Shane's Inspiration

One of Gina's fellow NCIS writers is a co-founder of the Shane's Inspiration organization which builds accessible, inclusive playgrounds for kids.  They have several events a year including their annual walk around Griffith Park and a big charity/awards dinner.  The dinner was held last week at the world-famous Beverly Hills Hotel and we were able to attend.

It was a lot of fun -- there was a martini bar, a silent auction of amazing items, a little comedy and magic -- and a performance from Ben Vereen.  Also, in a very surreal moment, a dinner guest who happened to be the lead singer of the rock band, The Calling, offered to donate $200,000 if he could sing a song!  He did.  And then the presenting sponsor offered to donate another $150,000 if the guy would sing another song!  A lot of money raised.  All for a good cause.

Survey Says!

As I discovered back in Chicago, there are indeed ways of making your opinion count.  In stuff, that is.  I belong to a couple of survey sites -- one that rewards in airline miles, one that rewards in gift cards, and one that you actually get paid (albeit, not much). 

One of the companies I belong to sends out occasional screener surveys for focus groups.  You answer a few questions, and if you fit what they are looking for, they might call you in for a focus group.  I had one such group yesterday.  It was an hour-and-a-half discussion with 7 or 8 other folks and a moderator about international cell phone plans.  Upon leaving, we each got a $125 Visa card (Until January 1, they paid in checks, now it's the gift cards...)  Not bad for an afternoon of sharing my opinion.

Anyway, filling out surveys and attending focus groups is just another way a haven't-made-it-quite-yet actor can supplement the income.  Yay for obscure ways of making money!

Hello, Baby!

Zaina Jo -- less than 6 lbs, less than an hour old, already smiling...

A big congrats to my little sister and her husband who welcomed this little bundle of joy into the cold Wisconsin winter this morning!  Times like this I do miss being closer to home, but I know there are plenty of helpful (and loving) hands around there now.  Hopefully I will get home to see her this summer -- or better yes, you guys can bring her out to L.A. to visit Uncle Jeff!

LA Talk Radio Podcast/Interview

Yesterday, I had the chance to join my acting coach/director/friend, Paul Kampf, on Sheena Metal's LA Talk Radio show for an interview.  If you want to listen to me talk about my semi-convoluted journey to LA, sports, and "Amnesia," the indie film I am working on, please check it out!

To hear the interview, click THIS LINK and scroll down to Wednesday, January 30th.  You can either play directly from the site or download to listen later.  The show is 2 hours long, but I am only there for the first hour.

It was a lot of fun, and I tried not to ramble on too often...

Dallas Non-Stop

 The humor (or maybe the Dallas accent?!) is too much for my friend, Geoffrey, in the front row..

.

Last night I did a reading of a new play by our friend, Boni.  "Dallas Non-Stop" is a sometimes realistic, sometimes whimsical look at life in a Filipino call center.  The script was wonderful, and I got the chance to work with so many talented folks!

A reading is usually a step in the process toward getting a play produced.  It is a chance for the playwright to hear his/her words aloud in a simulated performance.  All of the actors had a script, but we had a few rehearsals prior to the read so that there could be a performance aspect to it.