'Tis the Season

What season you ask?  Awards Season here in Hollywood!  It is that 3-4 month period starting in October every year when studios and filmmakers roll out the movies that they hope will bring home the Golden Globe, Oscar, and guild hardware come early 2011.  It is a boon for us film fans here in Los Angeles, since it means many, many free film screenings, often accompanied by cast/crew interviews/Q&A sessions.

The season kicked off for me last night with a Variety Screening Series preview of 127 Hours, Danny Boyle's beautifully shot film about Aron Ralston, the hiker who spent five days trapped in a remote canyon after being pinned by a boulder.  After exhausting all possibilities, Ralston takes extreme measures.  I'll hold off on specifics, though most who see the movie go in knowing how the story ends... In fact, when I first heard they were making this movie, I wasn't sure what I thought of it.  Or more accurately, I wasn't sure HOW they could make a film out of the story (this concern was echoed by writer Simon Beaufoy, who during the Q&A session admitted that when director and collaborator, Danny Boyle first gave him Ralston's book he thought that it was "the first book on mountaineering that was absolutely unfilmable.")

Danny Boyle mentioned that he had been intrigued about the Ralston's story since reading about it back in 2003 and actually met with him about a film around 2006.  However, at that point, the adventurer was only interested in making a docu-drama style movie.  But, after the success of the Boyle/Beaufoy team on Slumdog Millionaire in 2008, and events in his own life, Ralston finally agreed to the filmmakers' vision for the story. 

The way that they -- along with lead James Franco, who is fantastic -- went about crafting the film (which Boyle describes as "an action movie where the lead character doesn't move") is really clever and engaging.

The Big Mo

Just like in sports, I've noticed that momentum is of vital importance out here in Hollywood.  External momentum is key, of course -- building on bookings, successes, jobs, roles, etc.  People always want to jump aboard a moving train, especially what those folks see as a money train... But also necessary is internal momentum -- staying positive and motivated to get you through the slower times.

With that in mind, I'm trying my best to build on booking and shooting my small role on Criminal Minds.  Sure I would like to get representation, but not likely that one more little credit on my resume will make that happen.  So, instead I've been trying to focus on other casting directors -- sending out postcard updates to CDs that I've met at workshops, etc. about that gig and the new reel I have up on my website.  My hope is that one or two might call me in for an audition (the thought being, "well, he's good enough for that show, maybe he could do okay on ours" or something along those lines.)  And maybe, if I can get a few more credits on my own, I could secure good representation -- again, the moving train idea.  But, even if nothing comes of it, at least it has given me a way to feel productive (see: internal momentum) over the last week or so.

Onward...

A Funny Guy

Tonight I had the opportunity to see my friend Todd Kreisman perform his stand-up in Sherman Oaks.  Todd is an actor/writer/comedian from Chicago who has been in Los Angeles for a bunch of years, but after a lengthy break from the industry has only recently decided to get back on the horse.

It's a good thing!  Todd's comedy is hilarious, acutely observational -- and occasionally musical! And he has been booking gigs all around town lately.  In fact, he was asked to do a set at Eva Longoria's restaurant, Beso, in Hollywood next Wednesday October 27, and if you are around LA, you should check it out!  DETAILS

Todd also writes a blog about his doings, including but not limited to, his show-biz career and journey to get in shape:  Discard the Lard

It's always inspiring to see talented folks do their thing, so thank you, sir and keep it up!

Fall Has Come to LA

The Los Angeles version of autumn is here, i.e. cloudy, cold and drizzly weather.  And it brings with it the rarest of rare: a softball rain-out in Southern California.  Oh well, guess I'll just have to watch some more football today...

Spotted at 36,000 Feet!

Thanks to my friends, Megan & Chris, who spotted me as the train station sniper in The A-Team on their last cross-country flight and snapped this pic!