So it is now 1:57am on August 30th. In about 6 hours and 9 minutes, I will officially be 29 years old- even though for the past 4 months I have just been telling everyone I am 29 instead of 28.... Did I have something against being 28? I will never know... but I do know that 30 is just around the corner and dammit.. I am glad. Most people start to get successful in their 30's, and that is certainly my plan.
A lot has happened with the show since I last blogged. We've had several more rehearsals. One where we blocked the rest of the show. Once where just certain characters worked together on their scenes. Yes we even worked on the "naked" scene- as this is now being called towards middle of Act I. This is the scene where both Alex and Mitchell (me) lose control of their desires and tear each other's clothes off. Just when you think my character is about to go down "the extra mile," in storms my character's agent and we get two off=guard naked men scrambling for their clothes.... Of course the first thing for me to grab would be a pillow. Let's call this whole naked bit with the pillows a "Pillow Sham" (must give credit here to director, Sherry Coon for that phrase which I just had to include in this blog. Thanks Sherry!
Also, for this upcoming week's rehearsals, it is time for us all to put down the scripts and force ourselves to stumble over Douglas Carter Beene's phrase oriented writing. As of yesterday, I memorized the rest of Act I... Poor Act II- she's the neglected child currently. But I have a feeling that tomorrow (on my birthday) I will be taking at least an hour or two to start my memorization for my child once neglected.
It is also official,.. I suck at getting things done. I still have my website to launch, my bio to write for the program, songs to write for the band, guitar players to find, non-profit websites to finish, and yes.... oh yes.... spend more time at my computer doing work for the restaurant, which can be tiresome enough while I am at work for 10 hours- just to come home to more work. Boooo!
I am really hard on myself.. I really wish I could split myself into a second person, I would be AMAZING and would be on the ball for almost everything. So besides the intense emotional obstacles in my current relationship of almost 2 years, my never ending work at the restaurant, my lack of sleep and my submission to the dark side of my diet. I am doing great! And yet,... no one is reading my blogs yet.... Oh well... Goodnight.
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Friday, August 21, 2009
Blocking: The Beginning
I just realize that my Audition never had a part 2. Hmmmm.... Well tonight we worked on blocking for about 1/2 of the first act. I have to say, I am feeling a little insecure about my acting at this point- and really hate my job. For the past 2 days I have had no choice but to put all my efforts into projects for work... Not even the gym just so I could go to rehearsal tonight feeling stressed and out of place and well just like a slacker for not doing any homework over the past couple of days. All I have to say is that THIS IS FUCKING HARD! Yes I just used profanity, but seriously if you had my life you would too.
On top of this show, I am also the lead singer of an "openly gay" rock band (trying to put together 6 songs to record sometime- now in November), I am GM of a restaurant where no one has the ability to complete any tasks without my direction and supervision, I have a significant other who has the worst communication skills on the planet (thus more stress), a cat that doesn't allow me to sleep, a dog that requires my attention 24-7- poops on everything except his fake grass- and chews on everything chemically toxible (is that a word) so the 2 hours I get between my insane job and rehearsal I need to spend cleaning up his vomit and at the doctors office where I basically blow all my birthday money from my Mother. I guess I really shouldn't complain, but life is just fucking out of control right now.
Away from the rant and rave and back to rehearsal.... :-) No I promise I am smiling. My blocking is going well... I seem to fall into that pretty naturally for some parts. But my exploration of the character ceases to be productive while I have this crippling script in my hand. I know what I am going to do. I am going to record the parts of the script that I need to learn and memorize by Sunday and just listen to them on repeat on my iPod. Jesus... I need like 5 personal assistants right now... Hell I'd even take one in the condition I am in.
But WAIT... there's more.... I have like 10 things to actually get done in regards to this show for me doing this show to actually be worth while. I need to:
1-Find some way to link my facebook, myspace, blog and twitter (once I set it up) to my www.louistrent.com homepage. Then I need to create a spot advertising this show I am in. Send out a mass email to all 1000 people in my contact list letting them now I am naked and come see me. God knows only how many will actually come. I guess there is only one thing worse than being gay and open about it, is being gay and on stage in a gay play and NAKED.
Strangely I am really okay with this. I have no clue how this is furthering my life, but I can almost promise that my sisters will NOT come to see this show- which is cool. However, most of my friends: Brian, Christian, etc. will all be there with bells on. The best part is that they will come see the show just because they love the concept of the show and love me as a human alien and not just to gawk over my naked body. Which there is really nothing to gawk about... yet.
Well this has been the first RANT blog of the series... Hopefully one day someone will read this blog and respond that there are other life forms in cyberspace. Until then. I need to learn my lines- FYI, I can totally relate to my character right now and how he must feel with all the pressure of life on his shoulders- yet still be what everyone expects him to be.... Superman.
On top of this show, I am also the lead singer of an "openly gay" rock band (trying to put together 6 songs to record sometime- now in November), I am GM of a restaurant where no one has the ability to complete any tasks without my direction and supervision, I have a significant other who has the worst communication skills on the planet (thus more stress), a cat that doesn't allow me to sleep, a dog that requires my attention 24-7- poops on everything except his fake grass- and chews on everything chemically toxible (is that a word) so the 2 hours I get between my insane job and rehearsal I need to spend cleaning up his vomit and at the doctors office where I basically blow all my birthday money from my Mother. I guess I really shouldn't complain, but life is just fucking out of control right now.
Away from the rant and rave and back to rehearsal.... :-) No I promise I am smiling. My blocking is going well... I seem to fall into that pretty naturally for some parts. But my exploration of the character ceases to be productive while I have this crippling script in my hand. I know what I am going to do. I am going to record the parts of the script that I need to learn and memorize by Sunday and just listen to them on repeat on my iPod. Jesus... I need like 5 personal assistants right now... Hell I'd even take one in the condition I am in.
But WAIT... there's more.... I have like 10 things to actually get done in regards to this show for me doing this show to actually be worth while. I need to:
1-Find some way to link my facebook, myspace, blog and twitter (once I set it up) to my www.louistrent.com homepage. Then I need to create a spot advertising this show I am in. Send out a mass email to all 1000 people in my contact list letting them now I am naked and come see me. God knows only how many will actually come. I guess there is only one thing worse than being gay and open about it, is being gay and on stage in a gay play and NAKED.
Strangely I am really okay with this. I have no clue how this is furthering my life, but I can almost promise that my sisters will NOT come to see this show- which is cool. However, most of my friends: Brian, Christian, etc. will all be there with bells on. The best part is that they will come see the show just because they love the concept of the show and love me as a human alien and not just to gawk over my naked body. Which there is really nothing to gawk about... yet.
Well this has been the first RANT blog of the series... Hopefully one day someone will read this blog and respond that there are other life forms in cyberspace. Until then. I need to learn my lines- FYI, I can totally relate to my character right now and how he must feel with all the pressure of life on his shoulders- yet still be what everyone expects him to be.... Superman.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
The Read Through
Today started the rehearsal schedule and work schedule combo. Of course, it always takes me forever to get out of work. Even though I wanted to leave at 3pm, I got stuck at work till 4:15pm and my boss booed and moaned that "for the first time, she showed up to our manager meeting remotely on-time" and we weren't able to do it because my executive chef's dog had to go to the hospital and I had to finish up on all the incoming calls through the day of a phone that never stopped ringing. Not a bad thing. But never the less, I was playing catch-up ALL DAY LONG.
We'll this blog isn't necessarily about my nightmares with the restaurant I run, it's about my revisit to a career I thought I had and since had lost. So here we go. The first rehearsal- the read through.
I have to say that I am pretty happy with the director's choices in casting. Everyone fits their part well and everyone seems to be very professional and talented. Whooeee! Potential romantic comedy train-wreck avoided.
For the past 2 days I have been mulling over the first act of the play. Didn't even read the second act until the read through tonight. It's actually a really great play and would make an even better movie. The best part is that I pretty much am my character. So it is not a far stretch for me. Doesn't mean that I will not have to stretch my abilities at some point. Just means that I have a better canvas to work from.
We all joked and commented as we read through the script, the director gave some noted as we finished each act, and everyone shared the trader joe's brownie bites except for me. I was a good boy and let everyone know that I was really putting pressure on myself to lose the excess weight prior to opening night. I have taken myself off my coffee addiction and have decreased my carb intake pretty significantly. I love my female counterpart, Diane, she really is an awsome actress, and although I wasn't overtly impressed with my male counterpart Alex during the audition, he is actually a pretty talented and much better actor than I initially though- not to meantion a really nice guy. So I am happy.
Now is just the memorization. I have scene 1 pretty much down, I just need to get the rest of the play down and I will be in good shape. As for the blog, I have decided that I am only going to write when I have rehearsal or have something significant to report about this endeavor. Thanks for reading, if you are reading. :-) If you're not reading, well then HA! this is just for me. Goodnight.
We'll this blog isn't necessarily about my nightmares with the restaurant I run, it's about my revisit to a career I thought I had and since had lost. So here we go. The first rehearsal- the read through.
I have to say that I am pretty happy with the director's choices in casting. Everyone fits their part well and everyone seems to be very professional and talented. Whooeee! Potential romantic comedy train-wreck avoided.
For the past 2 days I have been mulling over the first act of the play. Didn't even read the second act until the read through tonight. It's actually a really great play and would make an even better movie. The best part is that I pretty much am my character. So it is not a far stretch for me. Doesn't mean that I will not have to stretch my abilities at some point. Just means that I have a better canvas to work from.
We all joked and commented as we read through the script, the director gave some noted as we finished each act, and everyone shared the trader joe's brownie bites except for me. I was a good boy and let everyone know that I was really putting pressure on myself to lose the excess weight prior to opening night. I have taken myself off my coffee addiction and have decreased my carb intake pretty significantly. I love my female counterpart, Diane, she really is an awsome actress, and although I wasn't overtly impressed with my male counterpart Alex during the audition, he is actually a pretty talented and much better actor than I initially though- not to meantion a really nice guy. So I am happy.
Now is just the memorization. I have scene 1 pretty much down, I just need to get the rest of the play down and I will be in good shape. As for the blog, I have decided that I am only going to write when I have rehearsal or have something significant to report about this endeavor. Thanks for reading, if you are reading. :-) If you're not reading, well then HA! this is just for me. Goodnight.
Monday, August 17, 2009
Back to Acting - Part 1: The Audition
Did you ever work so hard to achieve something in one area of your life, but never seem to reach your goal? Maybe you didn't even know what your goal really was, you just allowed yourself to be a pinball on a random course of hit and miss till you finally gave up the fight and let the ball drop. This is how I relate to my acting career.
I am sure there have been many actors out there who have dreamt of being on TV or movies or even in a Broadway show. I must say I am guilty of all three and still have not managed to work my way there. I used to think it was a lack of talent on my part, but recently I have learned that talent really has only a small part to do with it.
Let me start off this blog the right way. Tell you a little bit about me and my background.... I'll try to keep it to the point. Catch me if I start to babble, okay?
My name is Louis and I am a 29 years old male from a small metropoliatan town in NJ. I was actually named Michael Angelo at birth, however my father decided to have his only son named after him. To be a king or an artist, that is the question. Does it surprise you that my father is currently not talking to me? (We'll get to that as the plot thickens.)
I grew up loving to be in the spotlight. I actually got my first taste of real spotlight at the age of 6 as I stood in my elementary school infront of everyone and with only a giant cut-out of a green dragon, cut-out of a little boy, a little barbershop hat and a microphone I sang Peter, Paul and Mary's "Puff the Magic Dragon" for my 1st Grade talent show. I was so darn cute back then, who could resist applauding my job well done and talent. Thank you mom for putting me out there and for drawing and cutting those amazing cut outs. I kid you not, my mother is the real artist in the family- she is always able to create a masterpiece out of nothing.
Well, that brings me to my second glimpse of spotlight... The Haphazard role.
My best friend in the 5th grade elementary was Scott. (Scott currently is living his dreams with his amazing talent for poetry and influencing kids lives) Since I was mostly friendless in the 5th grade, Scott was nice enough to take me under his wing and crack me out of my shell a little. We performed "The Bartman" for the 5th grade talent show and that summer I went to camp with Scott where he dragged me to audition for an abriged version of "Grease".... I was happy to settle for a chorus part, but he made me get up and sing for the lead. Well, needless to say, he was right.... I got the lead and played Danny Zucko. I don't know how my acting was, but my parents raved about it for years.
That brings me to the current day and age. August 10th, 2009 (1 week ago) when I drove my North Hollywood apartment to an audition for the first time in 5 years. The whole reason I came to California was to persue acting in TV or Film, yet had made a better name for myself in a couple of different rock 'n roll bands. So I thought, if one door opens, why continue to try the keys of the other doors? Well this time I did.
I auditioned for a fairly modern play called "The Little Dog Laughed" (author and links will come later). My first cold read was pretty darn good. I just tried to regurgitate all the tools I had learned from my 4 years of Acting training in college. Beats. How is your character acting? What is his intention at this time? What is the subtext in between the lines? Are you actually listening and responding?
Long story short. I got a call-back for the next night.
Tuesday I go into the call-back, almost 100% sure that the director had thought I was okay and just wanted to compare me to the person she really wanted to cast- the really handsome guy with a great body and dark hair. Well surprise, surprise... this stunning masterpiece from God wasnt even at the callback. But there was that one guy... looked almost exactly like me with a shaved head and scruffy facial hair- Oh! He's the one they are going to cast. He was actually reading for both male leads that night... I didn't get a chance to read with him until the final scene where we didn't really talk to each other and I thought we had GREAT stage chemistry.
Once again, Louis is wrong.... this guy didn't get cast in either role. In fact, it just so happens that I am cast as the lead.... WTF??? Seriously? Did the $18,000 dollars of acting training pay of that well? Cause it certainly didn't work for the past 7 years. I dunno, but all I have to say is this- and then I will let your eyes rest for the night- I have never been so excited to be back on stage as I am now. I just hope all my friends and family are okay with seeing me 100% naked on stage and I do not mean emotionally exposed. Yes, there is a scene where I will need to take off all my clothes. Let's see how this one starts to pan out.... I can just see the Disclaimer on the fliers now "Parental Advisory: Artistic Nudity".
Good Night my new Blog friends and thank you to the movie Julia & Julie for making me start this blog.
I am sure there have been many actors out there who have dreamt of being on TV or movies or even in a Broadway show. I must say I am guilty of all three and still have not managed to work my way there. I used to think it was a lack of talent on my part, but recently I have learned that talent really has only a small part to do with it.
Let me start off this blog the right way. Tell you a little bit about me and my background.... I'll try to keep it to the point. Catch me if I start to babble, okay?
My name is Louis and I am a 29 years old male from a small metropoliatan town in NJ. I was actually named Michael Angelo at birth, however my father decided to have his only son named after him. To be a king or an artist, that is the question. Does it surprise you that my father is currently not talking to me? (We'll get to that as the plot thickens.)
I grew up loving to be in the spotlight. I actually got my first taste of real spotlight at the age of 6 as I stood in my elementary school infront of everyone and with only a giant cut-out of a green dragon, cut-out of a little boy, a little barbershop hat and a microphone I sang Peter, Paul and Mary's "Puff the Magic Dragon" for my 1st Grade talent show. I was so darn cute back then, who could resist applauding my job well done and talent. Thank you mom for putting me out there and for drawing and cutting those amazing cut outs. I kid you not, my mother is the real artist in the family- she is always able to create a masterpiece out of nothing.
Well, that brings me to my second glimpse of spotlight... The Haphazard role.
My best friend in the 5th grade elementary was Scott. (Scott currently is living his dreams with his amazing talent for poetry and influencing kids lives) Since I was mostly friendless in the 5th grade, Scott was nice enough to take me under his wing and crack me out of my shell a little. We performed "The Bartman" for the 5th grade talent show and that summer I went to camp with Scott where he dragged me to audition for an abriged version of "Grease".... I was happy to settle for a chorus part, but he made me get up and sing for the lead. Well, needless to say, he was right.... I got the lead and played Danny Zucko. I don't know how my acting was, but my parents raved about it for years.
That brings me to the current day and age. August 10th, 2009 (1 week ago) when I drove my North Hollywood apartment to an audition for the first time in 5 years. The whole reason I came to California was to persue acting in TV or Film, yet had made a better name for myself in a couple of different rock 'n roll bands. So I thought, if one door opens, why continue to try the keys of the other doors? Well this time I did.
I auditioned for a fairly modern play called "The Little Dog Laughed" (author and links will come later). My first cold read was pretty darn good. I just tried to regurgitate all the tools I had learned from my 4 years of Acting training in college. Beats. How is your character acting? What is his intention at this time? What is the subtext in between the lines? Are you actually listening and responding?
Long story short. I got a call-back for the next night.
Tuesday I go into the call-back, almost 100% sure that the director had thought I was okay and just wanted to compare me to the person she really wanted to cast- the really handsome guy with a great body and dark hair. Well surprise, surprise... this stunning masterpiece from God wasnt even at the callback. But there was that one guy... looked almost exactly like me with a shaved head and scruffy facial hair- Oh! He's the one they are going to cast. He was actually reading for both male leads that night... I didn't get a chance to read with him until the final scene where we didn't really talk to each other and I thought we had GREAT stage chemistry.
Once again, Louis is wrong.... this guy didn't get cast in either role. In fact, it just so happens that I am cast as the lead.... WTF??? Seriously? Did the $18,000 dollars of acting training pay of that well? Cause it certainly didn't work for the past 7 years. I dunno, but all I have to say is this- and then I will let your eyes rest for the night- I have never been so excited to be back on stage as I am now. I just hope all my friends and family are okay with seeing me 100% naked on stage and I do not mean emotionally exposed. Yes, there is a scene where I will need to take off all my clothes. Let's see how this one starts to pan out.... I can just see the Disclaimer on the fliers now "Parental Advisory: Artistic Nudity".
Good Night my new Blog friends and thank you to the movie Julia & Julie for making me start this blog.
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