Another illustrious event..that resulted in...

So, like I've said before, extra work is not the most satisfying work in the film industry, but it's a necessary thing. I was more than willing this time since I was going to be able to see George Lucas in action. He was finishing up some pick up shots for "Red Tails." It's about the Tuskegee airmen. Even as an extra, I spent more time in the hair trailer than you could imagine. I had to shave fully smooth and they cut my hair.
The funny thing? I ended up spending 12.5 hours on set, and I wasn't used once. But it was all work it to get a face to face, with full eye contact, "Hi," from the man himself: "George Lucas."

Another Trauma...

Today I got to play an EMT in the 80's. Say what? Time for a flashback scene for the NBC show TRAUMA. The same show I did stand in work for in October. Watch this show. I really like it, you can check all the episodes free online, too. Met Taylor Kinney, one of the actors today, in the craft services line of all places, who was really cool and down to earth.
Here I am (actually listening to my grad school lectures), right after I got suited up from wardrobe. Casting told me to come "unshaven" so that they could make me look 80's-ish, possibly like "Miami Vice's Don Johnson. "No joke, they told me that over the phone.
Here's some of the sites that can be seen on set. Lots of blood. It's a show about Trauma, so it's a necessity. (You won't want to miss the identity of this person who gets burned up in a fire).
Another actor walking around with a knife stabbed in his gut. Funny to watch him hunched over his place at lunch.

Then something pretty funny happened. Twice I got singled out from the director about my sideburns and facial hair. I knew these sideburns would come in handy some day. So they shaved them down once, then pretty much off the second time (when I got home my daughter had many questions about my baby face). So much for Miami Vice.



And after we wrapped the director, Jeff Riener, said I should consider going with this look more often it cause I might get more roles as an actor. Wow. Pretty cool tip to get from the director. As much as I love my facial hair, I'm thinking about just shooting some pics (with one of my favorite photographers around), to see what happens. Thanks to Gretchen-the make-up lady (black hat/blonde hair) who literally spent 45 minutes shaving my face, in the freakin cold, while holding my head so my neck wouldn't break! The whole time I was thinking, "I've never had anyone shave my face, for 45 minutes, outside in the freezing cold." Ah, Hollywood! (The life of an extra!).

Wrapped! Clean shaven and ready to save some lives in 1980 and beyond.

One of the best acting classes

Here's some pics of the class of kids I get to hang out with on Thursday nights. It's one of the highlights of my week. These guys (and there are more girls in the class than pictured but most of all left before we started taking the pics).

By a gracious grant from the Black Eyed Peas these kids have a phenomenal space to work their creativity. Full dance studio, computer lab for editing videos, and an amazing sound studio to record their music. It's a very amazing thing that they chose Redwood City to be a site! Watch the Video.


Each weeknight they have electives like acting, movie editing, sound mixing, dance, etc. in which they can take. It's a great program in association with Broadway by the Bay that I am so blessed to be a part of it. I come home full and energized with these kids' stories. All of them learning skills and developing their talents to make a difference and live a better story than the streets are offering them. We are working on improv skills, acting for the camera, and most of all, learning to tell (and live) a story that is worth watching (and living).

These kids are talented, amazing, and the future!

Trauma

Thankful that SF has a new show fully shot up here on location and in Treasure Island studios. (Hasn't been a show in ten years where all production is in SF). Trauma has been shooting up here since February and so far people are saying it is the new "ER." Please support it because it's great for our Bay Area economy and actors! I was a stand-in (for more info on what that is see this post) on Trauma this week. Of course I didn't get to do any acting but it was fun that I got to hang out on set, have some good conversations with fellow aspiring actors, and watch some great movie-like stunts on set.
I also got to hang out and watch the director, Jeff Reiner, in action. It was really cool and then I was talking with this guy behind the cameras (for like a minute) who then tells me he's Dario Scardapane, creator/exec. producer and writer. Dang, that was cool, and he was super friendly. Hear an interview with him here.

I'm praying that some day I'll get to work more on the show (or any show or film for that matter) other than just some extra work and maybe get a line...or two, or five.....someday. Here's for hoping.

Watch Trauma Monday Nights, 9pm, on NBC.

My 3rd BDFI shoot

In Gunshy, I was an medical insurance reviewer held hostage by a patient whose
case I had to dismiss. She was obviously not happy.


In the scene I come to consciousness tied up in a strange place and have to face my captor.

BDFI

Rehearsal in the park.


Just worked on a student short with the Berkeley Digital Film Institute (BDFI). It was my first time hearing of them and working with them. The student team I worked with did a great job, they were very professional and took their project seriously. I really liked working with them and got hopeful for the talent that is in the Bay Area. I hope we have more great directors and producers who stick around San Francisco and bring some great film work here.

I played something all too close to home for a lot of people right now: someone who lost his job and hasn't been able to find work. He has a "Chance Meeting," with a former co-worker of his who's very stressed and caught up in her deadlines. Their conversation reminds both of them of the pluses and minuses of having a job and how easy it is to be enslaved by a job one minute and lose your job the next minute.

Chance Meeting from Lyniel on Vimeo.

Cisco


Work is good! Two bookings in the same week! Sweet!
Today I shot an industrial for Cisco Eos with Westernized Productions. Marcello (Director) and Brandon (Producer) Grande, their real last name, are Italian brothers and great guys to work with. Had a great day with all cast and crew. Even got to hang with a friend who was also cast on the shoot.

I played a web developer working with new software (Cisco Eos). I got to shoot on a green screen with images and animation being added later in post-production.


Here's a look at the story board for an idea of some of the images to be added later.


Then I got to return to Crescendo Studios where I also was able to reconnect with some people I've met in the past. I was there last year for another recording session
of which you can see I'm wearing the exact same shirt. Nice.
All in all. A great day. Great production. Great people.

Old Spice

This week I Shot an in store commercial for Old Spice, by Premier Retail Networks (PRN).

My hand plays a "major role." I felt like David Duchovny's hand model character in Zoolander. I had to place the deodorant in and out of the locker and try to "hit my mark," every time. I had to have a manicure with "shiny clear polish," and man, it felt like my hands were glistening (nice word huh?) like some Rainbow Brite doll. I was a little self conscious about the nails, but I guess it's protocol! :) The other hilarious part is that my acting role this time around was playing a basket ball player.

I can barely dribble, but it actually worked great cause my character is supposed to have a locker room ego. I'm bragging like I "had game," (all because of Old Spice). I try to show off by spinning the ball and it flies quickly down to the ground, and I eat crow. It didn't take much to act like that, since I can't spin the ball in real life, anyway. It was perfect.

This Old Spice Ever Clear deodorant ad will be playing nationwide at at Super Walmarts with end cap displays starting May 4th.

A day as a Giant

This week I was a "stand in" for a commercial. Not quite acting nor the most lucrative job in the entertainment industry by any means, (it's one of the lowest places on the film industry totem pole, besides being an "extra."). Although it pays fairly well by the Screen Actors Guild, most stand-ins (and extras) are not treated all that well. Extras are sometimes referred to as background furniture and another stand-in and myself joked how we were referred to as "things." That's why I often avoid these roles but it was a really cool (ironic) commercial. It was for a new MLB Video game featuring the SF Giants! That's the laughable part, I am the farthest thing from an actual baseball player. BUT HEY..I CAN ACT LIKE I'M ONE and this week I was the stand-in for an SF's celebrity, Tim Lincecum, the pitcher for the Giants. We just happen to both be 5'10" and 170lbs.

Tim's a phenomenon really. Look him up. Despite being quite the celebrity, he was really cool and friendly. No traces of arrogance or pride at such a young age, and that was cool to see. He was very willing to take pics or sign autographs. He even was willing to leave a phone message for a friend of mine who's a huge fan (who ended up answering), and autographed a ball for me, too. (I felt like a weirdo fan asking for it, but he quickly obliged, with the caveat it wasn't for me).

We three kings...

It's December already. It's been a slow season for me in the acting world that's for sure. But alas, a role to exercise my chops!


I got to perform in a great short sketch this past weekend. What Church Christmas celebration doesn't need a nativity type sketch? But this one wasn't your run of the mill cast of characters. I got to play a wise man (wise guy) with a Brooklyn accent. It was actually a hybrid of Sopranos, Godfather, and the Director said, "Mark Wahlberg-ish."

Improv and 4th grade girls



I was invited this week by a friend of mine to teach improv to a group of 4th grade girls. This group of girls were together for a week of "friendship camp" that included activities like crafts, book discussions, talent shows, etc and I showed up for two days of improv training. Quite the experiment in patience with short attention spans but fun nonetheless, and the money I received for these classes was donated to the Not For Sale campaign which is used to spread awareness and help the 27 million women and children enslaved in human trafficking.

Stanford Law School



For my 5th year in a row, I was a part of the International Association of Defense Counsel as a mock witness for their trial academy held at Stanford University. I've played a bus driver "accused" of negligent driving. It's a great test of improv abilities! It's a two day project used sharpen up and coming lawyers from all over the country. I have always enjoyed playing a testy witness, eating great Stanford food, and reconnecting with the other actors who have been doing it annually, too.

June 2008



Today I was on UC Berkeley's campus for an AT&T photo shoot coming out in September.


It was 90 degrees and since the campaign is coming out in the fall we all had to be in pants and long sleeves for a football game.



I thought I was gonna sweat like a pig but since we didn't have to run around a lot, it was cool.

For one shot we just hovered over David, the photographer, in a huddle.



During hair and make-up we stayed in the AC of the trailer. It was nice.


Another fun shot came at the end when two of us had to try and take down another BIG guy.

All the crew and talent were awesome. I had a real fun time on this shoot. And UC Berkeley has a great campus.