Here is a still from the 16mm short film I completed last night for USC students, called ‘Lost in Iraq’.

The story was about an American soldier and his attempts to overcome adversity, losing his troops and the huge amount of guilt from killing a young boy. In addition, the soldier was injured in the line of duty and finds a distinct Iraqi cafe. Upon entering he finds an Iraqi waiter, who threatens him, only to extend friendship by lighting a candle. With bombs and shells blazing outside, the soldier uses all outlets possible including: cigarettes, booze and a game of backgammon to extend friendship in his world of loneliness. The lighting was amazing and the director and assisting students were top of the line. We shot at Lloyd Stage, next to George Lucas building. I was referred by my friend and talented DP, Aline Ballestero. Thanks Aline!

In additon, my indie feature film, which recently premiered in NYC in May, ‘2 Star State of Mind’ has hit the film festival circuit. It is a very compelling, well-written and acted film, which follows a young man and his inescapable battles with addiction and his family. Check out the trailer. Good stuff.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJtio1bEh6w]

IF YOU LIKED THE TRAILER: Here’s a teaser scene from the film.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXlq5PhCi2Y]

Lastly, I have begun writing my stand-up routine and am eagerly awaiting the arrival of my MacBook to begin completing my feature length screenplay adaptation, as well as editing, “Fueling our Dreams” documentary.

Today, I began my internship at Wizzard Media with Skip and Brad and they have started teaching me how to capture and log footage and begin to edit. I should be shooting new episodes of ‘Renegade Reporting’ in no time!

Later.

So I’m out in LA now and hustling and bustling. I took a filmmaking workshop at HWFAA and met Polo, a fellow fraternity brother. We made a rockin short film, that is almost edited and will be submitted into festivals, called, ‘Wakeing Up’ and NO! It’s not misspelled. Josh Sands is running the 2-day workshop and I highly suggest it. Michael Olmos and Dario SanMiguel were instructors and extremely beneficial in creating a positive  work environment.

I also audited a class with Robin Brown, of the Spolin Technique, that went very well. We did a scene from a new movie, with an abusive husband, and that was fun to play.

In addition, I took new headshots last Monday with Chris Moscatiello, yielding a much lighter and softer Cali-look. I am awaiting them early this week. Results in soon, I am banking that they look great.

I have met with a few casting directors to get accustomed to the lay of the land. Doug from East Side Studios, was a lifesaver, I met with him and he was extremely helpful to me. Thanks Erin for referring me. Billy DaMota is a pimp, we met for lunch and discussed the casting process and talked shop, movies, magic, etc and had a nice time. He’s in a jazz folk band too. Good stuff. I also met with Clair Sinnett when I visited the Promenade Playhouse, run by Natalia Lazarus, who is a protege of the infamous, Syd Field.  They teach a cool psychological analyses class. Also, I did a workshop to meet Danielle Aufiero from Fiorentino/Mangeri Casting and Scott Stevens, Jr, from The Stevens Group.

I also auditioned for a host for X-Prize, as well as an play at the Luna Playhouse today for Star Spangled. I am still studying at Ivana Chubbuck and working hard on creating my scenes to the fullest. My partner has been assisting me and a huge help. A week ago, I took an On-Camera class at Black Nexxus, taught by Susan Batson’s son, Carl Ford, he is an actor best friend, such a cool cat and great director.

I met with FreeMantle and Cast Iron Productions to assist them with their casting out of Burbank. In addition, I will be interning at WIZZARD MEDIA. They are the premier in online video production and distribution. I met with Skip, who is the ultimate in chill bosses. They distribute 60% of the content to Itunes and will give me my own channel, so that I create more of my hosting bits and comedic shorts. I am PSYCHED!

Tuesday, I will be shooting with Aline on 16mm, a DP from Brazil studying at USC. I am looking forward to it. In addition, I am ON HOLD, to host the Seinfeld College Tour bus at the Emcee. That would be hours of fun and improv’ing. This Saturday, I helped a friend in a short job, as a Crash Test Dummy. See the picture below!

Currently, I am in talks with a friend back in NYC, for a trip to Dubai for a production in November. In addition, I auditioned for a friend’s film in Texas/Mexico to be coming up shortly. We met back in 2004 and have been in touch, he is the writer/producer and the role he offered me was awesome. A Canadian day laborer. Can’t beat that! Should be a blast.

So the Strike may go down, I have a pretty busy August, between family, a few smaller projects, as well as writing my feature and beginning my paper edit of my cross country documentary. I have been tracking down old mates, such as Brandon, who starred in ‘A Body Without A Head’ with me in NYC, and some old mates from college, who are working in the industry out here too.

Thus, the next step for me is buying my MacBook, so I can begin to dive into my creative juices. I will keep in better touch.  Hasta luego!

So my latest hosting gig in Union Square, NYC is complete. The craziest things you’ve seen on the NYC Subway is now complete. Check it.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GCiLlWGo5gI]

LA is in full swing. Living in Studio City, CA. I have auditioned for the Groundlings Improv troupe and been accepted.

In addition, I have audited Margie Haber and Ivana Chubbuck’s class and have enrolled in Ivana’s scene study. My first scene I am working on is from Sex, Lies, and Videotape, a forefront in independent film.

I am also studying at Black Nexxus on Wednesday nights for On-Camera and taking a 2 day class this weekend at the Hollywood Digital Filmmaking school to learn how to make shorts. Thus, I will then be fully equipped to edit our cross-country documentary, “Fueling Our Dreams”.

I have also been meeting with other friends and won a free headshot session at a Happy Hour for the industry. Now I can get a fresher Cali look for the casting directors. I called a bunch and set up a few meetings, so that is working out too. Lastly, my experimental video from ‘A Body Without a Head’ with George Carr apparently is looking great, more to come on that.

I keep on hitting the pavement and my computer crashed, so I must bounce back on writing my screenplay adaptation, thus I will do so.

Keep on keeping on.

In light of the honor code debacle in Texas, there has a been a documentary made about the ‘Making the Perfect Honor Code’.

Check it out. Kenny Utah, the stoner is quite the character, 4 minutes in, you might recognize him, he looks a little like Stephen.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5AAbFddaado]

I just signed on with LA Model’s commercial division, LA Talent. A close friend from my first movie in Austin, TX from 2000, Cory Assink referred me. Pam and Mike were super cool and now I am up and running in LA.

In addition, I attended fellow Austinites’ Duplass brothers film, ‘BAGHEAD’, at the LA Film Fest, it freaking rocks. It’s funny and scary all in one. You can really relate to the lead characters and feel their story. The story is about 2 couples who journey to the woods for peace and creativity, what results is awesome. My buddy, Jett Garner from ATX makes a sweet cameo, you’ll see, you’ll laugh. It opens in LA on July 20th, you need to go, Indie Filmmaking at its finest.

Also, I met with a few other friends and we will be writing and creating together. More to come as it develops, but my computer crashed again today, that’s twice in 3 months, so my screenplay is saved partially, but it’ll only make it better and more concrete. Thus, I am buying a MacBook and writing everything on there.

Today, I joined Hollywood Digital Filmmaking weekend workshop to learn Final Cut and all the shortcuts to produce quality shorts. I have been attending the LA Film Fest, where I saw ‘Chuck Connolly: The Art of Failure’ and “America Teen”, both two rocking documentaries. These are both fuel for me to complete my cross-country documentary once I learn final cut. My goal is to be done the documentary by the end of September and enter into Sundance 2009.

I also moved into a sweet apartment in Studio City and have met with Margie Haber for an auditioning class and have appointments with both the Groundlings and Ivana Chubbock to potentially study with them too. I will make a decision tomorrow and finally start studying. Another friend, Sonja offered some good schools and we will be learning a scene to hopefully train with a master instructor, Charlie Laughton. More to come on that.

There is so much to dwell on, but more business to be done on my behalf. I attended a Hollywood Happy Hour, networking event, hosted by my close friend, Legg’s from Esper Studios’ friend, Ashley. It was fun to grab a drink and meet some cool cats, and I won some free headshots. So I will get my first LA Shots soon. Hasta luego.