Live Your Own Movie

Last summer I was asked to be in a few spoof commercials which were subsequently shown at an HEB convention. I really enjoyed shooting the commercials, and while we were shooting the third one, I made a conscious intention to do more film work.

At the new year 2010, instead of making any resolutions, I made a goal: to be in a movie in 2010. A couple of weeks later, I had a great audition in Houston for an interesting film about a lawyer fighting the medical supply system. Several weeks after that, I went to Austin to be seen for the role of Mattie Ross' dead father in the Coen Brothers' upcoming remake of True Grit. Then, nothing. My agent didn't even come see me in Waiting for Godot, and I had saved my comps for him. Jerk!

But about two weeks ago, my wayward agent got me an audition for a feature-length film being shot here in San Antonio. I read for the part of a psychiatrist to a young man who has something resembling schizophrenia and delusional disorder. I was able to read the screenplay and work on the audition scene for a few days before I auditioned, so by the time I went in, I felt comfortable, memorized, and was able to enjoy reading in front of the audition panel. The next day, the screenwriter (who is also starring in the movie) sent me a message, informing me that I had been chosen for the role.

There is great satisfaction in meeting a goal which, when it was made, seemed rather unrealistic. I am relishing the thought of being on a film set and learning all about how it works. The movie has a very low budget, but the filmmakers are serious and have experience in the field. One of the producers said it will be submitted to Sundance, and will have a wide distribution. Yesterday I went in to be measured for a costume, and seen for a makeup test. The day after tomorrow, we will have our first table read.

Do I need to mention I'm pretty jazzed about all this?

In other news, speaking of unrealistic goals, I am directing Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing for a local theatre company. I have a fantastic cast and design team, and we open in about a month. I am a little anxious about the set for the play, as my vision requires a surfeit of creative energy and specificity which, to my knowledge, hasn't been expended yet. I met with the lighting designer yesterday and am meeting again with the set designer today, and tomorrow we're all meeting together for the first time, for a production meeting. Almost every time I direct something, I doubt that it will come together: this feeling is nothing new. But this time, with this project, I do feel like the bar has been raised much higher than it was in the past.