Acting is to Auditions as Icing is to Cake

The other night I drove into the city for an acting audition stopping at a favorite Chinese food haunt and proceeded to close out the meal consuming a traditional Fortune Cookie and in my zealousness half the fortune as well…From what I could make out (the uneaten half) read something like “A project you’re (missing bitten half) … (next line) will receive (missing bitten half)… Having just come from an audition I saw this not as the indiscriminate digestion of mere wood pulp but a sign from the heavens. Yes, the universal consciousness, smiles down upon me this night. I guess that’s a good way of seeing the glass half full.

In this land of youth driven culture that celebrates the 20 something mind and often the 20 something mind coupled with sex, there is a movement neath the covers toward really celebrating our elder statesmen, as audiences grow in age and more importantly as audiences grow in tolerance of all ages.

Overnights for the latest NCIS episode show 17.6 million viewers, numbers which should put the show in second for the night. However, NCIS appears in third place for the night due to a 3.4 share in 18-49 year old viewers while Lost which only garnered 8.8 million total viewers claimed that second position for the night ringing up a 3.8 share in 18-49 year old viewers. Years past the 18-49 year old share would have almost always mirrored overall viewers for most shows. Television audience demographics as a whole are skewing older as niche programming and viewing habits also take hold.

While working at ABC Television, I once had a conversation with the late Vic Mizzy (composer of both the Adams Family and Munsters television themes among many others). Some 20 odd years ago this movie music great complained that he couldn’t get interest from any studio or production company to compose anything, even with his very successful track record…Mizzy felt he had such creativity to share but the system didn’t even want to hear it because he was too old. For what it’s worth I told him I’d have hired him if I could have…

Flash forward to 2010. A Betty White fan in Texas starts a fan page suggesting Betty White should be given a chance at hosting Saturday Night Live. The fan page takes off virally garnering over 500,000 fans nudging the Producers of the NBC stalwart series to take note. Now sometime in May of this year, Betty White has been booked to host Saturday Night Live. At 88 years old, Ms. White is somewhat of an anomaly. The point is that the world today is instantaneous. With the advent of real time social networking the collective consciousness takes on a whole new urgency. It appears we’re speeding toward on demand programming customized to our individual needs by us and for us…

So what does this all mean for the here and now? Definitely change for one and that for the time being we’ll all have to peddle a little faster to keep up!

Greg is appearing as Tony Abbott in Heaven Can Wait at the Conejo Players Theater in Thousand Oaks from April 23rd – May 15th Thursday – Sunday. Call theater for showtimes and ticket availability or just write me direct Greg@firesofaugust.com.

EVEN SEA SLUGS CAN BE INTERESTING (though a bit slippery to hold…)

While doing laps around the Beverly Hills High School track one afternoon I spied an older gentleman dressed in sweats with a towel tucked around his neck and donning an English driving cap. I felt his energy from the moment I arrived and though focused on my own training I was drawn to him. He appeared to be mumbling to himself and oblivious to the outside world. By the second mile I was acutely aware of his incredible focus. He appeared to be concentrating, working from within on some problem perhaps, but doing so with laser precision. It didn’t hit me till a few laps later that this man was an actor learning dialogue and developing his character on that track.

Somewhere between my second and third mile and this was some years ago, I realized it was Burt Lancaster. To this day that afternoon has made an indelible impression on me. I learned that even after all the success a screen legend enjoys, he still must work hard at his craft and still give 150% in doing so.

My journey thus far has been on both sides of the camera. I’ve tasted success and failure, hard times and good but one constant throughout the journey has always been that the people I meet and places I’ve visited make life interesting…

A chance meeting in an elevator or at a gas station with someone far from the world of entertainment is often a valuable source for character development as an actor as well as a rich addition to the fabric of my journey.

And life is full of “stuff”. My life is no different. The typical acting coach will tell an actor that if they’ve had a bad day or some misfortune or are depressed they should use all that “stuff” in their performance. That same acting coach will also tell you if you’re angry use it or if you’re sad use it and so on. They’ll explain that adding your “stuff” to a performance will make that performance rich. If you’re that actor going through the “stuff”, that turmoil you feel inside may not be so easy to use in an audition or performance. The advice to use your “stuff” may be sound advice. However, we’re not always comfortable wearing all the armor needed to do so. It does get heavy.

So tonight I’m gonna take off my armor,set my stuff aside and relax a little bit before tomorrow's challenges present themselves...Of course all that happens sometime after a long night of rehearsal giving 150%. It's hard work being a murdering adulterer. Oh yeah,that's my character Tony Abbott in "Heaven Can Wait". We open April 23rd at the Conejo Players Theater in Thousand Oaks.

CREATING HOLLYWOOD FAME IN THE DIGITAL AGE?

Recently creating Hollywood fame in the new digital age was the topic of a successful Pasadena Convention Center seminar entitled the Hollywood Hook-up; Creating Hollywood fame in the new digital age.

Speakers included Shadow Mihai, Esq. Entertainment Attorney and Producer/Director of four independent feature films and Co-Creator and Director of the online series “Coming 2 Hollywood”, marketing guru/actor Joseph James, artist Manager Cordell Capone currently representing several Grammy Award winning singers and Casting Director Anna Miller.

Actors, musicians, singers, models and dancers were in attendance, all with a single purpose, to build their Hollywood celebrity and move their careers forward.
Actor Greg Philippi, an attendee with an industry resume in both the creative and business sides of entertainment commented; “The seminar was a pleasant surprise. Building my brand in the digital age has proved to be an exciting challenge in the face of an ever changing technology landscape that is constantly providing both new hurdles and new opportunities for exposure, distribution of product and the ability to immerse one self into the creative process. There seems to something for everybody at this type of industry event. From an actor’s standpoint the Hollywood Hook-up provided a platform from which to network with potential scene partners, a means to share valuable casting and production tips, analyze market trends and to really spur creative thought. With changes in technology moving at lightning speed it won’t before long before we’ll need to have another just to stay current”.

Does talent translate to fame or do those who’ve achieved fame then have an opportunity to show their talent? How do we re-define and monetize an industry that is being turned upside down with a never ending sequence of rapid fire innovations? Is it possible to monetize “change”? As fast as these questions are answered new questions raise themselves. One thing is for certain, now is the time to think digital. What are your thoughts?

Tragic end of former "Faces" / "Humble Pie" vocalist Steve Marriott

Early "Humble Pie" were so talented... I still play their classic "Rockin' at the Fillmore", loud! With former "Faces" vocalist Steve Marriott at the helm performing at 150% every night they just had to break through but that kind of light eventually burns itself out as was the case with Marriott.

On the night of his death a close friend of mine was the last person to see Steve Marriott alive. Here's what my friend recounted over the phone; Marriott was out here in the Los Angeles area on the coast drinking heavily in a local watering hole. He was consuming so much alcohol he could barely walk let alone drive, doing so at 150% as he had in his performances on stage. He and my friend, a fellow musician, began chatting about trival matters of drink as they embibed together. It was bar talk and they proceeded to get crazy as the night wore on. As my friend told me the tale he began with "you know that guy that used to sing with "Humble Pie", well I met him last night and..." All I could think was of course, Steve Marriott is a rock legend, a blue eyed soul singer with a chitlin' circuit grind that always gave 150%. I was anxious to know if he'd been able to get inside Marriotts head and pick his brain on matters of music. What inspired the early "Humble Pie" material and forming of the band? What was it like playing the Fillmore in it's early days? What was it like working with Peter Frampton in his teen hearthrob years? And working with "Faces" guitarist Ron Wood (now a "Rolling Stone") as well as "Faces" vocalist Rod Stewart? What road stories there must have been... I had so many questions. None had been answered...None would ever be answered. What a waste.

The pair visited several local bars that night and as the darkness was about to become day, my friend dropped off Marriott at his place in the Santa Monica/Venice area. As Marriott stumbled from the car and they mumbled their good byes that was the last anyone would see of Steve Marriott. Marriott was so wasted that he lit a cigarette and passed out in bed burning himself to death. The next morning as my friend relayed the tragic story, I remember being in shock and speechless. I was so saddened by his senseless death and I think he was as well. I still am. And though I was tucked away beneath the covers early that evening, sane and sober, that night has haunted me for years. And I wasn't even there... To loose a talent in such a senseless way...Marriotts flame burned bright and eventually had burnt itself out and perhaps he was ready to go...

What do "Eagles" guitarist Joe Walsh, the dawn of the digital age and the House of Blues have in common?

Subliminal distinction of instinct is what drives us all... As I revolve around the massive injection of direction from those in my sphere of influence I take the time to halt my brain waves and focus on the road ahead. Of course, there are no answers that appear. Maybe they're already in place.

Going back a few years, I recall hangin' at the House of Blues with my buddy who happened to be the head of artist relations for Gibson guitars. Digital cameras had just been introduced and I'd never held one, let alone taken photos with one. As it is I'm quite a fumbling baffoon when it comes to electronics...Guitarist and Eagles member Joe Walsh was touring solo. It was about half an hour before he was to appear on stage. We went up to the dressing room and I was handed a digital camera and told I was the cameraman. Handling one today is rather a rote push and click exercise...but it was different then. Joe was in quite the jovial mood. That was good for me. The Gibson rep positioned Walsh and I held the camera up...only I couldn't quite find the viewfinder. What was the frame of the picture? What button should I push to adjust the framing? What button would actually take a photo and then what should I do to get ready for the next photo. I turned the camera vertical then horizontal then vertical. Luckily Walsh was amused. My Gibson friend was not quite so amused. He sort of guided me in a direction that would be the path of least embarrasment. I glanced up while I was fumbling and Eagles bassist Timothy B. Schmidt was looking over. Schmidt didn't seem amused but then again he always seemed to have that serious look on his face. Professional photographer Henry Diltz who took that Morrison Hotel "Doors" album cover photo among many others, was now staring as well. Worse, Diltz had a camera in hand albiet an old 35mm workhorse. Beads of sweat appeared on my forehead. I focused back on the digital camera in hand. Walsh was laughing and made a couple funny comments. I'd heard he was quite the jokester, thank god for little blessings. My buddy said I should 'take the damn picture' and I somehow managed to focus and squeeze one then two then three. We left the dressing room for the concert hall with only moments to spare before Walsh was to take the stage. It was a great show and I laugh about the incident to this day. Should have had Walsh sign something. I had all his solo albums and was quite familiar with his work but my mind was elsewhere that day. Thanks Joe for being so lighthearted and though I'm certain you don't remember that night I do...

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Walk Another Mile On That Dusty Road, Gary Lee Michael will be Waitin'!

Recently I was in North Carolina on business and a friend introduced me to a Country Music artist who had the most incredible story. We sat down and talked for maybe half an hour as his story unfolded before me. Some of the details were as follows;

In the first year and a half of his professional career, Gary Lee Michael, was nominated for Most Promising Male Vocalist of the Year and Independent Songwriter of the Year by the MIRL (Major Independent Record Labels Association of Nashville) as well as the CMA “Eagle Award”. Gary also won the EIA (Entertainer Indie Association of Nashville) award, was inducted into the Alabama Country Music Hall of Fame and given an honorary membership to the CMA. In 1991, Gary was also appointed States Representative of the Southeast Region for the CMA.

Gary’s first single was “Daddy’s Little Girl”, a song that touched the hearts of people all over the world. This was evidenced when “Daddy’s Little Girl” became the most requested song for three weeks in Ireland. First lady Barbara Bush even sent a card thanking Gary for writing such a touching song. Radio personalities responded with great praise as well and to this day people still ask Gary about the song. The video was shown on CMT, “Shot Gun Red”, and “The Morning Show” in Birmingham Alabama. “Daddy’s Little Girl” was followed by “Wish You Didn’t Love Him The Way I Love You” and a third single entitled “Hometown Boy” that soared into the top 20 reaching #19 on the Billboard charts and #8 on the Cash Box charts.

Gary’s most exciting moment in country music came when he looked at the charts and saw his song “Home Town Boy” at #19 with a bullet and Garth Brooks “Two of a Kind” at #20 with Vince Gil’s “Pocket Full of Gold” at #18.

Little did Gary know that several weeks later his promising career would come to a screeching halt…

Gary began playing and singin’ in the church at age four, tutored by his parents Roy and Mildred Sikes of Matthews North Carolina. Roy and Mildred played eleven musical instruments between themselves. Later Gary would master the guitar, bass guitar, piano and lap steel with proficiency. Musical talent had been bred into him.

At sixteen, Gary started playing bass guitar for a gospel group, which is when he began to write songs. Gary had a penchant for ballads and songs that he felt were meaningful. In his own words Gary recalls “I love up-tempo songs but my heart is in the ballads…” Gary was a shy boy and a little afraid to ask girls out. With the help of his guitar he overcame his shyness… “There was this shopping center near where I grew up. Everybody would ride through cruising, and just look at each other, but hardly anyone would ever pull over and talk. One night I was about out of gas, so I pulled over and got out and sat on the hood of my car with my guitar. Next thing I knew, there were girls everywhere. It was so funny, all the were still riding by looking and here I was, surrounded by all the girls.”

One evening while Gary was playing a song he had written, a man walked up to him inquiring as to whether he had other songs. After playing a few, Walter Bailes introduced himself. The Bailes Brothers vocal group were a Nashville staple, and second only to Roy Acuff at the Grand Ole Opry until they left to promote the Louisiana Hay Ride. Walter Bailes was also a hit songwriter having written many of the Kitty Wells hits. Walter took an interest and told Gary he might be able to do something with his music. With Walters help Gary got on “The Country Boy Eddie Show”, a syndicated television show. Tammy Wynette had gotten her start on his show. Walter also help Gary get on Ernest Tubb’s “The Midnight Jamboree” a radio show out of Nashville airing on WSM FM radio. Gary also secured a guest spot on “The Grand Ole Opry Warm-up Show”.

Gary performed and held company with some of the biggest names in country including Garth Brooks, Randy Travis, Porter Wagoner and Ronnie Milsap.

Six days away from finalizing his deal with Warner Bros, Gary suffered a near fatal car crash. He remembers to this day, the sounds of the crash and fighting to free himself from the car before an explosion…He’d lost it all under the wheels of a tractor trailer.

Evidently Gary has a newly recorded self- titled release that is to come out on indie label Fires of August in the summer or fall of 2008. He's working with Producer and music marketing pro Greg Philippi out of Los Angeles. According to Gary, lyrical themes and melodies for a sophomore effort are already flowing fast and furious as he prepares to promote his initial release.

-Nick Danger