Chris' Actor Journal

YouTube ...

2007-03-06T02:50:00.000-08:00

YouTube is soooooooo COOL!
That's all I wanted to write ...

Click below to go to my very own YouTube Channel:
http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=cchenactor

Chris out.

Oh, the McIrony!!!

2007-01-11T01:48:00.000-08:00

So, I was watching Morgan Spurlock's "SuperSize Me" that I TiVo'd off of MSNBC this past week ...

I was shocked to see that during one of the later commercial breaks that there was an actual McDonald's commercial??? It was for the new Cinnamon Melts (which probably taste yummy, but which cannot be of any major nutritional value?)

However, the real irony is that that would mean that McDonald's was technically sponsoring an airing of Mr. Spurlock's scathingly honest documentation of how unhealthy the majority of McDonald's products are for the American consumer?

Weird, huh?

Chris out.

The "In Action" Guy vs. the "Talker/Big Game" Guy

2007-01-08T17:42:00.000-08:00

Recently, I've been helping a couple of friends who are relatively new to the Hollywood acting scene with the "Biz" part of it all.

One of 'em talks a BIG game, with lots of faith and lots of "signs" telling him he's on the right path, etc.

The other guy is sprinting out of the gate with each mundane little task I give him, no matter how un-fun it is.

Which one is going to reach success the quickest?
It may be a bit obvious, but it's a combination of both of them.
Otherwise, you'll be wingin' it like a third type of guy, "The Skiff Adrift at Sea Guy?" ... kinda wandering along, hoping success will magically hit you?

Yes, you need the faith, the BIG plan, and you need to be able to see the signs that you're on the right track.
AND, you need to keep doing all the little UN-fun things that may not seem to be part of the big picture, but they are.
Just like being a server in a restaurant: sidework isn't fun and doesn't get you the big tips, but it is PART of the job.

So best wishes and much success to BOTH of my buddies ... and here's hoping they'll learn from each other.

I certainly have!

Chris out.

Movies that I like, that others think suck ...

2007-01-07T23:50:00.000-08:00

Ron Howard's: FAR AND AWAY:
Yes, Weirdo Tom Cruise and his former wife, Nicole Kidman have really bad Irish accents and it's from before Mr. Howard got so much Oscar attention for his work, BUT I really like it.
It's a sexy period piece with major movie stars NOT from the Golden Age of film.

I do my "Asian guy doing a bad Irish accent" at parties by quoting a scene from it (and imitating Mr. Cruise and Ms. Kidman as they argue about shining each others' boots???)

I like its forced EPIC adventure thing via the Oklahoma land rush and that it's set in not so far away America (vs. some other far away land?)

PSYCHO BEACH PARTY
It was choreographed by my buddy, Reggie Lee (he plays the bad guy who's always intimidating his underlings via his bluetooth headset on the current season of "Prisonbreak") It has other friends Andrew Makay and Angus Kennedy dancing in it, too at, what else, a beach party.
Most camp-masters don't think the film is campy enough to be good, or even so bad that it's good? Just bad?

But I like it. I think it's sexy ... arousing even? Yes, constipation can turn me on!

The anti-(mystery)villain is dorko-sexy. And, yes, our heroine made her REAL career soon after with "Six Feet Under." But I will always remember her fondly as the glue that holds together the mess that is this film (that I really like anyway?)

Chris out.

Chemin Bernard, Actors Access and the FUTURE of Casting ...

2005-05-13T00:35:00.000-07:00

Just got to meet veteran casting director, Chemin Bernard, at aia studios. She had LOTS of cool stuff to say to the actors in attendance.
Among the most intriguing is how technology has transformed how she handles casting sessions and how she sees the industry adapting to it in the very near future.
She was raving about Breakdowns Express and Actors Access.

I will be checking it out very shortly. I'll post back here some of my experiences. My commercial agency (Howard Talent West) is VERY techno-savvy ... I'm sure they're already ahead-of-the-game already with some online accounts for me.

Since I'm a-bloggin' (and you're a-readin') we're already in the techno-game ...

Should be FUN!

Chris out.

TiVo - Enable the 30 Second Skip on your Remote - WeaKnees.com

2005-05-11T01:11:00.000-07:00

Enable the 30 Second Skip on your Remote - WeaKnees.com

Okay, I love TiVo even more than my computer or the internet!
It RULES!!!

AND, I am probably the only subscriber in the country who has TiVo, but NOT cable or satellite service (yep, just my TiVo and the network channels only ...)
A good ol' resurrected Fred-Flinstone-Bedrock-style aerial antenna found discarded on the top of my building ...

Anyhoo, for you fellow TiVo-ers out there, here's a cool thing to program your remote to do ... takes a few seconds, and voila, a new techno-feature!
Enable the 30 Second Skip on your Remote - WeaKnees.com

Love it!

Chris out.

Jesus and Being an Actor ...

2005-05-07T11:59:00.000-07:00

I'm sick of being a (professional) actor ... it's a grind, it's a pain, it's scary ... and where's the freakin' money???

I think I'll pray ... to Jesus ...

"Jesus, should I still continue pursuing a professional acting career in L.A.?
Lemme know, okay?"

Chris out.

You're Gonna Love Tomorrow ...

2005-03-25T10:56:00.000-08:00

Oh yeah, well what about today???
= )

I'm finally posting here cuz GuruStu can't get ALL of the upper level search results (oops, I think I just gave him another one?)

Anyhoo, things to watch out for in the near future (or just some things of interest related to me and/or my acting career):

BOOKIN' - YOUR Commercial Workshop (starring Boise Thomas) bookin.biz
aia studios - They are a-transformin' career development and education for the actor ...
"You're Gonna Love Tomorrow" - a benefit for the Chromolume Theatre Company on Memorial Day Weekend. It's a Sondheim review ... I did it almost 12 years ago in Ohio ... I was the "boy" in the "... Tree" then, and I'm the "boy" again now!
Be sure to read Hollywood agent, Tony Martinez's book, AN AGENT TELLS ALL (Freakin' brilliant!)

Chris out.

Why I LOVE GuruStu ...

2004-11-14T01:31:00.000-08:00

I love GuruStu because he is:

KIND

GENEROUS

WISE

PATIENT

FUN . . .

He's just a great guy and my link to the digital world (even if I sometimes don't visit very often).

GuruStu is COOL !!!

Chris out.

Moving Headshots

2004-09-28T17:34:00.000-07:00

Here's a new (or fairly new) "resource" for actors --primarily in use at the ONLY casting source for Los Angeles-based commercial casting, LACasting.com.

I'm posting my friend David's review and link to the service below ...

However, here's what I've heard about the usefulness (or uselessness) of this service ...
From a very reliable commercial casting source (who has been polling other commercial casting directors) ...

Imagine a big chess or checker board filled with the "thumbnails" of actors' digital headshots.
That's what the casting directors see when they pull up submissions of actors online/at LA Casting.
So, that seems "busy" enough with a whole screen full of mini headshots, eh?
Now, imagine that each one of those boxes/squares is MOVING???
Can you picture how seasick or dizzy one would get seeing page after page of that???

So, that's what the current report is from those on the casting end ...
Gives 'em motion sickness.

However, if you're a resourceful actor, constantly looking for that cutting edge marketing tool ...
My friend, David, has always been one of those ... has a good dayjob that allows him to spend a bit extra on such things as well ...
Here's a couple of links regarding his take on it:

David's Moving Headshot Link
David's Review of Moving Headshots

Interesting idea, new(-ish) marketing tool, etc. ? ... yes.
Practical? ... no.

But you decide.

Chris out.

Color Headshots

2004-09-22T07:31:00.000-07:00

Ooooops!
Haven't blogged in over a week ... thanks to GuruStu for the reminders (and for reading my journal/blog). Gotta keep true to the "Daily" part of this actor journal!

Ahhhhh life ... that's what's been happening ... what's that saying? Something about something being like a bus and another one will be along any minute? Well, we only get ONE life, but what's that saying again? "Opportunities?" Anyone? Comment with the saying/quotation that you know ...

So, I have my first COLOR HEADSHOT photo session today!

I am excited 'cuz I am sure it will bring my acting career to the next level.

A lot of old school actors/purists have resisted making this 21st century transition.
(I've been one of those ...) But, with online casting (esp. LA Casting) the digital color thumbnails and online photos will definitely be the best way to go.

I will blog what I've heard about "Moving Headshots" later on ... (and the feedback is NOT positive ... and kind of funny as to why that is ... )

Colorize me, baby!

Chris out.

The WB ... Land of the Beautiful People

2004-09-13T23:03:00.000-07:00

So, the WB Network has been heavily promoting their new season in strategically placed half-hour "promotional" shows ...

Yes, in a guilty-pleasure moment, I tuned into one ... and I was mesmerized!
Their shows are filled with the most BEAUTIFUL, untalented and forgettable [Caucasian] actors anywhere!
The 'recognizable' names are mostly B- and C- List, has-been, or never-was actors, but, of course, they are all beautiful!

Soap Operas or Daytime Dramas (the PC term) make no secrets about their beautiful, but marginally-talented populace. But has the WB "tricked" us into thinking these are legit nighttime dramas with cutting-edge storylines?

Who cares? I LOVE these stunningly gorgeous, barely-able-to-act people who all have totally forgettable 3-name names ? Chad Michael Miller ... Brooke McNally Cohen ... ??? Huh?
I don't know their real names ... again, I don't care ...

They're all gorgeous and young ...

I want to live there! WB Shows ... the world of beautiful, young, angst-ridden people!

Chris out.

When SMART people do STUPID things ...

2004-09-09T17:03:00.000-07:00

I have a few scars on my body ...
They look like exactly what they are: burns from an iron.
Nope, I wasn't abused by a starch-obsessed mother ("No, mama, don't!!!" screamed Penny. Any Janet Jackson fans recognize that reference?)

Yep, I tried to do a few minor "touch ups" without the hassle of removing the actual garment ... a cuff there, a collar here ... OUCH! Muthaf*#@&*sonofa%*^!!!

Recently, I had two neckties I liked for my GoodRestaurantJob uniform. Got a couple of food/grease stains on 'em ... thought I could just throw them in the washing machine? ... nope, ruined!

Actually, the lesson learned from that was simple enough ... ya can't wash ties in a washing machine ... didn't know? Now I know ...

I like how my buddy, GuruStu, distinguished that as IGNORANCE vs. condemning myself as an uncorrectable, stupid moron. He said that ignorance can be changed, stupidity cannot ...

Cool ... so now I know: no ties in the washer, don't iron clothes while wearing them ...

= )

Oh, and on another "Duh!" moment, last night's episode of Jeopardy! had a question about GoodRestaurantJob ... and I freakin' got it WRONG! Answer: "Opened by the Overtons, this restaurant is named after a famous dessert and is known for its large menu and giant portions."

I heard the "giant portions" part so I blurted out, "What is Claim Jumper?"
No!

Mr. Jennings got it wrong, too (his response was 'Big Boy,' contestant 2 got the name close, but no cigar, contestant 3 got it right). I was left feeling stupid once again ... it's only the restaurant I work for??? I KNOW who the Overtons are! I have studied the "large menu" ... I schlep out the "giant portions" everyday!

However, I DID know the final Jeopardy question (which all three contestants got wrong).

You see ... I'm smart ... I just do stupid things from time-to-time ...

Chris out.

Life's short ... and then you ...

2004-09-08T17:08:00.000-07:00

We are all aware of the inevitable ...
No one yet has figured out how to cheat the BIG one (maybe the "taxes" one --sort of ? ... but they usually get caught anyway).

So, I was struck by an article in USC's Daily Trojan the other day (I was down at their Dental School for a long-overdue dental health appointment).
It was about a freshman who was killed in a car accident on the way from his home in Northern California down to campus in Los Angeles ... ready to start his college career. His parents and grandmother were with him, but he was the only one killed? The article didn't give details about how he was killed, just that it involved a flat tire ...

Most of the article focussed on the difference he made for other students in his senior high school class.

The "unsaid" or subtext of the article was just how sad, ironic, unfortunate, etc. that a student with such promise, literally on his way to a new beginning, had his life end before he got there?
Not from something stupid or terribly freakish ... just from something random, accidental, unfortunate ...

The great secret is that no one knows the exact MOMENT they will die ...

Hopefully, we will all be on our way to something new and exciting when it happens?

Chris out.

Life Needs to be a Little "Miserable" ...

2004-09-07T09:22:00.000-07:00

... at least, once in a while ...

I was talking to my sister (who is pleased as punch to be here in L.A.) and she mentioned that I'd been doing a lot of "whining" about my life recently. That I am taking care of the things I NEED to take care of, but that I spend a lot of time complaining about those things before, during, and after I take care of them?

She said that I also seemed to be envious of our Dad, who is retired now, and who is "blissfully ignorant" of all things pending and imperative ...
He doesn't care, and he doesn't care that he doesn't care!
Ahhhhhhh ... no stress ...
(But in reality, he is completely checked out of life?)

So, my sister quoted one thing to get me to "quit my whinging" ...
It was something her ex-boyfriend from high school told her recently (yes, they are still in touch) ...
He said, "If your life isn't MISERABLE at least once in a while, then you're not REALLY living."

So, those times that life seems miserable, or that you seem to be being tested by the cosmos, God, etc. are those times when you get to take a life-pulse and check to see that,
"Yup, I'm LIVING!"

Like that quote from my favorite movie,
"The Shawshank Redemption" ...
"... get busy LIVING, or get busy DYING ... "

Chris out.

Double Labor on LABOR Day?

2004-09-06T23:54:00.000-07:00

Nope ... not the "good" kind: double overtime rate on a holiday ...

Just wanted to say that I survived another "double-double" on the traditional end-of-summer holiday ...

I worked a L O N G (and fairly busy) lunch shift at GoodRestaurantJob and then immediately rushed over to do a crazy dinner shift at SuckyRestaurantJob.

I'm tired ... my feet's is tired ...

Happy Labor Day!

I definitely LABORED! (All this is for my acting career ... really, it is!)

Chris out.

Re-"ENERGIZE" Me!

2004-09-04T14:59:00.000-07:00

No matter how you slice it, helping someone move is a bitch.
I'm wicked tired, but glad that I got my sis' into her new digs ...

Also, I am looking at a very L O N G Labor Day work weekend. Doin' a long dinner shift tonight at "GoodRestaurantJob," followed by a double both at "SuckyRestaurantJob" (lunch) and "GoodRestaurantJob" (another long dinner shift) on Sunday night ... then a long lunch shift "GoodRJ" on Labor Day Monday ... whew!!!

However, it doesn't take much to get re-energized, re-invigorated, revitalized, etc.

For example, I returned home this afternoon to find two messages from my dear friend "Tin Tin" (that's his nickname) who has returned to L.A. from the East Coast. He never gives me or any of his other Hollywood buddies much notice (I don't think he even knows himself when he's coming back?)

Anyhoo, I am soooooooo excited that he's back in town that, in fact, this weekend/upcoming week doesn't nearly seem like it will be so long and tiring?

I'm excited about seeing him and catching up AND I am excited about the games we're going to create around our acting careers! Instantly thinking of a new future to live into ...

Like "... and we can do this and do that and try this and maybe try on that one ... "

He's pumped to take his Hollywood career to the next level ... and SO AM I !!!

See, it sometimes only takes one phone call/conversation to make a long, tiring weekend seem shorter and more exciting, filled with possibilities !!!

Chris out.

Fitting it ALL in ...

2004-09-03T08:26:00.000-07:00

Wow ...
I don't know how some people do it?

Today's my day off, but I'm helping my sister move into her new apartment ... which will be an all-day adventure ... hope I get a dinner at Hometown Buffet out of it (we are sooooooo "ghetto!")

But, seriously, being an actor in Hollywood demands a lot of time, attention, focus, etc.
Glancing through the daily "casting information" this morning, there are some fun co-star roles I'd like to be submitted for ... but no time to do the self-submit, or call the agent or manager?
I have a print audition this morning before picking up the u-haul truck with my sis ...

Another server wanted me to help her out by picking up a dinner shift at "GoodRestaurantJob" ... I could use the money, but won't be done with the move-in by then.

Another actor friend wants to do a lunch/dinner career-planning meeting today because we both (technically) have the day off?

I need to help my buddy, Boise, with his commercial workshop workbook (major overhaul) in time for next weekend's class.

My scene partner has moved on 'cuz I haven't had time to rehearse for class (and WHEN will I have time to find and work on a new monologue???)

"CALGON ... take me away!!!" (Anyone remember that old commercial tagline?)

Sheesh ... I guess it's not just an actor's life ... it's LIFE ?

I'll fit in as much as I can ... somehow ...

Chris out.

The Power of "Suggestion"

2004-09-02T10:38:00.000-07:00

Declare it.
Speak it.

Ya know those times when you are actually BOLD enough to say out loud what you want (and not just as a wish or a "wouldn't it be nice if ...")?

Like the times when you really want to talk to someone you're attracted to, but not quite brave enough ... so, instead you go the route of THEY are going to talk to ME! They will !

Well, that happened to me last night ... at a roller rink of all places?!
Of course, you do have several opportunities 'cuz you keep going around and around ...

Anyway, I thought it, spoke it, declared it ... and, behold, it happened!

Neat, huh?

Now, let's start using that magic for my dream career and my dream life ...

Woo hoo! Here we go ... !!!

Chris out.

A Job That Makes a Difference?

2004-09-01T16:31:00.000-07:00

So, I'm on my way home from Dayjob 1 today (got Dayjob 2 in the evening) and I got cut off by a "Parking Enforcement Vehicle" (aka "Meter Maid Car") ...

They proceeded to dart in-and-out of traffic hurriedly on their way somewhere (GuruStu has some interesting observations about that in his Lifewatch blogs ...)
And I began wondering, "Just where on earth is a meter maid in such a hurry to get to?"

Recently, I heard some friends/co-workers talking about how they actually "hiss" or "boo" at them if they're driving by and see them giving out a ticket ... The other night someone was telling me about an expensive ticket he got 'cuz he didn't park "head in" somewhere that was designated as such?

I said, "Instead of booing or honking at a meter maid if I pass one issuing a ticket, I'd yell out, 'HEY! Get a job that makes a difference!'"

Thinking about that, I can't really see how their job makes any real difference in the world?
... just constant anguish to those coming back to their cars to find that dreaded, expensive piece of paper under their wiper blade?

Do I have a job that makes a difference?
I am in two service jobs right now ... I help people get their beverages, meals, ranch dressing, whatever ...
Hoping to get a fair gratuity in return?

As an actor, I hope to use my talents to move, touch, inspire people ... ?

It's good to have a job that makes a difference for people ...
Better yet, how 'bout a LIFE that makes a difference?

Chris out.

The Internet Connection and Six Degrees

2004-08-31T11:19:00.000-07:00

So, I was doing some Google "vanity" surfing/searching and for fun I clicked on the "Similar pages" link ...

It pulled some seemingly unrelated pages ... I think we were related by last names beginning with "Ch-----" only??? Anyway, I recognized a familiar name 3 listings down ... David Chiu, a fellow actor and first L.A. dayjob buddy when I first moved to California a few years back.

So, I went to his site and, yep, it was the same guy I knew. First thing that hit me was the sub-title for his site: "Unknown Asian Actor." I chuckled, "Hey, I'm one of those, too!"

He has a daily actor's journal/blog on his site, too ...

Clicking around his site, I noticed a link to an AsianWeek.com Feature Article from a couple years back, so I went to read it ... Get this, it's the exact SAME article that I was interviewed for back in 2002!
I guess I never read the original article when it was published? It is a nice article focussing on the plight and frustrations of a few "unknown" or "up-and-coming" Asian male actors in Hollywood: AsianWeek.com: Feature: Lunch With the Stars.

The article also features some great quotes by my buddy, Reggie Lee, the most established of the Asian male actors interviewed.

Small world, huh?
So, now, thanks to this blog, blogrolling.com, my website, David's website, I've made that connection even tighter: LINK me, baby, link me!!!

That "matrix" that we're all on is made even smaller and more noticeable with this internet thing!

Chris out.

The Nature of "Frustration"

2004-08-30T15:42:00.000-07:00

What do you do when you're not getting what you want out of life?

Is your life not moving at the pace you want it to? Or are you not getting the results you want?

We all get frustrated ... we all get disappointed ...

Then what?

The only thing I can sometimes do when I feel like I'm drowning in frustration, disappointment, disallusionment, etc. is to keep even just a little door or window open to possibility or unexpected aid, hope, whatever ...

Sometimes that opening is made larger by seeing a segment on "Oprah" or from a friend's email or maybe even a smile from a stranger ...

As an actor, there's this "Secret to Success" that has been coming up over and over again:
The ones who "make it" are the ones who don't quit! Sometimes easier said than done, but as I stay in this game longer and longer, it seems downright inevitable ...

I have watched many talented, talented actors and performers that I started out with since leave the business ...
The rest of us keep hangin' in there ... and we will find our success!

Chris out.

Practice Kindness (& Don't Forget to Tip Your Server)

2004-08-28T14:51:00.000-07:00

... having had a rough night money-wise at one of my survival jobs, I was going to blog about the frustrations of being a server.
However, during a PBS pledge drive, there was a repeat of the amazing "Dr. Wayne Dyer: The Power of Intention."

There were many "a-ha" moments during the program, but the one that hit me the most (esp. after my rough night at the restaurant) was the one about practicing KINDNESS towards others ...

I give the best I can when giving service as a server ... sometimes I'm "slammed" or distracted or upset by something else or maybe even a bit tired, but I try to do my best not to get that all over any of the guests I'm serving. The gratuity comes at the end: sometimes it's great, sometimes it's not (even if I've done everything "right.") The nature of the business ...
But I'm not going to lie: sometimes it really sucks!

Dr. Dyer talks about the power of practicing kindness towards others and refers to a study about seratonin levels (our built-in "feel good" chemicals) and immunity resistance when an act of kindness is practiced. Not only do both levels of seratonin and immunity resistance increase for the RECIPIENT who benefits from the act, but the GIVER of the act AND anyone merely witnessing the act also benefit as well!

So ... crappy tips ... okay, another day at the "office" ...
The best moment of the evening for me was when another server took the time to thank me for helping him get a couple of beverages to one of his tables ...
The thank you was nice, but I was more grateful that helping him made a difference for him ...

So ... don't forget to tip your waiters and waitresses, and ...
More importantly, practice KINDNESS and generosity ... ALWAYS!

Chris out.

Who? Me? ASPIRING???

2004-08-27T09:41:00.000-07:00

"Aspiring Actor" ... that is such a stupid label/description/whatever ...

It connotes someone who is "wishing" to be an actor, but not necessarily doing anything towards it? (other than aspiring to be one).

Here's another loaded one: "working actor" ... people generally think that means that it's someone who makes their living solely through acting (but not yet a celebrity or star?)

Well, I WORK at being an actor. I'm in class ... any extra money I make is hoarded away towards next month's acting classes plus headshot funds, postcard, mailing, gas for auditions and other actor-related expenses ...

AND I spend most of my waking hours either auditioning/interviewing for those acting jobs, or --as is the case here in Hollywood-- jockeying or trying to figure out how to get in there to get those auditions/interviews ...

It's labor and focus-intensive work. Not to mention working at two separate restaurants to pay the bills while I'm busy supposedly "aspiring." Not much extra time left over to hang out at some club (or trendy restaurant or lunch counter) "hoping" to be discovered ...

So, working? Yes.
ASPIRING? My ass ...

Chris out.

I am a Server WHORE !!!

2004-08-26T14:20:00.000-07:00

As an actor, the simplest "substitution" or "personalization" or "parallelization" reference for being a prostitute is tapping into your being a server (aka waiter/waitress) ...

We whore ourselves for the tips that will pay for the rent/mortgage, new headshots, acting classes, etc.

Doing something that we don't really like, just for the money, and for a chance at surviving 'til that dream "other" way of making a living finally hits?

Sometimes it's okay ... we get a "John" (aka Guest) that treats us well and tips us large.
But most of the time we get abused ... by our pimps (aka managers & general managers) and often by the guest who "stiffs" us after we've already "put out."

It's a degrading way to make a buck, eh?

I am a Server Whore ...

Chris out ...