Saturday... nice day today but I did hear something that makes my blood boil. The UK Big Brother reality show (which is the pile of crap which started all of the world's reality shows, by the way) has a serving MP (Member of Parliament) called George Galloway in it (plus a group of other loser non-celebrities). My question (which is the same as a signficant amount of other people) is how can this dickhead 'serve' his contituents, i.e. do the job he's paid to do, if he's locked up in a TV house with braindead morons tuning in to see him and the other vacuous pillocks pass the time of day doing various pointless persuits? I hope he's voted out next election for being a total prat. Oh by the way, I think all reality TV is cheap, horrific and a very poor excuse for entertainment. All except The Apprentice! Sorry, but I find the idea of incredibly intelligent (on paper at least) and enterprising people pitted together in various undertaking requiring all of their mettle very compelling. The only thing I hate about it is that it's one huge advertisement for whichever company that week's challenge is based around.

Change of subject.. read about a young Brit who made a fortune, basically doing nothing. He was down on his luck really trying to work out what he was going to do with his life when he had a superb idea... The Million Dollar homepage
The Beeb site has a story about it here.
Well, he's very rich now and good luck to him!!

Watched Mr & Mrs Smith with Brad and Angelina. Hummmm, it was fine I suppose but neither of them looked comfortable in their roles and the shootout at the end of the movie (sorry, spoiler), well, it was a little silly to say the least...

NOt that I follow sport AT ALL (other than anything with an engine and four wheels EXCEPT Nascar which has to be the MOST BORING and MINDLESS 'sport' of all time), apparently there was quite a big sports match at the Rosebowl (in Pasadena for you non-locals) between a team from Texas and one from Los Angeles. Well, despite a close game, Texas won. Why do I care and why am I telling you this? I was strolling down Santa Monica Blvd today and I saw a Jag with Texas plates and the owner had attached rather spiffing 'horns' to each side of his car and a rather attractive decal to his doors. What an incredibly intelligent person the owner must be, that he felt compelled to attach pieces of plastic (with no positive aerodynamic profile I might add) to his fine machine. I wish I had had time to wait to meet him but, alas, I had to move on.
Wow, was it HOT today - high 80s - January 5th??? Blimey, isn't this supposed to be winter? Went to the park with the littl'un and had fun! It's great to see him running around with a smile on his face.
Went to rehearsal in Malibu and we ran the show a couple of times. It really is looking great.
Then I had to go and have ANOTHER fitting for the CC job. This wardrobe lady certainly didn't mess around. The clothes were marvellous (and very expensive). I was trying on shirts costing $140 and jersey sweaters costing $250. I don't think I've ever worn clothes costing anything like that. They felt great and looked AMAZING.
I am really looking forward to the shoot!

Blimey, Thursday already. Took littl'un to 'drop-off' and headed to the office. We're doing background for the new 'Reno911' movie so there's an open call this Saturday.
Submitted my people for some commercials.
Off to rehearsal in Malibu.
Apparently, there's a new 'stylist' (wardrobe person) for the CC job so I have to go in for another fitting tomorrow. Also have to be 'fitted' for my 'green screen' harness next week. I'm so looking forward to flying around!

How would you like to buy music legally for $0.07 a track? Interested? Check it out here.
More info here.
Bless those Ruskies!
Useful 'freeware' progs here.
Enjoy.

No movie meeting today. Seems everyone is still outta town!
Went to class. Four of us there: Erin, Alexis, Chris and myself. I worked with Erin and it went really well. Sean gave us an 'excellent'. It felt great for me. I didn't let myself be drawn into sympathy when I didn't feel it just to suit how "I thought I should feel about the situation". I need to keep this up. Be open and allow myself to be pulled any which way. NOT preconceive or try and influence the excercise to go the way I 'think' it should go.
Made a decision today about casting workshops: I don't need them and I'm not going to attend them. Full stop (period, if you like). If you are coming to Hollywood to follow a career in acting, please take my advice. Don't waste your money on casting workshops. Actually, let me go one further. There is no quick way to stardom here.
You can't come here for 6 months just to 'try it out'. It isn't going to happen in 6 months. You MUST come ready to dedicate 5-10 years to your career choice. You WON'T make it (by 'make it' I mean earn a living as an actor, i.e. pay rent, buy food etc. NOT be famous or even 'well' paid. That's NOT what I mean) if you spend any less time here. Honestly! It takes TIME to build your network, assemble your tools, learn your skills and understand how the 'industry' works here. Also you must remember that you have to LIVE LIFE whilst you're working on your career! You can't do that if you're breaking your neck trying to 'act' or 'meet people'. People can sense desparation here. Seriously. It's tangible. People can ID someone who's trying to use them to try and fast track their way to fame and fortune. Don't kid yourself. You CANNOT rush this. No-one has the golden ticket for you. It takes work, slog and dedication. No excuses, no short cuts, no kidding.
Oh, by the way, if you do think there's a short cut, one will 'MAGICALLY' appear. 'Short cuts' are in high demand, come in all shapes and sizes and cost varying amounts of money, usually lots and lots. There's an old phrase 'There's a sucker born every minute'. It's true and I think it must have been coined to refer to most of the hopefuls who turn up in Hollywood, eager to be a star. People WILL take your money, promise all sorts of wonderful things and fail to deliver.

Anyhow... went to rehearsal at the G. The show is looking great Meryl and David are doing a tremendous job. There was talk of taking the 80 minute version of the show (which we'll be doing in March) out into the amphitheatre if things go well. That would be unbelieveable. Seriously!
More New Year's resolutions....
Run a marathon this year (hummm....)
Learn conversational Spanish

Hey, want a link to free e-books and audio books? Join your local library and then sign up with www.netlibrary.com. There's a stack of fantastic stuff in there and it's all for nothing, nada, zilch.
Enjoy! That's where I'm getting my free Spanish language course. You can't beat 'free'

Rehearsal went well today. Reviewed everything everyone had forgotten over the Christmas/New Year break. Actually, the level of retention was impressively high!
Had fun with littl'un at home too! Good day.

Added a stack of links on the right hand nav... please check them out!

Pissing down in LA again. The street is like a river... no kidding. It's been raining on and off all day. Rainy season's definitely here. Didn't you know it rained in LA? Holy moley, it rains. I'm a Brit and it's a lot of rain, even for me! The Southern Californian landslides have started again.
Anyway, went off to the flicks to see Fun with Dick and Jane which was very enjoyable and very funny. Reportedly costing $100m I couldn't really see where all the money went other than Jim Carrey's $30m wage packet. Not incredibly cerebral, of course, but fun anyway. Not every film is Uncle Vanya, OK?
Saw another car with a menorah on the top. Sorry, no offence, but it has to be one of the most stupid things anyone puts on their car. It even beats a 7' inflatable Santa on your lawn. Equally daft. Festive, but daft.
Meant to list my resolutions yesterday but here they are, better late than never (in no particular order)...
1. Do something toward my career EVERY day.
2. Practise my standard American accent EVERY day.
3. Eat at least one piece of fruit EVERY day (Hey, I didn't say my resolutions were going to save the world, did I?)
4. Read something from a book EVERY day (not a website, magazine or newspaper).
5. Walk at least 25 minutes every day (I'll amend this to 'steps on a pedometer' when I get one. I've ordered one!)
6. Donate to or help a charity every month.
7. Read to my son, EVERY day (at the moment, it's every other day when I put him to bed).
8. Run (or walk) a marathon ONCE this year
9. Participate in at least two casting/agent showcases a month
10. Read at least three plays a month
11. Be more controlled and slow(er) to anger (may be a toughie!)

I'll think of some more and post them...
Back to rehearsals tomorrow...

Happy New Year!










Please spare a moment to remember...
and let's look forward to...