Agent Adds Voice Over Capability

Great news from my Austin agent, Heather Collier at Collier Talent. She is starting to use Voice Bank for VO auditions for us client actors. I’m really happy about this. Though I haven’t done much VO work in recent years, that’s actually how I cut my teeth in this business. Back in the day… I did many, many VO jobs in Dallas and had some success in L.A. as well. When I moved to Austin, my first agent was DB Talent, the biggest VO agency in this market. I subsequently left DB in hopes of getting more chances at film / TV work and in the process sacrificed the VO work. So, this is good news. I’ve loved working with Heather and Collier Talent and this move definitely puts a smile on my face.

Welcome Back

Today I welcome back….ME.

Man, It’s been a long time since I’ve updated this blog. Life just kept getting in the way. [The BEST NEWS is that my wife, Jane remains cancer free and is doing just fine. Thanks for all the prayers and good wishes alond the way. Keep 'em coming.] But all is moving along rather smoothly…at the moment…and I feel like it’s time to ‘get back in the game’.

I’ve been investigating moving this blog and some other projects onto a WordPress platform. The more I look at WP, the more I like it and, in all my spare time, I’m trying to learn enough to utilize this very powerful platform in useful ways. One site that I’ve found to be particularly helpful is at WPDesigner.com run by a very smart and friendly fellow who goes by the moniker Small Potato. Be sure to check out the WPDesigner $5 Theme Club when you visit his site. The information on this site is worth more than a $5 donation so getting the WP Themes is really just a fre*ebie.

For novices like me, his site is a treasure trove of useful information and links. I’ve been working through his outstanding tutorial series on creating a WordPress theme. Incredibly, his turtorials, all FR*EE, have me getting somewhat up to speed on understanding not only WP but also CSS.

I’ll close this out with a nod to another blogging tool that I’ve found to be fun, functional and foward thinking! (How’s that for alliteration?). That tool is SmartLinks from a company called AdaptiveBlue. I’m still an infant at using the AdaptiveBlue tools but even so, I think it’s a great tool with a lot of upside potential.

Shortly I hope to share new headshots, such as the one in this post, updated audition information and general news of what’s going on in the Austin and Texas film community.

For better or worse…I’m back.

Tommy

Stop the World…

Man I’m ticked at myself…Just spent 30 minutes updating this blog and then hit the wrong button and trashed the whole thing…. must not have been worth reading…

2nd draft:

First the Good News: About two weeks ago, Jane passed two years being CANCER FREE. Since we really weren’t given much hope that she would survive this long at all, to be cancer free for two years seems miraculous. Miracle or not it is a blessing from God and we are thankful. Thankful to Him, to family and friends and to her doctors, particularly to Dr. Brenda Towell, Jane’s oncologist.

Jane just finished a year of treatments on Herceptin, the much in the news cancer fighting drug. Jane was not the optimal candidate for Herceptin as her cancer was not caught early, but the results have been so positive for those taking Herceptin, that her doctor wanted her to take it as well. Jane is thankful there was such a drug available, but is also glad to be free of the every 3 week infusion routine.

Herceptin is not without it’s potentially serious side effects and last week Jane has another battery of tests: bone scan, MUGA scan (heart), blood tests and a CAT scan of her lungs. All tests were negative and we can now exhale again.

All other news pales by comparison to the former but I’ll quickly update the acting prospects:

Had a great callback in front of the Coen Brothers for NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN. Although the audition went well and I have been told they ‘wanted to cast you’, that did not happen. Major disappointment, of course as I would have loved to have worked on that film and with those guys.

About two weeks ago I had another terrific audition (I think, anyway) with Tim Blake Nelson (a Coen cohort) for his film SEASONS OF DUST. I was well prepared for my reading and that seemed to have paid off as TBN gave kudos to my work and to my preparation. I ended up reading for two additional roles and….haven’t heard a word since. His film starts shooting in mid-July, so there is still some hope of landing some work in that one. He was a very ‘nice guy’, obviously tremendously talented and it would be a treat to work on his project…still waiting.

One the ‘upcoming projects’ front we have recent news that FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS, the series has been picked up and will shoot here in Austin. My small role in the film was a pleasure to do and I hope to get the chance to work again with Peter Berg.

Before I erase this post before posting I’ll close and move on to other work…

Thanks to any who are reading these posts. Thanks for the emails and comments. Take care all, keep the faith and stay strong.

Tommy

PS: to Curious_Kitty…thanks for the inquiry. No I did not get cast in THERE WILL BE BLOOD. That’s one film I will definitely see, though as the script is really good.

Stop the World…

Man I’m ticked at myself…Just spent 30 minutes updating this blog and then hit the wrong button and trashed the whole thing…. must not have been worth reading…

2nd draft:

First the Good News: About two weeks ago, Jane passed two years being CANCER FREE. Since we really weren’t given much hope that she would survive this long at all, to be cancer free for two years seems miraculous. Miracle or not it is a blessing from God and we are thankful. Thankful to Him, to family and friends and to her doctors, particularly to Dr. Brenda Towell, Jane’s oncologist.

Jane just finished a year of treatments on Herceptin, the much in the news cancer fighting drug. Jane was not the optimal candidate for Herceptin as her cancer was not caught early, but the results have been so positive for those taking Herceptin, that her doctor wanted her to take it as well. Jane is thankful there was such a drug available, but is also glad to be free of the every 3 week infusion routine.

Herceptin is not without it’s potentially serious side effects and last week Jane has another battery of tests: bone scan, MUGA scan (heart), blood tests and a CAT scan of her lungs. All tests were negative and we can now exhale again.

All other news pales by comparison to the former but I’ll quickly update the acting prospects:

Had a great callback in front of the Coen Brothers for NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN. Although the audition went well and I have been told they ‘wanted to cast you’, that did not happen. Major disappointment, of course as I would have loved to have worked on that film and with those guys.

About two weeks ago I had another terrific audition (I think, anyway) with Tim Blake Nelson (a Coen cohort) for his film SEASONS OF DUST. I was well prepared for my reading and that seemed to have paid off as TBN gave kudos to my work and to my preparation. I ended up reading for two additional roles and….haven’t heard a word since. His film starts shooting in mid-July, so there is still some hope of landing some work in that one. He was a very ‘nice guy’, obviously tremendously talented and it would be a treat to work on his project…still waiting.

One the ‘upcoming projects’ front we have recent news that FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS, the series has been picked up and will shoot here in Austin. My small role in the film was a pleasure to do and I hope to get the chance to work again with Peter Berg.

Before I erase this post before posting I’ll close and move on to other work…

Thanks to any who are reading these posts. Thanks for the emails and comments. Take care all, keep the faith and stay strong.

Tommy

PS: to Curious_Kitty…thanks for the inquiry. No I did not get cast in THERE WILL BE BLOOD. That’s one film I will definitely see, though as the script is really good.

Hollywood, Fear And The NFL Draft

My essay on how fear dominates the NFL Draft is here

ACTING NEWS FOLLOWUP:

No news to report on success or failure in getting attached to the Coen Brothers’ NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN project. I’ve been given a very ‘hopeful’ signal with regard to this project, but nothing is set and it may evaporate.

Friday saw me leaving Austin at 6:30am, arriving in Dallas at 9:30am. Audition for Toni Cobb Brock at 10:15am. Back on the road to Austin at 10:30am. Arrived back in Austin at 1:30pm. Whew…I’m getting too old to do this. LOL. Plus it cost me over $40.00 for gasoline alone. Yikes! HOWEVER…the project, THERE WILL BE BLOOD, is a really good script and the project has Daniel Day-Lewis attached, so it was definitely worth the effort. Now…if I can score a callback…I can go through the same routine next week. What? And give up show business?

Hollywood, Fear And The NFL Draft

My essay on how fear dominates the NFL Draft is here

ACTING NEWS FOLLOWUP:

No news to report on success or failure in getting attached to the Coen Brothers’ NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN project. I’ve been given a very ‘hopeful’ signal with regard to this project, but nothing is set and it may evaporate.

Friday saw me leaving Austin at 6:30am, arriving in Dallas at 9:30am. Audition for Toni Cobb Brock at 10:15am. Back on the road to Austin at 10:30am. Arrived back in Austin at 1:30pm. Whew…I’m getting too old to do this. LOL. Plus it cost me over $40.00 for gasoline alone. Yikes! HOWEVER…the project, THERE WILL BE BLOOD, is a really good script and the project has Daniel Day-Lewis attached, so it was definitely worth the effort. Now…if I can score a callback…I can go through the same routine next week. What? And give up show business?

Texas Film Projects – On a Roll

As much as I’ve ragged on the sorry state of film production in Texas, I guess I should say some positive things whenever possible. After quite a dry spell, it looks like production activity and particularly production of good quality material is at something of a high point in our state. Several productions which feature outstanding scripts are shooting or are close to start dates.

ELVIS AND ANABELLEwritten and directed by Will Geiger is already shooting in Austin. The script is terrific and it will be interesting to see how this Burnt Orange production turns out. Yours truly has a small roll opposite female lead Blake Lively. Thanks to the terrific Beth Sepko, Austin based casting director who always runs a relaxed audition!

One of the best scripts I’ve read in a long time is the Coen brothers’ script of Cormac McCarthy’s NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN. This script is the proverbial ‘page turner’ and reportedly has Tommy Lee Jones signed on to one of the leads. I was fortunate to get to read for this project as well and had a callback for the brothers Coen for three different roles. Obviously I’d love to do any of the three as it would be a real kick to work with these guys. Although auditioning isn’t usually the ‘fun’ part of the job, this time it actually was. Thanks to Jo Edna Boldin, casting director extraordinare for thinking of me for this project. Waiting to hear…..

No sooner had I gotten out of the callbacks for the NCFOM when I got a call from super agent Heather Collier with yet another audition. I had been hearing about the project THERE WILL BE BLOOD from friends in L.A. for some time. The project, written and to be directed by Paul Thomas Anderson and based on the Upton Sinclair novel, features another ‘can’t put it down’ script. The story is centered around the infancy of the oil business in the early 1900s. The lead character, Daniel is to be played by one Daniel Day-Lewis. I’m off to Dallas tomorrow morning to read for a small role in this…a nice scene opposite Daniel Day-Lewis.

So…it’s been in invigorating little run of auditions with some success. The most exciting aspect of all this is that the quality of the projects I’ve mentioned. These three projects, all very different, each has the potential to be a real gem. This is the kind of material all actors want to work on…no matter the size of the role.

By the way…both THERE WILL BE BLOOD and NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN will reportedly shoot in the Marfa area. That is great country for these two films. The terrific Texas film DANCER, TX POP 81 shot in nearby Ft. Davis a few years back and I gained great respect both for the land and the local residents during our stay in this starkly beautiful part of the state.

Texas Film Projects – On a Roll

As much as I’ve ragged on the sorry state of film production in Texas, I guess I should say some positive things whenever possible. After quite a dry spell, it looks like production activity and particularly production of good quality material is at something of a high point in our state. Several productions which feature outstanding scripts are shooting or are close to start dates.

ELVIS AND ANABELLEwritten and directed by Will Geiger is already shooting in Austin. The script is terrific and it will be interesting to see how this Burnt Orange production turns out. Yours truly has a small roll opposite female lead Blake Lively. Thanks to the terrific Beth Sepko, Austin based casting director who always runs a relaxed audition!

One of the best scripts I’ve read in a long time is the Coen brothers’ script of Cormac McCarthy’s NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN. This script is the proverbial ‘page turner’ and reportedly has Tommy Lee Jones signed on to one of the leads. I was fortunate to get to read for this project as well and had a callback for the brothers Coen for three different roles. Obviously I’d love to do any of the three as it would be a real kick to work with these guys. Although auditioning isn’t usually the ‘fun’ part of the job, this time it actually was. Thanks to Jo Edna Boldin, casting director extraordinare for thinking of me for this project. Waiting to hear…..

No sooner had I gotten out of the callbacks for the NCFOM when I got a call from super agent Heather Collier with yet another audition. I had been hearing about the project THERE WILL BE BLOOD from friends in L.A. for some time. The project, written and to be directed by Paul Thomas Anderson and based on the Upton Sinclair novel, features another ‘can’t put it down’ script. The story is centered around the infancy of the oil business in the early 1900s. The lead character, Daniel is to be played by one Daniel Day-Lewis. I’m off to Dallas tomorrow morning to read for a small role in this…a nice scene opposite Daniel Day-Lewis.

So…it’s been in invigorating little run of auditions with some success. The most exciting aspect of all this is that the quality of the projects I’ve mentioned. These three projects, all very different, each has the potential to be a real gem. This is the kind of material all actors want to work on…no matter the size of the role.

By the way…both THERE WILL BE BLOOD and NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN will reportedly shoot in the Marfa area. That is great country for these two films. The terrific Texas film DANCER, TX POP 81 shot in nearby Ft. Davis a few years back and I gained great respect both for the land and the local residents during our stay in this starkly beautiful part of the state.

Surgery, Acting and Web Site Development…What a Life

Jane’s battle with IBC continues and she is doing well. Last Wed. she had surgery related to her mastectomy. She had decided, after a lot of research and consultation with friends in her support group, not to have reconstruction surgery. You’d think it would be enough what women with breast cancer have to go through in fighting for their lives. But the residual issues that cancer brings can be extremely trying. So many of the people Jane has talked to have said that they wished they’d never had reconstruction that it had a strong impact on her decision. So she decided not to have the reconstruction, a process that would have required multiple surgeries. Yuck. No thanks from both of us. Now this did leave a bit of a, shall we say, lopsided problem.

So…this past week, Jane had breast reduction surgery. This surgery wasn’t a cosmetic, vanity type thing, it was necessary. Hard for men to imagine, I guess, but when the woman’s body shape is changed dramatically, it can lead to all sorts of other problems such as back pains etc. So the surgery was necessary. Still, when you’ve been through all this mess with cancer, the diminished heart function caused by the drug therapies, etc. another surgery, no matter how valid, is not something to be taken lightly.

Thankfully, Jane did great in the surgery and her recovery has also gone well. Her visit to the surgeon yesterday showed that the surgery was a success in all phases. The biopsy on tissue taken during the surgery was negative with no signs of cancer.

So..the stress level drops a bit. And just in time for the weekend.

——————————————-
On the acting front:

Very slow here in Texas though some projects are popping up. The problem continues to be that most of the work available is not the kind that is profitable. Lots of calls to go read in Louisiana but that is just not a thing I can do unless there is a substantial amount of work involved. As stated previously, if you work in LA they want you to work as a LA local…which means no per diem, no housing, no travel expenses are paid. Unless you score a couple of weeks work, that kind of scenario is only acceptable if you’re living at home and are trying to build a resume. If you’re actually trying to PROFIT from the profession…this is a no brainer dead deal.

Waiting to hear on auditions for the Lonesome Dove prequal which is shooting in NM. If there is a callback and if it is for a sufficiently large role it will mean going to NM for the callbacks….stay tuned.

———————————–

Still developing the VINCE YOUNG web site. It’s been up for about 2 weeks now and has over 4,000 hits. The number of unique visitors
is at only a few hundred at this point. I’m working on a new design in all my spare time and am trying to get a handle on how to best incorporate RSS feeds related information into the site.

In my spare time I’ve also started working on a site that will be a resource for Breast Cancer information. There is so much ‘out there’ that culling the informatin down into manageable ‘chunks’ is taking some thought. Jane is helping me with the structure of the content.

Surgery, Acting and Web Site Development…What a Life

Jane’s battle with IBC continues and she is doing well. Last Wed. she had surgery related to her mastectomy. She had decided, after a lot of research and consultation with friends in her support group, not to have reconstruction surgery. You’d think it would be enough what women with breast cancer have to go through in fighting for their lives. But the residual issues that cancer brings can be extremely trying. So many of the people Jane has talked to have said that they wished they’d never had reconstruction that it had a strong impact on her decision. So she decided not to have the reconstruction, a process that would have required multiple surgeries. Yuck. No thanks from both of us. Now this did leave a bit of a, shall we say, lopsided problem.

So…this past week, Jane had breast reduction surgery. This surgery wasn’t a cosmetic, vanity type thing, it was necessary. Hard for men to imagine, I guess, but when the woman’s body shape is changed dramatically, it can lead to all sorts of other problems such as back pains etc. So the surgery was necessary. Still, when you’ve been through all this mess with cancer, the diminished heart function caused by the drug therapies, etc. another surgery, no matter how valid, is not something to be taken lightly.

Thankfully, Jane did great in the surgery and her recovery has also gone well. Her visit to the surgeon yesterday showed that the surgery was a success in all phases. The biopsy on tissue taken during the surgery was negative with no signs of cancer.

So..the stress level drops a bit. And just in time for the weekend.

——————————————-
On the acting front:

Very slow here in Texas though some projects are popping up. The problem continues to be that most of the work available is not the kind that is profitable. Lots of calls to go read in Louisiana but that is just not a thing I can do unless there is a substantial amount of work involved. As stated previously, if you work in LA they want you to work as a LA local…which means no per diem, no housing, no travel expenses are paid. Unless you score a couple of weeks work, that kind of scenario is only acceptable if you’re living at home and are trying to build a resume. If you’re actually trying to PROFIT from the profession…this is a no brainer dead deal.

Waiting to hear on auditions for the Lonesome Dove prequal which is shooting in NM. If there is a callback and if it is for a sufficiently large role it will mean going to NM for the callbacks….stay tuned.

———————————–

Still developing the VINCE YOUNG web site. It’s been up for about 2 weeks now and has over 4,000 hits. The number of unique visitors
is at only a few hundred at this point. I’m working on a new design in all my spare time and am trying to get a handle on how to best incorporate RSS feeds related information into the site.

In my spare time I’ve also started working on a site that will be a resource for Breast Cancer information. There is so much ‘out there’ that culling the informatin down into manageable ‘chunks’ is taking some thought. Jane is helping me with the structure of the content.