly a fan or particularly "not" a fan, but I am very interested in his POV. It was cool to hear the things he went through to make such a docu-drama. His next film "Sicko" which will focus on the healthcare system is sure to make noise next year.
DECEMBER 2nd '04*Audition: "Direct TV" @ ASG Casting. This one goes really well. I have one question. Will I ever book another commercial? ahhh..........of course I will. Actually, I got a residual yesterday for this really small commercial I did about 6 months ago. So I, at least, still feel like I'm a part of the commercial world. I might need to take another commercial course to refresh my chops in that area.
I saw "The Aviator" today. Well actually I saw the beginning and the very end. I left to go to the audition I just mentioned and came back because Leonardo DiCaprio, John C. Reilly and Alan Alda were going to do a Q&A. My friend and I sat in the very front row because she's a huge fan of Leonardo and wanted to be really close up front for the talk. To be honest, I'm a really, really big fan of Leo myself. When I first started taking acting classes I heard all this Oscar hype about him and wanted to check him out. I vividly remember watching him in the very first scene in "What's Eating Gilbert Grape". My little sister, Avis, has Down's Syndrome so I've been around it all of my life and I know what it looks like. When I saw that performance I became a fan for life. Of course there have been several other films like "This Boy's Life", "The Basketball Diaries", "Marvin's Room" & "The Beach" that I have enjoyed as well.
The Q&A was great. Everytime I attend one I leave feeling extra inspired about the career choice I have made. I met Leo at an ATM in New York (57th & 6th) back in '97. I told him how much I enjoyed his work in "Gilbert Grape" and he was quite gracious. I went on my way and his friend came after me and asked if I was an actor and if I had a card.....of course I did. I gave it to him. I didn't expect to hear from them and.........surprise......I didn't, but it was cool to meet him.
Since we sat in the very first row and watched what had to be the widest screen in Hollywood I knew I'd need to see the film again......from another part of the theatre. I'll check it again out soon.
DECEMBER 3rd '04*Screening: "Million Dollar Baby" with a Q&A with Hilary Swank. What a cool chick!! She plays a boxer in the film and has a banged-up face for much of it. Between that and "Boys Don't Cry" you would never know how attractive she is.
DECEMBER 4th '04*I've attended hundreds of CD workshops in my years of pursuing my career, but one of the ones I attended today was probably the most interesting. The guest, Scott David, was fabulous!! He gave us a bunch of info on how things work in his office, his background, the tone of their shows, upcoming projects and the like, which is standard. Instead of giving out sides, he paired us up and gave us one word or a phrase to base an improv on. I was so impressed with what everyone came up with. I really felt like I was surrounded by a group of very, very creative people.
Anyway, here's where it got quite interesting for me. I was paired up with a lovely young actress and our topic was "family feud". We had about 15 minutes to come up with something. We decided that we were a couple that was attending a family outing and we'd planned to announce our engagement. Her father, "Frank", privately gave her the news that I was his illegitimate son from an affair. Hence, we were siblings. I didn't believe it at first because "Frank" has a drinking problem and often "runs off at the mouth". My fiancé convinced me that it was true and then dropped the bombshell that she was pregnant with my child. WHAT!!!
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Under 17 Requires an accompanying Parent or Adult Guardian
This paragraph contains some material that many parents would find unsuitable for children under 17 years of age. Parents are strongly urged to exercise great care in monitoring this paragraph and are cautioned against letting children under the age of 17 read unattended. This paragraph contains one or more of the following: intense violence (V), intense sexual situations (S), strong coarse language (L), or intensely suggestive dialogue (D).
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Around this time, the improv took a serious turn; I suspected her of knowing all along that I was her brother. Of course things became heated (within the scene) and out of the blue she slapped the SH*T out of me. OH--MY--GOD!! I NEVER saw it coming. The slap had not been rehearsed or even talked about. Everything in my world turned white for an instant. Pardon my French, but what the &*^% was she THINKING? Maybe she was just in the moment and wasn't thinking at all. I was in the moment too but I didn't B*&ch slap her!
Luckily, I'm a pretty mellow guy, but another actor that was maybe "a little unstable" might have whipped her a** on the spot in front of everyone. If that would've happened I would tried to stop it because I don't like to see men beat up women, but at the same time if you slap someone like that you open the possibility of getting your a** kicked. She never even acknowledged that it "might" have been a little over the top. She definitely didn't apologize. The only thing she said in response to "ooohs and aaahs" from the rest of the actors was "Please, I didn't hit him that hard". She never said a word to me at all. No apology. Nothing. I spoke to the guest about my headshot and before I could get to her, she had left. A couple of hours later my ear stopped ringing so I guess I'll live. I'll have to have a word with her next time I see her.
Tonight I attended a birthday party of a couple of friends who I worked with in New York at The Harley-Davidson Cafe. It was great to see them. Of course it made me think of the incredible experience I had in New York and that so many of us are still in touch. There are literally 20-30 people here in LA that I worked with at the restaurant. I still thinks that's amazing.
DECEMBER 6th '04*SAG "Roll Film" Event featuring the cast of "ER". I can't tell how inspiring these events are for me. Just getting to hear someone else's story is the greatest thing for me. I am insanely curious about the most random things and I just love to know how people get to where there are in life. Anyone, not just performers.
I'd worked with one of the cast members, Mekhi Phifer, back in New York on a film called "Hell's Kitchen". Actually, I got work with him in here in LA on "ER" too. I spoke to him briefly and even seem to remember me from the shoot in NYC. I don't think he did. How could he? They meet so many people? Anyway, I'm really glad to see his career keep moving forward, he seems like a great guy.
"ER" star Mekhi Phifer and Myself
DECEMBER 7th '04*Audition: "the bad girls' guide to life" @ Susan Vash Casting. My first pilot audition of the season. I haven't booked for Susan yet, but I have had been to producers several times. This a 1/2 hour pilot for UPN. I think I am really right for this role. I plan to make a strong choice and get to the next step. When I walked in the associate, Reyna Karp, told me that she saw me in "The Terminal". YAY!! I felt the audition went well. I really hope to get a callback on this one.
As I was leaving the Paramount lot, (after doing some drop-offs of course) I saw someone I recognized, but I couldn't place the face at first. In an instance it came to me. It was Katy Garretson. Katy was the 1st AD and also a director of "Frasier". She directed the first episode I did. I stopped and spoke to her for a bit, she was directing and episode of "Girlfriends". She said she really like the episode and had a photo of me when I had hair.
Tonight I attended a SAG "Roll Film" Event that featured the cast of CBS drama "Navy NCIS". I met one of the regulars, Pauley Perrette, back in 2000 when I worked as a reader on a pilot @ Henderson/Zuckerman Casting. I remember reading with her back then and she just lit up the room.....and booked the pilot. For a while it seemed like everytime I visited my local Ralph's grocery store I'd run into her and we'd chat. I hadn't seen her in a while and it was really good to see her tonight and get to chat with her. Something she said to the crowd really struck me. She stressed having a life outside of the business and just dealing with real people. Not that Hollywood isn't real, but I think you can live your life in a vacuum if you aren't careful. I witnessed this woman, who is a series regular on a hit CBS drama, rush to catch a taxi to the screening of a short film that she is in.......in the rain. Yeah, that is what I call keeping it real. You go Pauley!!
Myself and Pauley Perrette of "Navy NCIS"
DECEMBER 8th '04*Today I attended a director workshop with casting director/director Ellie Kanner. She cast the pilot and first year of "Friends" and "Dawson Creek". It was one of the best workshops I've ever participated in. The place where I have taken most of my workshops, Actorsite aka Hollywood Workshop.com, is really pushing forward in the area of bringing in directors/producers for actors to learn from. The entire session last about 5 hours. I actually had to postpone my dentist appointment because I didn't want to leave early and miss something.
She broke us up in about four different groups. Each group had a different scene. The rest of the class other than the group that was reading anonymously gave feedback. Then, along with Ellie's professional feedback it was then delivered to the actor in a positive, honest and constructive manner. It was great to get such insight from a director. She even designated an assistant in the class to bring us in the room as we were coming in to read our scenes. She really touched on a lot of things that we sometimes forget. I definitely learned a thing or two or ten today.
DECEMBER 9th '04* Callback!!! YEAH!!! I got a callback for that "DirecTV" spot I went in for last week. At the audition I was portraying someone on an exercise bike. I did a "California Lottery" commercial where I was on an exercise bike a several years ago and it was quite embarrassing. My cardio was not up to par; I was so winded it wasn't funny. I think I am in much better shape these days, hopefully I'll get a chance to prove it on-set.
The callback went great.....I think. I couldn't understand a thing the director said. He had a really strong accent, I think it was french. At any rate I felt really great about it.
A couple of weeks ago someone inquired about a manager I had for a short time years ago in New York. The actor was meeting with her and wanted to know what my experience was with her. I was honest and, in short, felt that she didn't help me too much, but I saw her help others. I felt she was signing me in order to get to my friend whom she "really" wanted to rep. She thought that I was the "brains of the duo" and if I signed he would sign. She was wrong about that; he didn't need me to make his decisions.
Anyway, when this actor met with her she asked him to have me call her to catch up. So I called her and left a message and she called me back. It was the same as it was years ago when I was repped by her. She didn't want to know what I was up to, she just wanted to hear was my friend from way back then was up to. It's funny to think about it now. I remember back when I requested for a release from the contract I had with her, I heard through the grapevine that she said I would never work in New York. How wrong she was.
Tonight I saw "Hotel Rwanda" again. This time lead actor Don Cheadle was there for a Q&A. He is completely amazing to me. This film is incredibly touching. It's hard to believe that stuff like this still goes on in our world......then again it isn't so hard to believe. This is a story that director Terry George had been trying get produced for 5+ years. I, for one, am glad he got it finished. 
Me and Don Cheadle
Don shared a lot of things with us about his journey and also about the power of turning down projects that he doesn't want to do. I must admit that it's hard knowing how close I was to working with him in "Ocean's Twelve". The scene that I was cast in would have been with him and Elliot Gould. I'll get to work with him another time and another place.
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R RESTRICTED
Under 17 Requires an accompanying Parent or Adult Guardian
This paragraph contains some material that many parents would find unsuitable for children under 17 years of age. Parents are strongly urged to exercise great care in monitoring this paragraph and are cautioned against letting children under the age of 17 read unattended. This paragraph contains one or more of the following: intense violence (V), intense sexual situations (S), strong coarse language (L), or intensely suggestive dialogue (D).
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DECEMBER 10th '04*This is hilarious.......or scary. Remember that "lovely young actress" that slapped the sh*t out of me a couple of days ago. Well, after getting comments about the situation from a couple of people I decided that I really needed to speak with her about it. She needs to know that she can't do that to anyone else. Therefore, I called her and it went a bit like this.
INT. Honda Accord Coupe.
Stephon sits in his car on a tree-lined street. He dials his cell phone.
Lovely young actress who will remain nameless (LYAWWRN)
LYAWWRN
Hello.
STEPHON
Hey LYAWWRN. It's Stephon, how are you?
LYAWWRN
I'm okay.
STEPHON
Good. I wanted to talk to you about the scene we did on
Saturday.
LYAWWRN
What about it Steven?
STEPHON
Ahh.....when you slapped me.
LYAWWRN
Steven don't make a big deal about that-
STEPHON
It's Stephon. My name is Stephon.
LYAWWRN
Steven! As an actor you have to know that anything can
happen in a scene!
STEPHON
No! I don't expect that someone is going to slap me the
way you did.
LYAWWRN
I can't believe this--don't call me again!-(hangs up
phone.)
Stephon sits there, completely stunned.
STEPHON
Oh sh*t, she just hung up on me.
CONTINOUS-2 minutes later.
SFX: Cell phone rings.
STEPHON
Hello.
LYAWWRN
Steven you're a pu**y and you'll never make it in this
business.
STEPHON
You've got to be kidding.
LYAWWRN
You can't going around--
STEPHON
Did you just call me a pu**y?
LYAWWRN
Yes. You're a pu**y. (she hangs up again)
Stephon sits. This time completely, completely stunned.
STEPHON
She just called me a pu**y. WHAT? (Laughs) This chick is
completely out of her fu*#ing mind.
I swear to you that's how the "conversation" went. She called me a pu**y. I can't believe that. It's makes no sense at all. Because she slapped me and I didn't like it I won't make it in this business? Well "that" makes a lot of sense. What a stupid thing to say. I guess now that she has said that I won't make it I should give up. Yeah.....crazy lady.
To be honest, this particular actress has intrigued me for some time. Intrigued in sense of she's really interesting to watch. I don't mean so much as an actress; although she is a fine actress, but more as a person. She's just like........I don't know. You never know what she's going to do next or who she going to offend. I would love to be a fly on the wall in "her world" for a week to see where she gets her sense of entitlement at the expense of others. I figured, either it's not the first time she has slapped someone like that or maybe she has been slapped herself like that.
She did WHAT!!!
I went to a dental specialist today for a second consultation. It was not pleasant. Not painful, just that I need a bit of work done.
I was released from being on avail for the "Degree" commercial from a couple of weeks. No problem, I had released my self in my mind a long time ago. I was surprised to even get the call.
Screening: "Sideways". I enjoyed this film a lot more than I thought I would. It was really cool.
For some reason today was not a good day. In fact, it was the worst day I've had in a long, long time. I knew it when I woke up this morning. That doesn't happen to me that often. Ironically, it's has nothing to do with the dentist appointment or being released from the commercial.........or being called a pu**y for that matter. I think I'm just really, really tired and ready to go home for the holidays. It's been a great year, in a lot of ways, but I am ready for it to be over. I'll keep working until I leave though, I can sleep on the plane.
DECEMBER 15th '04*Okay, today was a day of days for me. I was scheduled for "some" of the surgery on my gums. I was reluctant to go through with it because, simply, I can't afford it right now and all of this dental stuff is super expensive.
Fortunately, I have medical insurance, but there's always "your portion" that you have to pay. When I was there last week, I repeatedly explained to the periodontal specialist that I couldn't afford to do it right now. SHE repeatedly explained to me that I could. It was like this weird tug-of-war. Being a dental specialist in Beverly Hills probably made it difficult for her to understand "I'M BROKE!!!" LOL!!!
Anyway, she did a whole lot of talking about how she could make it work with my insurance so I wouldn't have to pay anything out of pocket. I was still reluctant. Ideally, when I get this work done I want to pay cash or mostly cash, but I was willing to listen.
By the time she'd finished talking she had set me up with an appointment AND given me a prescription for pain killers. I walked out of there pissed! I felt like I had been railroaded or something. Nevertheless, I figured, she knew more than me about dealing with insurance companies. Oh yeah, she scheduled the appointment on the same day that I already had a physical scheduled.
All right, so I walk in this morning and I am completely terrified. I don't know, the notion of surgery in my mouth sounds like insanity. She asked if there was anything she could do to make me more comfortable. I told her that my biggest fear was that I would get a bill for this procedure in four months. She assured me that it wouldn't cost me anything. I put on my headphones, she numbed my mouth and I closed my eyes for the next hour.
I survived. I walked back to my car damn near in tears, in pain, on medication with stitches in my mouth. I took the back roads home, parked in front of my apartment and fell asleep in my car. I got tell you these days I feel like a woman going through her time of the month. Not that I know what that feels like but.........I just need to go home and do some very non-LA things for a couple of weeks.
Continuous: An hour later:
I'm at the Bob Hope Health Center for my Comprehensive Physical Examination (CPE). I have been trying to avoid this for two years. Excuse after excuse after excuse. It's been on my schedule to set up an appointment for over a year, but everytime it comes up I reset it for two weeks later. My mother lost her life to cancer, her mother lost a breast and another member of my family was recently diagnosed with prostate cancer. I needed to get looked at just to be sure. I've been totally in denial about it, but 2004 has been dedicated to getting some things straightened out in my personal life. I have to say that I am very, very happy with the progression in that area. I feel I'm laying fertile soil to bloom in '05.
There has to be a script somewhere buried in my life. Or maybe I'm just naive. I don't know. Anyway, here I am in the examination room. I am given a smock to put on. So I'm thinking "am I supposed to be completely naked under here? Or should I keep my boxers on? I don't even know this woman." Oh yeah, I had requested a woman doctor to do the exam because, I figured, if I was going to do this I should really challenge myself. Yeah, some random woman who I've never met seeing me completely naked, that's a challenge for me. I am really a shy guy. Well, I mean, she is a doctor, but still. One night stands are different. I'M KIDDING......sorta....no seriously..........no sorta...........
Moving right along, the doctor comes in and asked me all kinds of questions about my medical history. Some I was able to answer, others I didn't really know.
Like "how's your father's health?"
Ooops, I don't really know, I haven't spoken to him in a year and half.
Or "when was the last time you had a tetanus shot?"
Ahhh, I don't know if I've ever had one.
Okay......well, you'll get one today.
Do I have to? I mean, why do I need one? Will it make me sick? Why, why why.....
I was sweating bullets. So she's doing all the routine stuff, cleaning my ears, checking my eyes. Everything looks great. My heart is fantastic. She keeps telling me how great a shape I'm in. Cool. Then she lays me down, mind you, I'm completely naked under this smock and tripping out. Oh sh*t, what's next? So she pulls the smock back and.........(fill in the blank)...........has me cough. LOL!!!! What!!!! She says "OK great". Before I recover from that, she has me bend my knees and turn over on my left side. Let's not forget I'm shy and naked under this smock.
This is where it got really, really crazy. As I was turning on my side, I saw her slip on a pair of surgical gloves. I heard that familiar "pop" when you snap them on. I didn't think much of it at that moment. When I turned over on my side I was face to face with a stainless steel table that had random medical stuff on it. The doctor came around to the table, picked up a tube of "gel" opened it and put some on one finger. MY WORLD STOPPED COLD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh--no--she--isn't!! Oh--yes--she--is!!..............................And, my prostate is fine. ^$%*!!
DECEMBER 16th '04*I downloaded a demo copy of Final Draft and I actually started writing. I can't believe it. I wrote some stuff a while back, but this is different. It felt really good. I hope I keep it up.
DECEMBER 17th '04*Yeah! I wrote another scene.
DECEMBER 18th '04*Today a friend of mine read some of what I've written so far. Of course he said it was brilliant. What else was he going to say? No, seriously this guy is a pretty straight shooter. He's not gonna blow smoke for me. He said the dialogue was good, it made sense, it was going somewhere and it kept him interested.
About a year ago I was listening to new music from a friend, Jamie Green. She is definitely one of my favorite artist, local or not. She is an amazing singer/songwriter. Anyway, I was listening to this particular song and started to see the video in my head, then I started seeing myself directing the video, then I started seeing it as the ending of a film, then I wrote the scene in my head. That is where is the inspiration of this script came from.
It's amazing how clear I see the ending in my head.
DECEMBER 19th '04*Tonight I attended a SAG "Roll Film" Event featuring Lauren Graham star of the WB hit "Gilmore Girls". It's incredibly inspiring to hear the stories of people who are successful at such high level in this business. In anything really. Anyway, she seems like a wonderful, funny woman who is much taller than I thought.
"Gilmore Girls" star Lauren Graham
DECEMBER 21st '04*Audition: "Project U" @ Cathi Carlton Casting.
Audition: "Sharp Copiers" @ Francene Selkirk Casting
Wow, I thought I was finished for the year. I wasn't expecting to have anymore auditions. I'm not complaining, I'll look at it '05 starting off with a bang. '05 here I come!!! BUT I really wanna go home too.
DECEMBER 23rd '04*Yesterday my doctor called to tell me that my liver is perfect, that makes sense I've never had beer, wine or any kind of alcohol. She also told me that I am mildly anemic. Ooops. I'm sure this is not a big deal, but I've never been sick or on medication in my life and I am sorta freaked by the thought of it. I'll get another blood test today and go from there.
Another doctor appointment, this time they take more blood for testing and request another type of sample........uh yeah. I wish I understood more about what they are doing and why they are doing it. Maybe then, I wouldn't be so concerned. Well, I'm only concerned sometimes, but when I'm concerned I'm really concerned.
Usually, I'm really anxious to go motocross riding with my brothers. For some reason, this time, I was low-key about it. When my brother, Jeff, asked if I was ready to go tomorrow I was kinda slow to react. There was no way I was going to cancel, but I wasn't pushing the issue. It's like twenty degrees outside and I live in LA!!
My brothers and I talk "mad sh*t" on a daily basis about who has the motocross title in the family. The thing is that I only get to ride when I'm home while they ride quite often. I don't think they realize that the fact that they consider me a threat even though I don't get to ride much is a huge compliment.
They underestimate how much I study the sport. Living in
During the warm-up I got a chance to see what each of them had for me. Jeff looked way better than he did last time and Todd looked even better than that. The track was muddy in spots but Todd was still hanging it out. When I saw him do this double jump that I had never done my confidence in winning went further South.........for the moment. I had to figure out where I was going beat him on the track. I figured it was going to be in the turns and getting on the brakes later than him. Of course, bigger cajones help too.
In preparation for this impending battle, I've been studying all of the riding tips I could find online. My brother, Jeff, laughs at me doing this to get ahead. After getting to the track, I rode around and really studied the layout and practiced some of the drills I learned on the internet.
IT'S TIME!!! Here we are on the starting line. The bikes: Todd/2001 Suzuki RM125. Jeff/2004
And we're off!!!! I win the race to the first turn with Todd hot on my heels. Todd passes me right out of the first turn and Jeff gets around me after I fall in the muddy second turn.. I was pissed. I felt I could win. I get up and back in the race and on the second lap I see Todd on the ground and I'm making up serious time in catching Jeff then I fall again in the same spot as before. Jeff wins the race, I'm second and Todd third.
The second race has begun. I win the sprint to the first turn again and don't look back. I lead the entire race and am completely in control. Todd and Jeff give me a lot of credit. Again, in the third race, I am the first one to the first turn, but I fall and Jeff and Todd get around me. Todd falls and can't start his bike. I almost catch Jeff, but run out of time. So far, Jeff has two wins and a second. Todd has three thirds and I have a win and two seconds.
A win is a win, but I didn't feel that Jeff deserved his. I mean he never passed anyone that wasn't on the ground already. I challenged him to two more races. Todd's bike had a crank-bearing problem and he was done for the day. I smoked Jeff wire-to-wire in the last two races. I told them both that they would never beat me again. Jeff is talking about flying me back home soon just for a weekend of racing. I told him to shut-up and send me a ticket!! 
Ladies and Gentlemen introducing the Winter Series Fuller Family Motocross Champion--Stephon Fuller!!!
Stephon leading Todd and Jeff
My younger brother Jeff
My youngest brother Todd
Stephon out front, all alone
Todd leading Jeff
Jeff leading Todd
Todd, bike problems
Family!!!
Anyway, it says, again, that my red blood cell count is low. I have some sort of iron deficiency anemia. She says I need to get a colonoscopy. WHAT!?!?! It's to see if I'm losing blood in my colon or if I have a tumor.
I don't have a tumor. I don't have a tumor. I don't have a tumor. I don't.........I'm not losing blood. I'm not losing......
I haven't even seen the orthopedic surgeon yet for my hip!!! My first question is always: "does it hurt?" She said, "you'll be asleep". What the Hell does THAT mean? It must hurt.
I know this "going to the doctor stuff" is smart and I have worked hard to qualify for medical coverage, but I'm not used to this. I just have to remember that: It just makes sense. It just makes sense. It just.......
Stewart is the first African-American champion in major motor sports. Mega-star Tom Cruise has optioned the rights to his life story. The project is in development at Paramount Studios. Stewart is 19.
JANUARY 10th '05
Maybe there's some important part of this equation that I'm missing. Or maybe it’s just an over sight and I was scheduled wrong. I'm not one to generally look down upon pre-reading, in fact I welcome it, in most cases. I'm very careful about what I don't audition for. When I auditioned for "Good Morning,
Am I just going not show for the appointment.
Call the assistant at my agency and pass on the project.
Talk to my agent about it and see what the dealio is.
The reason I think I might be missing something is because the particular agent who gave me the appointment did not question me about whether I was going to go in or not. She is usually quite vocal about what I should or should not audition for. hmmm........does she think I should do it?
CUT TO:
I call the agency to pass on the project. I tell the assistant that I don’t want to pre-read for this particular project. He puts me hold. My agent gets on the phone and says that she doesn’t think I should read for it whether I am going out of town or not. The role is too small. Done.
As I was getting ready to leave
Audition: “Scott Tissue Paper” @
Today is 17th anniversary of one of my commercial agents, Alicia Ruskin, @ KSA. Can I tell you that this woman rocks!! I just love them over there. I have been there for 6 ½ years and it’s great. I feel like a baby because there are some clients that have been there for over 20!! Go KSA! I promise I will book again…..soon!
I saw Jenny, my print agent over there @ KSA. I don’t go out for print jobs often, quite frankly because I don’t have a comp card. Anyway, a friend told me about this big print gig for “
Today, while at Westside Casting, I looked closely at what CD’s has drop spots in the drop-off area because I didn’t want to drop to anyone who calls me in regularly. Joe Blake Casting is somewhere that I audition on a fairly regular basis and have booked in the past, but I had not auditioned there in 6 months. What’s up with that?!?! Anyway, I leave a photo and several hours later I get a call for an audition for tomorrow!!
Now, I don’t think getting this appointment had anything to do with my drop, but it sure feels good think that it might have. Maybe, just maybe, I’m helping my agents to help me. It just makes sense, I get 90% and they get 10%.
Tonight I attended a SAG Affirmative Action/Diversity Department event entitled “The Invisible American” – A Diversity Panel Discussion. The panel consisted of four television showrunners. They discussed diversity concerns and constructive packaging of performers of color and performers with disabilities. It felt like a “who’s who” of who I knew when I lived in
It was great to have these industry professionals in attendance, but I felt these four guest where already headed in the right direction as far as diversity goes. I think it would have been more effective to get people the we could sorta “put on the hot seat”. In a respectable manner of course. Like the showrunners of “Friends” (ironically my first television job). I lived in
Audition: “ACE Hardware” @ Joe Blake Casting. This goes really well.
After the "ACE Hardware" audition I saw that Joe Blake Casting was also doing a beer commercial. Since I got the official word that my "Michelob Ultra" spot had been dropped after running a whopping one time in a year I checked out what was going on. I felt that they were seeing guys that were my type, so I had to figure out how to handle it. I checked the storyboard and I seemed to fit the specs. I decided to call my agent and see what she could do. Alicia put me on hold and made a call to the casting office at Joe Blake. To my surprise, the guy who answered the phone was the guy I just auditioned for! Ooops!! He told her "I just saw Stephon, he's not totally right for this. But we might be seeing more people later though." I had no idea that he would answer the phone. I felt like I had been outsmarted. Alicia and I got a really good laugh out of it.
The great thing is that I can call my agents about things like that and they are very receptive. They don't get all weird on me. I don't do it too often, I try to pick my battles wisely. I think they have a lot of respect for what it is I'm trying to do.
Audition: “Starz” @ Sheila Manning Casting. I think this was the first time I've worked with a teleprompter. The gentleman that was there who I think was a producer seemed to be quite happy with the read. I kept the sides in case I get a callback. I booked the last time I auditioned at her office. Can lightening strike twice? I sure hope so.
Audition/Go-see: “Levi Jeans” @ Barbara Bersell Casting. YES!! I got an appointment! One step closer to
So I go to my colonoscopy consultation this afternoon. Ugh!! The doctor gave me the rundown on the procedure……….you don’t want to know. I had done some research on the internet and was prepared for what he told me I had to do to get ready for it………you don’t want to know. I had planned on making the appointment for the procedure when I left, but after he told me that he wanted to check my esophagus for tumors and polyps I needed more time to think. He wants to go up my………..and down my………..all in the same day? What the heck is going on?!?! I’m going to get it done, I just needed more time to clear my head. I’ve had more people touching my body in the last three months than in the past 3 years!!! Not really….anyway……I can’t wait until this over.
Oooops!! The other night a friend of mine in New York called to tell me that she had just seen my appearance on "The O.C.". I had tried to find out when it was going to air. It was on my IMDB and then it disappeared. I thought I had been cut out or something. I didn't get to see it, but evidently I made the final edit.
Ben Guillory of the
This afternoon I attended a workshop @ The Actorsite with 4 associates from 4 different casting offices. Usually, the guest will bring their own scenes to distribute, but when they have multiple guests’ actors, sometimes, bring their own scenes. This was a perfect opportunity to present a scene from the script I’m writing.
I’d already discussed it with a particular actor to read the male role. He had previously read a couple of others things I had written. I had two females in mind for the other role, but neither one of them were on the list for this particular event. Then I chose someone else who played a bit older than the character, but was a very, very talented actress, but she didn’t show up either. Soon as I found that out I ran into another actress, Erica, that I see at actorsite from time to time. Immediately I knew that she was perfect for the part.
I forget to tell the male actor not to tell her I had written the scene. I didn’t want her to get in her head about “the writer” being in the room. Anyway, she found out and was a bit nervous. I was nervous too, but I said “just have fun”. I resisted the urge to explain the scene and just let it go as written. I had re-written, re-written and re-written this scene; so I felt it was ready to be read. I knew that these actors are paying hard-earned cash to attend this event and I didn’t want to let them down.
When they hit the stage I was sweating bullets!! OH SH*T!!! None of the 30 people in the room knew I had written the scene, so I wouldn’t get any courtesy support. Here it goes, the first time anything I have written is being read for an audience. IT WENT GREAT!!!!! The audience was listening, laughing and they stayed in the moment. Talk about “waiting to exhale”? I don’t think I took one breath the entire time. I was so pleased with how it went. The actors really brought life to it. They nailed most of the beats that were there and showed me new things that I didn’t know about. I was so, so happy. Joe and Erica, thank you for trusting me.
This was pretty cool. After I spoke to the group of actors they were to meet a producer/director. I'd met this person several years ago at a workshop. I'd see her now and then and knew she was producing and moving into directing. Anyway, while catching up on what each other had been up to I mentioned that I started writing a script. She asked what kind of script; I was stumped at first. THEN it dawned on me that "I was talking to a producer and I am writing a script!!" HELLO!!
Anyway, I quickly formulated a pitch in my head and delivered it to her. She seemed to like the concept and then I told her that I recently had one of the scenes read at a workshop. She asked how it went and I told her "Great! There were 30+ people in the room and only the two actors performing it knew I wrote it. The response was fantastic." She said, "Do you want to direct it?" I said, "No". She said, "I wanna see it when you’re finished. I raise money for projects". I said, "OK, I'll make sure it happens". She said, "Just keep writing". She then handed me her business card and said, "I'll give you 6 months". I hope it doesn’t take me 6 months to finish it.
BAM!! One step closer. My print agent called to tell me that I'm on avail for the "Levi Jeans" job that shoots in
Rehearsal was good for the scene with The
Actually, that's not totally true. I was on my way to the gym near Westside Casting Studios and I met this kid, a young actor named Harrison. I guess he was about 18 or 19 and from Charlotte, NC. Let me tell you, this kid was a breath of fresh air. It was so great to see someone so young with such a zest for life and appreciation for the freedom to pursue his dream. He was a good-looking kid, with incredible energy. He was type of person that would get the lead in a series with no experience, you just believed that he could pull it off. He looked like someone who would be on "The O.C." or "Everwood", but more real. Those kids on TV always seem so pissed about who knows what, but this guy was great. I begged him not to lose his spunk for life. He's fairly new in town and has a really good agency behind him. He was asking me some really basic question about the business. I really expect to see this kid going places. I just told to be himself. I purposely didn't ask his last name because I just feel that he is going to rise up the ladder very, very soon.
Anyway, at the top of the piece, our group of soldiers march on stage. Since I’m the last one to enter I do the count because I can see when everyone is in place. I already start sweating because my rhythm isn’t all that great. So they come up with a chant/song and I’m like “oh sh*t, don’t you guys remember how long it took me to get it right in the play?” I’m thinking, ‘can’t someone else do this?’ They hit me with this call and response thing which goes like this.
ME:
I don’t know, but I been told!!
THE TROOPS:
I don’t know, but I been told!!
ME:
Bow-legged woman ain’t got no soul!!
THE TROOPS:
Bow-legged woman ain’t got no soul!!
ME:
Sound-off!!
THE TROOPS:
One-Two!!
ME:
Sound-off!!
THE TROOPS:
Three-Four!!
ME:
Sound-off One-Two, ONE-TWO….THREE-FOUR!!