Hello, friends. I have little news to report; recently I have auditioned frequently but not gotten any parts. Nonetheless, some of the auditions have been surprising so I share them mostly for your entertainment.

I have in the last month auditioned for two, count ‘em two, Spanish-language telenovelas. I am called back for one of them this Saturday; the other casts continually, so they could really call me at anytime. This second one is not too picky about its actors, actually. It is a broadcast program–I just watched an episode the other day–but it is quite clear the actors are inexperienced.

In another audition, I played a homeless, mentally-ill Peruvian man called “el americano.” The character was called “el americano” because he looked North American.

I auditioned to play a guest at the prom in a music video by Monet for the Disney Channel. It was to air during “The Secret Life of Zach and Cody.” Part of the audition included “busting a move like we were at the prom.” I now regret not rocking them with “the worm.” If nothing else, it would have been memorable for everyone.

One time I got called back as a Latter Day Saints missionary for a spec commercial; I was eager for this one because a friend had recently said I reminded them of an LDS missionary. For you “30 Rock” fans, the breakdown also said I was supposed to be “like Kenneth from 30 Rock.”

So the answer for most of these auditions is “no.” But I can say pretty genuinely that most of the time, “no” does not get to me like it used to. My perspective is that in Hollywood, you need to knock at every door you can find. The vast majority of the answers you get are “nos,” but you need to keep knocking. Steady on, steady on, because sometimes there are “yeses.”

Audiciones Recientes

Hola, amigos. Tengo pocas noticias que reporter; recientemente, audiciono con frecuencia pero no me ha salido ningún papel. De todas maneras, algunas audiciones les van a sorprender, así que las comparto para entretenerlos.

Este mes, audicioné para dos telenovelas en español. Para una, tengo una segunda audición el sábado; escogen actores continuamente para la otra, así que me podrían llamar en cualquier momento. Ésta segunda no requiere mucho de sus actores. Ahorita vi un episodio y está claro que los actores tienen poca experiencia.

En otra audición, el papel fue de un hombre peruano que vivía en la calle y tenía una enfermedad mental. El personaje se llamaba “el americano” porque se veía norteamericano.

Audicioné para ser un joven en el prom de un video musical de Monet para el Canal Disney. Se iba a presentar durante “The Secret Life of Zach and Cody,” un programa muy bien conocido entre los niños de aquí. Tuve que bailar en esta audición y ahora pienso que debía hacer un movimiento que se llama “el lombris.” De todas maneras, no me dieron el papel y por lo menos así me habrían recordado muy facilmente.

En otra audición me tocó ser un misionero “LDS” (mormón); estaba emocionado por este papel porque recientemente una amiga me dijo que le recordaba de un misionero mormón. Para la gente que mira el programa “30 Rock,” la descripción decía que debía ser parecido a “Kenneth de 30 Rock.”

Pues, en la mayoría de estas audiciones, me dijeron que no. Pero puedo decir con toda sinceridad que la mayoría del tiempo, “no” ya no me molesta tanto como en el pasado. Mi perspectiva es que, en Hollywood, hay que tocar toda puerta que se presenta. La gran mayoría del tiempo, la respuesta es “no,” pero hay que seguir tocando. La persistencia vale la pena porque de vez en cuando la respuesta es “sí.”

Last week, I was particularly excited to audition for a musical theatre version of “Great Expectations.” It would give me further experience acting with a posh British accent, and I am eager to do any project that recreates great literature.

 The audition required 16 measures from a ballad and 16 from an up-tempo song, so I pulled out two pieces I worked on with my voice teacher back in Madison. I practiced more or less every day during the five days preceding the audition.

 Just an hour before the audition, I began to rethink my choices. Perhaps a different section of “Not While I’m Around” would be more moving. And if I chose the beginning rather than the end of “I Could Write a Book,” it would make more sense to those casting.

I unwisely decided to go ahead with the changes, and appropriately reaped poor results. 

The audition was poor in part because the accompanist’s complete reading of the music and driving tempo were foreign to me. Usually I play just the bass or treble clef at whatever tempo seems natural to me.

But this element aside, my audition would certainly have been better had I stuck with the selections I had diligently practiced. Rather than a fair representation of my abilities, I presented an unsure and expressionless performance.

Back in LA after two different vacations, I was ready to be auditioning, so I set to submitting for parts. Last weekend, this began to pay off. I had five auditions over the weekend.

A principios de este mes, regresé a Los Angeles después de dos viajes. Tenía muchas ganas de audicionar para papeles, así que empecé a enviar mis fotos y CV’s. El fin de la semana pasada, empecé a ver resultados. Tuve cinco audiciones ese fin de semana.

Two of the auditions were of particular interest. First, I got called back for the role of Rolf in a production of the Sound of Music. True, the role would have been unpaid, and I would have needed to drive a good thirty miles each way every day. But I always wanted the part, and Rolf’s song is right in my sweet spot vocally.

Dos papeles me llamaban la atención en particular. Primero, me llamaron para una segunda audición para la obra “the Sound of Music” (el Sonido de la Música). No pagaban el papel, y me habría tocado manejar 60 kilómetros de ida y de vuelta, todos los días. Pero siempre quería ser Rolf, y su canción es muy apropriada para la tonalidad de mis voz.

But the night before the callback, I got a call from my agent to audition for a pizza commercial the next day.

Pero la noche antes de la audición de Rolf, mi agente me llamó sobre una audición el próximo día para una propaganda de pizza.

My heart wanted to go to the callback. When would the opportunity to play Rolf come up again? But I have a commitment to my agent. If I do not show up at an audition, this makes him look bad. He also has a rule that if a client misses three auditions for non-emergency reasons, he will no longer represent him.

Mi corazón quería ir a la audición de Rolf. ¿Cuándo tendría de vuelta la oportunidad de ser Rolf? Pero tengo un comprometimiento con mi agente. Si no me presento para una audición, se daña la reputación de él. Además, sus reglas dicen que, si sus clientes pierden tres audiciones por razones que no sean emergencias, él ya no los representa.

So I compromised. I called the play’s casting director to see if I could audition at another time; they said they understood my predicament, but that the times were quite fixed. All the kids auditioning to be Von Trapp children could not stand by while I had my fifteen minutes with the director.

Así que traté de maniobrar la situación. Llamé a la directora de casting de la obra de teatro para ver si pudiera audicionar en otro momento; dijo que se simpatizaba con mi situación, pero que las horas de las audiciones estaban muy fijas. Los muchos niños que tenían que audicionar no podrían esperar mientras yo tuviera mis 15 minutos con el director.

Knowing this, I tried to audition for the commercial early. I saw a posting at the location for a pizza commercial, and I thought “score! This is going to work out!” When I looked closer, though, the posting was for “Masterpiece Theatre” guys in their fifties or sixties. The commercial’s casting director emerged and confirmed that I would need to be there at my call time.

Al saber esto, traté de audicionar temprano para la propaganda. Vi una hoja en la locación para la propaganda de pizza, y pensé “¡éxito!” Pero cuando miré de cerca, la hoja hablaba de hombres de cincuenta o sesenta años de edad. Cuando se asomó la directora de casting de la propaganda, confirmó que tenía que venir al mismo momento que la otra audición.

Then I drove as fast as I could to the callback in case something miraculously changed, but no dice. I waited as long as I could, but the Von Trapp children hadn’t even started when I needed to leave for the pizza audition.

Manejé lo más rápido posible a la audición de Rolf, en caso de que algo se cambiara milagrosamente, pero no tuve tanta suerte. Esperé todo lo que podía, pero los niños ni habían empezado cuando tuve que salir para la otra audición.

I made it back to the pizza audition. I think I did pretty well, but I didn’t get the part. The victory I see in the day is having stuck with my commitment. But I would have loved to play that part!

Llegué a tiempo para la audición de pizza. Pienso que me fue bien, pero no me dieron el papel. La victoria que veo en el día es que fui responsable. Pero, ¡Señor! ¡me habría fascinado tocar ese papel!

Hello, folks! This week is dress rehearsal week for Much Ado About Nothing, and we open Friday. I here include the postcard we are distributing to promote the production. Please note that I will not perform the final weekend, as I plan to be in Colombia.

I recently received the role of Balthazar in The Knightsbridge Theater’s new production of Much Ado About Nothing. My role is not large, but I am eager for my first Shakespeare experience. I am also excited because the production is set in the 1940’s, just as the soldiers are coming home from World War II.

True, being in a play will limit my availability for other acting opportunities over the next couple of months. However, I think the long-term benefits of acting in the play will outweigh the costs. Acting Shakespeare should improve my ability to portray characters completely, and I hope it will help prepare me for meaningful and period pieces.

Allow me a moment to explain myself. Though certain roles appeal to me now, I also have a “someday” category in my heart of hearts. I would someday like to act in movies with excellent messages, the sort where one would rightly be glad such a message is heading out into the world. For example, I put The Shawshank Redemption and The Pianist under this classification. My other “someday” yearning is to do movies set in the past–say in the 18th or 19th century–and perhaps even in Great Britain. I have a real tender spot for the British Isles.

Now, if my availability for film acting is ever to be limited, I think early on in my career is the best time. A casting director could call me in the next couple of months, offering me a role in her newest motion picture—but this is more likely to happen later on than it is now.

I am excited about the play’s 1940’s setting because it allows for three swing dancing numbers. Back in Wisconsin, I learned to swing dance at The Art of Dance Studio for a ballroom dancing competition. I am eager to refresh my skills and to learn some new fancier moves for the show. Our dancing director has referenced throws and “holding girls upside down.”

The show runs October 26 to November 25, though an understudy will play my role the last weekend, when I plan to be in Colombia. If any of you is in LA, please come and see the show! Acting in a play matters so much more to me when people I am close to are present.

From time to time, people ask how successful my pursuit of a film acting career has been so far. The only response that is satisfying to me so far is “I am doing what I have always wanted to do, and that is success in itself.” Answering with greater specificity, I have improved as an actor through acting in short films; I understand the process of film making better because I have done extras work; I am more prepared for auditioning and performing because I have taken some good classes.

My understanding of these successes is that they have been open doors for me as they would be for most people. The short films I have acted in have not been seen by many people besides classmates of the films’ directors. Also, anyone can become a background actor whether he is talented or not. Finally, I paid for those classes, so an open door there is not remarkable.

Now for the flip side: Though these short films were small projects, I nonetheless auditioned for them and was the one selected for my roles. Regarding background work, though anyone can do it, film makers have, at times, chosen me for specific tasks they might not have chosen me for. Finally, though I did not have to audition for the classes I have taken, the plays and student movies I acted in before moving to LA convinced one of the schools they should allow me to take a class that usually required prerequisites.

Putting it all together, I think I have had some successes since I got to Los Angeles. But, perhaps more important, I mean to be one of the people who “shows up:” I shall keep the commitments I make and keep pursuing acting fully until my pursuit is done.

The way I see Hollywood, there are so many people pursuing the roles out there that film makers can usually get just what they want: an actor with certain skills who looks a certain way. As I told someone recently, “one of these days they’ll be looking for an energetic person with a pointy nose,” and when that opportunity arises, I plan to be ready for it.

I begin this post with its culmination–no, I was not selected to continue in the American Idol competition. Nonetheless, my weekend was productive and informative!

Registration for American Idol began Saturday and ended when auditions began on Monday. I planned to arrive in San Diego to register Sunday. However, at noontime on Saturday, I began to get anxious–if I waited until day 2, would I be able to make it through the line? Hence, I decided to pack up my car and leave as soon as I could. Surprisingly, Qualcomm Stadium was nearly deserted when I arrived at 4:30pm. The thousands-strong line had petered out in the morning, so by 4:35 pm, I had my American Idol wristband and was free until Monday.

Saturday night, I got together with an old high school friend, Brett. I enjoyed a wine party that night with his friends and of particularly use was their inviting me to perform my songs. I decided a couple of years ago that if people ask me to sing for them, I should usually oblige–if I’m any good, maybe it will impress them, and it is my opinion that performers cannot get too much practice. They applauded warmly at the end, and I quickly took a shot of something or other afterward to overcome embarrassment.

The next day, I did limited preparation for auditions. For the past couple of weeks I had practiced diligently, and on Friday night I “had it out” with the music, accomplishing the bulk of preparation in one two-hour period. Thus, Sunday was pretty much a free day to hang out with Brett’s friends, go out on his boat and meet up with my friends Justin and Minna. We went to the beach at Coronado Island and had a picnic.

On Monday, I was up at 4 am after about five hours sleep. American Idol had told us to be in line between 5 and 6 am or we might not make it into the stadium. This ended up being a ruse so we would all be around for publicity. I later spoke with an auditioner who did not arrive until 10 am, when she just walked in rather than wait around in line. In any case, we all filed into the stadium and sat in the seat we had each been assigned at registration. All told, I believe there were about 14,000 contestants there, divided up into 23 sections. They called down one section at a time to cross the football field and wait for one of twelve tables where pairs of judges sat. When people got to the front of the line, staff sent groups of four to each of the tables. Then, the judges would point to each of the singers in turn, allowing them time to sing one song.

I was seated in section twenty, which meant, in the end, 10 hours of waiting. Many contestants were furious because waiting took so long, but I had expected to wait around all weekend, so 10 hours didn’t seem so bad to me. Here is a picture of all of us waiting: American Idol contestants

I ended up really enjoying the day. A couple hours into waiting, I went to find a deserted corner where I could warm up. Then it occurred to me that people all around were singing for each other, and why shouldn’t I go meet some people and join in? The result? I didn’t end up getting anybody’s number or meeting anyone I’ll maintain contact with, but I did sing for several groups of people and hear their reaction to my singing. Just through these interactions, I think my performance ability improved enormously over the weekend.

Though everyone was 16 to 28 years of age, there were people of all types at auditions. Some came to try to get in as “crazy people,” as my mom calls them. Several did get selected, and these contestants were easy to spot because they were dressed up like it was Halloween. There was a mime, a gaucho (Mexican cowboy) and a couple of girls wearing roller skates. There was a high percentage of attractive females, and some of them were dressed to kill.

In terms of what people were singing, I would say R&B was predominant, and I met multiple people who sang Whitney Houston songs. I sang “King of the Road,” which fits into the Crooners category and is right in the middle of my range, where my voice sounds smoothest. Several people I sang for had never heard the song, so I thought it was an original selection. After auditions were over, I told my friend Tim what I’d sung and he informed me that it was a recent American Idol contestant’s signature song. So much for originality!

I was not able to hear other individuals’ auditions until I was actually standing before the judges. One girl was nervous and sang very quietly. Another was frustrated because she could not even get her song out. I am sure this was an anticlimactic end to weeks of anticipation. Others delivered commanding performances. One girl in front of me was asked to sing for another judge to get a second opinion on whether they should choose her. When my turn came, I felt relaxed, all things considered, and was pleased with my performance. One of the judges smiled and tapped her foot, urging me on. Once we had all sung, though, the two judges said they were sorry but would not be using any of us. Here is a picture I took of the judges’ tables as I exited the stadium: Judges tables

Thus, the weekend ended with a “no,” but I do not regret the experience. I enjoyed a productive weekend in San Diego. I am not ruling out auditioning next year.

Today I drive down to San Diego for American Idol auditions. My motto will be “no regrets.” I don’t pretend to be the best singer in America, but who knows? Maybe my personality and performance will be what they are looking for.

Registration for American Idol began this morning and continues until the morning of the auditions, which are on Monday. Those who get called back may spend several days in San Diego before all is said and done.

As you remember me over the next couple of days, hope for me that I’ll be able to relax, perform to the best of my capability and that I have a good book for all the waiting in line.

On Saturday, I auditioned for a boyband. The ad said they wanted “really strong singers” and “guys who can dance.”

I found out on Friday that they wanted me to audition, and I acted in a short film Saturday morning. Thus, I had a couple of hours Saturday afternoon to get ready. Rather than prepare the “three R&B songs” they requested, I pulled out the karaoke version of “At This Moment,” by Billy Vera and brushed up on it.

At the audition location, I mostly kept to myself. My acting coach says people are often trying to psyche you out at auditions since they are in competition with you. In this instance, I took her advice and tried not to listen to comments from those who had already auditioned, who said things like “not to make you worried, but there are seven of them in there.” Instead, I did some relaxation exercises my acting teacher taught me, and when my turn came, I felt pretty good.

The audition went well. They had a camera set up, and I since getting to LA, I learned to perform not to the CAMERA but to a spot NEAR the camera. I was really able to act the song, visualizing what I meant with each line. When I got done, they asked, “do you have a dance background?” I was frank that almost all my dance experience was in Latin and Ballroom dance. They were satisfied because they told me to come back at 7pm for the callback.

I spent the intervening two hours relaxing and making myself look as good as possible.

The callback was a fiasco. There were probably thirty of us there auditioning for the five spots in the band. The judges sat in a panel at the front of the dance studio and watched as the choreographer taught us a very fast, very complex and very specific routine to a hip hop number.

Now, I have good rhythm and I enjoy dancing, but I have not learned the skill of memorizing a dance routine. I decided not to try and hide behind the other auditioners, though, because maybe the judges really did care more about our personalities than our ability to dance hip hop. Once the choreographer was satisfied, she split us up into groups of five to perform the dance. When it was my turn, all I could do was try my hardest; my hardest included forgetting the routine a couple of eight-counts in and freestyle dancing the rest of the song. This did not hold up in comparison to some of the genuinely talented breakdancers and hip hop dancers who were there standing on their hands and striking poses during parts where they were SUPPOSED to dance freestyle.

After we finished, the judges said they would be in touch in a few days. I do not expect to hear from them, and I am alright with that. I was pleased that they liked my appearance enough to call me in to audition and even more pleased that they liked my singing enough to call me back.

The truth is, I didn’t want to be in a boy band; what I did want was to try for things I always dreamed of doing. These dreams include performing and singing professionally in front of people, and I don’t want to think back someday and realize I didn’t try.