News & Views

The News & Views page is where you'll find updates on what MacLeod is up to and hopefully a thoughtful reflection or funny story here and there. This is the blog of my blog-site.

Sunday, December 28, 2008

The New Year: promising developments

Well It's been a whirlwind December with Too Much Memory. The show is over and I had a blast. We got some fantastic reviews, some impressive press coverage. Most importantly, a number of my friends (the type that wouldn't lie about this sort of thing) expressed how great they thought the show was. Some were avid theater-goers, some hardly ever see theater. I will miss working with this company. You get used to saying goodbye fairly often in this line of work, but I am sorry to be ending my run with this group of people. I cannot reiterate enough how talented and truly enjoyable they are. It's a small industry though and I hope to stay in touch.

I'm writing from Louisville, Ky where I am home with family for Christmas. It was a wonderful respite from the city but I am happy to return for New Years and the new year. Things are shaping up to be fairly interesting if not unpredictable:

I will be doing an Off-off Broadway show with the producers who brought you Too Much Memory. That will happen in January.

Last week I met with a commercial agent who is excited to start working with me. The feeling is mutual. January will hopefully see me auditioning for some commercials to help subsidize my acting habit.

Early December I met with a very well respected Los Angeles based manager. His focus is Film and Television and he likes to push for the "big stuff". I am interested and excited to find out what opportunities this relationship might present me.

Traditionally, the first quarter of the year is "Pilot Season". I have heard, "there is no Pilot Season anymore" given the economy and the Union strife that has laid like a fog over the industry since 2007. Being new to the game and having never participated in Pilot Season I cannot really know what to expect from the now potentially defunct perennial flourish, but I am hoping to see an increase in auditions.

I hope that your holiday season is joyful. All my best for a fulfilling new year.


Good Things.
-MacLeod

Saturday, December 13, 2008

MacLeod pictured in New York Times

THEATER REVIEW | 'TOO MUCH MEMORY'

A Modern Thebes, a Tragedy Eternal


Full Review at:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/13/theater/reviews/13memo.html?_r=1&ref=theater

MacLeod pictured in New York Magazine


http://nymag.com/listings/theater/too-much-memory/

This picture is from the play Too Much Memory which was featured in New York Magazine as a "Critic's Pick"!

Sunday, December 7, 2008

Performing at New York Theater Workshop

Too Much Memory has started its run at NYTW and it is going great so far. We are still in previews but open soon. This past Saturday there was a political forum after the show that was really thought provoking. Every night is a different experience because a big element of the show is spontaneity. We'll just have to see where this adventure takes me. To learn more about the show visit www.risingphoenixrep.org

good things

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

My First Contract

I just signed my first Equity (AEA) contract tonight! What does going Equity mean? It means I am now a part of the stage actors' union. What are the benefits? I can continue to work in Equity venues all the way from Stage One in Louisville to Broadway. Being in Equity provides an option for affordable health care/pension (contingent upon me making money within union contracts). It is a necessary milestone for any professional actor- "You gotta do it sometime." It communicates professionalism.

What's more, I'm going equity through an astounding theater company and with a group of artists who I could not enjoy and admire more.

Here's to you Actors Equity Association.

Friday, November 7, 2008

Ugly Sweaters, Handsome Brothers

This was just too good not to share. My Brother and me at an "Ugly Sweater" Christmas party.

We win.

Friday, October 31, 2008

Going Equity

Too Much Memory by Keith Reddin and Meg Gibson has officially been picked up by the Off-Broadway theater New York Theater Workshop under an equity contract! That means that MacLeod Andrews is getting his Equity Card! So that's cool.

Good Things.

Sunday, October 26, 2008

Class Work

Here's a little DVD bonus feature for those of you who check this blog out from time to time. This is a tape from my audition class with Marci Phillips. Finally, a piece of film with me smiling. Pretty good feedback at the end too. It's a scene from the show Sports Night in which the character Jeremy is having a rough time at his job interview.


Wednesday, October 22, 2008

you win some, you learn some

The Opportunity: Today I had an audition for a contract role in a soap opera, One Life to Live. My preparation was much more in keeping with the positive methods I fleshed out a bit in my last post. After incorporating some last minute information I went in, chatted a bit about the scene (remarkably and surprisingly helpful for relaxing me and creating an opportunity for my personality to come out) and did a take. Half way through the scene she says "stop". I freeze for a moment, "Is this bad?" I think to myself. "You're going in the right direction. Let's tape it." Now I assumed this was normal protocol. I thought they tape everyone. But after talking to my agent and my friend I discovered that they don't tape everyone. SO, now I wait to find out if I get a callback. I may not, but at least I know that what I brought to that first read was something that the casting director thought was worth taping.

Good Things.

you lose some, you learn some

The Flub: Had an Audition for a show going up at Soho Rep this December. It was what you would call a Bad audition. First I responded to some reflex that told me to put my script down on the ground. Then the first line out of my mouth, I tripped all over my tongue and was asked to start over and to "please use the script". Guuuh. I went through the short scene again and did a "meh" job of it. Needless to say there was no callback. Now, what did I learn from this?

The Lesson: The first thing that took me a while to learn about preparing an audition is that I have to work the scene out loud with another person. The dynamic when you enter a casting room is too different from working alone in your bedroom. The next step in this process that I learned was what to do with that other person who is helping you. How do you use that person to prepare? I learned this only recently, in fact, from the audition I just detailed. The best way that I have found to use the help of others is to have them just act as a reader and be a sounding board for scene analysis. The other person's input can be helpful, but only if it is in regard to the scene, the story and interpretation. Any notes that try to tweak my acting process are unhelpful to me and in fact generate blocks. It shoves me into my head. Observations of what is being communicated by my acting are fair game, but never suggestions on "how to". These forms of help which I mention are wonderful for a classroom setting and process development, but for audition prep, they are death. At least in my experience thus far. I had those lines memorized but I was in my head rather than in the room. Also, I spent far too much time analyzing the scene. What is the effect?

The Fallout: Hard to say what impression I left. Not really worth thinking about. The reality is that the show at Soho Rep would conflict with the show I'm already in, Too Much Memory, which by the way has officially been picked up by the New York Theater Workshop. A post on that later. The other reality is that I didn't love the play. Wonderful dialogue, but overall I wasn't very excited by it. Those two things effected my psychology in approaching this audition and may have subconsciously, perhaps vaguely consciously, led me to practice damaging preparation techniques. That said, I have a great deal of appreciation for the work at Soho Rep. I just saw a stunning production by them of Blasted by Sarah Kane. Thus, I am disappointed at botching my first audition for that company.

This flub was a monumental learning tool, for it solidified my understanding of my personal process.

Good Things.

Great Classes

Finished an auditioning for film class last week at One on One with Bob Krakower. Simply phenomenal! An endlessly worthwhile investment. The man is a wonderful teacher; he has a refreshingly straight-forward approach and more than a couple great stories to tell.

My classes with Marci Phillips of ABC are also going very well. She is a wonderfully genuine and caring woman and she has a sharp eye for what works and what doesn't. Those classes continue through November 18 every Tuesday. So far we've been working with sides from comedy pilots. It has been very fun, especially since I haven't really gotten to work with that type of material before.

Good Things.

More Good Shows

Saw SPIN at the Cherry Lane Studio theater last Friday. I went with my friend Lucas (who has a YouTube video out that's hilarious and you should watch it immediately by clicking here.) SPIN is a collection of brand-new short plays written by some of the most exciting new and established playwrights around. The works were commissioned by StageFarm Theater Company. Check out more by clicking the links above. Grabbed a drink afterwards with my friends Jesse and Stephanie after the show (Mom you'll probably find that fun as you briefly met Jesse yourself). I stuck to Guinness most of the night. Guinness hangovers are very mild. Oh and SPIN was really great! Go see it.

Saw Fifty Words on Sunday at MCC Theater. Another amazing show. If you are under thirty years old you can get $20 tickets two hours before curtain. Go see it. Fantastic acting and a very honest, rough, dirty and funny examination of what marriage really means for these two very realistic and sympathetic characters.

Gotta get in "friend time"

2 weekends ago I spent the better half of the day with my roommates and neighbors celebrating my neighbor Randy's Birthday. Good food, a bloody Mary, great company. It always pleasantly surprises me that I both know my neighbors and on occasion spend time with them. It never struck me as a very "New York thing" to know and spend time with your neighbors. But I guess Seinfeld and Friends and now my own experience prove me wrong.

Later that night I went to a little house warming party for my friend Lyman who just moved to the city. I'm really excited that he's here.

Even Later that night I headed to another house warming party to visit my friend Katie.


I love the people in this city.

Sunday, October 12, 2008

To Book

Had a callback last week for a play called Up by Bridget Carpenter to be directed by Penny Metropulos playing at Syracuse Stage this winter. I was called in for the character Mikey (a 15yr old). It was a very fun callback, full of play and a bit of improvisation. In the end I was second choice for the role. So very close! The only feedback I got was that my audition was great, but there was another actor who fit the role right on the money. This is a positive result in many ways. I now have another casting director out there who knows me and appreciates my work. Also, because I will not be leaving the city, I am free to perform in the new Crystal Skillman piece that I mentioned in a previous post with Rising Phoenix Rep- if it goes up. I was hesitant to leave the city anyway as I find the Off-Broadway community so inspiring and am intent upon working within it. On to the next one.

Good things.

Good Theater in New York - I like to keep it "Off"

Shows I've seen recently:

Sa Ka La
by Jon Fosse
Prod. Oslo Elsewhere

Kindness
by Adam Rapp
Prod. Playwrights Horizons

Blasted
by Sarah Kane
Prod. Soho Rep

Shows I want to see:

Fifty Words
by Michael Weller
Prod. MCC

Spin
new short plays by Gina Gionfriddo, Judith Thompson, Adam Rapp, Elizabeth Meriwether and Mark Schultz
Prod. StageFarm

Farragut North
by BeauWillimon
Prod. Atlantic Theatre

Becky Shaw
by Gina Gionfriddo
Prod. 2nd Stage

Sunday, September 21, 2008

Hopefully He'll Keep Working

Too Much Memory by Keith Reddin & Meg Gibson-winner of the Outstanding Play Award at the 2008 NY Fringe Festival might be picked up for a short run at the New York Theater Workshop . We find out more in October.

In January, I will hopefully be doing another show with Rising Phoenix Rep written by Crystal Skillman. As Dan would put it, "I love me some Daniel Talbott".

Keep me in your thoughts in hopes that these opportunities become realized!

Good Things!

Busy Week

It's been a busy week!

On Wednesday, I went to a screening of a pilot that my friend Frank Harts is in at the New York Television Festival (NYTVF) called Living in Captivity. Afterward I met up with Mike Doyle, one of my cast mates from Somewhere in the Pacific (the play I did in July) to grab a beer.

On Friday, I attended a Potomac Theatre Project (the company that produced Somewhere in the Pacific) New York reunion at the "Art Bar" on 8th Avenue. It was great to see so many of them again.

On Saturday, I helped my friend Perry Blackshear, who is at NYU Film School, with an exercise he was prepping for class. We went out to Williamsburg and shot a scene from one of his classmates' upcoming projects. Then, I met with my 2nd Cousin Elizabeth MacGregor, who I haven't really ever met other than as a baby, and some of her friends at Ralph's Italian Restaurant for dinner. Great food, great company, and some family stories. I was shocked at how quickly two glasses of red wine went to my head. After that I headed down to Brooklyn again for a Benefit for the Off-Broadway theater company StageFARM. They are producing a collection of short plays by some great Authors including Gina Gionfriddo (I produced and starred in her show After Ashley for my Thesis at College) and Judith Thompson! I look forward to seeing that. PTP and Midd Alum Jesse Hooker was there too which was a pleasant surprise, as was getting to see Ms. Gionfriddo again.

On Sunday, I went to see my roommate in an improv show at Upright Citizens Brigade. Then my roommate, our next door neighbors (who also attended the show), and I grabbed a drink and went to the piano bar Don't Tell Mama to watch my downstairs Neighbor Amy, who I take singing lessons from, perform in a Cabaret she'd been working on with a friend. Amy has got an incredible voice! On Monday, I'm going to a reading of a pilot that a friend of mine, Michael Golden, wrote. On Tuesday, I start my Carpenter Apprenticeship! This coming Friday I will be seeing another show that Frank Harts is in called Sa Ka La produced by Oslo Elsewhere theater company.

Just trying to keep my feet in the water and to support some of the great people I've gotten to know in this city who are doing great work!

Monday, September 15, 2008

New Video

I've put another video up on my Reel & Video page. It's a Silent Russian Horror Film Spoof that I made with director Perry Blackshear in College. Enjoy.

Friday, September 12, 2008

Go See 'Lady'

If you're looking for a great straight theater show to see I highly recommend the play 'Lady' by Craig Wright, Starring Michael Shannon, Paul Sparks, & David Wilson Barnes. The play is humorous poignant and touching, not too long and the acting is incredible!

It's playing at the Rattlestick Theater
224 Waverly Pl
New York, NY
10014

Thursday, September 4, 2008

Watch my Sprint Commercial

The moment some of you have been waiting for! If you've been dying to see that Sprint commercial I shot in June, it's here. Click here to visit my Reel & Video page and watch me throw it down.

Wednesday, September 3, 2008

The Next Indie Horror Craze

Fellow Midd Alums Andy Mitton and Jesse Holland have written a great Horror Feature Script called Yellowbrick Road. Below is a teaser trailer.



Learn more about this awesome project at www.yellowbrickroadthemovie.com

Time to Learn

So now that my shows have ended I've had time to look into various programs to keep my skills tuned and to advance my understanding of the actor's craft, and business. Today I just auditioned for and was accepted into "One on One", a New York and L.A. based program that offers courses from Top Casting Directors, Agents and Acting Coaches including Marci Phillips from ABC, Bob Krakower, Paul Schnee, Meghan Rafferty, and Duncan Stewart. I am looking forward to this opportunity! Orientation is tomorrow.

Also, I went to meet an acting coach Alan Savage who had been recommended to me. He has somewhat of a "cut the bullshit" approach which is challenging and exciting. He's all about communication and intention- "what do you want from the other?" I think that I will take some classes with him; there's definitely something to be learned there.

I will also be taking voice lessons from my downstairs neighbor who teaches voice at AMDA. I decided to take voice lessons after a casting call for "Peter Parker" in the new "Spider-Man" musical was listed in Backstage Magazine (although I understand that Jim Sturgess is already cast in the role) and I felt that my vocal abilities at the moment were too stunted to pursue the audition. I know "Spider-Man the Musical" is not exactly the "serious theatre" that I love and thrive in, but it'd be an adventure. The point is, I don't want weaknesses to hold me back from opportunities in the future. Gotta keep learning (My Dad will tell you). Gotta keep getting better. Then no one can hold you back.

Good Things.

Who needs paint

Here are some drawings I've done on restaurant paper with crayon. Who needs canvas.



An Imaginary Still Life.


"Horn Plant" drawn at Flight 151 on 8th Ave


Kind Old Man's Face


Alien with Car Trouble.
Study in Perspective.

Make some art, save some money.

Saturday, August 30, 2008

Skilled Hands in the making

This September I will begin an apprenticeship with a carpenter remodeling my friend Alex Cranmer's new home. This is a skill that I have wanted to develop and build upon (no pun intended) for years, so I am very excited at the undertaking. Early mornings and a commute to New Jersey will not be looked forward to, but that's all part of it. Good Things.

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

TMM wins award



TOO MUCH MEMORY
wins Outstanding Play Award at NYC Fringe 2008!
by Keith Reddin & Meg Gibson

Article:
http://www.theatermania.com/content/news.cfm/story/15051

Produced by:
Rising Phoenix Rep

Friday, August 22, 2008

Little blessings raining down

So if my title is a bit quaint I apologize but last week I found New York to be full of small but rewarding coincidences. Of course there were the two instances that I mentioned in my previous post regarding Laura and Annie, but last week held many wonderful surprises of a similar nature.

1. I grabbed a beer down in Greenpoint with an old friend from Louisville, Jamie Buckner (a treat unto itself) at the bar "Matchless". The two of us were production assistants on Keep Your Distance a film shot in Louisville by Stu Pollard. Stu informed the Jamie and I that we were practically neighbors here in New York, so we got together. Jamie tells me that he has been working on a number of major motion pictures including The Departed and, can you guess it, Julie and Julia. For those die-hard subscribers of this blog you'll recall that's the Meryl Streep film I worked on as an extra months ago. So Jamie tells me that he ran the "Dailies" (screenings of the footage captured on the day) for Julie and Julia, and he's prepping the screening one day as he reminisces to a co-worker about a short joke-film called MacLeod: Apocalypse that he shot on the set of another film, Keep Your Distance. He looks up at the screen and sees a handsome young lad dance by in a blue suit. "Holy Shit" he says, "was that MacLeod?" He sees me dance by again. "That looks a whole lot like MacLeod." In disbelief he thinks "there's no way, my life can't be that crazy." He continues to watch the blue suited doppelganger dance by take after take and resolves to check the Extras List after the Dailies were finished. Sure enough, there my name was. So Jamie tells me all this and then remarks that It's going to be pretty incredible if I Don't end up in the final cut of the film. He said I feature fairly prominently and often and that the scene is critical to the story. No lines but at least my face will be up there dancing across the silver screen.

2. I found an antique desk chair on craig's list. I had a bit of difficulty getting to the apartment to pick it up but it proved to be worth my persistence. I walked in and was greeted by Phillip, the owner of the chair. He showed me the chair, "It's great" I said "it reminds me of home". "Where's home?" Phillip asked. "Kentucky. Louisville." Phillip inhaled, "really? I went to NKU, Northern Kentucky University." I inhaled, then "wait, I know someone who went to NKU, do you know Jamie Buckner?"
He inhales, his jaw drops, "get the fuck out, I've known Jamie for like nine years, he's one of my favorite New York friends!" we continue to talk for a bit. Turns out Phillip got his masters in playwriting. He worked for ABC for a spell, writing for a soap and now works in the marketing department of The New Group (an off-B'way Theatre).

3. Bumped into Jan Maxwell on the street, exchanged friendly hellos. Really starts to feel like home when you bump into friends on the street like that.

4. I'm getting ready to leave for a show, Too Much Memory, when I hear a rapping at my door. I assume my roommate has forgotten his keys. I open the door, and who should be standing there but Frankie! My College Playwriting professor's wife. She is always a treat to see and now here she is standing on my doorstep. After a moment of stunned silence and a hug I Squeeze out, "what in the world are you doing here?" She opens the door of my next door neighbor and there stands Vanessa, her daughter. Again, always a pleasure to see her. Turns out they, along with Midd professor of German Bettina, were visiting my neighbor Amy who teaches at AMDA. They invited me in and offered me an ice cream Sundae and though I needed to leave for my show very soon I decided that I simply could not ignore the universe knocking through it's conduit Frankie and took the time to enjoy my Sundae and chat for a bit.

All small things, but they do wonders for the spirit.

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Too Much Memory for me to remember

Too Much Memory rehearsals and now show runs have been fantastic. I really feel blessed to be working with so many talented people! Meg, the director, is great and the actors floor me at every run. It's really a treat. Funny story, the actress playing Antigone, Laura Heisler was in her first equity production years ago at Actors Theatre of Louisville's run of Hair and I saw that show. I must have been 15yrs old. Also an interesting story: I just found out last night that actor Louis Cancelmi who I've been punching in the stomach every night is the brother of actress Annie Parisse who played Becky Shaw in Becky Shaw, a play by Gina Gionfriddo (one of my favorite playwrights) at Actors Theatre's Humana Festival this past year. Months ago, before I moved to New York, I sat in on a few rehearsals and saw the opening show where I met Annie and now I'm in a show with her brother. Small World! Even in New York. I love it! Good things.

-MacLeod

Thursday, July 31, 2008

Callback!

I auditioned for Atlantic Theater's mainstage production of Farragut North on Monday. On Wednesday I got the call that I would be returning to audition again for the creative team, Director Doug Hughes, Writer Beau Willimon, and Associate Artistic Director Christian Parker. I went into Telsey + Co. today for the callback and auditioned again... handshakes were made, "good job" was said-unfortunately I didn't get any notes from the director, which is often not a good sign. I really don't have any idea how to read these things yet-good/bad. Even when someone says "good job", I'm not really sure what they're thinking. At any rate, I know that I did a good job on this one; I would have loved to have played with it more, tried some different things, but sometimes you only get the one chance to show your one interpretation and you hope it's the right one. Whether I get the part or not, I'm happy to have worked with this text and to have met the Creatives of a company that I really respect and whose work I admire. Good Things.

-MacLeod

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

What's Next?

Next I will be in a new play by Keith Reddin as part of the NYC Fringe 2008. The play is called Too Much Memory. I got a part in the show after the producer, Daniel Talbott of Rising Phoenix Rep, saw me in Somewhere in the Pacific, the show I'm doing currently at Atlantic Stage 2 with the Potomac Theatre Project. Work begets work! On Monday I will hopefully be auditioning for Farragut North by Beau Willimon being produced at Atlantic Main Stage.

Saturday, July 12, 2008

How PTP is Going

So far the run of Somewhere in the Pacific has been going very well. We've had some very strong and supportive audience response.

I recently participated in a staged reading of a play, Crossing Over: The Vietnam Stories as part of PTP's After Dark series. I played a Cuban-American with a thick Spanish accent-a new challenge for me as an actor but I believe that I rose to the occasion with success. This coming Monday I will be in a staged reading of my friend Alec Strum's new play How to Stage a Proper Revolution. I will be playing a 9 year old boy, which I am very much looking forward to.

Recently I was offered a role in a new play by Keith Reddin to be produced by the Rising Phoenix Rep in it's WORLD PREMIERE as part of the NY Fringe Festival. I am delighted by this opportunity to connect with some strong artists and good people.

Today I also attended a call-back for a USC Film student's Thesis project, The Layabouts. Good Things.

Wednesday, July 2, 2008

Update

Tonight is our second Preview for Somewhere in the Pacific. Last nights preview went very well! I also shot a Sprint commercial on Monday in Connecticut. It was very fun, everyone involved with the shoot was very fun and easy to work with. It was a laid back set, as laid back as a commercial shoot can be anyway. I spent the shoot Beat-boxing while my partner in crime Nicholas rapped about Cable Phone service. The theme was two very white friends get together after school to mess around with a digital camera and perform a little rap about Sprint, presumably to send to the company. It should be fun and I'll try to put footage up on my site as soon as I get copy. Tomorrow I'm auditioning for a USC Film School Thesis being shot in the city. Good Things.

Monday, June 23, 2008

Rehearsals for PTP-NYC

The show is coming along very well. I'm excited. We are discovering some very specific and moving moments within the text. It is a challenging piece, sparsely written so each line begs to be 'nailed'. This is an intense, and messy, wartime show. For those of you who it would entice to come see it, I will be removing my shirt.

The Date is Set

The Date of my Sprint Commercial is officially set. I film on Monday the 30th of June. Good things.

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

A Busy Thursday

This Thursday I'm flying back to New York to film the independent feature Inside Voices. Then I'm meeting up with my landlord to sign the lease for my new place. Then I fly back that same night. I can't afford to live like this...But I'll have fun going broke trying.

Friday, June 13, 2008

Vermont

Vermont remains beautiful. Rehearsals are going very well. Really a great feel of community and company. These are dream circumstances for work.

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Press for Pacific

Some nice press for my upcoming show Somewhere in the Pacific at Atlantic Stage 2. Tony Nominee Jan Maxwell will also be working with the company.

http://www.theatermania.com/content/news.cfm/story/14197

Lovely Middlebury

I'm back in lovely Middlebury. It really is serene being here when it's so empty. I fear though that the rigors of my last three days in New York have pushed me into a relapse of Mono. Lots of fluid and rest are in my future, when I can get it that is. Still plenty to do between rehearsing, ADing, random tasks, flying back to the city for a day to shoot a film and sign a lease. I think someone might have to hold me down if I'm ever going to get well again. Nevertheless, it is beautiful here and this group of Actors and Crew seems really special. It will be great spending time with them all. If I can keep myself out of the hospital I'll be happy.

By the way, my last night in New York I went to a !Free! secret Gnarls Barkley concert at the Fillmore. Only in New York.

Thursday, June 5, 2008

Sprint Commercial

It appears to be happening. It was postponed briefly and seemed like it might wash out but it appears to be back. Dates have yet to be solidified but it will shoot sometime during my run of Somewhere in the Pacific. Hopefully I won't have to miss a show.

Inside Voices

I've been cast in an independent feature by director Mark Street called Inside Voices. He leans toward the arthouse cinema side of things which I am very excited by. I am excited to be collaborating with and meeting artists in the city. I have one day of shooting, June 19, but it's a good day-I've got a monologue.

Rehearsal Time

Monday, June 9 I start rehearsing for Somewhere in the Pacific. Can't wait.

Julie and Julia: a blast

So I arrive to find a superb breakfast crafty spread. I get to wear a sapphire blue vintage suit. Many people compliment me on the suit. Not that it was my doing but I was happy to be wearing it. I dance all day next to Jane Lynch and in between takes before the last shot of the night I dance with Meryl Streep. I call it WITH no matter what you think. She came on set, made a joke and started to hop, I hopped with her then pumped my fists, she followed my lead and pumped her fists. I call that dancing with, if nothing else then for the fun of it. I mean...we used her movies to teach an acting class...It's Meryl Streep...and I was near her.

Tuesday, May 13, 2008

Getting Back to Set

Tomorrow I am going to be on set for the Meryl Streep, Amy Adams, Stanley Tucci feature, Julie and Julia. It should provide a nice way to reacquaint myself with film sets. The Film also has Jane Lynch, Chris Messina from Ira & Abby and Six Feet Under.

I Do Love Seeing Shows

This Friday I will be joining friend and fellow Middlebury Alumnus Liz Hammett for a show at Atlantic Theater called Port Authority by Conor McPherson. Good Things.

Pay The Man

It appears I've landed a promotional spot for Sprint.

Friday, May 9, 2008

Away for a while

It's been a while since my last post and one of my readers (you know who you are) was anxious for me to get back to it.

Last Wednesday I went and saw Top Girls at the Manhattan Theatre Club. The show was superbly acted. I found the play thought provoking and moving.

I've been away from the blog for a while because I have been very busy. I recently celebrated Derby in Stamford CT, with my friend from high school, Preston. After drinking ample amounts of Woodford Reserve, a Kentucky Bourbon mind you, I hopped onto Metro North to meet a friend for a concert at Joe's Pub. I fell asleep on the train, woke up as we pulled into Grand Central, went in-a bit groggy-went to the restroom, called my father because I had recently lost my ATM card (I still bank in KY) patted down my pockets and noticed something was off. I missed the unmistakable and familiar bulge of my wallet which was filled with everything but money. This concerned me. I put in a report with Metro North-not much else I could do-and hoped for the best. That night after an MTA employee graciously "comped" me a ride on the subway I decided I would go ahead and join my friend at the concert-better than going home and moping. I made the right call. Much (that's his name) and I went and saw the Hypnotic Brass Ensemble-an eight piece horn group with a drummer that can often be found playing in Union Square. It was a great show. My friend was kind enough to get me a subway card with a few rides on it *I still owe you by the way*. The next day I called a Kinkos that I had been in the past Thursday. To my great luck, they had my ATM card. One disaster averted, one more to go. It's now Sunday, I at least have access to my bank account. I join a friend on 2nd Ave to see the Yale, UCSD, and NYU MFA actors' showcase. It was very cool to attend. I told my friend about my wallet, he told me I was fucked. Afterwards we headed to Telephone Bar-I drank mostly Boddington's Pub Ale and Guiness.

Monday. Sweet Monday. What luck it brings. I get a call from Grand Central saying that my Wallet has been found. I retrieve the Wallet and to my satisfaction, not a single item has even shifted let alone gone missing. Even the three dollars I had in there remained perfectly wrinkled. To celebrate, I went to a Good Burger and got myself a Burger, Fries, Chocolate Milkshake Combo. It set me back fifteen dollars, which is absolutely absurd, but I was just happy to have my money back, my social security card back, my ticket from my middle school trip to Disney Land back. I have to admit it was a pretty damn good burger, and a delightful hand dipped milkshake made with real Vermont Ice Cream.

Throughout the week I had a few auditions for Student films to keep developing my audition skills. My sublet ended and I have moved back onto the futon in the kitchen of my good buddies' apartment. I went and saw a staged reading of a play by Jaye Austin Williams who just graduated from the NYU graduate program for playwriting. It was an extraordinary night. Passionate, terrifying, intelligent theatre. I recognized a performer in the piece was Christopher Burris with whom I did a staged reading of Dana Yeaton's play Red Shirts (then called Tennessee Southern).

Today, Friday, I had an audition for a heavily recurring role on the ABC soap "ALL MY CHILDREN". To get there I foolishly walked a couple of blocks in the rain. I was a bit early, so I made my way to the restroom where I set the hand dryer to work on my shoulders and hair. I do have to say, as one who never blow dries his air, it looked GOOD. It's always difficult to say how well or poorly an audition went. You really have no idea what the auditor is thinking. I finished up, she said very simply, "you're a fine actor, thank you." Sounds good, right? Well you forget, this is a soap. Maybe I'm just an insecure actor here, but I detected a tone in her voice that seemed to say, "you're a pretty good actor, thank you, but you don't have the style down, we're done here." Who can say, really? I'm not concerned with whether or not I get the part. That's a waste of hope and emotion. I concern myself merely with whether or not I do work with integrity. I stand behind all of the work and auditions I've done so far. Whether lousy or great, I've given all I could to each, given the time and resources at my disposal. Not to mention the fact that I still don't have a home.

So there you go Leland-hope that will keep you busy for a little while.

Thursday, April 24, 2008

Urban Ninjas

Anyone who believes in cool things and all things awesome check out this video on youtube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3RA6TmDtvCQ


Frank Harts directed me to the site. It's simply incredible.

Busy Week

This week in auditions:

Short Film by Gabriel Winer-The character was like James Bond only rougher. As I'm noticing is kind of a trend in New York, sides were supplied upon arrival. It was a full page of monologue to be delivered in a British accent with about 1 minute total of looking over the script. It's a good thing I find auditions fun or else that could have been stressful. The role would be really fun to play though. The Director and Producer seemed like good guys too.

Shoulder Wound-Just auditioned today at Bowling/Miscia Casting for the character "Shoulder Wound" for the NBC pilot Kings, which tells a modern version of the story of the legendary king David. My character is a soldier, who has a wounded shoulder. I would be involved in a pretty cool action scene so keep your fingers crossed for me!
The show will feature Ian Mcshane and Christopher Egan.

Sprint Rapper-Tomorrow I am auditioning for a Sprint Commercial at Endeavor for which I must rap. I would like to thank Dana Yeaton for helping me prepare when he used me for a staged reading last year of his play Red Shirts in which I played Dante, a black, rapping, football player from LA... I must say I think I did a good job considering I'm a white, soccer player from Kentucky.

Monday, April 21, 2008

Brown and the Barber

Brown was beautiful. Amazing architecture.

They've also got insane connections that made me wonder why I never applied there.

Let's just say I held direct discourse with Martin Scorsese and Tom Rothman of Fox Films. Mind bender.

I also just got home to Brooklyn and stopped by a barber shop that was recommended to me. I asked for a trim and just a little off of the sides and top. They mostly speak spanish there, so I then made a small space between my index finger and thumb to indicate how little I'd like taken off. Unfortunately, he must have taken this to mean how short I'd like my hair to be and proceeded to dig into the side of my head with his barber sheers. I look a bit like a Marine now and am wondering how I should go about explaining this to my agents. Hot weather's on the way though so it's nice to feel the breeze. My career concerns aside it is somewhat liberating to break from the requisite vanity of being an actor.

Friday, April 18, 2008

4-20 not just great for green

4/20 is also my birthday! It's terribly ironic that I don't smoke pot. To celebrate, I'm going to return from this festival and audition for a student film TIDE being done by a NEW SCHOOL student.

Maybe I'll go by Magnolia to get myself a cupcake.

Wednesday, April 16, 2008

Headed to Ivy Film Festival!

Tuesday Morning, the film I shot with director Brian Siegele in Colorado Springs has been accepted at the Ivy Film Festival at Brown University in Rhode Island. "The Ivy Film Festival is currently the largest intercollegiate film festival in the world." Tuesday Morning has also screened at the Toronto International Short Film Festival and many others.

On Friday I'm meeting Brian in New Haven, CT and we're driving up. I had to cancel a meeting with a friend but hopefully he won't begrudge me too much as MARTIN SCORSESE is delivering a master class address!

It looks like it's going to be a fun weekend!