Lots of things going on!

First few things:

Robbie turned 25 on the 7^th & Billy 27 on the 19^th

All that this means to me is that they are getting older. I didn’t have a birthday, they did! Oh and Sean turns 14 on the 16^th of March, and Anna 16 in May, if you are keeping track.

Last Wednesday night the 14^th, we had our first rehearsal for “Mathews Sandcastle” I’m not sure when we will have another one, but shooting for my part is set around the 12^th or 13^th of March for one or two nights.

This past weekend I shot a film with Kyle M. at his home in North Salt Lake. There were a few actors from Rob Diamond’s “Actors Lounge” cast in this short. Alex P., is new to the lounge, Linda E., who is a regular, and myself. The other actors we worked with Carolyn K., and Glade C. It was fun and is the first film done for the new group “801” modeled after the group “101” out of L.A.

On Monday night I had a rehearsal for a short film that will be shot the first weekend in March. It’s called “Side Effects”. Lonny D., the writer / director is a grad student up at the U. I don’t know if he was actually there at the audition or if he had just watched my audition from the tape. Anyway, he liked what he saw and speaking in with him on Wednesday night at the rehearsal, he told the other actor, Crystal and me that the story had been floating around in the back of his mind for a while, but once he had seen our two auditions, he put his idea on paper, essentially writing it specifically for the two us to bring to life. The story is a father and daughter having a conversation that is quite real. I had only just met Crystal on Monday night, but I think we work well together. This film has to be done within a five hour stretch without any editing. Shoot after shoot and they will simply pick the best one to use. One where the sound, lighting, acting, directing and everything else is the best it can be. That’s how it is graded and how everyone on the project learns. What I’ve learned in doing these is just how many things can actually go wrong at any given moment. We will shoot on the 3^rd or 4^th of March.

Friday the 23^rd, I am working with a very talented actress Kate P., another from the lounge who is making her first short film. She has written the story, selected the cast, plus she is directing and producing this project. Did I mention that she is just 17 years old? She has been working in the industry for many years on films TV and has done several different commercials too. She is amazing and I’d put her up against anyone considered to be the “best” today. One of the film’s stars is Susan R. The story is about surrender and the freedom it can bring. I play a dark shadowy figure and you never actually see who I am. I do need to speak with Kate about why is it that she sees me as a dark shadowy figure???

Saturday the 24^th, I have a part in an independent film to be shot up in Logan. This one is definitely twisted and is going to be fun to do. I am one of three guards who watch a zombie. The three guards each have their own 8 hour shift and the story is about those shifts and our how characters lives effect our relationship with the zombie. Did I mention fun and twisted?

Next up is a film by Rob Diamond that is set to film the 9^th and 10^th of March.

Then…, I have another film where I am a campaign manager for a political candidate who is single and who is running in a national campaign while seeing a lady who is… The story is about how this relationship determines the result of the race. We start filming the week of the 18^th of March.

So I guess my weekends are pretty much set for the next month or so.

Two films that I am in did get submitted to “On The Lot” I’ll have to wait to see when they get posted to the site. I’ll let you know.

See Ya,

Bill

So we didn’t get any photos this past weekend, sorry.

Saturday, Sean and I went to one film shoot, 3 auditions, the last 35 minutes of a class, and finally one last film shoot.

I had a great time, and so did Sean until the last shoot. He just got bored. I can’t blame him. We were at the last one for about 5 hours and he didn’t have anything to do. OK, so he “forgot” he brought his homework with him.

Our first shoot Sean got to be a part of. He got to be in the film too! Some pretty funny stuff. Twisted? Sure, but funny! This was an idea of Josh S. for a submission to “On The Lot”. It was a documentary spoof. We got see some friends there that were also part of the project: Paul J., Dave C, Linda E., and a few others. It was a lot of fun, and we got done early, so we headed out to my first audition.

We actually got there early, yep, that’s what I said, early. They were the ones that were late. The camera man got caught in traffic on the freeway coming in form up north. The audition was a bit weird, only because it was held in the lobby of a movie theater, while the theater was open for business. But the theater, “The Broadway”, is an artsy type theater that embraces local and independent films and film makers. I think I did a great job, but who knows, we will see.

The second audition was what they call an “ultra cold read”. No script, called “sides”, in advance, and none out in the waiting area either. So there is no time to, go over any lines, or build a character, nor make any choices about the character. It is one of the most difficult types of auditions to do, especially if you are not a good reader. Thank goodness I do read aloud often and work on my reading skills too. That being said, I still didn’t feel good about my performance in the audition at all. Again, we will see.

The last audition was at the library. I loved the story idea as it is one that I could relate to. It was about a boy coming of the age to decide what name he was going to choose for himself. The names, were represented as the future adult, result of what he would choose. His name now is Billy. So his parents give him the choice, and he must choose between Bill @ 40 years old, William @ 50, Will @ 30, Willy @ 20 and so on, for his adult name. The name “Billy” is for little boys, and he has outgrown it. The Bill, Will, William and Willy, adults, are essentially a trying to convince Billy why he should choose their name as his adult name, and show Billy how his life will look when he does. I thought it was pretty cool idea, but the call backs were also Saturday and because of my filming, I was not able to make it back. Oh well!

We left there at around 2:45 and were on our way to my class that had started at 1:00. I committed to being there, so off we went. On the way, Sean kept saying he was hungry, my god, hadn’t he eaten just 8 or 9 hours ago. So we stopped at Burger King, apparently the only one in town, by the line at the drive through. We got our food and somehow my unfinished morning coffee ended up all over Sean. He was none too pleased, and wanted to clean up before we went any further. Fine! Whatever! Whiner! So we cleaned as best we could and off we went, again. Eating in the car is always fun. We got to the class it was about 3:20 and it ended at 4. Sean ate while I was in my class, and I waited.

We left class and headed straight to my last shoot of the day. I was supposed to have gotten there around 4 but got there at 4:15. Overall I didn’t think that was too bad, oh, and yes I did call. Within 5 minutes I was called in. The rest of the cast and crew were already there filming their parts, and I wasn’t needed until that time, so it worked out pretty well. Another fun script where I am tied up, pistol whipped, eventually escape then kill one of my captors all while maintaining my fan base. You’ll see. Tony H., you rock!

Sean and I left about 9:15 am and got home just before 10:00 pm. On a set that is a normal day, but doing all the running we did and getting all that we got done, done, I think we had a pretty darn productive day. Thanks for playing along.

See Ya,
Bill

My Next Few Weeks...

Friday 02-09-07

Audition @ 4:00 pm
For a series of commercials

Saturday: 02-10-07

Filming for an “On The Lot” film submission @ 9:30 am – W / Josh S..
Audition @ 12:00pm Downtown Salt Lake – W / Steve A.
Audition @ 12:00pm Also Downtown Salt Lake – W / Jared B.
Audition @ 1:00pm Downtown too! For a 3 part TV Pilot!
Rob’s Class @ 1:00pm – W / guest Casting Director, Katherine M.
Filming for another “On The Lot” film submission 4:00 pm – W / Tony H.

Sunday: 02-11-07

Audition @ 1:00 pm Downtown Salt Lake – W / Kyle M

During the week: 02-12 thru 02-18

Table read and rehearsal for:
“Matthews Sandcastle” Wednesday & Thursday,
A full length feature film to be shot February & March 2007

Reading for:
“Side Effects”
A short film, one day shoot.
Date & Time not yet set.

Friday and Saturday 02-23-07 / 02-24-07

Filming Rob’s Diamonds short film.
Call time not yet set

Saturday: 02-24-07

Filming up in Logan for a twisted Zombie Short.
This film is set for various festival submissions.
Call time not yet set.

Sunday, I was asked if I’d like to M/C the fashion show at St. Francis Xavier, our church, for the C.C.W. this year. I have been the M/C for our annual fall festival for the past few years and I will continue to do so until they tell me to shut up. I was the M/C for our 3 day church fall festival back in Phoenix for 8 or 9 years, 10 yeas ago. Did you understand that?

Tuesday I got a call from a lady over at Club 90's "Talent Quest" competition asking me if I would be interested in being the M/C for the city wide, annual Karaoke competition that’s held at Club 90 the end of July beginning of August 2007. All the local bars and clubs hold their own competitions and then send their winners on to “Club 90” for the city semi finals then the finals. From there, the winner represents Utah in the Regional or National competition in Las Vegas. I will be the M/C for I think 8 or 10 nights total, including the local finals. Actually this lady had only asked me about the finals but I told her I would be happy to M/C the entire competition. She seemed pleased, and thought that was a great idea, plus that way she wouldn’t have to look for anyone else either.

This past summer, Sue and I went to support our friend Susan R. in her quest to be last year’s winner. When we were there, I went over to the folks that I thought were in charge and told them if they ever needed an M/C, that that’s where I shine, and I love to do it. I gave them my card and so now they have called me. Cool! Not a real good paying gig, but lots of exposure, and I love to be exposed.

I was asked by some friends in my acting class if I would be in their short films this week too. I don’t know when they are planning on shooting yet, but in one of them, I play a shadowy figure, and in the other one, I play a bishop. Hey, aren’t they the same thing? I’m kidding! No, I really am kidding! I didn’t say what kind of a bishop, nor did I say what kind of a shadowy figure… so there! Be nice!

It was dead for a spell, nothing going on at all, but now it’s hoppin’ again. I love it and it gives me a chance to grow and to network too. Plus I have great fun at the same time that I am learning. How cool is that? Living the dream! This year the dream includes being paid and making lots of movies and money too!

Lastly, I should get some photos this weekend to post from the two different "On The Lot" filming projects. Check it out too!

See Ya,
Bill

“Sundance” was a lot of fun!

It was our first one even though we have live here for 10 years now. I know we suck, which I have stated before too. On Sunday the 21^st in Park City, Sue & I got to see our first film “White Light / Black Rain". Very well done! (Discussed in last weeks blog.)

Monday the 22^nd Robbie & I got to go see the documentary “A Very British Gangster” in SLC. It was well filmed, but I still don’t understand why it was made. I always thought documentaries were to bring an issue to light, discuss the issue then show, or offer some type of a solution. At the very least it should get you thinking about how you can get involved on some level if you choose to. I don’t feel that this was much more than a bunch of thugs and especially their leader, bragging about running a town or neighborhood the any way they want to and getting away with anything they choose. It did show that the local police force is completely incompetent and ineffective, and therefore the populous has come to view the gang leader as almost their king. It seems to me to be a pretty ignorant community. So, apparently I just didn’t get it.

Tuesday the 23^rd we got to take our friends the Doxey’s, along with Anna & Sean out to dinner then we went to see “Dark Matter”. When we got up to the theater in Park City we were pleasantly surprised and met up with some other friends too. It was the “premiere” so the “stars” were there. The writer, director, and the main actors, all except for Meryl Streep, who was working on a project with Robert Redford at the time.

I really enjoyed the movie, I think we all did. So the question is did I get to see myself? Let me first say that I really enjoyed the movie period. I would have enjoyed the movie even if I wasn’t in it. But being that I was - all the better. We were in the front row just taking in the experience and enjoying ourselves with two of our kids and some of our friends. Sue and I looked at each other when we first saw me, and we just kept watching, all of a sudden there I am, big as life, (bigger than) making a face that I thought was funny as hell. Sue and I just laughed, and enjoyed the rest of the movie. The movie was very well done, wonderful acting, spectacular locations from all around Utah. There were some very cute, funny, tender and frightening moments with a surprise ending.

After the screening the director, writer and the main cast went up on stage for a discussion on the films history then did a question and answer session. As I said we were in the front row, so at the conclusion of the Q & A, I went up on stage and walked over to Aidan Quinn and then up to Erick Avari, who were both very gracious. Erick told me that he recognized me from the scene we were both in. Then the writer “Billy Shebar” came up to me and said he recognized me from the movie. OK so that was the coolest part of the night for me! I was just an extra, but they did get me into a few shots, and I was only on the set for one day this summer.

On Saturday the 27^th Sue, Robbie, Sean & I got to see the “Documentary Spotlight”. There were five short films shown and two really stick in my mind. OK three, the first one sticks because it was so bad. It was so very stupid, another “I don’t get it”, or “why”. I’d have to say in conclusion on the first one: If you grow up stupid and are allowed to be stupid and you do stupid things, you might just grow up and be stupid too.

The second one was a build up from a quiet calm to a spectacularly shot, adrenalin pumping film showing a tuna fishing catch. They finished it off by using sepia tones that gave it an old world, historic type of a look and feel. This was one of my favorites of the week.

The last one of the shorts was about a lady, a former police officer, dying of cancer and her fight to leave her benefits to whoever she chooses. She happened to be a lesbian who had a life partner who loved and cared for her for years. Paid her bills, cooked her meals, cleaned and maintained their home, loved and cared for her and transported her to and from the many doctors and specialists . She did everything a loving spouse would do.

I’ll be honest I had never given it much if any thought before. As I watched I got to thinking hey what if I decided to leave my life insurance to whomever, what business is it of yours! What business is it of mine that you worked for thirty years earned those benefits yourself, benefits to care for your wife or husband or children after you die. They are your benefits to do with as you see fit. Who am I to tell you who you can donate your time or money to, it’s yours, not mine. I didn’t earn it why should have any say. If we work for the same company or city or municipality and we earn the same benefits why can you assign your benefits to your wife and I can’t assign mine to whoever I damn well choose.

In this matter, I think we as a people should get our noses out of each others business. Because you may not agree with my style of paint, or how I mow my lawn, or shovel my walk, the car I drive, or maybe we don’t share the same church, religion or faith: why does that matter? This clearly is discrimination and it is not right.

She finally won her case after years of fighting and just before she died. She got to see her dream realized. Good for her! This was a very powerful documentary and I did shed more than a few tears during the film. After the film I got to go and meet one of the people responsible for making it and I got to say thank you. That felt great.

Sunday the 28^th we went to see the two films I was in. That was fun but it didn’t actually start until 10:30 pm so a lot of people had to leave before it started. We had fun playing pool while we waited, and bonus, the bar was in fact open! As soon as I get a copy of them I’ll figure out how to post them online so all can see.

This has gone on very long, but it has been a while, sorry.

See Ya,
Bill