New article written by online website about work on HOMELAND
News Article
PA area paper coverage prior to the HOMELAND premier date on January 15th, 2017
Read here: Pottstown-area Native, KU alum, Kyle Klaus on Showtime's 'Homeland'
HOMELAND
Kyle Klaus will appear in the sixth season of the American television drama series Homeland, scheduled to premiere on January 15, 2017, on Showtime.
Taking place several months after the previous season, Carrie is back in the United States, living in Brooklyn, New York. She is now working at a foundation whose efforts are to provide aid to Muslims living in the United States. The season features a presidential election, and takes place between and inauguration day.[3] The season will also discuss the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. - Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homeland_(season_6)
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James Franco/Gigi Hadid
Recently, wrapped on a project directed by James Franco, appearing on-screen with Gigi Hadid
More to come and talk about the project in the coming weeks. Here are a few stills from set shot on location at the renowned Gleason's Gym in Brooklyn:
John Doe Film
Recently wrapped the romantic comedy "John Doe" directed by Rebecca Faulkenberry (Mary Jane of Broadway's SpiderMan) at Isham Park in New York.
Showtime Billions 4/3 10pm EST
BILLIONS
This past Monday filmed a scene for BILLIONS coming to Showtime this January.
Private Screener
Private Screening this Thursday in NYC for the film Turnabout I filmed a few years ago in Atlantic City, NJ.
The shoot was overnight at a local diner, where I play Ryan, a punk kid who has words and mouths off to Billy Cain, played by actor George Katt.
Festival De Cannes
So last October auditioned and booked role of Brooklyn hipster in Gustavo Ron's latest film My Bakery in Brooklyn which now seems to be premiering at this years Cannes Film Festival. Read article in Variety.
One Look?!?
Couple new looks...
Signed On
Signed on to this film last week. Looking forward to working with Eric Roberts, Blair Underwood, Keith David, and Mike Epps in Nat Turner: Story of A Prophet, directed by Bill Duke.
Nat Turner led the greatest slave insurrection in US history.
Tuned...
Waiting to hear about a few projects as of late. I cannot announce them or say what they are yet, but one involves a supporting lead character in an indy 5mil budget, the other is a part in a 2.5mil budget film shooting partly in Columbia, which I would be super stoked about.
I've gotten the chance to take the lead of a film shooting a couple hours away for lower pay that should really be offered to a professional and it was a hard decision but turned it down. I'm still getting used to doing that. I have to consult with my team before I do something like that. Just weigh out the pros and cons of it.
SO been around NYC. Lot's of things going on around here and just continually honing my craft to be the best it can be and working the real estate game until the next adventure comes along...stay tuned...
I don't really think I have to many hater's..or maybe I do and I just don't know it? But either way, just thought this was a awesome photo.
Jobs come and go, Careers take time.
A natural tendency for actors is to want to book jobs. I think it is a very natural feeling. You get validation for your work. You get paid. You're a "working actor". Jobs, however, are fleeting. A job may be a day on a TV set or a couple lines in a film.
Careers are longer lasting. They are sustainable. They usually come with a solid body of work. There is usually a long line of people who know your work and trust you.
This industry is all about relationships. Having people know, like, and trust you. Days on set are long and having people around who are pleasant to be around is almost as important as talent, if not more.
My suggestion is shoot for a career, and be patient. Things happen. It's a small industry and the more you are around people in it, and more time you take to foster relationships, the more things happen.
I saw this video recently with Tony Robbins of all people, he was talking about investing small at first and in our society of immediate results we think we need to see something right away, but he used this example of betting on golf. Starting with 10 cents on first hole and then doubling the bet each hole. Turns to 20 cents. Then 40 cents. Then 80 cents, $1.60, $3.20, and by the 18th hole you are actually at $13,000 and change. For some reason it related to me on many levels. Not only investing money which I always think is a good thing to start as early as possible, but lots of small things you do, if done right, multiply and before you know it it's like a funnel and speeds up at an accelerated rate.
Example: Say someone all of a sudden books something and they are considered an "overnight success". "Where did he/she come from?" Everyone may ask. That may have been a 10 year career in the making. If that person is 17, if you do some research on them, they probably started at 7. I'm going to venture and say 90% of the time.
There are a few reasons why I think this is, and also why you should embrace it.
1.) Careers take time. - Look at any profession. Doctor, Lawyer, Chiropractor. There is a process. Even when you are done with your degree there is usually an apprenticeship and you start out at the lowest ranks. Even though it may seem more clear cut the same principles apply. You gain the skills and knowledge, get to know the right people, and become known for your work. As you start out you should be doing a number of things, no matter where you live. There are classes in every city for actors, schools, casting directors, casting director workshops, improv classes (which I recommend every actor to do and at least try in addition to your weekly scene study class because they work different muscles that in addition to each other can be very helpful), seminars, screenings, etc. You will meet a lot of people in the same boat as you and at the same level. You will create real bonds with some of them and it's key to stay in touch with them. If you are serious about your career, you will come across others with the same drive as you. They may not just be actors, but also producers, writers etc. If those people are serious, where do you think they will be in 10 years. They may be in a position to help you out, and vice versa. You may collaborate on a project, they may have some key relationships beneficial to you, you may find yourself in a position where they can hire you.
2.) Relationships take time. Just like you are not going to marry someone you just started dating, or trust them with the keys to your house, your not going to trust someone automatically when there is tons of money and people's time on the line and when your own job depends on it. Unfortunately in this business you get a lot of what I like to call weirdos. People that just want to be famous for the sake of being famous and not really have respect for the craft of acting. If you are wanting quick success and fame at a young age that is the wrong mindset to have. Starting an acting career you should think of yourself doing it at 40 or 50. If you still want to do it then, you are on the right path. If you only want to be "famous" then there's a bunch of other things you can do besides acting. The line I always use is "If I wanted to be famous I would swim across the Hudson River naked" That would make you famous, at least for a short period of time. There's also reality TV. People need to know you and trust you and just like with any career that takes time. Most of the time its years before your fully trusted.
3.) Craft takes time. Your not a head chef in your first year, your not the foreman of a construction job right off the bat, and your not the CEO of a company right after you get a business degree. Yea you have some business being there, in some aspect. It's usually the low level jobs though to prove yourself and work your way up. Same aspect applies.
Live The Life You Want Right Now
I had this very esoteric ( I think that's how you spell it?) conversation with a friend recently and something we were talking about was very interesting, but also made a lot of common sense when you thought about it. If you an actor that's "struggling" in your mind and your having a conversation with a casting director, director, or producer - someone of "power" your going to have a much different conversation with them that an actor who has "made it" whether it's in their own head or they are actually the lead of the picture being filmed or TV show. Since success is all relative, right off the bat you should be able to see what I'm talking about here. Think of it with another career. Think of something your an "expert" at and you know it. Your going to have a much different conversation with someone who you don't need to impress or that knows your skills, you will be much more at ease, relaxed, and enjoyable to be around. 99% of everything is mental I believe.
So our discussion continued and this is where the esoteric part came in. Obviously, it was easy to see what we were previously talking about as true, because it is. The esoteric part was that your circumstances DO actually begin to change around you the more you believe in this mindset before it's actually there. That I think is the KEY. I'm not saying be delusional and walk around like your some rockstar or Brad Pitt. However, the inherent belief in yourself is needed that you are on the same level as them and as any other human being that breathes and eats. You deserve to be there as much as anyone else. Not in a cocky and defensive way, but in a confident and cool way.
This dude already knows he's Boss. It's prob a baby pic of Manny Pacquio
There's this natural tendency that I see in a lot of people to wait for things...I don't think it gets anyone anywhere. Waiting for approval, tomorrow, respect, permission, or anything.
You want to write a book? DO IT. You want to start working out? DO IT. You want to own your own company? DO IT. Don't wait for anything or anyone to give you permission or approval to do anything you want. Sure, there are some natural steps to take along the way, but take them. Stop procrastinating. I'm a firm believer that action breeds action.
There's always reasons you think you can't do something, but they don't really exist. It's self doubt, I think. Even as I'm writing this I think " Who am I to say? " But now, I look at it as that's my own self doubt. I spent the last year being very productive and getting stuff done. Here's what I've learned.
1.) It's all about the schedule, not the to-do list. - one of the most major changes I've encountered is I used to make to do lists, cross things off, etc. Instead, yea make a list of things to do but then schedule them in and don't have distractions.
2.) Have a morning routine. - I used to always say to myself "I want to start meditating, I want to start doing visualizations, now I schedule everything into my morning routine, which also includes a cup of coffee, writing for a period of time, and exercising amongst other things, so that the rest of my day is free and clear to get stuff done.
3.) Happiness is a lot about a state of mind. Me personally, I could compare and despair and say every day that I wish I was here, or this person has this, etc, etc all of us can OR I could say look at everything I've got and how far I've come, and where I'm going. It's a perception.
These are all daily struggles. But as they say if it was easy everyone would be doing it.
There's always levels to everything and I'm always fighting my own self on things. You always are going to want to get to the next level and improve, that is natural. But as you incorporate these things into your daily routine I do know it becomes more of a habit and before you know it your doing a lot naturally. Eventually you will look back and wonder how you did all of that, and that's a good feeling. Either way just like my man Steven Tyler one of the greatest front man's of all time says "It's about the journey, not the destination"
Don't talk about it, Be about it.
There's a few reasons I wanted to write this post. I was listening to a recent study about people who tend to complain a lot. That there are actual proven scientific facts that people that complain, their brain gets stuck in a pattern of complaining and they never get out of that. Instead, focus on changing what your complaining about, and try to give it any more attention that just that.
Change what you can, and don't complain about what's wrong. What's the old saying? God grant me the serenity to change the things I can, accept the things I cannot, and the wisdom to know the difference.
1. Something that you may have done, or not have done for that matter (supposed missed opportunity or choice) and can't stop thinking about it to this day - how it would have been if you did that certain thing? made that choice? took that job? did not miss that opportunity? Well first of all, you never really know. Thinking that way - I'm guilty of having done this as well- will prevent you from moving forward. So instead, go forward, and make decisions and work toward what you want. You'll know it when it comes and the decision will be easy. A good thing my dad used to tell me growing up, when I had a decision to make was that "There was no wrong decision. If it's not an obvious choice, then pick something and follow through with it fully." You can't be wrong that way.
2. Don't focus on what's wrong, that gives that more power, and ultimately makes reality of it. Instead, don't even have a feeling toward it, don't complain about it, drop it like it never entered your brain in the first place and work toward what makes you feel good, focusing on that and keeping that in your mind. I've adopted this mentality throughout the years and I will tell you - not only does it make you feel much better throughout your life, you'd be surprised at how much seems to go your way because you are not giving attention at all to what is not going your way. I think I may have gotten some of this way of thinking from the video "The Secret" which whether you believe in it or not, there are definitely some good things to take away from the overall gist of it: http://thesecret.tv/
3. Action breeds action. Moving forward, not thinking of what could have been, creates more of what you want. Do it in a positive manner and you will surprise yourself how much goes your way.
You can't just talk about what you want. I don't even respect much talk. I'd rather not talk about anything and just do it. Everyone knows those people that sound like they are going to rule the world with their ideas, but they don't follow through or do anything. How bout not talking and just doing? Own a business, start a business, take up a sport, learn an instrument, make an investment, write a screenplay, whatever it is. I remember starting acting, I was in a small town in PA. No one did that stuff. I never told anyone. They would just ask me where I was going. I hardly told anyone. I'd say I was driving to the city for something -they thought I was selling drugs. I wouldn't be able to drink or party all night with them, because I had to get up early to go to some independent movie set the next day. However, when I invited them all to the opening night of Invincible and we had two rows in the movie theater packed with my friends and they all cheered for the 56 seconds of screen time I had when I was 23 and still in college...it was all worth it. In face here's the scene...line cut, but at least you know I'm there-
Don't talk about it, be about it. When you do it, you'll have a lot to talk about. People will respect you for that.
Enjoy the journey and the process...
Heres' the thing - this is not something new. In fact, I've heard "enjoy the moment", "be happy where you are", and "have fun in the journey" ton's of times. I always knew- "well yes, that is how you should be, it makes sense" but until I really BELIEVED it, it made only temporary difference. Once I did actually believe it - it was like a light went on. One of those "oh, shit" moments.
As actors, we all know the business is "hard", it's "really tough to break in," blah blah.
For instance here's a little story to help explain my point: awhile ago I got a audition notice for a pilot with a casting director I've always wanted to go in for. Believe it or not my initial reaction getting the audition was added stress. Immediately my mind went crazy - "oh I have to make sure I do an awesome job, oh I have to schedule a time to work with someone on this material, oh I have to rearrange my day for this audition, I NEED to do good" -whatever "good" means. So going there I was already in a bad head space. Long story short - went in and whether the audition was "good" or not I had a horrible time. The flip side of this, which I've done also, is trying to not care about it, even though you do. That doesn't work either.
I went out to eat with a friend of mine that weekend and during talking to him ultimately had a realization that felt like a lightbulb moment for some reason...
I can provide a good life for myself, outside of acting, and I do. My previous blog talks about this. Getting yourself set up for the future. It's a 10 year business. It takes 10 years to get a career going. Sometimes people get lucky and things happen before then, but usually they are ready, like having went to a performing arts college and been really working at it for a few good years. So set yourself up to have earn a good living outside of acting and try to avoid being the 40 year old bartender/waitress. That's kinda cute at 20. There's plenty of ways of doing this. I actually just heard a good podcast with Arnold Schwartzenegger interviewed by Tim Ferris (author of the 4-hour work week) that proved my point. Here's the link: http://fourhourworkweek.com/2015/02/02/arnold-schwarzenegger/ - I think in it he explains how he was a millionaire or close to before ever getting the acting career going. He was smart. Through real estate and other endeavors.
Who is your daddy.. and what does he do..?
So back to my point-
If I'm set up for the future, doing something where I enjoy and feel self-respect doing and that provides me the necessities (food, clothing, shelter) and actually a lot more, then why would I do anything I didn't fully enjoy? If I didn't fully enjoy acting, why do it? If you are another actor reading this, you know that you just have to, I know. You can act in class if you need to. But where does the stress and lack of fun, and idea that we have to suffer as artists come in? Truthfully probably a bit of it is ego. It's something we do to ourselves about the career. In reality, at least for me, if I look back I've already come further than I really thought I would. In fact, anyone who's had any professional jobs really acting have probably come further than 90% of the people who say they want to be an actor.
In most cases whether you know it or not. When you actually are enjoying the moment with something you are infinitely better at doing it because you are more relaxed, and happy, which frees up your creativity.
What happened next was pretty phenomenal. I had a few instances where I had to perform. I think it was a couple auditions and scene work in class and I decided to do one thing - HAVE FUN. Regardless of the outcome who cared. I didn't give two F's if anyone liked what I did. I was going to be selfish and perform for myself. In return I had a blast. The ironic this about this is whether I booked the job or not was irrelevant. However, what happened was that I seemed to get GREAT feedback and I didn't ask or wasn't looking for any of it. I was doing it for me and that was it. But as artists, doing it for yourself, just like painting or playing music, actually invites the audience in to go on a journey with you. At the end of the day, who cares you don't need it anyway. So try to enjoy it, and you may get surprised...
Actors need to be self reliant
This somewhat goes along with my last post - I recently had a friend (actress) who lived in midtown Manhattan with her boyfriend. They had an apartment in an ideal location and were definitely paying for that. Her boyfriend worked in finance or something and was making the money to afford them that apartment. They even got engaged. Months later, I another friend told me he went out on a date with this girl...the one who was engaged with the swanky midtown apartment. She's now living back home with her parents an hour from the city and is trying to set herself back up so she can be closer and start acting again. Moral of the story - actors/actresses need to be self reliant on no one but themselves. Being with someone in a relationship is great but relationships end ALL the time. Actors need to ALWAYS have a back up plan. I hate the struggling actor/starving artist mindset. Those who think they need to suffer for their craft. I think.. Jeremy Renner..he's a good actor right? He probably made a lot more money flipping houses than he did acting - at least at first. I even heard a story yesterday where he may have gotten his way in to producers by working on projects for them. Point is - actresses especially - set yourself up so you rely on NO ONE but yourself. It not only assures you will never have to give up the acting career, which can be a 10 year start, but it empowers you also. You don't just have to be a bartender or waitress. Use your brain a bit and think and you will find something that is even more ideal, better schedule, allows you to be creative, makes your more money, and allows you to live with yourself past 30 feeling proud. For me it was a real estate agent, then owning my own office to have people out there working for me and have some passive income, then buying property to create more passive income, etc. See what I mean? Allowing me to have the type of lifestyle I want, and that my friends that aren't in the business and work full-time have, all while pursuing my dream... Sure may have to just work a little harder than the next guy but hey, nothing in life worth having comes easy, or maybe it does?
Thinking longterm →
Been thinking a lot about this subject of career longevity. As far as a career in entertainment goes, I'm at the beginning of my career. It takes a long time to get to the level where you really want to be. I'm talking about to work your way up to be on the short list of #1 guys - we'll say top 500 of IMDB meter ranking. Guys that writers write for, and top agencies fight for.
See, I've always understand that this acting career takes a long time. Sure, you could the lottery and book one audition and be a overnight success, but a) that is like hitting the lottery and b) I wouldn't want to. Can you imagine being thrust in the limelight with no true training, or understanding of what you are doing or did to get there? Lots of "overnight" success in this business usually does not happen overnight. I'm talking like 99.9% of it. It's after years of hustling and grinding it out, working your way up, studying your craft, getting to know the right people, working on some smaller projects, creating a good trustworthy reputation (I think this might be most key because 1-so many wacko's in this business and 2-people are investing tons of money into projects and you are spending VERY long hours with people on set to be nothing less than a GREAT person meaning kind, trustworthy, honest, etc is not going to work) you suddenly get a role that seems to of been so lucky to get but it's after not getting thousands of them before and then becoming an "overnight" success to everyone else, but that's just because they didn't know who you were before.
I've talked to a lot of people about this who have been in this situation and it's always the same. I've also seen this happen a lot. Guys grinding it out, probably started way before I did and invested a lot in terms of their career, making the rounds and then - boom, overnight they seemingly come into the public awareness from a project out of no where. From an early age I think I knew this, and I was not into the starving artist lifestyle. It didn't appeal to me. I thought I was too smart for that. I will probably get a lot of shit for that b/c it's not the "artist" way of thinking but I don't really care one bit. Would like to see any actor come to me after 10 years of struggling and being a bartender and seeing all his friends have this life and do these things and then question what they are doing, etc, etc, and then have to take all these crap acting jobs just for money and not have the career he/she wanted anyway. I like to hedge my bets. I like a sure thing....or as sure as you can get.
I was ready for this career to take 5, 10, or 15 years if need be. If never "happened" then at least I was set up anyway and was going to ENJOY it (this is a topic I will get to in my next blog), but the sure thing was that I was going to be able to always pursue this dream. That was a sure thing. Whether I "made it" or not, and that is very subjective anyway, was always up in the air. I remember talking to Mark Wahlberg early in my career and he said, we'll the 5 year plan is to be bi-coastal...when I asked him about going to NYC or LA. So I was about 25 years old at the time and already knew it was going to take a bit. Here's a pic of us, when I was working with him for a few years, actually having the conversation...
I may of actually been bigger than him in this pic... I was a bit of a meat-head back then... Oh, and he's not taller than me I was just down the hill a bit... just wanted to clear that one up!
I knew that if I wasn't already an established actor in my 30's (meaning realistically making a good living and steadily working) I was not going to want to be up til 4 or 5 am bartending. I had to much respect for myself to do that. So I started thinking of good jobs that people had as careers already and trying to match up the most flexible one. The first I immediately thought about when talking to my uncle was to be a real estate agent. He had his real estate license and made like 5k on a Saturday afternoon for walking someone into a house basically. I thought I could do that so I did it. I got my license right after college and started doing it right when I got to NYC as well. It's the absolute most flexible job you could have and most lucrative at the same time, (Although I think the most flexible with a guarantee of some income is being a Lyft or Uber driver which I probably would have done had they been invented when I first came to NYC) The only problem with real estate is if you don't do a deal you don't get paid - it's 100% commission based but the money you can make is substantial. This drove me nuts for awhile, but in NYC I was lucky enough to make well over 6-figures just renting apartments out part time, never not being able to make an audition- and since most people work day jobs that means your showing at night anyway but not working til 4 am just 8pm or so. Even more so if something does pop up usually you can reschedule the appt until the next evening.
Then, even better I decided to become a broker/owner and saw the value in not having to worry about doing a deal but having agent's working under you doing deals and you getting a piece of the commission to the house. This is the website for my real estate company Prestige Properties www.prestigepropertygrp.com .
BOOM!
I also bought a few properties after college which has turned out to be an amazing venture. If any actors are reading this and are able to store away some money and buy and investment property -DO IT. It is building you equity for the long term and could make you money right now in right market. For instance, I live in Hoboken, NJ minutes from Manhattan, however I bought a house last year for 40k down (145k purchase price) and I pay $1000 mortgage a month but make $2100 a month in rent that is $1100 in my pocket and also when I pay that $1000 that essentially the tenants pay it goes towards my equity of paying principle down to having eventually no mortgage or when I sell it I don't owe anything. Not to mention big tax write-offs for depreciation and also the property itself usually appreciates in value over years for the most part. Win-Win-Win-Win. Boom.
In another avenue of creating passive income for myself I've stumbled across an online course that teaches you how to actually create a physical product and learn to sell it on the biggest online marketplace in the world - I love the idea of making money in your sleep. So that is another venture I'm trying. I'm not making a lot but at least its fun, rewarding, and there's room to grow. Here's the link to the first product I ever made: Ice Ball Maker. It was a top seller. It wasn't about finding the "perfect" product. I was just willing to try. Now I have a few other products lined up as well...
Click picture and buy one for yourself or as a gift through Amazon.com!
See for me - I was always about setting myself up. I never listened to anyone who said you couldn't do it my way. I was under the belief that you could be a good business man but also a good artist as well. Just had to train and work at both. Can't be working on being creative 24 hours a day just like you can't be doing business 24 hours a day. Time and place for everything. I just heard a podcast the other day that reconfirmed this idea for me. It was a guy named Tim Ferris, the author of the 4-hour workweek, interviewing Arnold Schwarzenegger - who was under this same mentality and was actually a milionnaire real estate property holder before ever hitting it big as an actor. Now that is what I'm talking about. I have four investment properties that I've bought since graduating college and make me money every month.
I think I may write a book on this subject sometime.
Most Wonderful Time of the Year...
Around this time it is natural to look back at the previous year, think of what you've done, try to not worry about what you haven't done, and hopefully your accomplishments outweigh your dissapointments.
Realistically, its like it was told to us when we were younger "All that matters is if you tried your best". It's actually true. There is so much out of your control. All that really matters is if you, and what was in your control was given the best effort.
2014 I can definitely say was, for me, a banner year. I remember thinking last year "When I go home next Christmas and New Year I'm going to have something to talk about" Not having to think about what to say when asked "So what's been going on?" Especially in regards to the acting career....
In a nutshell, I worked my @ss off this past year. I just kept pushing. Got myself on a great schedule. Did away with "to-do" lists, and rather made a good schedule for myself for the week ahead and scheduled my things I needed to do into the schedule, so that I did not feel overwhelmed. The idea came from hearing quite a few career coaches talk about it-they got the idea from Tony Robbins. So figured it must work and it has. Woke up earlier, worked harder.
I know that having something to talk about was out of my control, however I knew that if I kept going I was going to break through with something, or a few things. Yes, there was a lot I lost out on, however I can't think about those. Just keep moving forward.
I ended up signing with a new manager, booking a professional gig (My Bakery in Brooklyn)
with some talented actors and actresses who's work I've watched for years, and getting probably the one thing I tried for that was all in all my biggest accomplishment - A national Kay Jewelers commercial (click here to view) that not only was a commercial, but catapulted me into getting engaged.
This even played at the tree lighting in Rockefeller Center and we had a viewing party and a nearby bar with 30 friends. There was even a write up in the local hometown paper about it that got shared 22 times on FB and so many people I haven't heard from in a long time reached out to congratulate us. Our commercial even trended on Twitter...
On top of this, had my best year in Real Estate, bought a 3 family investment property myself,
This turned out to be an awesome investment...
invested in a 80-unit building in Jersey City, The Baker Building - Click Here, and developed the "Multi Size Ice Ball Maker" to sell on Amazon.com. My first product was a set of 4 silicone ice ball maker - Best for drinking in Scotch and Whiskey drinks but good for non-alcoholic stuff as well. Makes a great gift - actually sold out of them around Christmas
Click to pick one up for a gift of for yourself on Amazon!
...Just other ways of working toward building a very good cushion of passive income so I can spend more time on my passion (acting) in the next few years and still be making money to live comfortably. (not be a broke actor hopping from job to job, while picking up bartending shifts)
I gotta say. When you put your trust out there to the Universe and God and put in the work and leave it at that, you will surprise yourself to things you never thought possible and life becomes and awesome journey...
Here's to 2015.
Annapolis & Invincible
My curiosity after working on a low-budget film led me to want to see how a professional big-budget movie was made. One of my biggest influences at the time was a film called Fear, with Mark Wahlberg. I was completely into the world of this film and how perfectly every piece fit into the puzzle and how raw the acting was. It blew my mind how all the pieces could come together to make it. Also, I kind of thought Mark Wahlberg's character was such a badass for not being that big of a dude, and I felt like I related to that and him, (not because of the psycho he played) although if people cross me the wrong way I can definitely stick up for myself, but he was just the kind of actor and person I wanted to model myself after...
After my first year of college, a film called Annapolis, starring James Franco, Tyrese Gibson, and Donnie Wahlberg came to shoot in Philadelphia. During my freshmen year of college, the talent agent I met the previous summer told me to get head shots and she would keep me on file with her company.
It just so happened that this was a Disney film calling for hundreds of Navy "plebes". I was up for a role that I had a callback for, but was eventually cut from the film. Then I was up for a "core" group of about 12 plebes and was going to have to miss about 3 weeks of school. I didn't get that which is probably a good thing, but ended up working as an extra a bunch of days and had to go to "boot camp" I also had to shave my head and be one of the hundreds of "Navy Plebes". I got to meet James Franco, who I was a big fan of and respected as an actor, see how a big budge movie was made, and was able to bring my brother and friend to work in one of the larger scenes they needed lots of extra's for.
He looks worse than me in this pic...
My goal then changed to: Well now I'd like to see myself in a professional movie. The following summer a film called Invincible starring Mark Wahlberg came to Philadelphia where I got cast as the Philadelphia Eagles Ballboy. I have a good scene in that film along with Greg Kinnear. I take down Mark Wahlberg's time in the open tryout. It was a great experience to work with such established actors.
The ball was rolling. Invincible changed my perspective. I met one of the people I looked up to and was one of my role models in the business, Mark Wahlberg. We had a beer after that day of filming and got along quite well.
Just a funky bunch