★ News from March 2003:
This afternoon, I met several casting interns and graduates from my alma mater, Otterbein College, at Fat Chance Productions for an informal seminar on acting in New York City. It was hosted by FCP's Managing Director Ben Hodges ('91), and co-paneled with Syracuse grad Jason Cicci of Monday Morning Productions and Otterbein grad Tim Deak.
Later, I auditioned for the Rosetta Festival of New Works, produced by the Brass Tacks Theatre Company. The particular plays for which I auditioned were The Rental and Stay.
March 4, 2003
(Tuesday)
Today was a very busy acting day.
In the morning, I squeezed in two auditions. First, I auditioned for several LORT theaters--Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, the Pioneer Theatre Company, and the Repertory Theatre of St. Louis. In attendance was Rich Cole of Rich Cole Casting. Then, I auditioned for the Forestburgh Playhouse. In attendance was Producer Norman Dutweiler.
After my morning auditions, I dropped off more headshots at my manager Ingrid French's office, and went to my Contemporary Combat class taught by Ian Marshall.
In class today, we worked on some martial arts moves, particularly kicks. We learned kicks that I would call a roundhouse--you pop one knee up across the other, bring it down and back, then fan-kick your other leg. This kick was used to take samurais off of their horses! We practiced on our partners other versions of this kick--coming from the opposite direction, jumping into it, and turning into it while spotting.
Also, we learned some new punches that are self-knapped. They are the kind of punches I did as a kid-you hit your own chest (masked) while striking near your partner's face.
I went further with our rolls today. We incorporated dives! I was one of the few people who could pull off a dive then roll.
At the end of class, we put together a "combination" for future work in class. It went like this:
1. A punches B; B avoids back.
2. A punches opposite B; B avoids down.
3. B punches A in stomach.
4. Break.
5. A punches B; B blocks punch.
6. B punches A with chest knap twice.
7. B punches opposite A; A knaps.
Class is getting even more exciting!
This afternoon I had a callback for the film Drowning. In attendance was Director-Writer Scott Graham and Producer David Ferrara.
March 7, 2003
(Friday)
This morning I had an audition for The Caldwell Theatre Company in Boca Raton, FL. In attendance was Artistic Director Michael Hall.
Tonight I will be on a shoot for the film Birth starring Nicole Kidman. I will be playing a bellboy.
March 8, 2003
(Saturday)
I worked overnight last night on the film Birth. The two scenes we shot last night I believe were part of a dream sequence in the film and involved the actress Anne Heche.
I played a bellboy at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, wearing a handsome puke-green and black uniform. In my one scene, as Clara leaves the gift shop in a paranoid fit, she rounds the corner and sidesteps me, as I'm in her path. My back is to the steadycam, and I am carrying a black Tumi suitcase like this.
The evening was spent alongside new friend and fellow actor, Jill Van Note.
Tonight and possibly Sunday I am scheduled to work overnight again, this time on a low-budget feature film called Rick.
March 9, 2003
(Sunday)
Overnight I worked on the low-budget film Rick starring Bill Pullman. I was an employee of the company Image, which was having a Christmas party sending off Rick (Bill Pullman) and some of the other characters. I was near the front of the crowd, cheering and laughing and holding up rope (of which I don't know the significance). In some of the crowd reactions shots, I should be pretty visible; my old roommate Christy Witt (who was also working on the film) said she saw the monitor and the camera zoomed in on me at one point.
March 10, 2003
(Monday)
Tonight I met famed fight choreographer B.H. Barry! I was at at play reading featuring my friend Vernon Morris, who is good friends with B.H. B.H. was in attendance, Vernon introduced me, and I said that I was in Ian Marshall's combat class. Very cool.
Later, I saw Ali Farahnakian interview Miles Stroth about long-form improv at The PIT.
March 11, 2003
(Tuesday)
Today I auditioned for The New Harmony Theatre in Evansville, IN. In attendance were Artistic Director Scott LeFeber, Assistant Artistic Director Kim Robbins, and Casting Assistant Erin Bent.
Before the audition, I had a physically rigorous Contemporary Combat class. We worked primarily on different kinds of falls today, some of which weren't that graceful or easy to do.
We put them together with hits as well, making hits that put our enemy to the floor.
We worked on falls that involved a step forward, a step backward, as well as ones with a twist and ones that went straight down then back.
My Law & Order: SVU episode may be on this Friday, March 14th, at 10pm EST on NBC.
It seems the title of the episode has changed from "Dominance" to "Desperate." Regardless, it is episode E3123 and according to the internet (not the NBC website), it is up this week.
I play Paul Dumont, the victim of a violent crime who lies on a respirator in a hospital bed. In addition to some close-ups of my messed-up mug, there may also be some photos of me looking normal, the kind of photos that make you say, "It's a shame that happened to such a nice person."
March 13, 2003
(Thursday)
Tonight I had a general audition for Casting Director Eve Battaglia of Eve Battaglia Casting.
March 14, 2003
(Friday)
My Law & Order: SVU episode may be on tonight!
There seems to be some confusion about what's playing tonight, so if my episode is not on tonight, it should be on later this month, I imagine.
I play bedridden Paul Dumont. Sandra Bernhart is in the episode as well.
Also, Slavercise, the dominatrix workout video I worked in in its early stages, made the news again! Click here to see the news piece from ABC News in NYC.
March 15, 2003
(Saturday)
Well, my episode of Law & Order: SVU was not on last night. I am very confused. Patient, Ben, patient!
Now I'm starting to wonder if maybe it already aired. The reason is my character name is "Paul Dumont," and the day we shot it, one list of character names had my last name as "Dupree." That surely was a typo, I thought, as the script had Dumont and I was told Dumont.
Scanning over the more recent episodes, in the episode entitled "Tortured" (which had in its cast Philippe Cu Leong, with whom I was in the play Control Freaks in Love in 2000), there was a character named Jerry Dupree and it had the same director I worked with on "Dominance" (Steve Shill). However, it has a different episode number than the one I worked on ("Tortured" is E3121, "Dominance" is E3123) and it aired 2/14/2003, which would have made for only a 2-week turnaround as we shot my scene on 2/1/2003.
I'm relying on the Law & Order: SVU webpage at epguides.com for air dates and episode numbers. "Dominance" has not yet appeared on their site, but since E3123 is the next number in the sequence, I supposed it was this week's episode.
March 16, 2003
(Sunday)
This afternoon I auditioned for the role of Davis in Vardin Films' Nicole. In attendance were Director Elizabeth Newman and Aaron Gurlly.
March 17, 2003
(Monday)
This morning I had two auditions.
First, I auditioned for the Delaware Theatre Company. In attendance were Casting Associate Daila Boufford and her assistant, Peter Bisgaier.
Then, I auditioned for a understudy position in Off-Broadway's The Last Sunday in June. In attendance was Casting Director Stephane Klapper of Stephanie Klapper Casting.
March 18, 2003
(Tuesday)
This morning I auditioned for Florida Stage in Manalapan, FL. In attendance were Casting Director Charles Rosen and Casting Associate Tom Wojtonik, both of Charles Rosen Casting.
I got this email today via my website. It totally made my day!
I went to PRHMK [Punk Rock/Heavy Metal Karaoke] at Arlene Grocery last night with a few friends. We discussed it's rapid decline since we first attended in early Nov...and "remember the guy that did California Uber Alles in the military uniform? So today my friend e-mails me the link to the message board and there you are. Just dropping you a line to say you tore it up that night. Send me an e-mail if the uniform is making another appearance since we prob won't be heading back much. Cheers - Paul
Whenver I feel like going, I make a little appearance at PRHMK, just to get the punk demon outta me. I tend only to sing the Dead Kennedys song "California Über Alles" though.
Today in my stage combat class, we worked on various grabs. We worked on grabbing all parts of the anatomy: hair, ears, noses, mouths, arms, legs, whole bodies, private parts, etc. How most of this movement is accomplished is by putting your attacking hand on or near the target--only not actually grabbing--then letting your partner grab fast and hard your hand to hold it in place. Then, in attacking, you move the person who is holding your hand around, shake, twist, etc., as the person writhes and moans.
Before grabs, we worked on a new roll, which was a leaping backward roll. I wasn't able to get it right, but I gave a few committed tries. Basically, you spot behind you then leap into a regular forward roll. I had trouble placing my hands because I was coming at the roll from the opposite direction I'm used to.
Near the end of class, we were working on strangulations, and then getting out of strangulations via various hits.
At the end of class, the teacher, Ian Marshall, gave us an assignment for next week to invent our own move.
March 19, 2003
(Wednesday)
Tonight I worked again on the film Rick starring Bill Pullman. I was in a scene in the elevator lobby of a party going on. I was smoking a cigar!!! (I didn't inhale.) I was whipping old businessmen with a rope and laughing obnoxiously as I forced them to do the limbo under another rope.
I was also in a reaction shot to a really boring "inspirational" speech by a young guy. We had filmed at least a version of this speech the last time I was on set.
March 20, 2003
(Thursday)
This morning I had two auditions.
First, I auditioned for Trinity Repertory in Providence, RI. In attendance were Casting Director Mark Sutch and Casting Associate Liesl Tommy.
Then, I auditioned for the Can't Sleep Productions staged reading of Jay Duffer's Big Girl, Little World. In attendance were Playwright & Producing Director Jay Duffer and Co-Producer Stacey Plaskett.
March 21, 2003
(Friday)
This morning I had another couple auditions.
First, I auditioned for the Huntington Theatre Company in Boston, MA. In attendance were Casting Director Kelli Lerner and Assistant Casting Director Julie Foh.
Then, I auditioned for the New Century Theatre in Northampton, MA. In attendance was Producing Director Sam Rush.
This evening I auditioned for the 4th Annual Reading Marathon produced by the Instant Shakespeare Company.
March 22, 2003
(Saturday)
Today I volunteered for an audition seminar conducted by Catherine Lamm and hosted by Theater Resources Unlimited. I will be there tomorrow as well.
The audition seminar is a fundraiser for TRU, a popular networking organization in NYC for producers and people in professional theater. Next weekend, to pool its actors and industry connections, TRU is hosting an audition before 35-45 casting authorities. I will volunteer for it all day Sunday, and audition as well.
March 24, 2003
(Monday)
My episode of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit is airing (this time for real!) this Friday, 3/28/2003 at 10pm on NBC. Here is the blurb about the episode.
DOMINANCE (Advisory)
10pm 2003-03-28 ALL NEW!
A DEADLY KILLING SPREE SENDS THE SQUAD IN SEARCH OF A MURDERER WITH AN AXE TO GRIND; TONY WINNER FRANK LANGELLA GUEST STARS -- When an engagement celebration dinner ends in sexual assault and a gruesome quadruple homicide, Detectives Benson (Mariska Hargitay) and Stabler (Christopher Meloni) search for a violent killer looking for revenge through the domination of his victims. However, when the killer goes on a murder spree aimed at the upper class, it’s a race against time as the squad tries to stop this deadly rampage. Tony Winner Frank Langella ("Fortune's Fool") and Ian Somerhalder ("Rules of Attraction") also guest star. Richard Belzer, Dann Florek, [Ben Hauck!], Stephanie March, B.D. Wong and Ice-T also star. TV-14
I play a victim named Paul Dumont. In the episode there should be a take of me in a hospital bed, and some photos of me in another take looking rather normal.
Let me know if you see me. My TV reception is on the fritz so I may not be able to catch it this time, but I'm pretty sure it'll get a second airing later in the season. If I find out about another air date, I'll send out an email to my email list.
Tonight I auditioned for a student film written and directed by Maitely Weismann of StageRight Productions.
March 25, 2003
(Tuesday)
Today is another busy acting day!
This morning I had two auditions. The first was for Rattlestick Productions in NYC. In attendance were Literary Manager Louise Shannon and Managing Director Sandra Coudert. My second was for Totem Pole Playhouse in Fayetteville, PA. In attendance were former Otterbeiner and Director David Caldwell and Assistant to the Director Jayne Houdyschell.
Later today, I will be attending an open call for Sex & The City, cast by Amerifilm Casting.
Today wasm also another installment of my Contemporary Combat class, taught by Ian Marshall at HB Studio.
We worked again on variations of falls (which are getting to be rather fun!). We did a sort of "fish flop" backwards fall, which involves a step back, a lowering of your body to the floor, rocking back while shooting your legs straight up and as you roll over one of your shoulders, then coming down with your body curving, only to land with a splat. It was comical.
We worked on struggling today, which I think I overall used too much muscle in. Basically struggling onstage involves using only a little pull or push of your partner as your partner does the same to you, so little pull or push that if your partner disappeared, you would not fall over or lose balance.
Ian had us choreograph our own fights using that concept. The common struggles are for an object you both want, or a struggle to avoid crossing a line, like a cliff. He asked us to come up with 5 poses and to move into them in the course of the struggle.
Once we finished that exercise, Ian had us add 2 hits to the 5 poses. My partner and I acted as if we were two office workers fighting over a purple paper clip on the floor.
My body's been feeling a little pained of late--the combination of bad day shoes, marathon training, and loss of sleep. Today I was up at 4:30am, and tomorrow I will be as well--to audition.
March 26, 2003
(Wednesday)
This morning I did a double audition for the Weston Playhouse Theatre Company and the Dorset Theatre Festival. In attendance were Associate Director John Morrison and Director Cat Parker of the Dorset Theatre Festival, and Producing Director Steve Stettler of the Weston Playhouse.
Later today, I am doing work on the television show Ed.
March 28, 2003
(Friday)
This morning I had an audition for The Long Wharf Theatre in New Haven, CT. In attendance were Artistic Administrator Christina Eger and Literary Associate Trisha Sheridan.
Again, more confusion about the air date of my Law & Order: Special Victims Unit episode, called "Dominance." Originally, NBC listed it as on this week, but I just checked the site and supposedly the episode "Appearances" will be on tonight.
I'm just not sure. Boohoo! I think "Dominance" is being moved back one week. Supposedly it will air 4/4/2003. "Supposedly."
March 30, 2003
(Sunday)
Today I volunteered as a monitor for the Theater Resources Unlimited audition weekend. I also auditioned for about 30 different production companies, casting directors, and agents in one fell swoop. In particular, Agent Michael Hartig of Hartig-Hilepo Agency was in attendance and asked me to call him on Tuesday this week, and Catherine Lamm called me back for an appointment on Wednesday.
A list of all the auditors for the weekend is here.
After the audition obligations were over, I went up to Columbia University to audition for Brett Levner's student film, Hard Boiled. I also auditioned for another student film, apparently being done in conjuction with Hard Boiled, called Hints.
March 31, 2003
(Monday)
This morning I auditioned for the Caralyn Spector Productions play Jump Rope, by John Kuntz. In attendance was Aimée Neale of Liz Woodman Casting.