TEAM AMERICA: WORLD POLICE

TEAM AMERICA: WORLD POLICEWritten and directed by Trey Parker and Matt Stone.

"Marionette superheroes fight to end terrorism and put tired celebrities out of their misery." I was a HUGE fan of South Park in the early days, anmd just when I thought Cartman, Kenny and Kyle were getting a little boring, Trey Parker and Matt Stone released SOUTH PARK:BIGGER LONGER AND UNCUT and I was a reborn fanatic. My innate skepticism kept me from running to the theaters when TEAM AMERICA came to local theaters, but I kept reading decent reviews in the NY Daily News and Time Out NY. Then close friend starting coming around and raving about it. One said it was "SO funny." The others went on and on about the "production quality." Those who know me well enough to know HOW MANY times I have watched SOUTH PARK the movie, were astonished that I hadnt seen TEAM AMERICA yet. OK, OK..I rented the DVD and watched it. It was...OK. I don't know, it had some funny stuff. I did demostrate an amazing production quality. We're talking incredibly elaborate marionette replica's of Times Square, Paris, Mount Rushmore. It was very admirable. The special features part of the DVD covered, in detail, all that went into creating these amaizing sets. I guess that all cool, if you're into that sort of thing. I just wasnt that excited about it.After seeing SOUTH PARK the movie, I literally dragged people to my apartment and INSISTED thatr they watch it, that they experience the brilliance. After seeing TEAM AMERICA, I'm only inclined to admit that I finally saw it. Puppets...are funny too...I guess.

Keep em comin

Tuesday is a bruise day
A catch up on the news day
Wednesday is a snooze day
Make moves when you choose day
For this week anyway...

I think I'm still recovering from Sunday. I now have one directorial debut under my belt as I have completed principal photigraphy on BUZZING THE BUZZER, my short little script that could. Sunday was a day of patience and perserverance, concentration and compromise, exploration and discovery. I didnt get everything exactly the way I wanted, but I think I've got enough to create a decent finished product. I dont know, writing about it at this point makes me feel tired. I'll get into it later.

I had my third call-back for a short film called THE PARTED. The callback went well. I think the director was looking for some chemistry between the lead actress and myself. I also think he wanted to see some emotional range. I think I delivered. Now we'll see if I get the part. Now keep your pants on everybody, this is another NON-paying project, but its a well-written piece and could potentially be a nice bit of footage to use for my reel. Establishing a relationship with up-and-coming filmmakers is a worthwhile endeavor as well.

Auditions seem to be picking up. I've been on THREE this week with another one tomorrow. I had an ADVIL audition yesterday, a ROBITUSSIN and a KOREAN REALTY FIRM casting today, and a USDA audition tomorrow at Kipperman Casting. It seems odd that auditions start to pick up duting a week that is notorious for being really quiet. Anytime we're closing in on a holiday like the 4th of July, Memorial Day, Labor day, whatever, the week before and the week after are usually comatose.

Keep em comin!

MR. MRS. SMITH

MR. & MRS. SMITHDirected by Doug LimanStarring Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Vince Vaughn

So Jess and I tried to see BATMAN last weekend Every show was sold out so we decided to check out MR & MRS SMITH. I didnt go in with high hopes, I must say. I figured it to be packed with over-the-top action and special effects, and guess what...it pretty much was. What I didnt count on, was the fact that it was actually VERY FUNNY. Forget Vince Vauhn, his whole song-and-dance is old and it bores me death (I never really saw the point to him being in the film at all), Brad Pitt, on the other hand, was a great funny man opposite Angelina Jolie. I really enjoyed watching two of Hollywood's hottest people beat the living shit out of each other. I was just so happy that this film didnt take itself seriously. My favorite part was the no-holds-barred fight scene that ended up trashing the couple's perfect suburban home. As much fun as I was having, there were a few stale moments and a few effects/stunts that were just plain silly, but I can be forgiving...sometimes. I would describe MR & MRS SMITH as WAR OF THE ROSES meets CHARLIES ANGELS: FULL THROTTLE.

Like ther's no Tomarrah

It's LATE Wednesday night, or I guess it's REALLY Thursday morning, and THIS WEEK is giving me a beat down. The kind of beat down that feels good, ya know what I'm sayin? I'm sitting here drinking a ZICO with vodka, VOX vodka, to try and chillout after a crazy day. You see on my way to rehearsal (My call time was 9P), I grabbed a CLIF bar and a MYOPLEX drink for a snack on the train out to Jersey City. Well, I grabbed the Cappacino flavor. I shoved the Clif bar into my face, then guzzled the MYOPLEX (If you dont' know what that is, its a just a protein drink. It usually comes in chocolate, vanilla or strawberry). After I finished guzzling the new Cappacino flavored MYOPLEX, I read the label and its said "Contains 125 Grams of Caffeine." Now I'm thinking "CRAP, i dont need to be guzzling down 125 grams of caffeine this late in the day! I'll be up all night. So I blazed through my rehearsal, walked home like I was a speed-walking Olympian, came home and poured myself a DRINK, to try and take the edge off. THAT drink, is a ZICOtini, Coconut water and vodka. I like it. It sure hits the spot.

I am SO busy right now, where do I start. I got up at 6AM to start reading emails. I had to send information out to the staff that I put together for this weekend's ZICO/Gay Pride parade guerilla marketing effort. I had to send out information the the cast, crew and everybody else involved in Sunday's shoot. BUZZING THE BUZZER is my directorial debut and I'm friggin excited. I wrote the short screenplay, I cast the actors, I'll be directing on Sunday and I've also ended up playing producer as well. I'm really looking forward to it. I've got a great cast to work with. My closest and most talented friends are the backbone of the crew. I can't wait to bring this script, these ideas, these characters to life. I will most certainly share the experience.

So one of my agents calls and tells me that she needs MORE headshots ASAP. I have a FEW extra minutes before I'm off to an audition, so I update my resume, print out 20 copies, staple them all to headshots and cut around the edges with scissors. Of course I get shredded paper slivers all over the kitchen and I've got to clean it up. This brings to mind the fact that MY MOTHER is in town (From New Bern, NC) and she'll be coming to meet me for lunch in a few hours. I had more cleaning to do. LOTS of cleaning.

Ok, so I bust out and get my ass over to Acting Management on West 22nd Street for an 11:40A audition with one of my FAVORITE casting directors, Caroline Sinclaire. The job is for some local news promo. I guess they are shooting a spoof on Sam Champion, a local weatherman. She has me come in in a business suit, slate my name, and shadowbox. I shadoboxed facing camera. I shadowboxed in profile. I shadowboxed with my back to camera, and I was done. I was sweating like crazy. I folded up my suit, stuffed it all in my backpack and I was out of there.

I dropped in on a handfull of accounts for ZICO. I scheduled a few demos for next week and placed a few orders. I EVEN went to one account and pretended to be a regular customer. I aske the guy at the front desk how long the store had been carrying ZICO and told him that I LOVED the stuff. "I can't get enouigh of it," I said. There were a few people in the store at the time and they heard me ranting and raving and actually bouight a few. A job well done if I do say so myself.

Suddenly its 1:15P and my MOM is supposed to be in at 1:30P. I haul ass home, run up to my apt (fifth floor walk-up), dump a bunch of Carpet Fresh everywhere, check my email right quick and start vacuuming like there's no tomorrow. Mom checks in at 1:45P, I meet her downstairs. We go sit at Don Giovanni's on West 44th, have some Mozarella Caprese, and we wait for Jessica to arrive. Jessica arrives, we have a nice lunch. We chat, go back to my semi-emmaculate, semi-charmed apartment, chat some more, and its time to send Momma off.

After a wonderful visit with me lovely MUM, I walk the dog, feed the dog, check me emails (I'm Irish all of a sudden), and i'm off to the ProActive meeting. Meetings are always 7P-10P, but I only stay for an hour to discuss details surrounding Sunday's shoot. I leave the meeting at 8PM and rush off to Victory Hall in Jersey City for ALOHA reherasal.

Rehearsal is mainly a "blocking" rehearsal, but I'm happy with it because I feel like I'm getting closer to my characters. Everytime I go to rehearsal, I work with whatever I'm feeling at the moment. I end up uncovering many interesting things, some useful, some not-so-useful. But hey, it is what it is. I love the process. I really think the show is going to be great.

I get home, kiss me lady goodnight and get right back to the emails. I've got to send out a final request for crew positions and specific materials needed at the shoot. THAT particular email read something like this:

BUZZING THE BUZZER will begin settting up for our first shot at 8:30AM at our first location which is a bar called RUFUS, at West 45th Street & 10th Avenue. We have access to the bar untiul NOON, so we wont have any time to ease into the day. We have to get to work right away. So please, all participants report to RUFUS at 8:30 sharp so we can be ready to roll camera by 9:15A.

The following is a list of things that we still need for the BUZZER shoot:

TWO more general crew people

A DOCUMENTARIAN. I need someone to shoot behind the scenes stuff. I will use some of that footage, rolling it during the closing credits.

ONE person willing to be our AUDIO TECHNICIAN (hold the boom mic, tell us when we have extraneous noise that might disrupt the perfect take, etc)

Breakfast type food for the cast and crew (And someone to coordinate this part of the process). I figure we'll order in for lunch and everyone can put a few bucks in the hat for pizza or whatever, but we DO need people to bring breakfast stuff and munchies (Donuts, Muffins, Fruit, Coffee, water, etc) for Craft services.

I need ONE small boombox, CD player with speakers.

If anyone has a LENNY KRAVITZ GREATEST HITS CD (Specifically the song "Let Love Rule"), I'll need that on the set.

I'll need people from the crew to play background in the bar scene. If anyone has a friend that would be willing to show up from 9A-12P for background, that would be great.

I need a FUNKY jacket, It has to fit Daryl and Mike Shimkin (Not perfectly but "sort of"). It can be leather, like a biker Jacket or Retro/disco, it just has to be as "Out there" as I can get.

I need a pair of crazy slippers, like funny slippers that look like a duck, or a moose, or a cow...you know what I mean?

Some DARK curtains or something I can use to cover the window in my kitchen to create the illusion that its nighttime.

OK, I know that seems like quite a big list, but PLEASE, anyone and everyone that can help out I will be eternally grateful. I will come mow your lawn or trim your hedges.

I write it, send it and BANG...here I am, winding down, drinking a ZICOTINI and blowin up me blog like there's no tomorrah. And TOMORRAH promises more of the same.

Gonna WORK it out

Its cooler in the "The Kitchen"
But I'm still cookin'
I'm gonna knock on wood
For how GOOOOD things are lookin'

OKAY! So I'm ONE week away from my directorial debut. The Professional Actors Collective will be shooting my comedic short BUZZING THE BUZZER (Working title) next Sunday and, while I DID write it, I will also be directing. BUZZER will the SIXTH installment of our monthly film project and it promises to kick ass. Let me re-phrase: I PROMISE to kick ass...

I promise, promise, on behalf
of this incredibly cool crew, incredibly cool cast
To incredibly kick ass, incredibly hard and fast
make it last, like we've done in the past

We held a casting session on Wednesday night, which made for a VERY productive evening, and lots of laughs. I didnt get as big a turnout as I would have liked, but there were some pleasant surprises. We kept everyone in the room while each actor read for different roles and it actually worked out as a rehearsal for some of the people that I've decided to use for this film. The actors got a chance to workshop the scenes a bit and I got a chance to tweak my directing. So I think at this point, all the role are cast. I've got my DP, Director of Photography, lined up and ready. He and I met this morning, scouted the locations and talked things over. My friend Andrew Walker will be the grip, handling all lighting issues, he is a great photographer who lights for stills, and did a GREAT job lighting for a film project a few months ago. My AD, Assistant Director, will be Therese Fretwell, another good friend of mine, who has produced and dirceted a few independent films of her own. I'm grateful to have her involved. I have to find time this week to create storyboards and a shotlist as well as hold another rehearsal for all my actors. Oh, and I have one more location to secure. I need an office with a cubicle, preferably in Manhattan, preferably on the West Side, preferably in Hell's Kitchen. I need the cubicle for one scene. I'm keeping my fingers crossed on that one.

The cast and crew of ALOHA SAY THE PRETTY GIRLS held a fundraiser yesterday, Saturday, at Victory Hall in Jersey City. I have to say I think it was a success. The event was set up to raise money for our production, which opens AT Victory Hall on July 14th. The concept, which was brilliantly executed by Amy, Jenny and Marguerite (And I'm sure Courtney, our director, who was not present as had a baby boy two weeks ago), was a Hawaiian themed block party for kids, with a magic show, arts and crafts, a Moonbounce, live music and more. I had the pleasure of supervising the Moonbounce, and I gotta tell ya, I was DAMN busy. I'm not SO sure anybody was really AWARE that the REASON for the party was to raise money for our show, but it didnt make a difference. The parents kept buying more tickets so the kids could run, bounce, dance and eat hot dogs. EVERYBODY WINS.

OH YES, I forgot to mention that I had my callback on Friday for THE PARTED (Short film about a married couple engaging in a ceremony to acknowledge and complete their divorce), at THE KRAINE THEATER in the East Village. They had me read with several different actors, to see who works well together and who doesnt. Its hard to say how I think it went. I felt good. Now it's up to them to make a choice. I have a feeling my vacation in August might conflict with their shoot dates. If they cast me I guess we'll try to work something out.

People get wild, when they see my smile
Sayin "Whats that boy gotta smirk about?"
You can ride this bus, If you wanna discuss
But don't smother, this brother's gonna work it out.

Itchin for some ACTION

HOLY HOT.HOLY HOT. HOLY HOT. You dont understand. I Live on the fifth floor of a poorly ventilated building, so when its hot like this, all that heat rises up and just hangs out in the fifth floor hallway, basically slow roasting the occupants. My air conditioners are small window units and, God bless em, they are givin it all they've got, but right now, its not quite good enough.

So since I last blogged, which was a few days ago, I mentioned that we still had no Michael jackson vedict OR a Phil jackson verdict, and strangely enough, NOW we do. Guess what, I am 0 for 2. My predictions on BOTH outcomes were wrong. But hey, who am I? I'm just a bystander trying to guess at things I know NOTHING about. The same goes for most analysts, commentators and former- reality- TV-crack-head- turned -dull-and- talentless-TV-hosts.

Its back to being slow again, not many auditions coming up. Very frustrating. I have a callback on Friday for a film called THE PARTED that I read for this past Friday. Its juts a short film project, nothing to go crazy over. I'm holdfing a casting tonight to audition people for a few roles in my script that we'll be shooting next Sunday. I wanted Jessica top play the role of JANE, but she has to bartend so I may have to cast someone else. I may use Meg Scibona, which would work as well. I could change the role to fit her personaility, and that may work out for the best.

We are having a fundraiser on saturday to raise money for our production of ALOHA SAY THE PRETTY GIRLS. Courtney, the director, had her baby, a little boy named Finn, so we'll be back to full rehearsals next week. I'm looking forward to getting the show up and running. I need to be performing right now. I'm itching for some action.

Summer in "The Kitchen"

WHEW..its HOT...HELL'S KITCHEN hot. My two window units are working are blowing their hearts out and its STILL hotter than hell in here. All my dog can do is sit there and PANT. All day, all night, tongue hanging out, just looking at me and panting. So I pant back. We just sit and pant together.

No verdict yet on Michael Jackson, no verdict yet on PHIL Jackson (My brother , who is very good friends with Phil's nephew, keeps telling me he's coming to New York to coach the Knicks), the Yankees absolutely SUCK and some kid got bit by a great white down at Long Beach Island (Greatest beach in NJ, possibly the East coast. definitely top five) yesterday.

I had my callback for "The Child Within" on Sunday. It went ok. It didnt seem to go as well as the initial read. The difference was, at the first audition, I was more relaxed. I let things just happen, and I was able to find a nice emotional moment. At the callback, I was trying to re-create what happened the first time. I had an IDEA. I was trying too hard to MAKE a moment. So it felt, as I'm sure it looked, planned. I just didnt flow like the last time. Oh well, they'll be making a decision in the next few weeks. A GREAT part for me, but a very violent script. I have no idea even now of what kind of pay is involved. Which, at this point, will make all the difference.

I finished up another draft of BUZZING THE BUZZER on Wed and brought it to the ProActive meeting. We read it as a group and it everyone reponded positively. They liked the revisions, liked the story and I think we're ready to shoot. The shoot date seems to be June 26th. So now I'll be playing producer/dircetor and get the casting done, confirm the locations and get the crew ready.

I have another audition tomorrow for an independent film called THE PARTING. I recieved an email today with the sides:

As a reminder, the auditions will take place at:

The Kraine Theatre (the red room on the 3rd floor), 85 E 4th ST (between 2nd Ave and Bowery), subway: 6 @ Astor -- or F,V @ 2nd Ave.

BACKGROUND OF THE STORY:
What appears to be a wedding ceremony is actually revealed to be a divorce ceremony. Tara and Matt have been married four years, and are now parting ways. As part of the ritual, they have invited friends and family who attended the original wedding to the "Parting", where they take responsibility for the failed relationship and bring closure to their marriage.

YOUR PART:
MATT is the "groom". He's the one who had originally asked for a separation but Tara has adjusted better than he has, and he has been having second thoughts.

Good luck

I like the concept, could be a very interesting project, with the right cast and crew. I'll be sure to report my success.

Whew! Did I mention that it is HOT!!! I gotta dunk my head in the sink.

Do the Hustle

Another busy busy week. I am happy to report that I had FOUR auditions this week. It really felt like old times (Like last year). I was hustling from office to office, coming up with creative ways to fit auditions in to an already hectic schedule of rehearsals and day job stuff.

Things started with an email from the dircetor of A CHILD WITHIN, Luchia, who wanted to send me the full script and make sure I was aavailable for a callback this weekend:

Hi James this is Luchia Dragosh from "The Child Within' for which you audition last week.I want to check if you have time to come for call back 4th or 5th 10-7 in the same place. Also IO will attach the script and let me know if you will still be interested in the project.The character was -DANNI

Let me know .

Luchia

Keep in mind that Luchia is not Amercican. Well, she might "techincally" be an American but , judging by her accent, she's got to be from a Russian or soemthing like that. The script is actually written in a Russian accent, if you can imagine.

My response:

Hi Luchia...

I am out of town all day Friday, the 3rd, and saturday, the 4th. I will be returning on Sunday the 5th. I think I can make it by 5 or so.
I'll read it over and see you on Sunday.

Can you give me a hint in advance of what it is that I might be concerned with? Or unwilling to do?

She writes:

O it is just a lot of sex and violence and children involve and people get scare when they here that combination but is based on true stories.Anyway as you read you will see.

So I'll read it over this weekend and see. I'm intriugues by the character. If the script is well written, it will be a very cool part for me. Right now it's a matter of the script/story quality. Its really hard to gauge these things when it comes to independent films. You come across ALOT of crappy scripts and crappy filmmakers out there, but every once in a while you come across somehting that shows promise.

Wednesday I had an audition at BETH MELSKY CASTING for a NJ LOTTERY commercial and then I had a print go-see for a MICROSOFT project down at 601 West 26th St (Which is WAY over on the West side). 601 West 26th is actually the building where we have our ProActive meetings. I would be returning to this building later tonight.

I attended our Wed night Procative meeting, which I have been absent from for a few weeks due to ALOHA rehearsals. We read through a screenplay and worked on a few audition pieces with some of the actors and then Amy Golden (One of my ALOHA castmates) and I went to have a beer at the HALF KING on 26th street to have a pow-wow about some of our scenes together. We had some bonding we needed to do as well as work out some kinks. Mission accomplished.

Thursday I had an early audition at HERMAN & LIPSON CASTING for a BREYERS commercial. I had to wear shorts and talk about riding a tandem bicycle with my girlfriend. Jessica couldnt make it (She was on-set at AS THE WORLD TURNS) so I held up her headshot while on camera and pretended she was there. It was kind of funny. Then I was off to a second audition, that ALSO required wearing shorts at CHARLES ROSEN CASTING for some back pain medication. I know, it sounds like a casting for old people but the room was filled with models and actors in their early 30's.

I sent out a bunch of postcards to casting directors early in the week telling people that I'm in rehreasals for ALOHA SAY THE PRETTY GIRLS, which opens in July. I did get one call yetserday as a result, but its also a still holiday week and things are kind of slow.

Alright, I'm headed down to Fairfax, VA with Jessica and my Dad, to see my brother, his wife Holly, my 2 yr old nephew Keller and my newest (like 6 weeks new) nephew Casey Owen Huffman. I'll be back