Keeping It Reel: An Actor's Blog

"I don't know but I'm on my way." Stymie When Asked Where He Was Going The Little Rascals, Hi Neighbor, 1937

"You know, I just tend to grow my beard out for Parks and Rec . As an actor, it's always easier to shave or cut your hair for a role. but it's hard to put fake hair on or grow hair for a role. When you look at  pictures of me, the longer my hair, is, the longer my facial hair is, that's just the longer I haven't gotten a job."  ~Actor Chris Pratt So, I'm letting my beard grow. I'm putting away the razor and letting my face go for a bit. Of course I'll still keep my legs and back and that awkward two inches between my eyebrows baby smooth but I'm not touching my face.  I'm going all  beardy for two reasons.   The first is I begin work on Season 2 of Meet The Martins for Capital One in a few weeks. Frank, my character, has a beard.  The second reason is there are several projects coming this way in the Spring and Early Summer in which it probably wouldn't be a bad thing to have a beard or facial hair of some sort.  Of...

"#$%& the saddle and then wax it with your ass." ~An Experienced Rider I'm not sure if you'll find such instructions in your standard how-to-ride-horses handbooks but the previous statement certainly does get the message across.  I have spent the last three days on horseback, the most I have been in the saddle in over thirty years. It was a crash course in basic horsemanship which, gratefully, did not result in a crash. I survived. We wrapped on Legends and Lies: Into The West yesterday as grey skies and frigid temperatures rolled into the valley where we'd been shooting. Sometimes forces greater than you make the decision to keep rolling or wrap. As much as the director likes to think they have the final word, sometimes a bigger voice says how things are going to go. Yesterday a bigger voice said: "Go home." I learned a great deal over the last few days.  I learned a lot about Frederick Benteen , the man I had been portraying.  I ...

" Frederick William Benteen can best be described as an enigma. To George Armstrong Custer, Benteen was a nefarious subordinate, a man who doubted every decision, questioned every order. To his own men, the cavalrymen with whom he served, Benteen was a courageous and honorable man, a leader in whom they held the greatest respect and trust." ~ Wild West Magazine, June 12, 2006 "An enigma." I like that. A lot.  I mean, if you're going to portray a real life person you don't want some boring, blank canvas. You want layers and texture...and enigma .   I am currently playing Frederick William Benteen for a docu-series for The Fox Channel. The series will premier in April and should run for about twelve weeks.  In addition to my role as Benteen, I will also appear in episode that will focus on "Wild Bill" Hickok. I will be playing David McCandles, the first person Hickok shot and killed.  It is in my role as Benteen though where I will ...

Every once and a while I like to Google quotes about acting with the hopes of finding a quote or two which inspires me and perhaps might inspire others. I post these quotes on my Facebook page for two reasons. The first is so I have a permanent record of the quote I can reference every now and then. The second is so other actors can see them and maybe the post will start a dialogue.  The following is a small sample of some of the quotes you might find if you Google "acting quotes" or "quotes about acting." *It must be noted most of these quotes were said in a time when the line between 'actor' and 'movie/television star' was much clearer. That line has sadly blurred more and more. There are far too many people who are in movies and on television these days who are not actors. Reality television is not a genre which requires true acting. Those people are not actors. They are sensationalized puppets.  "Celebrity is death. Celebrity....

TAKING THE NEXT STEP understanding the value of a talent agent Speakers/Agents: Alexander White Kecia Michelle Russell Wiggs Susan G. Reid Susan Tolar Wallers Samantha Stoller Terri Dollar Event Hosted by Erica Arvold Today I was present at a panel discussion at The Byrd Theater here in my hometown of Richmond, Virginia. The discussion, Taking The Next Step: Understanding The Value of A Talent Agent , was produced and hosted by the amazing team of Arvold.  Arvold is a Charlottesville-based company helmed by casting director Erica Arvold. Erica and her talented, passionate team are an amazing group dedicated to making this industry more accessible and the people in it better through many educational opportunities like today.  If you go to the Arvold Casting website there is a pop-up with this quote:  “We love film.  We love actors.  We love collaborating.  What better job could we have?” Notice the word ‘love’ used several ti...

January 27, 2015 Director: “You ever thought of shaving your head?” Me: “Excuse me?” Director: “For a part? Would you shave your head for a part?” Me: “Gosh. I’ve never been asked that question before. I mean…I’ve never thought about it.” Director: “Well, while you’re thinking on it, think about growing a really big beard too. It’s for a big part. Let me know.” Me: “I will. And thank you .” Up until now, as an actor, I’ve never been asked by a director or casting director if I would alter my appearance-so drastically-for a part. And Brother! I mean drastically ! There are many positives to this question being posed to me. First off, I wouldn’t have to audition. The part is mine if I want it. Secondly, I was asked by the director of the project. Thirdly, I would be playing the main character. This would be the biggest part I would have played in my career up to this point. I would have more lines, more camera time than ever before. As an actor, right then and there, tha...