Boo-Ya! Raven Rock teaser trailer now available

The moment we've all been waiting for... the Raven Rock teaser has arrived. Check out Mike St. James as Detective Mike Murdock, looking like a BAMF!

Getting What I Deserve from the Fellowship of Fools

I didn't run my last blog by Charlie Briede before I published it. Maybe he's chafed with my encouragement towards all the ladies out there to call in just to flirt with him. (Really, ladies, he loves it! He's a teddy bear.)

So, this morning I get the following text message from the C-Man: check my website and let me know what you think

To wit www.fellowshipoffools.com:

We will have a visit from some of the crew at www.gopostal.com. We are scheduled to have Zack Ward call-in. Zack made his feature film debut in A Christmas Story and has since been seen on Titus, Lost, CSI as well as the Transformers movie. Zack will be playing the Postal Dude in the upcoming Postal movie based off the game.

I will be reviewing the new anime movie Vexille, that is debuting at AFI Dallas and hope to have some recorded interviews from the post party.

We will also be talking to Brian about his upcoming appearance at the Dallas Comic Con 11, April 5-6. www.scifiexpo.com for more details.

We will have an update on DDP’s appearance from last week.

We hope to check in with Mike St. James from the pilot Raven Rock and get an updated status.

So I guess Mike St. James is now on the spot. Charlie done scheduled him on his own volition. That's fine, Charles, that's fine. Gauntlet thrown and challenge accepted!

The Fellowship of Fools

This is a shout out to my good buddy Charlie Briede, co-host of the best damn webcast on the planet, Fellowship of Fools. And why am I so happy with Charlie right now? Because he has agreed to cover Raven Rock on an upcoming webcast and has specifically invited Mike St. James along with the creators of the show. Just waiting for the finished pilot... (and I'm psychically nudging The Big D, Joe Cook, right now).

What is The Fellowship of Fools, you ask? Well, in my opinion is it exactly what is say it is. [/snark] It is hosted by 3 very off-the-wall, somewhat eccentric guys. The first is Charlie with ties to the video game industry and the crazy world of anime. (That's actually how I met Charlie - we were both peddling the software that rots kids brains. Remember the good old days, Chaz?) The interesting thing about Charlie is that he just knows everyone. Everyone. I can't even name names (he's been to Skywalker Ranch, ya'll!). Let's just say he has connections. He could be the next Perez Hilton if he wanted.

The second and third hosts are Brian Denham and Lee Duhig. Brian is crazy talented and Lee is bat-shit crazy so they make a great team. Brian is an artist who has worked for such asupicious publications as Marvel Comics, DC Comics, and LucasFilm. Lee is the maestro of the of the Guru-eFX coloring team. And they know everyone Charlie doesn't know.

So what happens on The Fellowship of Fools? These three men interview a celebrity guest, or review a new hot video game title, or preview a new anime video or screen a new movie (it's all those connections again). The best part is that they take calls from their audience. Anyone from anywhere can call in and ask their favorite celebrity a question (or hit on Charlie - he loves that). The show has quite a devil-may-care vibe, completely unscripted, often pee-your-pants funny. Soon they'll have Henry Thomas (of E.T.! My first love!) Anyway...

Their most important upcoming guest, of course, is the cast & creators of Raven Rock. As Charlie puts it, "Everyone likes to get a glimpse behind the curtain." All my friends need to call in for the broadcast and give 'em hell! You can listen to the rest of their witty banter every Thursday at 9:00pm Central Time (because, against all odds, their show is based in Dallas, TX). www.fellowshipoffools.com

Just one more note before I go. You know I hate to toot my own horn, but........ the guys asked me to write a press release for them and I updated the text on their "About" page: www.fellowshipoffools.com/about/ (I see you made some edits, guys. It's okay. I forgive you.) Let me know what you think!

A truly Kafkaesqe story to air on 60 Minutes, Sunday

An acquaintance of mine is a producer at 60 Minutes and he sent me a press release on the following story (I've cut it down a little in size. You can hear the whole shameful story on 60 Minutes). As Michael Karzis says, "It's interesting to finally find out what those nameless, faceless people in orange jumpsuits actually have to say."

IN HIS FIRST U.S. TELEVISION INTERVIEW, FORMER

TERROR DETAINEE SAYS AMERICANS HELD HIM IN GUANTANAMO FOR

YEARS DESPITE EVIDENCE OF HIS INNOCENCE – “60 MINUTES” SUNDAY

Murat Kurnaz Claims he was held Underwater, Shocked, and Suspended from Ceiling by U.S. Troops

A German resident held by the U.S. for almost five years tells Scott Pelley that Americans tortured him in many ways – including hanging him from the ceiling for five days early in his captivity when he was in Kandahar, Afghanistan. Even after determining he was not a terrorist, Murat Kurnaz says the torture continued. Kurnaz tells his story for the first time on American television in a 60 MINUTES interview to be broadcast on Sunday, March 30 (7:00-8:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network.

Kurnaz, an ethnic Turk born and raised in Germany, went to Pakistan in late 2001 at age 19 to study Islam, and wound up in Pakistani police custody. It was three months after 9/11, and Kurnaz says the U.S. was offering bounties for suspicious foreigners. Kurnaz says he was “sold” to the Americans for $3,000 and brought to Kandahar, Afghanistan as terrorist suspect. He claims American troops tortured him in Afghanistan by holding his head underwater, administering electric shocks to the soles of his feet, and hanging him suspended from the ceiling of an aircraft hangar where he was kept alive by doctors. “Every five or six hours they came and pulled me back down and the doctor came,” he recalls. “He looked into my eyes. He checked my heart and when he said ‘okay’ then they pulled me back up,” he tells Pelley.

The Pentagon refused to comment on the allegations.

He says he was then brought to Guantanamo as one of the first “enemy combatants.” His treatment there, he says, included repeated beatings at the hands of soldiers in riot gear, sleep-deprivation and solitary confinement.

After a landmark Supreme Court ruling in 2004, Kurnaz was visited by an American lawyer, who successfully sued the U.S. government to release his classified file. That file contained information from the FBI, German Intelligence and even the U.S. military pointing to his innocence. But after a series of military tribunals and review boards, he remained in Guantanamo for another three-and-a-half years.

Kurnaz’ lawyer, Baher Azmy, says there may be many more cases like Kurnaz’s at the offshore prison. “In Guantanamo, no detainee has ever been able to genuinely present evidence before a neutral judge and so as absurd as Murat Kurnaz's case is, I assure you, there are many, many dozens just as tenuous,” Azmy tells Pelley.

The Quest for an East Coast Agent Continues!

Well, Mike St. James has sent his packet of work to a talent agent with optimism and hopefulness. [An aside: I was so tempted to use the word Pollyannaism right there. I can't even tell you. Just struck me as the word Puck would use.] A strong point of his packet is his set of headshots. Not only is he sexy, he did a photo shoot with Ed Bernik who was able to capture MSJ's charisma in a still photo. Brilliant! Another strong point were his many screenshots. They show him in different attitudes and characters, and they show him to be camera friendly. His resume, though, is somewhat middling. On the one hand it shows him to be a hot commodity right now. He just finished filming the lead in one film, he's been cast for a TV pilot, he's been cast for a regional commercial, and he's just been cast as the lead in another film. He's got a lot going on and there is every reason to believe that he'll continue to have work coming in. On the other hand... well, the resume is short compared to so many other actors. He just hasn't been doing this for long enough to have a solid list of great films. And the weak spot in his packet? His reel. Most of the work he's done has been recent and is still in the post-production stage, so he doesn't have a lot of edited work to add to his reel.

As we wait for word from the agent, I thought I'd give you some information about MSJ that you probably didn't know (and I'm sure you were just dying to hear!):

• No matter what he says, MSJ's favorite film is Hot Shots: Part Deux.
• MSJ can imitate anyone's laugh almost perfectly. This is a rare and useless gift, but one that has given me hours of entertainment.
  
• MSJ is from a small town--a very, very small town--called Bedford, Pennsylvania. Much to my surprise, they have an official website! Even more amazing, they have an official visitors guide. Imagine that! Anyway, MSJ has a wonderful family all living snugly in this tiny town in the Allegheny Mountains.
• MSJ actually saved his new bride's life on his honeymoon (and, yes, that would be me). We were hiking the Appalachian Trail (I'm an outdoorsy girl and that is indeed my idea of romance - we scared the hell out of the squirrels, I can tell you, but I digress...). We were walking along a cliff, one of those portions of the trail that were cut into the side of the mountain, and I hit a patch of ice and there I went. The only thing between me and a 30-foot drop was MSJ's hand holding my arm. In order to hold me, he had to go out on the ice, too. So, there we were, on a very slippery patch of ice, holding on to each other for dear life, afraid to move for about 15 minutes. I'm telling you, he will be a very convincing Action-Adventure star!
• MSJ's first job was working for a porta-john company. He used to have to clean out the... you know. It's true!
  

The Big D gives a Raven Rock update!

We have been wondering what happened with the long anticipated Raven Rock teaser trailer. Well, Mike St. James & I were able to catch up with Joe Cook at the Damn Good Job Party this weekend and we got the word from the big man himself.

The editing and whatnot for the teaser is done. It was sent out for it's original musical score, which was also complete but not exactly what the Big D was wanting. Being a man of excellence, the Big D sent the teaser back asking for reworking of certain pieces. It should be back to him (and hence to you, fine people!) in a couple of weeks. I love the fact that Highfall Films keeps a high standard and knows that "good enough is not good enough" (see, Silverthorn! I pay attention!).

The filming for the pilot begins next week. They will be using some wild new CG voodoo that I don't believe has ever been used in Wilmington before. I'll give you the dirt on that as soon as I got more information and can squeeze in time for a little research. In essence, the special effects on this show will be top-notch and you'll get to see actors Taylor August and Kameron King fly. I hear that Joe & Rob of Highfall Films have been in talks with some Hollywood producers and I actually heard the words "feature film" dropped but I won't go there for now. I'll just cross my fingers and click my heels.

"We Have No Life Productions" throws a party

First let me say Happy Easter to all of my friends and loved ones. We've had a good one so far. MSJ'S basket was hidden in his grill. Mine was hidden behind a basket of unmatched socks (doh!). Soon is will be nap time for the kids, which is when my holiday truly begins.

It's been another eventful weekend. We went to the "Damn Good Job Party" thrown by Sheila Brothers of We Have No Life Productions to celebrate the award-winning film Undoing Time. It turns out this short film of extraordinary excellence was able to draw no small bit of attention at the Cinema City International Film Festival in Los Angeles, where it was awarded the People's Choice Award. The film was produced by We Have No Life Productions with Highfall Films. Bonus points for those readers who have been paying attention and know that Highfall Films is also the producer of Mike St. James' TV pilot Raven Rock. [Raven Rock's pilot script made it to the finals at the Cinema City International Film Festival, so it was a great night all around for Wilmington filmmakers.]

We had a great time at The Side Bar, one of Wilmington's great little bars on Front Street. And who was out there tearing up the dance floor? None other than one of the stars of both Undoing Time & Raven Rock, Kameron King. So many men won't dance, and shame on all of them. Kameron is hindered by no such reticence, but then Kameron's mother is a dance instructor so he has an unfair advantage. Sheila brought the excitement to the party and Kameron brought the enthusiasm. After a few hours most of us headed over to Tre Benzios again for some drinks and laughter. So let this be my official thank you to Sheila Brothers for a fan-fricken-tastic party and my public CONGRATULATIONS to the cast & crew of Undoing Time.

Now before I leave, I have to confess to the humiliating faux pas we committed. On Sheila's Damn Good Job Party invitation it clearly said no jeans; sadly for all of us, I did not see the actual invitation until today. She sent it to MSJ who in turn told me "It's casual." And casual we were. In MSJ's defence he is a visionary and attention to detail is not his strong suit. Nonetheless we were seriously under dressed. This leads to the new St. James' House Rule: The Actor's Wife will be the event planner for all activities henceforth. (And I owe Sheila another thank you for being forbearing enough to not give us the boot. You're a good woman.)

Undoing Time: Updated Pilot Trailer from Sheila Brothers on Vimeo.

The Actor's Wife's Big Break

That's right - my panache, my joie de vivre, my savvy has finally paid off.

I have been given a part in an upcoming regional (NY, PA, & OH) commercial. I will play... a gas station attendant. That's right. Never will selling lotto tickets look so good. I have 1 line, but that line is going to sing, baby! After this there is no turning back to the simple life - oh no! I'll be eating at The Ivy and shopping at Fred Segal next week. It's my ticket to the big time and I'm going to enjoy the ride!

Snark at ya' later! ;)

The Actor's Wife waxes philosophical

Do you know, there is an inherent danger in ingratitude. There is an innate ugliness in covetousness. Jealousy is cruelly transparent and no one looks good in green.

Insecurity is a sad, sad thing and this Actor's Wife has long believed that it is the root of all meanness. I saw a very sad and disturbing thing happen today and it was motivated by insecurity. Deep and ugly insecurity. One talented person did a lot of work for a newcomer and did his best to help raise the newcomer to a higher level. This talented person wasn't protective of his "turf" and he felt rewarded when he saw the newcomer succeeding. But the newcomer, so pathetic in his self-doubting, when he had the chance to return a favor for the talented person chose instead to tear him down, begrudge him any success.

The newcomer is in the grips of the lip-curling resentment because he has pissed around his territory and the talented person dares to draw near. The newcomer simply would not be where he is today without the help of the talented person and yet shows no gratitude. What it boils down to is that the newcomer is afraid that the talented person (who is certainly more talented and experienced in the first place) would show him up, would steal his thunder. And the hard truth is that the newcomer is right. If he ever allowed them both to stand under the same spotlight, the talented person would shine so much brighter.

And that ugly story leads me to my philosophical pondering for today. Let's just go straight to the man who understood balance and acceptance better than any other, my oft-quoted friend Lao Tzu.

Therefore the sage produces without possessing,
Acts without expectations
And accomplishes without abiding in her accomplishments.

It is precisely because she does not abide in them
That they never leave her.

The wise man produces without possessing because he understands that things rise of their own volition. You do not own your success any more than you own your fame. You are not the one who brings things about. If God chooses to turn his face upon you, who are you to claim the credit for yourself? And if God chooses to turn his face upon someone else, how dare you begrudge him that blessing?

I'm steadfastly convinced of the efficacy of sowing and reaping, what goes around comes around, karma. The Universe does not like a person who covets their success, who keeps their hands closed, who guards their mini kingdom like a watchdog. Be generous. Be happy for another's success. Be proud to be associated with a person who is on the rise, even if that person cannot be you. To everything there is a season and everyone gets a turn at glory. If you begrudge others their moment in the sun, you will always stand in the shade.

Pride does not wish to owe and vanity does not wish to pay. ~François de la Rochefoucauld

The envious die not once, but as oft as the envied win applause. ~Baltasar Gracian

What makes Wilmington into Wilmywood?

It doesn't take very many reads of my blog to learn that I love Wilmington. I love the river walk downtown and I love Wrightsville Beach and I love to eat at The Oceanic and drink at Goodfellas. There are good people here, beautiful homes, and fantastic weather. Nonetheless, the reason why Mike St. James & I moved here is the film industry. I've heard Wilmington, NC lovingly called Little Hollywood, Hollywood East, and my own favorite, Wilmywood. But why does Wilmington have this reputation?

Little known fact: according to the International Association of Film Commissioners, more movies, TV shows, and commercials are filmed in Wilmington than anywhere in the US, outside of LA & NYC. Odds are in any given week, you see something that was filmed in this beautiful antebellum corner of the south without even knowing it. One of our claims to fame is the motion picture studio EUE/Screen Gems. And the production company Inspire Productions is located here. It all started with Firestarter, starring Drew Barrymore in 1984 and this town has embraced the filmmaking community ever since.

So what are some of these shows & films featuring Wilmington as a backdrop? I can't give you an exhaustive list of the hundreds of films created in Wilmington, but I give you a taste. The TV shows Dawson's Creek, One Tree Hill, and Wittaker Bay for starters (not to mention some good old episodes of Matlock). Of the many movies that were filmed here you're probably familiar with Forrest Gump, Divine Secrests of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood, A Walk to Remember, The Crow, Black Knight, 28 Days, Cape Fear, Empire Records, Blue Velvet, Sleeping with the Enemy, Waking Ned Divine, I Know What You Did Last Summer, and even parts of Pirates of the Carribbean: At World's End was filmed right here in cozy Wilmington.

Some of my old favorites like Dream a Little Dream (the Coreys!), Weekend at Burnies, and Muppets from Space were filmed here.

We can lay claim to Message in a Bottle and Lolita, as well as the werewolf classic Silver Bullet (Corey again!).

Local casting was done by one of our local casting directors for movies such as Deja Vu, No Country for Old Men, the Great Debaters, and the upcoming Leatherheads.

More films that will be in theaters soon and were filmed in Wilmington are The Secret Life of Bees, The Marc Pease Experience, and Bolden (just to name a few).

Filmmakers here have the best of both worlds. They have great talent on hand. They have impressive studios at their disposal. And they have a friendly, easygoing, breezy atmosphere in which to work. Wilmingtonians are used to having streets blocked off for filming. We don't mind. And how many days a week do you see the tell-tale "Crew -->" signs lining Market St or Eastwood Blvd? The entertainment industry has become part of our culture here, part of our vernacular. On the one hand we're very proud of this industry. On the other, you're not likely to see a native pulling out his cell phone to snap a picture of a One Tree Hill star. If you see that, you know she's a tourist. *bless*

Coffee, Muppets from Space, and Mike St. James

So what do coffee, Muppets, and Mike St. James have in common? Nothing, actually.

The "Cucalorus Kids!" Film Festival starts tomorrow. The Cucalorus Kids festival is all about honoring family films that were created here in sunny Wilmington, such as Muppets from Space, The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and Super Mario Brothers. So all of you locals can take your family downtown to 815 Princess Street and enjoy the screenings of Muppets and Elmo in Grouchland this year. I hear there will even be a friendly monster breakfast on Saturday morning. For more information go to www.cucalorus.org.

And now for the coffee & MSJ. We got the call this morning informing us that MSJ was cast for a 3-part series of coffee commercials. It's an Indiana Jones-ish role about an adventure quest, and c'mon, what man didn't at least once fantasize that he was Harrison Ford fighting his way through South America with his fedora and his whip? And for that matter, what woman hasn't fantasized that her man was Harrison Ford slashing his way through a balmy jungle? (ahem!)

You know I'll be posting pics of MSJ in his Indiana Jones getup! They film next month, so I shouldn't have to wait long.

Little Hollywood gets glamorous

Timothy Woodward Jr. of Wilmington's Whittaker Bay hosted the latest red carpet party in Wilmington last night at Tre Benzios. As P. Diddy is to the Hamptons, so Tim Woodward is to Wilmington? That may be a stretch, but any party where "dress code will be strictly enforced" is bit daunting to this humble housewife, so I pulled out my best finery and vamped up the eyes a bit and relied heavily on MSJ to carry the night. (Okay, the dress wasn't mine so I find myself once again thanking Annabel Lee who is classy as well as talented. And generous with her favorite dress.)

Mike St. James & The Actor's Wife - VIP Lounge, totally out of place

I don't know why it didn't occur to me that at a party for actors and models and otherwise talented individuals that I would be surrounded by beauty and glamour. The boys were almost as pretty as the girls and, you know, I just hate when a man looks better than I do. I confess to the world that that wasn't my only insecurity. As we approached the VIP lounge I was half certain that one of those LARGE bouncers (where do they find those guys?) were going to turn me away and close the impenetrable stanchion of class in my face. That did not happen, we breezed right through on affected dash and after an hour and a couple of drinks I began to relax. That's just about the time the party got wild. We were very festive and I never knew exactly what we were celebrating. But why wouldn't these beautiful people want to celebrate? They're young, they're talented, and they're successful. They have everything to play for.

Mike St. James & The Actor's Wife

Thankfully (and dare I say surprisingly?) they were also welcoming. Of course they were entertaining and who wouldn't love to spend an evening chatting, dancing, and laughing with glamour incarnate? (To our dear new friend Colby with the soulful Pisces eyes: we are so glad to have met you.)

But the best part - the very best part - was seeing Mike St. James standing on a red carpet, limos on the street, cameras snapping. It felt, I don't the know the word, maybe real?

Taylor August & Mike St. James working the red carpet

Before I sign off I have to give a shout out to our compadre Taylor August who is a loaner of good books, a creator of witty sayings, and a man with the courage to draw purple penguins. Thanks for all the introductions, Tay!

Did I mention there was drinking?

The Other Boleyn Girl, an interview with Philippa Gregory

Monday night I hit the theaters with my sister to see a movie about two sisters whose sibling rivalry leads to the inevitable execution of one of them. (What else would we see?) I have to give hefty kudos to The Other Boleyn Girl and most especially to Natalie Portman who was able to show the diabolical plotting of Anne Boleyn while keeping one hand on her vulnerability and desperation. I also have to give it up for Eric Bana for making such a pretty King Henry VIII, but, let's face it, Henry was a child stuck in the body of a bloated, balding man. Not such an attractive picture as Bana presents, but if you're going to have a vice, Eric, I say you stick with being too pretty. I promise I'll forgive you.

Now, if I may, I'm going to jump from this visual extravaganza to the woman who is really the genius behind the movie: Philippa Gregory. Her book is more than just a lovely cover. It's full of intrigue, fast-moving plot, delicious descriptions, and amazing depth of character. The metamorphosis of Mary Boleyn is so consummately described by Gregory that we forget she was a resident of 500 years ago and suddenly she is today's girl next door.

Once upon a time (3 years ago) in a land far, far away (Texas) I was the editor of the best damn literary eZine known to human kind called The Dusty Shelf. One of the best articles we published was an interview with Philippa Gregory. The correspondent in this interview is none other than my saucy friend Raphaela. If you want to learn more about the seed from which grew the movie The Other Boleyn Girl, read the one-on-one chat here.

Much thanks to Annabel Lee, the publisher of The Dusty Shelf and my former boss for her gracious permission to use and reuse her eZine. I owe you, oh I don't know, let's say a load of laundry.

An Actor's Mother, too

Yes, I wear many hats.

This last fall MSJ brought our daughter Abby along on one of his auditions, a short UNC film called "David". He was cast for the part of David and she was cast for the part of The Princess. (Does it get any better than that?) This is just a taste of why Mike St. James is such a fine actor and it appears that talent runs in the family.

The film won't be complete until this summer, but they just released the trailer today. You can't see ASJ, but you can hear her beautiful voice at the beginning of the film. I'm bursting with pride. What can I say? I'm a mother.

I shot a man in Reno just to watch him die

I have been asked by two different friends to write about what it's like to audition, so I posed the question to Mike St. James. Hours later I had him out of the fetal position and was able to decipher some of his fretful babble.

In a nutshell, auditions are daunting. To many actors it is the absolute worst part of being an actor, and that definitely holds true for MSJ. There are hundreds of methods and thousands of books to cover those methods. There are lists of shoulds and lists of should-nots. There are classes and more classes teaching aspiring actors how to audition. I'm not qualified to pontificate on any of that, but one thing MSJ said to me stood out and I'm going to give it a go.

There is a question that is often asked in auditions. Assuming all things are equal and everyone is talented and trained, it's the question that, in my humble opinion, sets a person apart. It is, "Tell me something interesting about yourself." So deceptively innocent! So easy to overlook!

You can be a great actor. You can exude talent and self-assurance. But if you're boring we'll spot it from the door. Your answer to the question had better be good. You see, there is a knowing glint in the eye, a mischievous twist at the corner of the mouth, an audacious curve to the eyebrow, the essence of the devil-may-care in the posture of a person who has danced off the edge of the map. We all recognize them wherever we go and we envy them. They are the intrepid ones who laugh at those who say we should not tempt fate and say rather, "Fate should not tempt me!"

Actors are like writers in many ways. They have the similar function to inspire you and whisk you away and make you for just one moment forget that you're sitting in your dockers on your couch hoping the dog isn't digging another hole in the backyard or some other prosaic pondering. For one glittering moment you think expansively or you laugh with abandon or cry without restraint. Thoreau said, "How vain it is to sit down and write when you have not stood up to live." I would say the same about acting.

So here is the Actor's Wife's test. Can you answer yes to any of these questions?**

• I shared a jail cell with a woman named Big Alice for one night.
• I lived life so hard for one weekend in New York that a bum offered me part of her sandwich.
• I have been chased down a narrow, cobbled street by a pimp in Amsterdam.
• In a drunken fit of anger I have alienated the entire populace of Australia in one fell swoop (but, oh, they had it coming!)
• I have raced my friend down a hill in a wheelchair "borrowed" from the infirmary at my parochial school and let the nuns chase me if they dared.
• I wear my love for Simon Le Bon on my sleeve to this day.
• I got so drunk in Dallas that I woke up in a stranger's backyard in Houston and couldn't remember why.
  

If you can't claim at least one similar exploit you are not ready to throw yourself onto the screen of my TV. Earn my respect. Have an adventure. Be audacious. Cultivate panache. Learn to speak French. Kiss a stranger. Go skinny dipping (I recommend Freeport Beach, in Erie, Pennsylvania).

Actors have to pull their inspiration from somewhere. They have to dredge up some experience to channel the perfect emotion into their character. It stands to reason that the more varied your experiences and the more unique your talents, the better and more organic of an actor you'll be.

And if nothing else, you'll have a good answer to the question.

**These stories belong to my very best friend Raphaela. Adventure seeks her out and she is always a willing bedfellow of mischief. Read her blog and try to keep up. I dare you. (Well, the drunk in Dallas story is Ryan's. He has great adventures, too, and they all start with , "We were drinking...")

Chasing Rainbows and Raiding Windmills

Since I still have no fresh teaser trailer to post (ahem, Highfall Films) I'm going to regale you with tales of my favorite screenwriter. She's young, she's new to the industry, she's another Wilmingtonian, she's loaded with talent, and she has the most beautiful name I've ever heard. She is Annabel Lee.

Isn't that beautiful? It's poetic, it's tragic, it's literary. With a name like Annabel Lee, how could she not be a good writer?

The amazing thing about Annabel Lee is that she sees people. And, yes I mean in that cheesy Titanic sense (you know you loved that movie as much as I did so lay off, people!). She has this uncanny ability to understand what motivates people. She immediately recognizes your insecurities - the ones that drive you, the ones that you try so hard to cover - and she handles those foibles with nothing but the gentlest hands and compassionate touch. She told me about two years ago that she was writing a screenplay about two old men on a journey. I was skeptical. What does a 30-year-old mother know about the psychology of old men? Apparently a lot. What she brought to life was a screenplay called "After Alice" that is hands-down my favorite screenplay.

So do yourself a favor and check out her blog sometime: http://chasing-rainbows-annabel.blogspot.com/
Ask her about "After Alice". You'll fall in love with her.

Forbearance for the Big D and his Talented Insomniacs

It is with great disappointment that I report that "the" Raven Rock trailer is not yet available. Perhaps it was just too much to expect that they could finish filming in the wee hours of Thursday morning, edit the footage, have the original score written, and publish that long-anticipated work of art by Thursday evening. Nonetheless, logic does not ease my affliction. As my favorite philosopher, Ralph Waldo Emerson said, "How much of human life is lost in waiting."

What I can bring you is a double-feature teaser trailer showing the backstory of the two main characters of Raven Rock, brothers Dillon & Harper Lewis. (Played supremely by Taylor August and Kameron King, respectively.)

[FAST EDIT: Not sure why this video refuses to be confined to the space offered. He's going to eat up my whole page, but I guess that's in keeping with the spirit and excitement of Raven Rock, yeah?]

Check out this video: Teaser for Harper and Dillon Lewis



Add to My Profile | More Videos

Wild Mondays lead to lethargic Tuesdays

Mike St. James took me along for the first time to one of his acting classes. He decided to start me in David Silverthorn's "Actor's Co-op", a sort of baptism by fire, if you will. Silverthorn is a straight shooter with deadly accuracy. If you rush your transitions, Silverthorn catches it. If you move out of your frame, he notices. And if you choose the wrong monologue entirely, well, Silverthorn will tell you so. His criticisms can be as hard as a backhand from a cruel stepmother. So, why the full class?

Because Silverthorn is good. Damn good. If it's not working, he tells you, and you forgive him because he's right.

For those who want to start acting in Wilmington, Silverthorn's Monday evening showdown is the place to start. It's a place where an actor can find unambiguous critique and learn the hard lessons of the entertainment industry in a safe environment. Lesson number one: "good" isn't good enough. And lesson number two, apparently, is: Speak quickly, act slowly. (This lesson seemed to make perfect sense to the actors in the room; it was lost on me. To a writer it's always, think quick and write quick. Move, move, move!)

After that, a few of us needed to unwind so me & MSJ took Tay & BD out to an Irish pub that was very cleverly named The Irish Pub. (What's up, Goodfellas? Can't stay open on a Monday night?) We tucked ourselves in a smoky corner and toasted Raven Rock, cast members all! Except me, of course - but they're all kind people and certainly not crass enough to point that out. We drank, we laughed, we discussed inane topics and all of the things you do when you're young and at a bar with your friends. We ended the night convulsing with laughter in MSJ's truck listening to music that I can only describe as Pakistani hip-hop.

It was good times until we had to go home because the baby-sitter had school the next morning. That's when I remembered that I'm not young (compared to the others, at least). I'm responsible. My child-bearing ass will never again see size 2 jeans. I have to get up early tomorrow morning and change diapers, I need to go to the market, I can't forget the recycling...

Reality is such a harsh mistress.

If pictures were actually worth a thousand words, you wouldn't need bloggers

I know I should give a little background on Mike St. James' latest project. Surely you're all dying to know what was so fan-fricken-tastic that he gave up a finger for it. Here's the line on Raven Rock, per director Joe Cook:

“Raven Rock” is an incredibly character driven, action packed, special FX, Stunts filled show full of depth and story. Raven Rock can be best described as Smallville meets Criminal Minds. The show revolves around two estranged brothers, Dillon and Harper Lewis, who find out they have been infected with a bio engineered serum called Project R.A.V.E.N that gives them abilities like telekinesis, strength, and flight. The two brothers must find a way to mend their ailing relationship while trying to protect the good people of Raven Rock.

MSJ isn't one of the two superhero brothers; he is instead the bad-ass detective that's going to straighten everyone out down in the town of Raven Rock. I've read the pilot script and it sounds like this is the sort of show where every man has a secret, every story has a twist. It's like Guy de Maupassant with less talk and a hell of a lot more action. Or if O. Henry had Hemingway's sunny disposition. (Think something dark and ghastly like The Snows of Kilimanjaro meets something brilliantly surprising like After Twenty Years.)

The part of Dillon is played by one of MSJ's best friends here in Wilmington, Taylor August. What can I say about Tay? He's young (even younger than his age), he's handsome & dashing, and he is as artistic as God makes 'em. To see more, here is a teaser video that offers some of Dillon's backstory. Dillon Lewis's Story

The full trailer *should* be out on Thursday. Keep your eyes open for it and give it lots of traffic, lots of comments, lots of buzz.

Screenshots du jour

We got the screenshots back from Raven Rock. Just a few shots from the teaser they filmed over the weekend. We're told that the teaser should be out on Thursday and, you know, production companies tell actors a lot of things that don't really mean anything. But these guys are going to LA on Thursday to pitch our show - so I guess they'll have to have it done by then, won't they? And I guess I should be fair regarding production companies. Joe Cook & his amazing crew shot these sequences in hi-def on Saturday afternoon. The first thing Sunday morning, MSJ had copies of these screenshots. The Big D & his band of Talented Insomniacs might just be the most efficient crew we've seen.

Det. Mike Murdock's partner Jessica Robbins is played by the beautiful and talented actress Brittany Daniels. Without doubt you'll be seeing more of her in my blog so remember BD. (That is, of course, until she sues me and her attorneys make me take all references to her from my site. One never knows which actors have been sucked into the pomp and buffoonery of Scientology.)

Why Lao Tzu stole Mike St. James' Finger

It was the day we won't forget, that day we'll laugh about for years, that day we'll tell our kids about until they roll their eyes and say "Do we have to hear this again...." For me, it was a day that solidified my confirmed belief that good runs with bad. That in all ugliness there is beauty. That for every time you are the windshield, the Universe will also insist that you take your turn as the bug. It's sure as shooting that I'm a Christian, but I have a heavy appreciation for the Tao and the concept of balance, yin/yang, etc. (Thanks Dad. Thanks Mom.) I read sundry holy books and try to always understand and respect the faith of others, even if it's not my own. Well, I got hooked on the Tao Te Ching and to this day I'm as likely to read it as the good old Proverbs of Solomon that I grew up reading. And that, my friends, is why I believe MSJ had to give up a piece of finger to become an actor.

MSJ was working his day job trying to uninstall a nasty filing cabinet out at Fort Bragg. With nothing but the force of his own strength, he managed to cut off part of his left index finger on blunt metal. It was as painful and gruesome as it sounds, kiddoes! As luck would have it, he was on an army base where they put him back together as best as they could. (And aren't we grateful he wasn't at Camp Lejeune? Those Marines are pitiless. They probably would have told him to rub some dirt in it and just sent him home. Of course, they treat gunshot wounds so this little finger injury was probably rather small beer, if you know what I mean.)

On the agonizing 2-hour drive home, MSJ got the call from Highfall Films telling him was cast for the part of Det. Mike Murdock, a major character on the (hopefully) upcoming TV show Raven Rock. This was the best acting news he had received to date, the biggest role. Suddenly the fuzzy image of MSJ being a full-time actor became a lot clearer. And his finger hurt a lot less, too.

I'm sure I'll have much more to add about Raven Rock soon. For now I'll leave you with the poster and a link.

Raven Rock