LIFE #3

Only a few of us got recalled for the third day. I wondered why they didn't call all the other cops and detectives?

As I walked over to the set, the PA stopped me and told me that I had to play an angry civilian. Unfortunately, no lines, but at least I got to act today. Wardrobe put me in different clothes and the scene began at the top with me and a detective on camera. I was supposed to be reporting a domestic disturbance and he was supposed to be taking note. He seemed unusually nervous and it turns out it was his first day. I tried to give him a few pointers, but ultimately he would need to learn on his own.

I finally got to see the principals and it was a pleasure seeing them work. They make it look so easy and their craft is quite humbling. Best of all, Sarah Shahi was hot and it made the day go by so quickly.

We were wrapped early again, but I couldn't understand why they held us when they weren't planning to use us at all for the last scene. I guess I'll never understand that. So afterwards, I drove to the pool in Glendale to work on my combat side stroke.

Afterwards, I got a call from Central asking me if I could work Life again. I was sad to have to say I couldn't because I promised the girls I would watch them perform in their talent show. It was kind of cool to see them, but I sure could have used the money.

LIFE #2

We were recalled and this time I brought my chair. I love that reclining chair. It's the best. I wish it had mesh cloth, but the fact that it reclines is great.

I was anxious to get on set today since I didn't work at all yesterday. It's kind of cool sitting around doing nothing and getting paid, but it gets old pretty fast. Besides, I wanted to see some of the actors work and I wanted to see the set.

I ended up being placed inside the police station which is supposed to be way up high in a building. I wonder if the LA police station is really that high? I doubt it. Anyway, I didn't really get to see the actors up close since I was placed pretty far back in the shot.

After eating a giant grilled sandwich, I took a nice long nap in the holding area. I didn't work again for the rest of the time so I just used my nephew's PSP to it's fullest. I was able to watch past episodes of Veronica Mars and Weeds. Weeds is a pretty cool show and I thank the nerd who invented the torrent.

LIFE

"Life" is one of my favorite television shows. It's about a cop who was framed for a murder and was released after ten years or something like that then goes back to the force to figure out who framed him. The lead actor, Damian Lewis, plays a cop who uses Zen to help him solve crimes and maintain his focus as he slowly figures out how he was framed.

I sat around set all day today and wasn't called to set even once. I'm not complaining though since it's a three-day call and my call time today was at 4pm. That allowed me to go to Walnut High in the morning to see how fast I could do 500 yards with the side stroke.

I was able to do it it in less than 19 minutes which ain't so bad in my book. However, to get the brown shirt in the Seal fitness challenge, I need to swim it in 12:30. So in about half a year, I need to shave off about seven minutes. I'm not sure how this is going to be possible. I think the first step will be to contact some swimmers I know and see what input they can give me.

GRE

Everytime someone asks me what the GRE is, I tell them it's a test you take to get into graduate school. I've been talking about graduate school for years, and I suppose the reason I haven't gone is because I'm really not that excited about it. If I could go to any graduate school, I'd go to Berkeley's Graduate School for Journalism. However, it's just too expensive for me right now, so I'll have to wait until I can afford it. That time may never come, but if it doesn't, then I guess it will be in the next lifetime.

The GRE stands for graduate record exam. The one I took this morning was comprised of two verbal sections, a quantitative section and two writing sections. I probably could have studied a lot more for it, but I've been dragging my heels so long, I decided there was no use delaying it any longer. Besides, I figured I should be able to score high enough to get into Cal State Fullerton's program.

The cool thing about taking the test is that you can get your score immediately after you take it. Only the written portion takes longer to get since it still needs to be scored. I ended up with a 560 in the verbal and 500 in the math. Not so great, but probably good enough to get into CSUF. I guess we'll see. If I don't get accepted, I'll need to make other plans. One thing is for sure - I'll be joining the Screen Actor's Guild sooner rather than later.

MALCOLM IN THE MIDDLE

Here's one of my favorite scenes from one of my favorite shows. It's funny when you see something that you've done before actualized on the screen.

ENTOURAGE

I finally got on Entourage! It was pretty exciting because I've always liked the show. I was cast as an agent, but not one of Arie's agents. Instead, I was cast as a Davies agent, Arie's enemy on the show.

We shot right across the street from the Academy of Motion Pictures & Sciences office on Wilshire. The building we shot in was the former ICM talent agency offices which were deserted when we were brought in. I recognized the interior from the show when we got inside.

I snuck into one of the corner offices to see the view. I wondered whose office it was that I was inside. How many deals were struck in there? How many agents and talent looked outside the same window I was looking through? Although I initially glamorized the ideal of working for a talent agency, I began to realize that it's probably just another job in the world of show business. I had worked in advertising before and some of the offices I've worked in were pretty amazing. The truth of the matter is that image is nearly everything in the industry. The offices are designed to impress your clients. Sometimes they design them to intimidate visitors. It gives you an advantage when you start working for them. They usually think, well, if these guys have offices like this, they must be serious with their work. But my feeling is that it's simply a facade. Good work comes from the people you work with, not from the environment.

Then again, maybe your work and your environment is similar to your mind and body. They're related to each other and some would say they are one and the same. One thing is for sure - I'd rather work in a nice environment if given the choice. But I don't think my work is very much different from one to another.

SAMANTHA WHO #5

Today was fairly easy since it was just one scene that takes place when Samantha (Christina Applegate) is moving into her new apartment. All the background folk were placed across the street (actually just outside of the sound stage) and my car was parked on the same side. When I was booked, the casting director hesitated when I told her my car was a '96. But I think because she's one of my peoples, she hooked me up. Thanks Annie!

Since I wrapped early, I went to the local LA city swimming pool to train. I'm hoping to get better with the side-stroke so I can swim confidently during the Seal Fitness Challenge that will take place early next year. The side-stroke was easy to learn, but I've got to work on my form. My friend Ryan told me that swimming is all about form, but I feel like endurance is a big part of it too. When I run, I can take as many breaths as I need to, but when I'm swimming, I don't feel like I can do that. I start gasping for breath when I swim hard. I'll need to get some pointers if I don't see any improvement.

Afterwards, I visited Ayet and Carlo in their new pad. It's close to the studios, so it was fun going out to dinner with them and hanging out. I'm so proud of them for going out on their own. They are such the happy couple. They told me I would be a ninong and all I could think was, how many godchildren do I have now?