Cinequest Film Festival Selection - "Everyday"

I am pleased to announce the short film I had the privilege of playing the lead in titled "Everyday" was picked up and selected by the Cinequest Film Festival in San Jose, CA. I am super excited about this. This film is one of my best acting jobs. I'm very thankful. Thanks to the awesome cast and crew of this film to include Cal Etcheverry, Jack Neuhoff, Ken Gallego, Claire Groves and Kenny Hada.

Cut out the worrying in any audition!

Look, let's face it...we all get nervous at different times during auditions because we really want the job. At time, it's as if we are directly focused on trying to impress just the Casting Directors, and we naturally continue to worry about what the Casting Director is thinking because we don't want to embarrass ourselves or make mistakes. 

Over the years, I have learned as an Actor there is so much that happens behind the scenes with the production to include the casting process. Those discussions and decisions are totally beyond the control of any Actor that auditions!! If you think about it, that's a pressure relief, because what is left?  See the 6 tips on ways you can be well-prepared to execute a strong audition:

  • You can just focus on doing a masterful job with the text you prepared!
  • Don't bring to the character what you think the Casting Directors want to see or hear. Bring your natural self to the character using your individual, emotional intelligence. Otherwise, the audition has high chances looking fake!
  • Improvise different emotions the audition sides/scenes call for such as cool, calm, anger laughter or an emotional mixture, and bring that same emotion back to the text of your sides/scenes. Repeatedly using this process will keep you on track to sounding real.
  • Workshops are expensive, right?  No matter if you get the part or if you didn't, use each audition experience as a way to educationally learn the business, as legitimate auditions are free, and it's better to always learn hands-on.  You nailing two birds with one stone. Repetitiously, you will learn what works and what doesn't work through the concept trial and error.
  • Transform your fears into energy and motivation to do better next time if you happen to not get the part! What doesn't get you down makes you stronger!! Rejection is like calories. They're both fuel for energy in order to achieve your goals.
  • And finally, breathe...relax...and have fun, because the camera will catch your true, genuine self minus any fake impressions.  

Acting is reacting and editing is reediting!

Just because you don't have any lines does not mean you get a break while the other actor's lines are performing.  Your reactions count more than the words that are coming out of your mouth.  Remember...93% of language is about nonverbal communication (body language) as well as your facial expressions, and the other 7% are the words.  

Same thing with editing...just because you have cut, clipped, teared, or marked any clips does not mean your job is complete.  A good editor does not give up after the first full attempt of editing an entire Feature Film, TV Program or even a Short Film.  There are so many elements involved with editing a film to include adjoining scenes and/or sequences, adding titles and music/scoring, rearranging clips and scenes, ADR (or looping), etc.  Just like with essays, there usually is a first draft, second draft, third draft, and so on.  Eventually with many drafts, the final draft will eventually come with hard effort and sheer dedication.