I got a call from my brother John on Saturday. He was excited to tell me that he saw me Friday night on a commercial in Phoenix, in his living room on his big screen TV! I told him that I have never done a commercial in the Phoenix market. He said it was on the trailer for “Unaccompanied Minors.” I told him that I’d seen the trailer and hadn’t seen myself. Later on I even went on to the website looking for it, and still didn’t see it. Then after church today a few people told me the same thing. I am in the background, but right behind the main actors, and pretty clear. So wow its nationwide! That’s it, just standing there looking goofy. I think it’s kind of funny.

So here is my “what’s gone on this year” story 2006. Most of this is a rerun, but it’s a summary.

I have been in several films this past year. One called “Dark Matter” was picked to be seen at the “Sundance” film festival this year. I was just an extra, but Aidan Quinn comes up to me at one point and shakes my hand, then goes to meet other guests. I am also in a few shots at the “scientist’s conference” too. So if they don’t cut the scenes, you might be able to see me, even if I am just a blur. This film stars Meryl Streep, Aidan Quinn, and many others you’ll also recognize.

Another film called “American Fork” is going to be seen at the “Slamdance” festival. It runs the same time as Sundance. I was a featured extra in American Fork as the award presenter who presents the main character an award. No lines, but I should be seen there too, again that is, if they don’t cut the scene. This one is with Billy Baldwin.

I’ve done a commercial for an attorney, and it’s still playing. I did a commercial up in Idaho for an auto body shop, I’ve never seen it. I was in a commercial for a contest for the Utah Film Commission. If we win, it will be shown up at Sundance during the festival and on the Sundance channel too. I play the main spokesman who talks about why film makers should come to Utah to make their movies. (It didn’t win.) I was also in an LDS commercial due out soon, you know the ones “brought to you by the…” I hope that don’t get me kicked out of the Knights of Columbus or have to surrender my office as the Deputy Grand Knight. I was just an extra, so I should be OK.

I also did some voice promo spots for the Food Network show called “Co-Ed Cooking.” And finally, this week I recorded the narration for the movie trailer 801. They liked what I did and said that they want me to record the actual movie trailer when it is released in theaters once it is made. They said that I sounded as good as the regular theater guy voice. I told them I’d be happy if they only paid me half of what he gets.

I have been in over 20 independent films this past year. Some were student films. Several for students up at the U of U, a few over at SLCC, two at Weber State, and the Utah film commission commercial was done way up at Utah State. Some were short films and a few were full length feature films.

I filmed a TV pilot called “Forever High School”. I am the football coach, and if the show gets picked up, I suppose I’ll need to get to know some of the rules of the game.

I have been cast in another independent featured film. We will start filming in a few weeks. It’s a small part, but it is a speaking role. I was cast in another student film this week too.

Lot’s of things going on & lot’s of it is very positive too. I’m living and making my dream come true! The money will follow! 2007 is going to be a great year!

You can always keep updated on what’s going on with me and the family by checking my blog. I usually update it about once a week..

See Ya,

Bill

Maybe next week I'll discuss how I feel about plastic packaging and glue. Who the hell do they think are trying to get into the packages??? Gorillas? You need scissors a box cutter, matches, pliers, screwdrivers and sometimes even a hammer. For god's sake... its just a shirt! Did you know that you can actually hurt yourself by trying to get the chocolate covered cherries out of the flippin box. God forbid you get a pocket knife as a gift, you cant even get to it!

On Saturday the 9^th, I was cast in a student short film as the “Campaign Manager”. I had auditioned last Monday night up at SLCC. Shooting will begin the second week of January.

Tonight, Tuesday the 12^th, I got an email letting me know that I had been cast in an independent full length feature film called “Matthew's Sandcastle” I just got the rough script and plan on reading it over the next few days. I had auditioned for this one up at Anna’s school a few weeks back.

I found out this last week that a film I was an extra in called “Dark Matter” with Meryl Streep and Aidan Quinn was accepted as one of the films at “Sundance” this year. Aidan comes in at one point and shakes my hand then walks off to meet the other quests, so I should be seen, if that part wasn’t cut out.

Monday the 18^th I will go into a studio and record the opening shot and narration for the independent feature film “801” I am very excited about this one. Over the summer they filmed the movie teaser and the trailer. They will take those out to investors and get the money to make the actual movie.

Wednesday the 13^th I have three auditions.

1.) One for “High School Musical 2” I am auditioning for the part of an M/C. I know it might be a stretch for me but I really want this one.

2.) The next one is called “95ers: Echoes” I fit several parts in this one, so we will see.

3.) The last one is for a “Horror Short Film”. The director/producer of this one is the same one who put together the short film I have on my “myspace” with the little girl who is on the park bench.

Lots going on!!!

Wish me luck.

See Ya,
Bill

“Unaccompanied Minors” 12-10-06

So I went to an audition on Saturday up at the SLC library downtown. I did a crappy audition and met fellow actor David Webb as I was getting ready to go in. We spoke very briefly before I was called in, but somehow we talked about the new “Unaccompanied Minors” movie released on Friday. I asked if he had gone to see the movie as I had read on a few groups that I belong to, that lots of the extras were planning to go see it as a group to see if they could see themselves. My experience as an extra is that if you are actually seen at all, you are usually very blurry, and only because you were there, you know where to look for your blurry spot. Watch any movie or TV show and you’ll see what I’m talking about. But it is fun if you do actually get to see yourself.

David said that he had not seen it yet, but he had heard from someone that I had a great shot in the movie. Well I hadn’t actually planned to see the movie before it came out on video, and Sue kept saying that she wanted to see it. But I told her the same thing that I said above, if I get to be seen, I’ll probably just be a blur. But once David said that I had a good close up, OK, well I guess we had better go see it. So we did.

At the beginning of the movie I play a TSA scanning luggage at the security place, so I’m looking for myself. Well that scene went by in a blink and was shot from such a great distance that if you could actually see anyone, well good luck. I told Sue that that was the scene I was in, so much for that. So we just watched the rest of the movie, no biggie.

Well… right before the end of the movie there is a scene that I’d forgotten about where lots of stuff happens (I won’t tell you.) but there I am big as life. The first few shots I am quite blurry, but clearly it’s me. Then as they go back and forth with the dialogue the camera also goes back and forth, and in the last few shots, I am in focus right behind the main actors.

I called my brother John before I even left the theater and told him to go see the movie. Then I called my brother Jimmy and told him. He wanted to know what my part was and I told him that I was just an extra, but you could see me clearly. He again asked what I was doing in the movie and I told him that I was just an extra, just standing there. He said “just standing there??? so what!” OK so here I am excited about being on the “Big Screen” and he says just standing there? Kind of brings it home don’t it?

Extra work is fun and you get to be on a real live movie set with real professional actors who are being paid real well to do their jobs. You get to see how it’s done. You get to see some of the magic, and you get to see that actor’s are just people like everyone else. They are just treated a bit more special at times.

I have been an extra on many movies and a few TV shows and even did a commercial as an extra, I did a few as the main character too, and I am sure I’ll do extra work again.

My dream however is to be in front of the camera in speaking roles or featured roles. I enjoy the work, I love the people and I have a lot of fun. My goal is just something more. I get better with each film I do and I learn what to do and what not to do. I have done many lead, featured, and supporting roles in film. I continue to take classes, workshops, coaching and I train. I am teachable and take direction well. I am willing to do what I need to do for my success thereby creating success for my family and for the people around me.

Sue & I enjoyed the movie. It’s a kid movie with lots of juvenile antics, but fun. Go see it!

See Ya,
Bill

This week I was in another independent short film called “Blue Moon” by Paul Collins that is slated to be entered into a group of short film festivals. My part of the story is about a guy who don’t want to let people embrace who they are and live their own lives. How’s that for vague? The part: Well, lets see, I am not really a nice guy. I’m troubled, confused and I most certainly don’t approve of how others choose to live their lives. I just don’t get it. I will do whatever it takes to take it away from them! It’s not that I want what they have it’s that I don’t want them to have it. More vague? OK, I got to wear brown contact lenses. It is an interesting story, so stay tuned!

We filmed outside of Paul home in Sugar House. To say it was cold is clearly an understatement. We had a storm come in Tuesday night and I woke up to about 6 inches of snow on Wednesday. (It took me an hour and twenty minutes to get Sean to school, usually a 25 minute drive, so yes he was late.) The sky had cleared in the afternoon, so any heat that might have gotten trapped by the clouds was gone.

We were outside of Paul’s house for the actual filming going inside periodically to get warm. Paul had gotten some really cool equipment to use for his project and he and his very limited crew had to go outside and set it all up in the cold. I got to Paul’s house at around 5:00 pm and it was 20 degrees at that time. We didn’t actually start filming until around eight. I made the mistake of wearing a thin suit and dress shoes. I didn’t even think about wearing long johns or boots and we were essentially standing on ice. I did have my coat and did wear it between takes. It was 12 degrees when I left the shoot and 8 degrees by the time I got home around 11:30pm. I think it ended up being the coldest night of the year so far. I know that it sounds like bitching, but it was freezing! Just so you know, we did actually have some fun, and I think they got some really great shots too!

John, the camera man was great, he never once complained about the cold even though he was the one who had to carry most of the heavy equipment and he operated the “steady cam”. From what I understand that is a rather specialized job. It wears on the neck, back, and shoulders, and there are only a few folks who can do that job well, and so they usually get paid quite well to do it.

Kevin, the one in the yellow coat, was the sound guy which was very helpful for Paul. He and his wife just had a baby so he had to leave a bit earlier to be with his family.

Clay, the other actor was also professional and great to work with. Here are some photos from the shoot.

See Ya,
Bill

So here is the latest: 12-01-2006

I was in a short independent film, a few weekends back, called “The Prayer” written, produced and directed by Mr. Joshua Negley. The story is based on “The War Prayer” by Mark Twain. My part we filmed in three days.

I know from my acting classes and from my acting coaches, that I should always “read the entire script” before I make my choices and decide on how to play my part. Get to know what the story is all about then look for hints on the history and background of the character I am to play. In this case I read my part and skimmed over the rest of the script. I had a lot of lines, so I concentrated on my part and didn’t pay a lot of attention to the other parts. I was aware of whom the other characters were but I had almost no interaction with them, so I was not as familiar with what their roles were all about. Selfish, yes I know.

The reason I bring this up is because after filming a good portion of my part on Saturday afternoon, I got to sit and watch the other lead character perform his part. I was quite moved by this actors’ performance, and also by the message of the film.

I play the preacher or pastor. I interact slightly with the very sparse congregation. I offer my sympathy from the pulpit to a family. Then I say a prayer that sets the stage for the story to take place.

The message is quite thought provoking, especially in light of current world events. Very interesting, and so, as soon as it is out of post production, I will share it with you all. Stay tuned!

See Ya,
Bill