I have always maintained that most of us should and do wear more than one hat, and should not think of ourselves as being defined by a single skill, talent, or activity. An accountant is more than an accountant, as he or she may also be a writer, or a gardener, or a volunteer for any number of activities, or an expert on a particular subject not associated with accounting, or may possess any number of talents at either an amateur or professional level. Past that, and never to take a back seat in our lives, all of us are husbands, wives, fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, and so forth. We all are the sum of all these parts, and I am no different there than anyone else.
In the course of my life I have worked as a professional jazz musician, a computer programmer, a systems analyst, a hospital department head, a technical field salesperson, and for the past fourteen years, an actor. Additionally, I have been a writer for years, writing short film screenplays, articles, essays, short stories, and two radio dramas which have been performed nationally on commercial radio. All of this has played a part in who I am.
I have given a lot to acting in time, money (private lessons, classes, workshops), and dedication and acting in turn, has given a lot to me. It has been and continues to be a good professional marriage.
This past couple of weeks, I opened a new chapter in the book known as "Who I Am". I taught and conducted two cold reading workshops for actors. The first workshop was for intermediate actors, the second was for a group of advanced actors. These workshops were scene study workshops (two person scenes), which gave each actor a few minutes to prepare a scene with their assigned acting partner, and then do their scene, and re-work that scene in front of the entire group. I subscribe to the simple, yet important premise of famed acting coach Tony Barr, who said, "Actors should act." All private lessons, workshops, and classes that I attended while in LA were designed that way....scene study, scene study, scene study. Both workshops went well, and I found that assuming the role as an acting coach was almost immediately comfortable for me.
While, like all of you I am the sum of many parts, after family I am still an actor first, with any acting coaching, writing, etc. coming after that. Still, I found I greatly enjoyed the workshops I conducted. I believe I do have something to pass on to other actors, and I look forward to holding more workshops in the future.
Otherwise, it's going to auditions which either my agent finds, or that I find, and continuing my own studies as an actor. Towards that end I will be spending a few days in LA in the first half of April, attending three casting director workshops (including casting directors who currently cast Criminal Minds, Leverage, and Modern Family), and (schedule permitting) a long private lesson from my Hollywood based acting coach.
I cannot stress too strongly my belief that any actor can benefit from spending a year or two in LA. I now have contacts there which I never could have formed any other way. Living and working in LA will change the way you look at acting, and it will change the way the acting profession looks at you. However, obligations being what they are, I understand that many either cannot or will not make that move. It's a highly individual decision to move to LA, but to all serious actors....if you can, you should.
Here's a fact about actors. Most actors have a built in and pesky self critic, which tells them (the intermediates) you are not good enough to find work, or (the advanced actors) sure you can work in the Northwest, but you are not good enough to work in LA. From what I observed in the two recent workshops I conducted, nothing could be farther from the truth. All the intermediate actors I worked with are good enough to work in the Northwest, and all the advanced actors I worked with would have just as good a chance in LA as any other new actor. Perception is half the battle, and it's the old story of if you think you can't, you can't, and if you think you can, you can. I am no better an actor than any other Northwest actor, and certainly not as talented as some. However, I went to LA convinced I could find work, and I did.
Now that I'm back in the Pacific Northwest, the cold facts are that there are not as many gigs for actors here as in LA, which I'm sure, comes as no surprise to anyone. However, there are good opportunities for actors in both Seattle and Portland, with Portland currently holding a slight edge. I have not yet really investigated the Vancouver BC market for American actors.
So, life goes on, auditions happen, actors get cast, films and commercials get shot, actors classes and workshops get held, and it all happens in one of the most beautiful places in the country, the Pacific Northwest. "Ain't" life grand?
Showing posts with label Moving to LA. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Moving to LA. Show all posts
Friday, March 26, 2010
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Visiting The Agencies
One week ago yesterday, I sent out fifty one envelopes containing a headshot, resume, and cover letter to talent agents in the LA area. To date, I have heard from three of those agencies asking me to come in for an appointment/audition.
I met with one agency last Friday morning and another one this morning. I will be visiting the third agency a week from today. So far the results have been extremely gratifying, with both the agencies I have visited so far, offering to represent me. While I am pleased, it is really not something I thought would happen so quickly.
I will make a decision as to which agency I will go with after visiting the third agency next week. It too is one which people in the business recommend highly. This third agency is somewhat larger than the two I have visited so far, but size in this town is not a good criteria for evaluating an agency. Smaller agencies (or boutique agencies, as they are known in the business) have less talent agents and less clients, while larger agencies have more agents and more clients. Both types can do well, and all three of these agencies have a reputation of doing just that for the actors they represent.
Of course, getting representation by a quality agency is just the start for an actor in Hollywood. Next, you must get auditions (through your agent, and on your own), and then you must do well enough in those audition to get booked. Never the less, being represented by a quality agency is a vital first step, and it appears I have managed that first step, as I will be choosing an agency before the month is over.
I mentioned getting auditions through your agent and on your own. Having an agent in this town (or any other town for that matter) doesn't mean sitting by the phone, letting them do all the work, and waiting for them to call. You must work the other side of the street, so to speak, and constantly submit yourself for auditions through one of the local reputable services (NOTE TO ACTORS: They are not all reputable), send headshots and resumes to casting directors (the second half of my phase II which I will complete before month end), appear in showcases that casting directors attend, and continue to do all the marketing efforts you did prior to having an agent. You don't have an agent to take the place of your self-marketing efforts....you have an agent in addition to your self-marketing efforts.
A final note. The agency I visited today is literally at the corner of Hollywood and Vine. I parked in a lot directly across from the Capital Records building and on the way to and from the agency, traveled down the Hollywood Walk of Fame, in which hundreds of large gold stars are embedded in the sidewalk with the names of famous actors and entertainers from the past and present. I walked by stars for Greer Garson, William Holden, Francis X Bushman, Gary Cooper, Randolph Scott, and many, many others. I have to admit, I still get a big kick out of the tradition and landmarks of Hollywood and the rest of the LA area.
See you soon......
I met with one agency last Friday morning and another one this morning. I will be visiting the third agency a week from today. So far the results have been extremely gratifying, with both the agencies I have visited so far, offering to represent me. While I am pleased, it is really not something I thought would happen so quickly.
I will make a decision as to which agency I will go with after visiting the third agency next week. It too is one which people in the business recommend highly. This third agency is somewhat larger than the two I have visited so far, but size in this town is not a good criteria for evaluating an agency. Smaller agencies (or boutique agencies, as they are known in the business) have less talent agents and less clients, while larger agencies have more agents and more clients. Both types can do well, and all three of these agencies have a reputation of doing just that for the actors they represent.
Of course, getting representation by a quality agency is just the start for an actor in Hollywood. Next, you must get auditions (through your agent, and on your own), and then you must do well enough in those audition to get booked. Never the less, being represented by a quality agency is a vital first step, and it appears I have managed that first step, as I will be choosing an agency before the month is over.
I mentioned getting auditions through your agent and on your own. Having an agent in this town (or any other town for that matter) doesn't mean sitting by the phone, letting them do all the work, and waiting for them to call. You must work the other side of the street, so to speak, and constantly submit yourself for auditions through one of the local reputable services (NOTE TO ACTORS: They are not all reputable), send headshots and resumes to casting directors (the second half of my phase II which I will complete before month end), appear in showcases that casting directors attend, and continue to do all the marketing efforts you did prior to having an agent. You don't have an agent to take the place of your self-marketing efforts....you have an agent in addition to your self-marketing efforts.
A final note. The agency I visited today is literally at the corner of Hollywood and Vine. I parked in a lot directly across from the Capital Records building and on the way to and from the agency, traveled down the Hollywood Walk of Fame, in which hundreds of large gold stars are embedded in the sidewalk with the names of famous actors and entertainers from the past and present. I walked by stars for Greer Garson, William Holden, Francis X Bushman, Gary Cooper, Randolph Scott, and many, many others. I have to admit, I still get a big kick out of the tradition and landmarks of Hollywood and the rest of the LA area.
See you soon......
Monday, March 23, 2009
A Rite of Passage (Sort Of)
Yesterday evening I submitted myself for a role in film by USC graduate students. It's non paid, and while I didn't come to LA to do non paid roles, many say actors new to the area should do one or two USC film school films as (1) it's a great experience with some very talented film makers, and (2) some go on the greater things and, if you did a good job, they just might remember you at a later time. Also, I understand the film footage is usually great for your demo reel. The film shoots over two weekend in April, and I have no idea if I will get to audition or be cast. Doing a USC film school production is somewhat of a rite of passage for new actors in LA, and while I may be an older actor, I definitely qualify as a new actor in LA.
This coming Friday, I renew my studies with my Hollywood acting coach. He's not easy on his students. In fact, he's damn hard on them, and that is probably why so many of his students swear by him (he likes to say that a few have sworn at him). Suffice to say, it will be great to be studying with him once again. If some of you find it strange that I refer to him as my Hollywood acting coach, rather than by name, I have formed the policy of not using the names of well known people (or even semi well known people) in the film industry, as I believe a person's privacy should be protected all all time, whenever possible. Therefore, you will hear me refer to many film industry people by their title, instead of their name.
However, here is one name I will share with you. On Thursday, I am having lunch in Pasadena with Dr. Bill Thomson, my old college music professor. He had a great career in music education, teaching at such places as Indiana University, and Hawaii, before finally settling in as the head of the music department at USC, a position he held until his retirement. I remember him as a wonderful teacher, a fine arranger, and a good musician. He was one of the two or three most influential people in my development, as I grew from a boy into a man during my four years in college. It will be awfully good to see him once again.
And so goes the life of an itinerant actor in LA. One bedroom apartments, auditions where you find them, acting lessons, and later....showcases, SAG cards, agents and who knows what else.
Like the old Saturday serials at the movie theater (If you are under 50, forget it, as you have no idea what I'm talking about) there's always another chapter next week (or, who knows, maybe tomorrow).
Until then...........
This coming Friday, I renew my studies with my Hollywood acting coach. He's not easy on his students. In fact, he's damn hard on them, and that is probably why so many of his students swear by him (he likes to say that a few have sworn at him). Suffice to say, it will be great to be studying with him once again. If some of you find it strange that I refer to him as my Hollywood acting coach, rather than by name, I have formed the policy of not using the names of well known people (or even semi well known people) in the film industry, as I believe a person's privacy should be protected all all time, whenever possible. Therefore, you will hear me refer to many film industry people by their title, instead of their name.
However, here is one name I will share with you. On Thursday, I am having lunch in Pasadena with Dr. Bill Thomson, my old college music professor. He had a great career in music education, teaching at such places as Indiana University, and Hawaii, before finally settling in as the head of the music department at USC, a position he held until his retirement. I remember him as a wonderful teacher, a fine arranger, and a good musician. He was one of the two or three most influential people in my development, as I grew from a boy into a man during my four years in college. It will be awfully good to see him once again.
And so goes the life of an itinerant actor in LA. One bedroom apartments, auditions where you find them, acting lessons, and later....showcases, SAG cards, agents and who knows what else.
Like the old Saturday serials at the movie theater (If you are under 50, forget it, as you have no idea what I'm talking about) there's always another chapter next week (or, who knows, maybe tomorrow).
Until then...........
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Der Be SCAMS Out Der
Every actor who comes to LA wants to work. To work you have to audition; to audition you have to find out where, when, and the particulars about an audition in order to submit yourself for that audition. This is particularly true before you have an agent and is even somewhat true after you have one.
Into this void, with both feet, has jumped a number of companies, organizations, what have you, all claiming we can get you the straight skinny on all the quality auditions in town. I was not exactly a neophyte to all this, having done a good deal of research before moving down to LA. The majority of these companies (but not all, as you will see) are SCAMS pure and simple, with a goal, not in helping find auditions, but separating you from as much of your hard earned money as possible. The come-on is that you can register free, and yes, you certainly can do that with most of them. However, with most it costs to find out the contact information for an audition, post headshots onto their website, post your resume onto their website, and so forth. These companies are simply predators lying in wait for the unsuspecting "newbie" actor.
I mentioned that there are exceptions to this type of predator company. One is called Actors Access. With them, you can join free, post two headshots free, post your personal information (hair color, height, weight, etc.) free, post your resume free, and they will send you emails giving the complete details of auditions that fit your age and other parameters which you specified when you registered with them. Is there a catch? Well, yes, but not an unexpected one, as this company, like most, is in business to make a profit. You can join for $68 dollars a year and reply, at no additional cost, to any audition call which they email to you, or you can not join and pay $2.00 each time you respond electronically with headshots and your resume to an audition call. If you think you'll want to respond to more than 34 audition calls a year (not quite three a month), joining is the way to go. If not, then the $2.00 per pop is probably more thrifty. Actors Access also runs an off-shoot called Extras Access. It is run exactly like Actors Access, except it is for extra work only. I discussed the value of extra work for a new actor in town in a previous blog. If you are already a member of Actors Access, you can join Extras Access for only $10.00 per year. Actor's access get good marks from respected professionals in the area.
There is also another organization, with a slightly different mission, called Backstage. It also has a yearly fee, can also turn you on to legitimate audition calls, offers other services, and is also well thought of in the industry. I will be looking in Backstage more thoroughly this coming week.
So, if you're thinking of making the move to LA, be warned. There are some legitimate ways to find out about auditions prior to having an agent, but there are a number of SCAMS lurking in the weeds, as well.
More later..........
Into this void, with both feet, has jumped a number of companies, organizations, what have you, all claiming we can get you the straight skinny on all the quality auditions in town. I was not exactly a neophyte to all this, having done a good deal of research before moving down to LA. The majority of these companies (but not all, as you will see) are SCAMS pure and simple, with a goal, not in helping find auditions, but separating you from as much of your hard earned money as possible. The come-on is that you can register free, and yes, you certainly can do that with most of them. However, with most it costs to find out the contact information for an audition, post headshots onto their website, post your resume onto their website, and so forth. These companies are simply predators lying in wait for the unsuspecting "newbie" actor.
I mentioned that there are exceptions to this type of predator company. One is called Actors Access. With them, you can join free, post two headshots free, post your personal information (hair color, height, weight, etc.) free, post your resume free, and they will send you emails giving the complete details of auditions that fit your age and other parameters which you specified when you registered with them. Is there a catch? Well, yes, but not an unexpected one, as this company, like most, is in business to make a profit. You can join for $68 dollars a year and reply, at no additional cost, to any audition call which they email to you, or you can not join and pay $2.00 each time you respond electronically with headshots and your resume to an audition call. If you think you'll want to respond to more than 34 audition calls a year (not quite three a month), joining is the way to go. If not, then the $2.00 per pop is probably more thrifty. Actors Access also runs an off-shoot called Extras Access. It is run exactly like Actors Access, except it is for extra work only. I discussed the value of extra work for a new actor in town in a previous blog. If you are already a member of Actors Access, you can join Extras Access for only $10.00 per year. Actor's access get good marks from respected professionals in the area.
There is also another organization, with a slightly different mission, called Backstage. It also has a yearly fee, can also turn you on to legitimate audition calls, offers other services, and is also well thought of in the industry. I will be looking in Backstage more thoroughly this coming week.
So, if you're thinking of making the move to LA, be warned. There are some legitimate ways to find out about auditions prior to having an agent, but there are a number of SCAMS lurking in the weeds, as well.
More later..........
Friday, March 13, 2009
Setting Up Housekeeping
I didn't realize all there is to do when setting up housekeeping from scratch. Well....actually I did, but it's been so long ago I forgot. Yesterday after a buying trip for the odds and end I forgot to get on my other buying trips, I was sure I now had everything I needed. Today, I found out that wasn't true, so it's back to more shopping (Bed, Bath & Beyond, this time) for more little odds and ends.
Next week I will Register with Central Casting, which is the largest, and most recommended extra casting agency in LA. No, I don't have a burning desire to be a professional extra, long term, but being an extra is one way to become SAG eligible, and I plan to explore ALL the ways in which to get my SAG card. Each time you're an extra on a qualifying film, you can get a voucher. When you have three vouchers, you become SAG eligible. Why next week? Because you can't register with Central casting by email or regular mail (snail mail), but only in person and only at certain times of the week. I may also register with other extra casting agencies....not sure about that yet.
After that I need to look into actor's showcases. More about that next week.
Until then...........
Next week I will Register with Central Casting, which is the largest, and most recommended extra casting agency in LA. No, I don't have a burning desire to be a professional extra, long term, but being an extra is one way to become SAG eligible, and I plan to explore ALL the ways in which to get my SAG card. Each time you're an extra on a qualifying film, you can get a voucher. When you have three vouchers, you become SAG eligible. Why next week? Because you can't register with Central casting by email or regular mail (snail mail), but only in person and only at certain times of the week. I may also register with other extra casting agencies....not sure about that yet.
After that I need to look into actor's showcases. More about that next week.
Until then...........
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Into A Routine
I am a firm believer that one should have a routine in their daily life....not a rut, mind you but a routine to get you started on your day. Anyone who knows me well knows that my routine always starts with coffee (Starbucks of course). My morning routine has quickly fallen into this: coffee, read two newspapers on the Internet (The Seattle Times, and the Los Angeles Times), then a shower, and I'm ready for the day, be it a day of errands, self marketing and/or research on the Internet, being out and about....going places and meeting people, or what have you. That has quickly become my Los Angeles early morning routine.
In the immediate future, I have much to do in researching the various audition boards. My goal is to become SAG eligible as soon as possible, but prior to that I will seek non-union work. There is a good amount of non-union work in this town, and why not. The place is full of actors, many of them not yet union, looking for work. Auditioning for two network television shows last week was wonderful, but obviously that is not going to happen every week.
Sunday, my wife and I had lunch with my acting coach. It was both pleasant (he's a very nice and interesting man) and informative, as he filled me in on some of the ups and downs of the film industry here. We had lunch a a great little place called the Aroma Cafe....good food and a great outdoor seating arrangement.
Monday Morning I took Linda to the Burbank Airport where she boarded a plane for Seattle. She was such a great help getting me established, but she had to be back in her office Tuesday morning. Our two cats (tended to by a very good pet sitter while we were gone) we overjoyed to see her, I'm sure.
In the immediate future, I have much to do in researching the various audition boards. My goal is to become SAG eligible as soon as possible, but prior to that I will seek non-union work. There is a good amount of non-union work in this town, and why not. The place is full of actors, many of them not yet union, looking for work. Auditioning for two network television shows last week was wonderful, but obviously that is not going to happen every week.
Sunday, my wife and I had lunch with my acting coach. It was both pleasant (he's a very nice and interesting man) and informative, as he filled me in on some of the ups and downs of the film industry here. We had lunch a a great little place called the Aroma Cafe....good food and a great outdoor seating arrangement.
Monday Morning I took Linda to the Burbank Airport where she boarded a plane for Seattle. She was such a great help getting me established, but she had to be back in her office Tuesday morning. Our two cats (tended to by a very good pet sitter while we were gone) we overjoyed to see her, I'm sure.
Saturday, March 7, 2009
So Far,So good
Finally here, it took us two and a half days of driving (mostly in the rain) to get here. Then, out first day in sunny California, it rained. Go figure.
As I write this on Saturday morning, I am sitting in my new apartment (actually, a condo I'm renting from the owner) in Tarzana, CA. If that name sounds slightly familiar, that's because it was named after the title character in the Tarzan movie series.
A pretty amazing event happened to me a few days ago. My Hollywood acting coach called and said I had an audition on Thursday, March 5th with a well known Hollywood casting director. Apparently he had mentioned me to her and she said she wanted to see me. I auditioned in the Hollywood studio where Hero's and other TV series are filmed. I auditioned for a one episode small part for Amy Poehler's (of Saturday Night Live fame) new NBC series, "Parks and Recreation". Next, the casting director had me read for a one line role in the series, "The office". Never did I think I would be auditioning for small roles in two television series on my third full day in town. I know that I have a lot of hard work in front of me, and things like this will, by no means, be routine, but still, not a bad first week.
The traffic in LA is not as bad as you have heard. It's much WORSE!! Funny thing is when you first get here you think how wild everyone drives. Then, in a few days, you are driving the same way. Must be something in the water.
Well, have to run, furniture is being delivered this afternoon.
More soon........
As I write this on Saturday morning, I am sitting in my new apartment (actually, a condo I'm renting from the owner) in Tarzana, CA. If that name sounds slightly familiar, that's because it was named after the title character in the Tarzan movie series.
A pretty amazing event happened to me a few days ago. My Hollywood acting coach called and said I had an audition on Thursday, March 5th with a well known Hollywood casting director. Apparently he had mentioned me to her and she said she wanted to see me. I auditioned in the Hollywood studio where Hero's and other TV series are filmed. I auditioned for a one episode small part for Amy Poehler's (of Saturday Night Live fame) new NBC series, "Parks and Recreation". Next, the casting director had me read for a one line role in the series, "The office". Never did I think I would be auditioning for small roles in two television series on my third full day in town. I know that I have a lot of hard work in front of me, and things like this will, by no means, be routine, but still, not a bad first week.
The traffic in LA is not as bad as you have heard. It's much WORSE!! Funny thing is when you first get here you think how wild everyone drives. Then, in a few days, you are driving the same way. Must be something in the water.
Well, have to run, furniture is being delivered this afternoon.
More soon........
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Final Ten Days
Crunch time is here, as we now have just ten days before we leave for LA. Much has been done, but much is left to do. I have my passport. It arrived in our mailbox only nine days after I applied for it, which must be some type of record. My dental work has been completed except for replacing a temporary bridge with the permanent one later this month.
My last acting job here went well. It was in a corporate training film for Microsoft, which was done through a media company called MEDIAPRO. The film crew and staff there couldn't have been more professional or nicer. It's always a joy to work with professionals like that. The filming was done ten days ago. There is a follow-up audio recording session this coming Saturday, and then my part in the project will be completed.
I won't be making another entry in this blog until the week of March 9Th, as our first week in LA (and before Linda flies back to Seattle) will be devoted to arranging for an apartment, furniture, and all the other things necessary for setting up housekeeping. I probably won't have my computer hooked up to the Internet for most of the first week, but I will be able to receive all emails through my Blackberry, as well as send short responses.
My last acting job here went well. It was in a corporate training film for Microsoft, which was done through a media company called MEDIAPRO. The film crew and staff there couldn't have been more professional or nicer. It's always a joy to work with professionals like that. The filming was done ten days ago. There is a follow-up audio recording session this coming Saturday, and then my part in the project will be completed.
I won't be making another entry in this blog until the week of March 9Th, as our first week in LA (and before Linda flies back to Seattle) will be devoted to arranging for an apartment, furniture, and all the other things necessary for setting up housekeeping. I probably won't have my computer hooked up to the Internet for most of the first week, but I will be able to receive all emails through my Blackberry, as well as send short responses.
Friday, January 30, 2009
Four Weeks To Go
Four weeks from tomorrow, My wife and I will start our car trip to LA. Of course by car, as without a car in LA....well, you get the idea. There is still much to do, as in having some dental work finished, getting a passport (yes, strangely enough, I've never had one), and finish planning all aspects of the move. While acting is very much a right brain activity, as in the phrase, "in the moment," there is much left brain activity in the preparation for acting (moving to LA, marketing, networking, having the proper headshots, a current resume in good condition, your own website, business cards, postcards, and all the other things that go into presenting and publicizing yourself as an actor). True, talent, training and experience are all necessary ingredients, but never forget marketing. As they say, you can't sell the best widget in the world if no one knows it exists.
There is a lot of usable information on the Internet about breaking into acting in LA. Unfortunately, there is also a lot of crap and scams mixed in with the usable part, and one needs to exercise great care is identifying and separating one from the other. With only a few exceptions, beware of websites that want to charge you a fee for audition information or for applying for auditions through their site. As I said, there are a few exceptions to that, and I will discuss those sites further once I am in LA.
Meanwhile, I'm getting in some last acting opportunies in the Seattle area . I auditioned for and was cast in a Microsoft corporate film last week. It's in the form of a comedy. I play the lead, and it should be great fun. I also auditioned for another film late last week, but have not heard the results of that audition yet.
So, now it's four weeks and counting.
There is a lot of usable information on the Internet about breaking into acting in LA. Unfortunately, there is also a lot of crap and scams mixed in with the usable part, and one needs to exercise great care is identifying and separating one from the other. With only a few exceptions, beware of websites that want to charge you a fee for audition information or for applying for auditions through their site. As I said, there are a few exceptions to that, and I will discuss those sites further once I am in LA.
Meanwhile, I'm getting in some last acting opportunies in the Seattle area . I auditioned for and was cast in a Microsoft corporate film last week. It's in the form of a comedy. I play the lead, and it should be great fun. I also auditioned for another film late last week, but have not heard the results of that audition yet.
So, now it's four weeks and counting.
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Six Weeks and Counting
I must be crazy! That thought has crossed my mind several times in the past few months. Why you ask? Because I am about to do something that is both crazy, wonderful, scary, and exciting all at the same time.
Perhaps an introduction should come first. I'm Ken Kreps, an actor with thirteen years of study and five years of acting professionally behind me. All of this to now, has been done in the Seattle Washington area, with the exception of one project in Portland. I have done independent theatrical films (both short and feature length), TV commercials (both local and national), a couple of films for Japanese network television, some corporate-Industrial videos, various types of voice-over work, and finally, even one print job. I am represented by a talent agency in the Seattle area.
All was well and good, until a little over a year ago I began studying with a well know LA acting coach, first taking a few workshops from him and then private lessons. I'll not mention his name to protect his privacy. One day last Summer, he asked me if I planned to move to LA and try the film and TV market there. Since I had never considered doing so, I replied no. His response startled me when he said he felt I had reached a point where there could very well be work for me down there. While flattered, I still said no. A few weeks later, he mentioned the same thing again and this time I began thinking about it. I discussed it with my wife, and she said I should give it a try, as this is what I had really been preparing for over the last thirteen years.
The bottom line is this. In six weeks, my wife and I will drive to LA, where she will assist me in finding an apartment and getting set up before flying back to our home in the Seattle area. I will then start the many tasks required when attempting to gain a foothold as an actor in the LA market. This includes auditioning for and appearing (hopefully) in showcases, securing an agent, getting my SAG card (not an easy task, by any means), networking, scanning all the various audition boards several times each day, Continuing my actor's education with the above mentioned LA acting coach, and possibly other instructors, auditions, and all the other necessary tasks. For a serious actor, this in itself is an every day job. Fortunately, I don't need to find a non-acting job in LA to survive, so all of the above tasks will be my full time job.
My LA acting coach is a respected professional, and if he says I have a shot, I have to take him seriously. He can be a hard task master on a actor and that is one of the reasons I enjoy studying with him. He tells it like it is, with no sugarcoating, and he's also a quite likable man.
Finally there is one other thing you should know about me. I am....well, that is I'm....OK, let's just leave it at I'm well past the age of 60. Now you know why I sometimes think I must be crazy. For years I've told people failure is not the worst thing that can happen to a person, as not trying is far worse. Now, I must take my own advice. I did a little checking to see if anyone my age or older had tried to break into acting in LA, and I found that not only have they tried, but some have succeeded
I'll be adding to this blog some before we leave (but probably not too often), but will no doubt write three to five times a week once my quest begins in LA.
Wish me luck, and let's just see how this all shakes out. I'm not kidding myself in that the odds of success are long, as they are for any actor, of any age, in LA. Still, I'm anxious to give it my best concentrated effort, and see what lies ahead.
Stay tuned!
Perhaps an introduction should come first. I'm Ken Kreps, an actor with thirteen years of study and five years of acting professionally behind me. All of this to now, has been done in the Seattle Washington area, with the exception of one project in Portland. I have done independent theatrical films (both short and feature length), TV commercials (both local and national), a couple of films for Japanese network television, some corporate-Industrial videos, various types of voice-over work, and finally, even one print job. I am represented by a talent agency in the Seattle area.
All was well and good, until a little over a year ago I began studying with a well know LA acting coach, first taking a few workshops from him and then private lessons. I'll not mention his name to protect his privacy. One day last Summer, he asked me if I planned to move to LA and try the film and TV market there. Since I had never considered doing so, I replied no. His response startled me when he said he felt I had reached a point where there could very well be work for me down there. While flattered, I still said no. A few weeks later, he mentioned the same thing again and this time I began thinking about it. I discussed it with my wife, and she said I should give it a try, as this is what I had really been preparing for over the last thirteen years.
The bottom line is this. In six weeks, my wife and I will drive to LA, where she will assist me in finding an apartment and getting set up before flying back to our home in the Seattle area. I will then start the many tasks required when attempting to gain a foothold as an actor in the LA market. This includes auditioning for and appearing (hopefully) in showcases, securing an agent, getting my SAG card (not an easy task, by any means), networking, scanning all the various audition boards several times each day, Continuing my actor's education with the above mentioned LA acting coach, and possibly other instructors, auditions, and all the other necessary tasks. For a serious actor, this in itself is an every day job. Fortunately, I don't need to find a non-acting job in LA to survive, so all of the above tasks will be my full time job.
My LA acting coach is a respected professional, and if he says I have a shot, I have to take him seriously. He can be a hard task master on a actor and that is one of the reasons I enjoy studying with him. He tells it like it is, with no sugarcoating, and he's also a quite likable man.
Finally there is one other thing you should know about me. I am....well, that is I'm....OK, let's just leave it at I'm well past the age of 60. Now you know why I sometimes think I must be crazy. For years I've told people failure is not the worst thing that can happen to a person, as not trying is far worse. Now, I must take my own advice. I did a little checking to see if anyone my age or older had tried to break into acting in LA, and I found that not only have they tried, but some have succeeded
I'll be adding to this blog some before we leave (but probably not too often), but will no doubt write three to five times a week once my quest begins in LA.
Wish me luck, and let's just see how this all shakes out. I'm not kidding myself in that the odds of success are long, as they are for any actor, of any age, in LA. Still, I'm anxious to give it my best concentrated effort, and see what lies ahead.
Stay tuned!
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