Casting a cast

• Casting a cast

It begins, the next level in the world of possibilities! Things are aligning to a point of unstoppable momentum. Every year things must continue to grow. If by steps, leaps, or extremely large bounds. This passing week me and a team of people I work with held an audition for a web series. Thirty plus people are sending their interest to act, and in addition there were even more after the fact. So now we are handling Self Tapes. Self Tape is when you film your audition and send it in. These are steps, not to filming, but to a means to an ends. Every step leads to a stronger stance to help others. To help a cause, to give an open door to chance.

Everyone deserves a chance in life. Becoming more involved with producing projects gives our team opportunity to excel at the triangle of life. Networking with different actors, crew members, investors, and only to name a few. This will also help us with Marketing our Brands, and who we are as people. What our personal motivation can lead to. Our perseverance and hard work. There is nothing more exciting than coming up with an idea, figuring out how to make that idea come to life, then getting a team together to bring that idea to life. One step at a time. That's how it has always been for me. Each year, every idea!

At the end of the day, I did nothing on my own. A person couldn't it. The hands of many bring life to ideas. The supporters of the cause pushing and rutting for you to win. They are your energy of encouragement. Everyone helping in bringing life to this idea. Working within their strengths to find the money, build, write, draw, cast, act, crew, etc, etc!!! One person is useless. My proud sense of accomplishment comes from believing in those to my left and to my right. We are equal. Some work harder than others, some have more skills, even so, others might not even know what they are doing, and that is okay... because doing anything is still something!

• Make A Right Left Here (My official page website)
• BBR Productions Inc. (Direct company link)
• Top Of The Bottom Pile (Comedy Tour I Am On)

Green with screen

• “Green with screen”

On Tuesday it will be September 1st and August will have come and gone. Wow, eight months just up and went out the window. It is almost the end of the year again. Four full months to go, and what have you done with your career / life? This is a solid question because each year gone is one never to be seen again. I write these blogs to inspire, to get a person thinking, and to show you that a no body like me can make things happen. I made a SMART Goal list that when I moved into Brooklyn, each year would have a strong conclusion in it. And each year my audience has read and followed this Blog, they have seen me grow, change and evolve.

From music, to comedy, to acting, to owning a theater, to moving to Brooklyn. These are strong accomplishments which got me to where I wanted to be. I had a plan, and have a plan, which is working. My first goal moving to Brooklyn was to make sure I utilized my SAG-AFTRA membership to the fullest. I wanted to get involved with the union, and now I am. I wanted to get an Agent or Manager for Acting, Comedy, and writing. I have. I also started audition for larger roles this year. I want to inspire. I want you to know, I am a no body. I am an unknown celebrity of sorts. I am in the shadows like most people. The difference?

I do. I make available the life I want to live. I have a structure that makes me accomplish all my goals in a timely fashion. One must move along in life. You know what though? All my efforts are because of my Network, Market, and Practice mentality. And everyone who is with me on the journey gets to benefit from it. We all help one another, we all work with one another. I am no Island! Yes, I want to inspire through action, but my lovely readers, you must aspire to take action. Become more than an idea, team up with people and get your name out there in bright lights saying “I AM HERE, I AM ALIVE!”

Oh, and I got a green screen! OH THE FUN TO HAVE!

• Make A Right Left Here (My official page website)
• BBR Productions Inc. (Direct company link)
• Top Of The Bottom Pile (Comedy Tour I Am On)

Sore-ish

• “Sore-ish”

Why did I write such a hard fighting sequence? Five plus hours we filmed on Saturday of dialogue, then three major fight scenes. Afterward we had some yummy food. All together I have to say this shoot continues to be interestingly fun. My first big filming event as a writer / director / actor / producer was 'The Super Hero Villain', which gave me a chance to learn the process. Dem be a lot of hats to wear! It was really worth it. My passion to create art has always been there, but as a performer I get to live in the moment of another life. All in all, it comes down to seeing an idea birthed into existence. This is a lovely path I am on.

The First fight scene was pretty simple. Two guys run in and attack a third guy. Some cool things happen and boom! On to the second fight, which ends violently; “Snap, Crackle, Pop!” and not the cereal! It was the third fight I was in. I still have some moves left in me, but my body forgot how to be in shape. Talk about tired and sore-ish from filming all day. It is more than punch, punch, kick. Lots of spinning, tumbling, and more. There is a moment when I was getting heel kicked in the balls, by accident; “maybe I should have stunt-doubles”. I will say this, it was all the more worth it doing the stunts myself. A couple contacted hits, but we did great!

Plan ahead is important. Like, go to the gym, stretch, don't write long ass fight scenes which make you feel pain for the next few days. Yeah, that rule is the best rule. Nah, I am still going to write and perform as it is needed. I loved the fencing fight in Hamlet. There is something about the idea of fighting, or battle, on screen when it is telling a story. When it is a part of something more. Like a speech without words. Chouen, that's the actor fighting me, did amazing. We both worked hard practicing the moves and even consistently changing moments to fit out fighting styles much better. It was a pleasure having us get beat up together.

Fight on, train, become! Persevere!

• Make A Right Left Here (My official page website)
• BBR Productions Inc. (Direct company link)
• Top Of The Bottom Pile (Comedy Tour I Am On)

A Bit Part

• A Bit Part

“But you were background.” Yeah, it was a bit of a bit part. And you know what? That's the point. I was doing one more thing greater than a person who wished they could be in this business. Being an entertainer is bit part after bit part. Because we are never truly satisfied with just enough. Anyone action is more than zero effort with working background on a TV show, movie, playing guitar on a small stage in front of ten people, or even telling jokes to less than a few laughing future fans. These are all successful moments in an entertainer's life. Doing what they love, and living within the field of their interest. A bit part, but a big part forward. But what is the point of doing little things?

Starting at the bottom is an accomplishment greater than never starting at all. All those dreamers sitting at home wishing they could try and fail. That's it though, trying to fail is important. I would rather work hard at failing in life than be fearful that I would fail and never have tried. What is important about being an entertainer? To be. To move people. To live truthfully within imaginary circumstances. As I worked background on Gotham, then in the same week, The Blacklist I saw my efforts of Networking, Marketing, and Practicing working. That's the point of trying to fail. To get on set and meet people over and over again. Being seen to market my brand. And, most importantly, to practice my craft of “what is the back-story to this character”.

Moments like that seem silly. But to me, to a person working hard in this traveling adventure, it is that moment of thought “What is the back-story to this character” that drives me. Working on little moments so I am quick to work on big moments. Because I will be further along this time next year. So why not practice failing small jobs so I can know how to do big jobs! Networking helped me get an upgrade to Stand-in on The Blacklist this week. I made friends quickly, got P.A's to laugh, and one thing led to another. “Thomas, have you ever done Stand-In work?” YES. And there I was standing in for David, “Warriors come out and play” Patrick Kelly. Man stood 5'6 but they asked and I said yes. Ah, love this life! Learn to fail. You'll be great!

• Make A Right Left Here (My official page website)
• BBR Productions Inc. (Direct company link)
• Top Of The Bottom Pile (Comedy Tour I Am On)

Straight Man in a Queer World

• Straight Man in a Queer World

I'm known as an unconventional doer. An outside the box kind of tinkerer. My methods are always questionable from any first encounter with new people. My philosophy is “Why listen to a NO when you can turn it into a YES!” Truth of the matter is, most NO's are the beginning of a conversation. To me, a no is beautiful. It motivates me. A no could come in different forms as well. “You are not good enough”, “That will never work”, “This is the way it is done.” Well, how about “There are no walls, only solutions”!? Make your path happen by being proactive. That's my secret. All Nos in my life are really hiding under a soon to be Yes.

Through maintaining a plan I have accomplished a lot in my time, as short as it has been. When you look at action in life there are two ways about it; This way or that way. I like it both ways. Become the water, as Bruce Lee once said. Take the best things from every aspect of success and focus it into one big pile of “Can Do” actionable attitude. When I am told I am doing things outside the box, I realize it is true because most people put themselves into this majority box of tasks. They live by an uneducated way of life encompassed by “This is how it's done”. This knowledge is past down from one person doing it incorrectly to the next. How can insanity be fixed if you are listening to insane teachers?

If you can't except that there is a better way than your “10 years doing it the same way but have yet to get anywhere while working your dead-end day job, which you hate, but the hell with it, I'll be discovered if I keep at it this way” why not stop what you're doing and say to yourself “Maybe there is something I can learn”. First, definitely say that out loud and believing it. Next, learn from the best. Study people who have become successful and follow their path with alterations based on your personal life. Finally, there is no short cut. You want the long dollar to life. Your career is based on hard work, not quick shots. 15 minutes of fame is not all it's cracked up to be.

"The successful warrior is the average man, with laser-like focus." ~ Bruce Lee

• Make A Right Left Here (My official page website)
• BBR Productions Inc. (Direct company link)
• Top Of The Bottom Pile (Comedy Tour I Am On)