Nurture Your Creative Potential

Like the seed just sprouted and beginning to grow so are our latent creative abilities. Weather you have never performed artistically or just booked a lead role on Broadway you must continually plant the creative seeds today that will bare fruit for your next project.

Recently I realized how important this was when I returned to my favorite improv theater, the Upright Citizens Brigade. Over the past 5 years I have made at least 20% of my income as a commercial actor and I can attribute much of my success to my training in improvisation.

As of present, I've taken classes at the top improv schools in NYC, booked over 50 commercials, shot dozens of short films, comedy sketches and YouTube videos. From an external perspective it would appear that I have a good career as a working actor. Things are moving and my opportunities are slowly progressing and getting better.  Internally I feel something missing.

I began to blame the people and things around me for my malcontent feelings. The strange thing was that as I examined my life, I could find very little wrong or out of place. Not that everything was perfect, far from it, but I could see that I was outflowing energy to all of the areas in my life that needed it. I was building my business, going on auditions, spending quality time with my girlfriend, family and friends, participating in church activities, giving to charity, recycling... Then pow! It hit me. I'm doing nothing for myself spiritually. Woa, I'm not feeding the thing in me that makes me, me. I'm sure I could write more cheesy stuff here about how great it feels to do good things for yourself but the fact is you have to experience it to fully understand. For me I'm happiest watching, writing or performing theater - especially comedy.

Recently I've committed to 3 nights out at the theater per week either performing or watching improv shows. I'm writing more and have started the processes outlined in the book The Artist's Way. This book has been referred to me several times throughout the years. I can see why I need it now more than ever and thank God I'm finally reading it.

Booking: Miller Light ESPN Promo

I'm on set in a brand new 50 foot motor home about to go into wardrobe and makeup. Its always nice to book a bigger budget project. I already had craft services make me an omelet and from what I understand they have hired a stunt double for me! I always enjoy doing stunts but hey, if I can chill while some other guy flings himself on the ground - awesome!

We are shooting in Newark, it's raining and I got 5 hours of sleep. Nope, not glamorous but still looking forward to and awesome production experience nonetheless.

Auditioning

Headed out for an audition for the American Heart Association. They want a stunt man. If they choose me, they will have chosen wisely.

Helicopter Lifted!

We finally made it back to Kathmandu - on a helicopter! Finally, thank god! The situation in Lukla was rapidly deteriorating: no flights, bad weather every day with constant rain, same food every day, filthy bathrooms, mice, dog fights and all the people there were starting to LOOSE IT! We were very happy to get out when we did.

We did meet some great people from the UK who shared the chopper ride with us. Hopefully we can get reimbursed for the cost of the flight as it was more like an evacuation than a chartered fun ride...

Regardless it was all part of an amazing experience. Check "helicopter ride through the Himalayan mountains" off the bucket list. Minus the 3 days stuck in Lukla I would do it all again.

Stuck in Lukla!

Help I'm being held hostage by mother nature!

Back in Lukla

So we hiked up as close to Everest base camp as we could before weather came in and forced us back down to Lukla. Now we are waiting for a plane. Here are some pictures from our trip. The one with the fog is my current view from the airport.

All Up In Namche Bazar Like What!?

So we hiked up to this place (~ 3,400 meters) and almost got altitude sickness - I personally had a nasty headache and could barely walk a few steps without loosing my breath. However the food and the view are well worth it and after 12 hours of sleep and some lemon and ginger tea and some radish soup I'm ready to tackle Everest... Or at lest the next few feet of or trip.

Daily Life

Here you wash your clothes by hand. You will need a bar of laundry soap and some clean water. At our host house they have a well and a reserve tank. The country rations electricity so without a reserve tank when the power is off there is no water. The power is off several hours every day.

The Nepali tea is delicious. To make it you brew tea with milk, cardamon, sugar and cloves. After only a few days I look forward to this morning ritual.

Tour of Bhaktapur

Today I saw a 134 foot tall statue of Shiva, clay pots being made by hand, 400 year old temples and about 1000 motorcycles.

Bhat Bhateni Hindu Temple

First of many that will be visited on this trip!

Area around Bouddha Stupa

We made it!

Me and my new fam!

16 hours in Doha, Qatar

Three complementary meals, a lounge chair and two cappuccinos later we depart Doha airport.

Qatar Airport

Local time 20:18 or 8:18pm. We are 7 hours ahead of New York. I finally set my watch to the correct date. It has been a day behind since daylight savings in the spring. Daylight savings is stupid. As a matter of fact let's start a campaign to eliminate it. #daylightsavingsisstupid

Travel Hiku

Riding on the bus
Monsoon season in Nepal
I am waterproof

Packing for Nepal

Forethought and preparation is key when traveling to a distant country. Most importantly I have had my vaccinations and my sister (my travel companion who lived in Nepal for a year) will be a good guide.

Two Recent Photos

 I like to travel to warm areas were the sky and water are both blue. Aruba above, Malibu below.

Preproduction

My goal is to produce a narrative concept that is worthy of a feature or series.  Right now some basic concepts are being thrown around... Ideally it would seem that this project should highlight my unique skill set and be a vehicle for my career's expansion.  At the same time I'm most interested in seeing my ideas brought to life so my character doesn't necessarily have to be the center of the story.

We see a world ignorant of it's own peril.  Each individual caught in the traps and drama of their own games and desires.  There are those who have gained the ability to see life from an exterior perspective and who still choose to participate in the drama. Their goal is to pull the strings of society and to avoid the demise of the race...

Started Two New Songs Today

I'm going back over some old beats that I have and seeing if I can write songs over them.  Not that that should be some big challenge it's just that I think that sometimes we get caught up in chasing the newest-cool-hip thing.  This I believe, is a distraction and allows the artist to make excuses for not producing.  "I would make music but I need new beats" was mine.  Now things are moving and I'm going to apply the same philosophy to creating my own film projects.

Yesterday I met with Jessica Daniels NBC Primetime Casting Director at Paul Michael's The Network.  Jessica was fun to work with and gave good notes on our scenes.  It would be great to get onto 30 Rock but I think this will be the show's last season.  More importantly I got to meet her and hopefully I will work with her on future pilots and film projects.

New Blog For a New Era

Hello out there!  Why am I writing this?  I want to share with you how to get more, get in, fit in, get fit and stop freaking out about trying to be perfect and make something out of your life.  Something big! No something HUGE!  With this blog I can be international, intercontinental, inter-universal!  I love being able to communicate with you here. I want you to communicate back to me.  I want you to communicate to others what you have witnessed here.  I want you to think to yourself, "Damn this is cool. This guy is hip.  He must live on the pulse of existence!" Yea that's what this is all about...