Hi Friends! I really try and answer every e-mail about everything. Sometimes I get some great ones that can maybe help some others, so I put them all together here! So please enjoy. Every e-mail will get a reply, even if it really does take a long time like this one. Before I get into answering some e-mails, wanted to share a quick pic from a new project I've been working on with indie film legend Bob Hawk and those wild n crazy award winning filmmakers from Hollydog films. Here's a snapshot from the Times Square set this weekend! Enjoy!
“I have an idea for a movie, how do I get it made?”
Good question and not a slam dunk easy answer. But if you have an idea, I say stay with it, flesh it out, make it the best idea you can. If you’re not writer, maybe find a writer that you trust (trust is key, trust trust trust) once you have your pitch or your script, go find an agent. Hey Tim, WHERE DO I DO THAT? Ok ok, look here the writers guild is a group of good folks who do look out for you. Now these are a lot of contacts, but no one says this was easy, just last night in a call and agent told me I sounded like a tv writer and not a published best selling author. I’m pretty sure it was an insult in tone, even if the context was true! Just pick up that phone and call them up. Don’t let anything deter you. Good luck!
“How do you find the time to do everything? 5 hour energy?”
How is 5 hour energy? Does it work? Better than coffee? Wait, I should be answering your question. Here’s the thing, it’s really easy to let the “work” slack. This business needs maintenance on our side, if you’re an actor, you have to staple or glue your updated resume in back of your pictures….sometimes 10-25 at a time…and guess what, the paper and the picture are never the same size, so your stapling and trimming and then you run out of staples. All while watching MALCOLM IN THE MIDDLE RERUNS at like 10pm. (side note….WOW Malcom’s Dad in Breaking Bad, WOW WOW WOW) and writing is even less glamorous, arguably the most un glamourous part of the whole business. I can't tell you how many times it’s like 11pm, I’m tired….and the lines arent flowing like I’d hoped. You squint at the computer, and hope for answers that may not come. Directing wise? Sometimes you can’t connect your scenes. You end up sketching things out on post it notes, napkins, or whatever. It looks nuts. Really, this is why you hear so many stories of folks being bitter in the business. But like ANY job, the above things are necessary evils. Teachers have to grade papers, doctors have to prep, lawyers have casework, truckdrivers map routes….it’s all thankless side work that’s part of the bigger picture. But it’s necessary thankless side work. Do what I do, while your hovering over a copy machine at KINKOS at 1am, think “you know, if something good comes of these copies….this makes for a really great success story” so long story long. Sorry. Eye on the prize. Just keep your eye on the prize, don’t lose track of your goals.
“When can you start making money at this?”
Neveruary 32nd. Seriously… money can be made, but here’s the thing, the money can be sporadic. Example, commercials, good money, but sporadic, inconsistent money. You could get a nice check, say “WOO HOOO” and then say “well whens the next one coming?” It’s a pretty anxious way to live. When I started, I found a night job and when I say “night job” I mean “insane shifts” I worked 40 hours….from Friday night to Monday morning…..Friday night at 11pm-7am…back in Saturday afternoon at 3pm to work til Sunday morning at 7am….go home, back at 3pm on Sunday to 7am on Monday morning! This allowed me an income while I was able to work in New York and screen test and write. That said, this shift was brutal. You were essentially skipping about 3 days of sleep, and if you had a tv gig…sometimes you’d skip 4 days or more. I knew some buddies in this business would work the night shifts at grocery stores. Get creative. Get your rest. Work on your craft, don’t kill yourself by not sleeping or eating.
“I try to tell my friends about auditions that I have, and they don’t seem to care, how do I get them to care?”
Here’s the thing, what you’re doing is really hard. There’s a lot of downs and some occasional ups. Friends want what’s best for you, but no one likes to see their friends down in the dumps either. Also when you first said “I’m going to be an actor” did you get looks like you may have just said “I’m going to go fight aliens on mars”? Yes, it sounds big. But work at it, there are folks who want you to succeed, embrace the positivity of it. Eventually, you’ll book something and your friends will have the “bragging rights” they’ll see you on stage or tv and say “there’s so and so!” And you’ll feel the positivity and support, because your friends will see the fruits of your hard work. But what you’re doing, it’s hard, it’s filled with rejection, it’s hard for friends to see that.
“if you don’t have the hollywood look, what can you do?”
What’s the hollywood look? I don’t even know what that is, so I think you should ignore whatever that is, and just really focus on the craft. I mentioned BREAKING BAD earlier, that show has some really great actors with some really great and unique looks I hadnt seen before, oh and that show is about to clean up at the emmys. Looks mean nothing at all. Just embrace what you’ve got and get to work and feel good about it. Confidence in yourself is key though. Know your brand, be really good at your craft and what you do, and I bet people will re write things just to get you in.
“What happened to your TV show? Didn’t it win an award?”
Yes! (and thank you for mentioning the award! You must read these rantings! Seriously, thanks for reading this thing) “detectives” is still circling the networks, I think recently I compared it to “waiting in the deli line, waiting for them to call your number” really, you just want to yell “I just want my damn cheese!” same exact feeling. I’m really proud of that one, and no matter what happens, I assure you that you havent heard the last of those fellas in this clip: In some way, in some sort of venue, there will be more DETECTIVES, because I enjoyed just about every single moment of that process.
“How do I know if I’m cut out for acting?”
I got this question on Friday. And I replied with this: “if you enjoy it, keep doing it. If you feel anxiety, this business wont help it, if anything it may double it. The key is finding what you love the most about it, if you like cameras, live theater, fancy red carpet premieres. The Avett Brothers have this great song where there’s a line that says ‘decide what to be…and go be it’ go with that, and if you still feel really good about it, you’re cut out for it!” Some good ones!
As usual, I’ll answer everything, all these e-mails are from facebook, twitter, myspace (YEP I check it still) and through the site. Thanks for reaching out everyone! Take care and be good,TC