One of the dead...

So I have been away for a great length of time - and during this time - I have done many wonderful things and gone on quite a few great adventures or somthing of the like...

I am mere steps away from get my SAG card as last week I got my first voucher and this upcoming week I should get the final two and then I shall be one very important step closer to living out my dreams!

Other kick ass things:

~ The "Mary" Crew was in LA for AFM in Santa Monica and we got to hang out with them a bunch

~ I waited on and met and in last two weeks - Stan "The Man" Lee and Kevin Smith, as well as French Stewart

~ Bree and I got to "work" in San Diego twice - and got paid to go down there!

~ Closed our play, which was wonderful and played to mostly sold out houses the whole run! Tons of people came to see it, loved it and we might even run it again after the new year.

~ Bought a new TV... it is sweet!

So those things of wonder, along with countless hours of work and auditioning have been keeping me and Bree busy, that and helping some friends of ours with their legal lives as well, which Bree does best.

...and Scott, what is with the bird people!? That was creepy brother!

till next time,

J.

And we're off!

So the show opened this weekend & went so great!

Friday night was Preview - we had about 20 people there. There was a lot of nerves but the small group made up of friends & company members seemed to really love the show a lot.

Saturday night was Opening Night - & I cannot remember the last time I opened a show that was as amazing as this one was. We were so full we were litteraly at standing room only, where people were in the entry way just because they didn't want to miss it! It was truely amazing & from the very start the audience loved every last moment of the show!

The show is two hours & it felt like 20 mins it went by so fast & was such a thrill ride - I was so impressed by the level of work that everyone has put into this production & am so proud to see it come to life like it has! Simply amazing!

So this week, we start working with the understudies... I should have my shots picked out by Wens & will have another email about the website coming to you (Scott) tomorrow afternoon.

This week is all about getting life firing & cooking again - last week all energy focus went into the show & this week it goes back to the whole of my life!

Mary is about to sell which is big news - look for more info about that soon & I am beginning work on what could be a super HUGE project (like a movie with Oscar winning people) very soon - sooo... as I can talk more about it, I will :)

love you guys & talk to again soon! And thanks for all the love and support - you mean the world to me!

J.

Rehearsal was good

So once through tonight and we were done - full lights, sound, costumes, Bree taking some of her clothes off and a fake beer being poured on my head - sure its not time to cash in some of that vay-kay and come out to Cali!?

The show opens next week and it has been one of the more fun pieces that I have gotten to work on. I feel like I am doing some really good work - some of the best since Macbeth (for those that came to see that) and I really dig the writing. The work that everyone is putting into the show is amazing - Bree is doing such a wonderful job, both acting and producing the show (with next to no money!), I wish you guys could all come and see her. So funny, as she always is, and she steals a scene or two with her realistic wit and charm. I have some pictures of the set and I will upload them on Monday (as I have not the time right now nor the desire to wait for them to load from my camera to the computer)

She got her contract for the TV show this week and so they should be hammering that out anytime now and starting production soon.

Her WD-40 callback went good and I think the Nintendo thing was a no-go - the producers loved her, but they didn't end up using the mom character and so I guess she is going to have to do an Xbox 360 commercial to spite them! =)

Work has been good for me, as you have seen from the last few posts and I have to work tomorrow/today and Monday. Bree is heading to the theatre to clean tomorrow... it is kinda dirty and then rehearsal again tomorrow night.

Well... it is late, Bree is getting ready for bed and I should too - Jabez is already asleep... we just got a late late late dinner and I had three cups of joe... not the best idea before bedtime, but then again I am not always the smartest cookie!

Good Night True Believers!

J.

So rehearsal last night was long but tons of fun.

I got to the theare around 6:30pm & left at 3am this morning - we ran thru the show once, did some resets of the lights & sound, hung our super cool backdrop & then did a cue to cue.

After rehearsal I got to come home & do more sound editing work, which took about a half an hour... Not to bad considering I had to do work on three sound files.

So you might have noticed my myspace has gone back to being very plain - I am doing some work on it & it should be updated with some new blog info & pics & stuff... I am trying to make it into more of a biz tool like my website that Scott is going to help me redesign. He is going to do some flash work on it - Scott, did you see the comment I posted about my thoughts on layout, colors & animation style? I am going to send you an email about it on monday with some more ideas for it. (Since I am working all weekend & in tech, I'm not sure if I will have time to write before Monday... Depends on how slow work is) As cool as the superman theme is - & I do love the man of steel, I felt the need to update it - so in the meantime it is going to stay kinda plain - look for an update & some new pics early next week.

Well, I just got my 2nd table of the day & should do something at work besides blog :)

Later kids!
J.


Part Two: So work went well and while the CD is burning (the V2 of the soundtrack I fixed last night) I thought I would post today's blog - So off to rehearsal tonight, going to be another long one!

Thanks to everyone that has put in their two cents about the photos - for those that haven't, it is not to late - get your votes in! =)

So we have been working hard this week...

The show is starting to fire with all pistons running as tech week begins.

I spent all day today & a few hours on Wens working on the sound for the show - it is funny to me, because I spent more time working to get it from one computer to another cause my old G3 won't burn CD's - even with this super cool external drive Steve got for us!

But the CD's are put together & ready for the 1st cue to cue tonight.

As I head into work, Bree has been working all day & had a callback for the WD-40 spot from a few days ago.

The Nintendo thing may be a no go now... We shall have to wait & see. And this morning Bree's Overstock.com commercial was on Animal Planet! Congrats to her!

Last night, there was a blackout at the Hollywood & Highlands building - so work was cut a little short :) A transformer in the Mann's Chinense Theatre blew - they were having the Jackass 2 premeire there last night... You do the math.

So headed home to an semi-empty apartment, just Bree & J watching Gray's Anatomy, which she is totally in love with.

Right now I am on the train & after work I have to head to the theatre for the cue to cue.

Don't forget to check out the pictures & let me know which ones you like! Gotta get the new ones out into the world.

Till next time,
J.

Part Two: So I walked into work this evening & low 'n behold, I wasn't on the floorplan... They had let the on-call guy come in without telling him they didn't need him & so they didn't really need me...

Now I am sure anyone else that works there would have freaked out & wanted their shift... But since I have tech tonight anyhow - I am glad that I can go home - that way I can get some stuff together & go work with the ladies tonight & help w/ cue to cue! And I am sure they were happy I didn't freak out about, just said "hey, its cool - it happens, just don't let it happen again next week" :)

So it's totally sweet & maybe it won't be a 'till 2am' kind of night after all! Which would be good since I am back to work at 10am... Pending I am on the floorplan this time :P

So now I am wait for the train home - Kel, thank you for going thru the shots - yeah, I dig the blue ones myself. What do you think of the one's in the Green Hoodie? I really like those & the red flannel shirt? Any of those stand out... I am looking for a 'Stand out' picture from every look - gives me more options, you know?

Well, the train is here - so peace out!

J.

Ok... so there is the daily update - now off to the tech rehearsal!

So the photos are in!

Follow this link or cut and paste in into your browser - check out the picks and help me figure out which ones I am going to be using in the up coming months!

http://66.113.76.110/index.html?gjcbn27jl
Session code is: gjcbn27jl

I am going to be ordering some new shots at the end of next week - so check them out, get your votes in and let's find my some new photos so I start booking the big work! =)


J.

Part Three...

So these last two entries I wrote over the past week and just now updated the blog - I forgot that I was using my palm to update while waiting for the train and then thought about them this morning - so they are from last week leading into this week.

Lauren came and went - had a blast, saw LA and loved it. She's moving here in a month or so - and if the cold starts to bother anyone back east... there is plenty of apartments and jobs out in LA =)

Nick's date went great, and he has a new girlfriend - yes, yes, Nick has a girlfriend - check her out at megandavenport.com - keep in mind she has short black hair, not blond anymore - and for the record, I met her, she is totally into Nick and they are together, so I don't want anyone thinking Nick made her up (I even saw them making out, he was drunk and she wasn't! So what does THAT tell ya!) She is into the total full nerd life - loves comics, recognized my Green Lantern Shirt and loved it, quotes "The Fifth Element" with Nick and model's for a fantasy art painter!? Congrats to Nick - good things come to those who wait...

The past four days I too have been sick as a dog - haven't wanted to go to work, the gym or even get off the couch...



Civilization opens next week (the play that Bree and I have been working on for 3KO Broadway Theatre Co.) Rehearsals have been going great, I hung and focused lights last week (never thought I would still be doing that 12 years after Midsummer) and have been working on sound for the show (Neil would be proud!)

Bree had two more auditions this week - one for WD-40 and one for Nintendo Wii!

Got my new headshots back yesterday - I post'd one of them with this blog posting, and the rest will be up soon for people to take a look at. Let me know what you think!?

Scott, hope your feeling better soon brother! TMK - East vs. West again buddy - it never ends! Everyone else, I love and miss ya guys, talk to you again real soon.

So the days keep on cook'n by - we keep working...

& doing our thing...

LA has been treating us good - work has been good @ The Grill, making some money, which means I will be getting back into the black & out of the red again, makes me happy & a little more relaxed... No auditions this past week, which is starting to bother me though, since this is really not a slow time & I know I should be going out @ least once a week if not tons more than that.

Steve (our manager/friend) went over to The Office again & will be heading to Tim Allen's Production Co. soon to see if they can do anything for us. He has been working so hard for us & I am so thankful that we have someone in our lives who is as wonderful & selfless as he is - it is amazing and I feel like I totally don't deserve him as a friend - but I am infinately greatful to have him...

Other than that, our buddy Lauren is in town this week, staying with us checking out LA - she leaves on Sunday. Bree & I are working & in rehearsal all week & tonight Nick has/had a date - wonder how that went? :) (got a text saying he was in love - a good sign I must say)

Miss'n the fall, though it is beautiful here right now - got to talk to my East Coast Crew today & I wish TMK & D a happy 2 years of wed'd bliss on Monday - cannot believe the time went by so fast.

Miss the rest of the crew too... anyone want to do coffee? :)

Love ya guys!

J.

Part 2: So I just started using my palm to write/update my blog - cannot believe I never thought of this one before now?!

Anyhow, I just got off work - missed my train by literally 6-seconds - I touched the closing door, but it would not re-open & now I wait the 20 mins till my next train comes... Ugh...

What a night - I had a few 'forgien' tables - one Swiss, another from Japan... that left less than 5 percent tonight... Now, explain to me, how they can read the menu but cannot read the part of the check that reminds them to leave 15 - 20 percent for service? I just don't get it - there is nothing worse than working your ass off for them & have them tell you how great it was & then leave you next to nothing! Now don't get me wrong, I still make good money, but I could be making tons better if they would @ least tip 15 percent!? I mean, $10 on $250 - can they just not do the math!?

ahh... I feel much better now :) Still waiting for the train... Lots of people in Hollywood tonight, coming to the clubs & bars, waiting in line to be 'one of the cool people'... I never got that... I mean, if I am waiting in a moving line cause you are taking money for a cover charge or checking ID's, fine - but to wait outside for an hour, to then be charged $20 per person before I even walk into your over-priced fire trap with shitty music & even shittier people!? No thanks man... It blows my mind & it was not only here - Chicago, with Alumni Club & others, was just as bad...

Still waiting... No train, but there are cops walking around, so I haven't been asked for change yet - which is nice :)

Bree had rehearsal tonight & I never heard from Nick again, so I think that is a good sign as for how his date was going...

10 more mins & the train should be here... & I am out of things to write about... :)

Good night

J.

I have been thinking a lot lately...

.. About life... the good & bad of where I am & what Bree, Nick & I (as well as D & TMK, Scott & Kel, Lucky & K... Hell, all of us for that matter...) are trying to do with our lives & how we have been getting along in it...

I sometimes think about how great it would be to get to go back & do some things over again - anyone else do that?

The "what would u change if u had the chance?" But then I think "do I ever think about how those things play into the person that I am right now - would we chance not being here right now, with the friends we have & the relationships... @ what cost would we give them up?"

If u made right one wrong or even just changed one little thing, how much of the life you have now would not be ur life? Or other people's lives for that matter... How much does every moment, every choice, no matter how small, affect your right now?

I was thinking about this car accadent that I got into back in High School - it was Senior year, I was coming home on 31 from K-mart or something.... It had been raining, so the ground was wet & when the light turned yellow I stopped - now anyone who knows me, knows I almost always run the yellow, even run a lot of reds if I think I can get away with it, but this time, like many others before & after, I stopped... Moments later, this mini-van hit a wet spot, couldn't stop & rear-ended me into the intersection, inches from a phone pole... Worst thing that happened to me was I spilled my Mnt. Dew, & we all know what a crime that is :) Anyhow, I thought about it again today for some reason - what if I had burned the yellow? Would that woman have hit the pole? When she hit me, she & her kids were just fine - even her car was fine - but without me there to stop her, what would have happened? Would she have been hurt or worse yet, died?

Bree loves to watch E! all the time, & I admit I watch it from time to time myself - I mean, who am I kidding - I live in Hollywood & work in the entertainment industry - more than any one I know, my life & carrer is all about celebs, movies & money... So I see the True Hollywood Stories, hear about how hard they had it for years & years before they made it... How hard some stars still have it getting passed over all the time... It made me wonder - do I look back @ the past through rose colored glasses? Because all I seem to see are the fun times but not the sleepless nights, the tears & pain that went hand in hand with all the good stuff too...

Then, as I was standing, waiting for the train today I thought "This moment is the best & worst moment of your life - this is as hard as it will ever get & as great - because this is what u have right now - who knows where you will be tomorrow - maybe good, maybe bad - but right now you know what you have, what is real - & what you have is love, respect, family & friends, a dream that comes truer with every passing day. The past was nice, but it was hard as hell as well as fun, and it is the past. The future looks to hold lots of great things - maybe tomorrow, maybe 5 years from now, but they are at least a day away. So now is the time to see that life is hard sometimes & easy other times - but enjoy the now"

I know that is something you hear when u are like 5 years old, TV tells you this as well as every self-help book under the sun... But I guess I came to this though as I tied my shoes to head off to work, had to clean up after my dog & wondered when I would get to do what I want with my life... I then stopped & realized I AM doing what I want - I audition all the time - am working on the SAG card, just got new headshots - Bree just got a TV show for craps sake! :)

I guess overall, I just felt the need to vent - which when I can't do coffee anymore to do so, the blog-space we have to keep us together is the next best thing

I love & miss you guys, friends and family - thanks for listening to my rant!

J.

PS - Scott, how do I set up the beta blogger if I want to keep this blog running? Can I make them one? Peace out!

So the days roll on...

So I have been working the new job for a few weeks now - nothing super great has changed on that path. I thought that I would be making more money, and I would if we were busy. Last night I had at the very busiest time, 2 tables at the same time! WOW! =) And that only lasted for 15 mins... not good, but I hear from people who have been here a few years Sept is a slow month and as it goes on it will get busier and busier - which is good, cause I could use that money. I am still hurting from all the travel and weddings of the summer - worth every penny, just haven't been making it back... well...

Onto the really good news - As most of you know by now, Bree got here 3 SAG vouchers and is now able to go union. In about a month, when she gets a check for this Overstock.com commercial she filmed in Portland the week before last, she is signing up and will be the first of us to go 100% pro! I am very proud of her, and if you haven't told her yet, send some congrats! And that isn't all! She also booked a new TV show that is going to be on Direct TV called "Fung Shui Living", which she will be the host of - Bree has her own TV SHOW! 26 episodes! Cool huh?

Other than that, we are both working on a new play called "Civilation" which goes up at the end of the month. We also both recorded spots for the "A Foot and Ankle Center" in Chicago, so listen for those to start on the radio on Monday. I went and got new headshots this past week and should have them up online in a few days (when I get them back, they will be up) and then everyone can check them out! I think they look super great and I have needed something to give me the edge for a while now! I've been auditioning here and there, but I haven't booked anything since the Spirit Mountain Casino gig that sent me to Portland - and speaking of that, my paycheck in coming in next week! Which, going back to the needing to get back on top of the money thing, is going to help out alot! =)

Been spending my free time work-out, playing "Saints Row" (which I beat already), watching movies and tons of Law & Order: SVU as well as WWE Raw (Love the HHH!). I even have Bree working out with me now, which is good - gives us more time to spend together, which I can never seem to get enough of these days (I know what it means TMK to be passing ships... sometimes it seems like we don't even pass so much as just dock at the same port) I am back working out 7 days a week and since the last time I got on a scale I have lost 30 lbs... last time I was on one, I was 210 and now I am 180... I am trying to drop a few more fat pounds but wouldn't mind putting some back on in musle, so 185/190 seems to be the goal weight, if I had one. But it is nice, to work hard and see something happening for me. It seems to be the one thing in my life that I can totally control and it feels good to make good things happen with it! =)

Well, not much else to talk about today - love and miss the Midwest crew and our East Coasters - talk to you soon

J.

PS - The Superman short RULES!

A new day and makin' another dollar...

Now that everything is done with my "trade" at work (or mostly done rather) I feel like the midwest and East Coast crew would like to know what the crap has been going down here lately...

So, for those that don't know, I work at the Daily Grill in Downtown LA bartending. Bree and I have worked there since May of 2005, having been part of the crew that opened this location. In the handbook, there is a little something called the "Conflict of Interest" policy, which basically states:

"CONFLICT of INTEREST: Team members may not supervise or manage family members or individuals with whom they have close personal and/or intimate relationships that may potentially lead to complaints of favoritism, lack of objectivity or that may adversely affect Team Member morale or create dissension among Team Members. Also, in case in which one Team Member has an "audit function" over another Team Member (EXAMPLE: A Team Member as a bookkeeper cannot be a relative or have an intimate relationship with another Team Member who handles cash."

Now Bree got hired as bookkeeper and a manager and I was hired as a server... and while this wasn't a problem for the whole first year and change that we worked there, it became a problem after someone, who goes unnamed, complained to the powers that be, which up until this time had looked the other way on it. This changed about two weeks ago and now I am going over to The Grill in Hollywood...

The good thing is, I'm going to make more money and I am closer to home - the bad news is, I no longer work with most of my friends, my Bree or the store that I helped open. It's been causing me a ton of stress, as well as Bree, but I am kinda happy after the first time I got to work there. I mean, on my first shift Steven Soderbergh came in and had lunch... not to bad...

As for the rest of my life - I have been working hard at focusing my energy. My eating is starting to clean up - I have been cutting down on the fast food, eating cleaner and have also mostly cut soda out of my diet (I had a large one this morning, but hell... no one's perfect) As of tomorrow morning, I am going on a full, clean eating change of life, dropping the soda and overall learning how to eat good for myself. With the working out I have been going almost everyday for the last week, twice a day a few times and tomorrow I am heading back to the gym to start Phase Two of my work-out plan...

As for the acting - Bree had an audition for "The Office"... I've been auditioning for a bunch of commercials lately - I'm getting new headshots taken on the 28th, Bree already had new ones taken and should have them back ASAP and I'm working with my pal Steve on a two-person Shakespeare show for Bree and I. Steve and I are getting together early next week to work on my reel and then the quest for TV/Film agents, the SAG card and more work gets running on all guns.

...and then there was "Document". The screenplay that is not a screenplay, but a thought in the back of my mind and something that I talk about and never seem to work on. Out of fear I haven't written any of the thoughts welling in my brain... the fear that it would suck, and I over hyped it... blah, blah, blah... I went on a nice little walk through my 'hood tonight, to get some fresh air, think and mull over what I'm doing and not doing with my life and how I can run it on 110% instead of the 52% I have been working with... and then my thoughts came to this... and I figured out a way to get myself working on it - finally. I take the train to and from work almost everyday. Most of the time, I sit there and watch homeless people, or nap, or listen to my iPod and space out. So I was thinking, what if I bring a notebook with me, and start writing, even if it is only a few pages. So here is my plan... I am going to write on the train... scene by scene and bit by bit, and then every night that I work (I only work 5 days a week) I am going to post what I come up with in the blog... I know about people stealing my ideas and whatever, but at this point, I care more about getting the words down on paper. This way I kill a few birds with one fat stone - I don't blog enough (it's been a week since the last time that I was on here) so this way I am blogging at least a few times a week, I get myself working on the screenplay I never work on, I have something to do on the train that is productive and then people can help me with feedback on the story, the writing and whatever as I am working on it... and if someone steals ideas, let 'em. Unlike some of my friends (and this is not a good a bad thing), I am a believer in God as well a fate and karma - if someone wants to steal my ideas, they will get theirs one way or another cause you reep what you sew - and hell, who knows if once I have this out of my head and on paper, will it even be worth taking!? =)

So that is been my life over the past week and change - ups, downs, regroups... some fears, tears and stress with some smile in the middle - I am coming thru the crap and on the other side things are looking good! I also might have another project I am working on real soon - so I will keep you posted on that too!

Thanks for all the love and support,

J-man!

I have outdone myself this time

...even I am suprised at how long I have let this blog collect dust before I returned to it.

I have no good reason, other than I have been really lazy and I also didn't want to be given a hard time for not working on Document, or getting it done in ANY form of a timely fashion... You would think I would want to work on it since everyone I know had been giving me a hard time about getting to read it - mainly because I asked them to, and yet I am still be super lazy and not working on it... Well, that was until this morning. I started to finally type out some of the ideas that I have and I getting them organized - it might not be good when I am done, but at least it will be done... soon, I think...

Onto other news - the past few weeks have been kind of a funk - not many auditions and I haven't been trying that hard to get them either. Work had turned on me about a week and half ago and because I am going to learn from TMK I am not going to talk about what happened, just that it kinda sucked but now I seem to be back in line with what I wanted from it.

The main reason I return to cyber-land is because of a wonderful conversation I had with my manager and friend Steve about my life and carrer here in LA. Over the last week or so, my mind and body have been waking up to the world and work that I am apart of and I have come to realize that if I don't get my shit together soon, I might as well pack up my crap, take my ball and go home. And the funny thing is, none of this is a suprise to me - I just let so much time slip by without even seeing it go...

See, my lazy video gaming on every free moment that I have (Oblivion, tho I have betten it, has been taking up all of my time as well as NCAA 2007 Football! I didn't even go to a Big Ten school and yet I love this game!) is killing my slowly - not that gaming in small amounts isn't okay - because it is =), but I spend WAY to much time doing it. I don't spend enough time working on my acting, trying to get work and generally doing research and development of myself. I also have doing the "Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow" game of getting that going, and get myself in shape - I mean, lets face it, I have never been in life threating shape, but I also have never looked like Brad Pitt or any A&F covermodel - and there is no reason why I can't if I just put my mind to it and work at it.

So little building block by block I have been working toward fixing this problem - thought working out, and eating, doing my research online and getting the trades to find Bree and myself acting work. There is no reason in world that I cannot be doing the majority of the work from home, since I spend most of the time AT HOME!

So that is where I am at... I am sorry to those of you that I hardly email or respond to - lately I haven't wanted to do anything but sleep and play video games and the more I do that, the less I want to do anything else - It just isn't making me feel any better, so a life change is in order. I hope I gives me the chance to let you in on some super cool things that begin to happen because of it! =)

So one day at a time I getting it all back together and moving forward.

Much love and missing you all so much,

Jason

Where have I been!?

Looks like both myself and Homestarrunner slept through most of June - and June sleepers will not be tolerated hense forth!

no, really, I have been going been going through one of the craziest and most costly 5 weeks of my life thus far, have three wedding, two I was standing up in, two Bree was standing up in - and the last one we were home in Chicago for almost a full week... so now with a bank account of $27 I am getting back to life in LA

As for my late homework Mr. Smith - my dog did not eat it, but my Theatre Co. did - since I touched back down in LA I have running all over town and working till 3am on projects for them and have yet to have time to type up the screenplay - I am asking for a one week extention from today to next Friday, july 21st - at which time I will be happy to turn in the screenplay that I have for grading and reworking (and thank you for keeping on me about it - that is why I asked you - no one else would even bother giving me a hard time about it ;P)

So, i just wanted to check in and let people know that I am not dead, just working my ass of on the housewarming fundraiser for my theatre co.

More on that and current events in LA to come...

J.

A Return to OZ

Let me tell you, being away from LA for a week feels like a year - and the place is so much like OZ where nothing is as it seems as any given moment of the day. Traffic, people, the air I breath... very strange - such a fun place and a nightmare all at the same time!

Anyhow - so I am back in LA now, went to work yesterday for the 1st time in what seems like forever. It was slow, but fun and so it was nice to get back into the swing of things. This weekend, Bree and I went with our buddy Steve to meet with one of his friends to edit a rough version of Bree's reel. Since she had a wonderful meeting with a high powered agent, who's name I can never remember, he wanted to see her reel, which was not done, but now in a day or so it will be! Cool for that one!

And today Bree got a call that she made it past the first round of casting for some FX sketch comedy show like Mad TV or something and they wanted to see some tape of her being funny! Well, she doesn't really have any of that either and so we went (Bree, Steve, Nick and Myself) to our little theatre here in NoHo and shot about an holur worth of footage that I have been cutting together for her. Right now, I am loading it into my external hardrive so I can burn it off Nick's laptop - something tells me if I had Frank I wouldn't have to be trasfer'n stuff back and forth, but I digress =P

So while that is working, I thought I would give a little update. Work, audition, and this DVD are all I have really been up to the past few days - that and working on some pages (you know they are comin big man!) It would be nice if I didn't have to work today, I could sleep off not having slept at all yet... but hell - this is the only way to live! =)

Cannot wait to come home for the Scott and Kel show -and boys, you will be getting an email about our pre-party later today (Tuesday night) - I just need to finish up a few things with it before I send out the word on what is going down.

Till the train comes in!
J.

Portland: The Final Chapter

So this is the last time I am going to write while I am in Portland. I just wrapped the two day shoot I had up here - we danced and sang (or rather lip sync'd) and had confetti dropped on us for the last 8 hours... which was not fun at first (the dancing, because I couldn't get it down at first) but the more that we did it - the more fun that it became! I just had blast filming this thing. =)

So, I turned in all of my goods, signed my contracts, got back my clothes (my black pants and shoes) and got a nice little gift from the owners of the Casino - they gave everyone that worked on the project a really nice travel bag - it's black and has the Spirit Mountain Casion logo on it - very nice stuff.

Overall the shoot has been a blast - I got to meet some really cool people who I hope to work with again soon. Geoff (dir) was a really cool guy, very creative and full of funny ideas, Adele (Portland Producer) was just a blast to talk to and Marvin (2nd AD... I think) was one of the nicest guys I have met on a set in a long time! As a cool sidenote, Marvin just finished up working on Spider-man 3 and said that movie just rocked when he was on it! Way to go Marvin! =)

So, that is all from Portland - I am going to try and get some kind of sleep - we are leaving the hotel around 1:30 - maybe I can get an earlier flight home... though I make no promises if you are reading this before I get back sweetie, but I will try ;) I love and miss my baby - that has been the kinda crappy thing - though I met some really nice folks, when I wasn't on-set, which was alot of the time, I was mostly alone (I seemed to eat almost every meal with David!?) and so this trip has been very... well, lonely. But I get to go home later today - so that is nice. And then it is back to work for a week and off to Chicago again!

Talk to you again from LA
J.

Portland: Day Three

So this morning I had my calltime of 4 am - when in and got dressed, hung out on the set till 5 am. Around 5:30 I got to stand-in for myself while we set lights and then we waited... till the sun came up. Around 6am we began shooting - it was cool. They had a playback of the music track that I recorded in LA and they would play it while I opened the car door and I would lip sync like it was a music video or something like that. (I play a singing Valet in this spot, just to catch everyone up to date on this)

They had four set-ups, which we blasted through at a pase that would make even Michael happy - and we wrapped at 7:30 - so 4 set-ups, a dozen or more takes of each one, 1 and 1/2 hours - hard working guys and gals here - and they had been going strong since 8pm last night.

It was a fun little bit of work - my main part of the shoot is going to be tonight - since it is a musical commercial, we have a "Drew Carry/Strangers with Candy" type dance number ending to the spot - it starts off with the Hero Husband and Wife dancing because of the fun and winnings - then the rest of us bust into the dance and then a confetti and balloon drop. (Sounds a bit like the Cost-U-Less spot I did this time last year! =P) So that should be fun, and Geoff (dir) said that they dance captain of the Portland Trailblazers is going to be doing the dance stuff, so that should be alot of fun.

So after I wrapped last night, I headed back to the room around 8am (after getting out of costume and signing out and all of that fun stuff) and hit the sack - slept until about 1 this afternoon. Then it was lunch, a bit of light reading (my Mike Leigh book, that I am finally getting to go through) and then a bit more TV - I don't know why I am watching so much TV... maybe because I want to stay away from the Casino and there really isn't anything else to do here - and everytime I am in my room, I cannot help but turn it on... I have been watching a ton of Law and Order (which I know Bree would love!) and very little cartoons... which is odd for me...

Anywho... I am heading to dinner now, and then I have to get a shower and such before my calltime tonight, which is at 9 pm. After the shoot tonight, we are checking out - taking the two hour drive back to Portland and heading to the airport and then home to LA and my baby!

Till next time,
J.

Portland: Day Two add-on

So boredom has begun to set in as I await going to the set tonight... tomorrow morning... whatever.

Bree had an audition today for a music video (which I also got called in on, but had to pass because I am in the great white north, almost) and she had a meeting with a very important agent (and I am really sorry sweetie, I cannot remember his name!) BUT he is with an A-level agency, and this guys reps Hulk Hogan! (among many others) So that is truely a cool thing - and a step in the right direction, I would think - and if that was not enough, this guy was really into Bree, wants to see some of her work and would love to talk to her more as they begin looking at new talent! AND (yes, there is more) Bree found out today that Trailer Court Justice, which she worked on a few months ago, got picked up! Now we don't know what, if anything, this means for Bree - but look at all of that great stuff happening in one day for her! Super Congrats go out to my baby - I am so proud of you sweetie!

As for me, I headed to dinner... watched the end of "The Fast and The Furious" with one of my favs - Vin Desiel! And now I am back on the computer, trying to make the best of the time I have before I have to go to the set and work for two hours =P

Film work, commercials and TV is such an odd thing, I love it to death and would not want to be doing anything else to make money, but sh*t it is strange sometimes...

Well, I am going to surf around some more and maybe get a nap in before I go and shoot... or maybe just stay up and write a little and read a little (I brought a bunch of good books with me)

Later!
J.

Portland: Day Two

So... last night, after blog'n I watched some TV - a little Law and Order, like Adult Swim and talked to my babygirl on the phone for about a half an hour - then went to bed...



I slept late this morning, since there wasn't any real reason for me to get up earily. Headed to lunch... hung out with David and got to hear about how he got into acting, the way he spent his 20's living on the road with just a suitcase and he love of acting and then I headed back to my room. A run, a shower and some writing and now I am back to blog about nothing. See how good I am at keeping this up when there is really nothing going on - and when I have something to really write about, I won't write for WEEKS! odd... how that works.

Anyway... my calltime is 4am tonight, or tomorrow morning, how ever you want to look at it - so until then, I think I am going to head of to grab some dinner and watch some more TV and write (Scott, I am getting some real work done on Document - I cannot even believe it myself! =P)

So, till later taters!

J.

Portland: Day One

Yesterday: So, last night, Mr. and Mrs. LeVan came down from Vegas and hung out with Bree and I. We took the new bride and groom to Hollywood and Higland, where they were having the World Premiere Screening of Nacho Libre (which we did go to... because, you know, we weren't invited or anything like that.) Showed them around a little bit, got to see the Walk of Fame, Sunset, Rodeo Drive and the like. We then headed back to our place where we played Halo 2 on my wonderful toy, the Xbox 360, till all hours of the night. In the morning, they headed back to Vegas as Nick dropped me off at Burbank Airport so I could head out to Portland... or more like Grand Ronde, OR... which is about 2 hours south of Portland. (And No - I don't look like this again - I just thought that it was fitting - since I am in the Great White North!)



Today: So this morning, I awoke to the kisses of my loved one, Bree (tho, Jabez did wake me up by licking my hand in the middle of the night!) and got to have breakfast with Paul and Keri before they headed back to Vegas. So Bree headed off to work, Nick and I took The LeVan's to the NoHo dinner. Afterward, Nick dropped me off at the Burbank Airport - which I forgot that I didn't need to get there as early as I had, since I got into the terminal in 0.005 seconds and then ended up waiting around for over an hour and a half before I could board.

So I sat reading my email... and who sliped me an unknown note, but the love of my life! I just about cried in the middle of the airport... 2 hours I have been away from her and my heart is missing her so much. I am so glad that I can fill her as full of pride as she fills me, and I am going to do a kick ass job here just to make her even more proud! I'm here to do great work, and it is wonderful that she and I can have these great adventures as a team - even though sometimes we are apart, but always we are a team - I love you sweetie and I miss you! Thank you SO much! GCC W/ PF!

So... The plane was cool - very small - no First Class... I sat all the way up in the front, with a guy who was going to visit some friends in OR. We talked for a little bit about this and that and then I went into reading. I had brought two scripts with me - Civilization, which is the really cool play about the last man on Earth trapped on an island full of women that don't really like him (but they come to love him over time... kinda) and Bathroom Tales, which is a short film a buddy of mine from the theatre company wrote and wants me to act it. The part he wants me to play lets me kick the crap out of some guy, which seems cool enough, so it was a fun read for the second time around. Other than that, I listened to the iPod and drifted in and out of thought... wrote some notes for Document - which is what I think I am going to use this trip for - I brought a notebook to begin the reworking in, and I should have some good stuff by the time I get home.

We landed in Portland, and I found myself waiting with the other cast members. David (Hero Husband) who is a very funny guy (also rep'd by RPM I found out!) - he has been doing theatre for the last 15 years and is just now getting back into the film and commercial side of things. Kimberly (Hero Wife) who is from New York - she moved here two years ago with her husband, and she brought her 15 month old son here to OR with her. Shannon (Waitress) who just got married in Oct. of 2005 and is stoked to working on a commercial - she told me about how she dyed her hair red back in November and hasn't worked since - last month she dyed her hair back blond and now gets 5-7 auditions a week! Strange!? And then there is Anzu (Dealer) - who is a singer from LA, she has a band, was on TV a bunch (King of Queens) and has sung with Hans Zimmer. So they are the cast, the crew, those that I have a met are cool, and Geoff, the director, is a blast, so I am looking forward to working with him!



After we got picked up, it was 2 hour trek south to the Casino, which is out in the middle of no-where! =) It is 35 minutes to the nearest town from here, which is kind odd to me. And this place, they really want you to hit the casino - no pool, no gym, just rooms and casino! It is hardcore on the gambling (which I will be doing NONE of! I don't make enough to blow it all, you know...)



So I am here, I grabed a bite to eat and unpacked. We don't start filming until tomorrow night, so I think I am going to watch some TV and surf the net some more... I forgot my phone charger, which sucks balls =( so I am having on shipped to me, don't want to run out of gas on that bad boy! So until tomorrow, I guess =P

Best Fishes!
J.

A return to the land of plenty

So Bree and I left for the weekend - for a little break and also for another wedding (yes that is 2 of 3 for the summer) We headed up to Lake Tahoe for the weekend and let me tell you - if God touched some part of this great land of ours - Tahoe was it! This was the most beautiful place that I have ever seen in my life.

We went for Bree's best buddy from college's wedding - Amy. She is super cool and her new husband is the MOST laidback guy I have ever met in my whole life - and I thought I was laided back - Phil is almost too much, but he is a blast! We drove all night to get there, came in around 7:30 am on Friday. Hit the breakfast and I thought we were going to be hitting the bed and take a nap - that was until I ran into Phil in lobby of the hotel. "Hey man, we are goin Quad'n - wanna come?" After me saying no a dozen times, and Bree giving me the "but you will have fun - go..." I broke down and went - and let me tell you that it was the most fun that I have had in my whole life! We were out rip'n it up in the desert on ATV's for 3 hours or more - kick'n up dirt and burn' up under the sun!

That night was the rehearsal and the wedding was the next day - dancing, drinking, more eating and overall some of the most fun that I have ever had - I dare say ever. I told Bree that the ATV experience started a chain-reaction within myself, and it kept going the whole weekend long. I realized that I have been living my life with a lot of talking lately and not a lot of action. I have come to realize that I have been missing out on my life, now I don't have one or two things, but I have a feeling like there are things that I am missing and I am going to bring them back into the fold of my life... the outdoors, adventure, and living to the 100 percent mark every day! It was a great trip, and while Bree just hoped that I would have fun, I feel like I am changed for the better - from the inside out.

And I realized in a fuller way, just how much Bree brings the best in me out. Since we have been together I have gotten to do some of the greatest things of my life - we have had more fun, more adventures than anyone I know and they just keep on coming! I love it and every moment of my life with her - she just makes being so much more fun than it would ever be on its own!

J.

The Neverending Battle!

So today starts a great string of events, jobs and tons of travelling!

Tonight Bree and I are leaving for a weekend of adventure in Nevada at the Lake Tahoe Resort of Cal-Neva - right on the California/Nevada border 9for thos who didn't get the name of the place) This Resort was once owned by old blues eyes, Frank Sinatra himself and we are headed there for a wedding adventure (our second of the summer - this one Bree is standing up in)

We return to LA sunday and on Tuesday I am flying to Portland to film the Spirit Mnt. Casino Commercial I auditioned for a few weeks back - get to head up there and work till Thursday and fly home on Friday - I might even be missing the show because of the flight home!? Then Saturday we close "The LA Weekly Loves Us"

A week and a half later - Bree and I are flying home for the granddaddy wedding of them all this summer - Scott and Kel's, which Bree, Nick and myself are all in!

After returning to LA right before the 4th of July, things are going to slow back down a bit. In the meantime, Bree, myself and our friend Steve are working on some shows we would like to get moving on, developing some other projects, I have a short film I signed on to act in, and I am finally dusting off Document (I knew you would not forget what I said - and that sir, is why I said it - work under pressure, just the way I like it!) So there is some really good stuff going on.

Chirs, my good friend, is out of work by means I know not, so keep him and his family in your prayers. Paul and Kerri, I hope that your Honeymoon is going great! And to all other, I love ya and miss ya!

Till next time!
J.

Playboy and a singing Valet?

So things have been busy in the Lovett/Pavey home - working like crazy people and auditioning, filming and opening a show all at the same time.

So this past week, Bree and I worked on a Promo for the Playboy Channel - they have a "Punk'd" show called "Totally Busted" and we filmed a cool promo about an interoffice couple that get busted having a "nooner" - it was really funny and was also lot of fun to work on to!

Then Last week, we opened "The LA Weekly Loves Us" - which was greeted by mixed reviews. I felt good, because the reviews the show got (which was alot) had nice things to always say about Bree and myself...

"The LA Weekly Loves Is Ruled by Impressive Courtroom Actors"

The courtroom scenes are tightly written and tremendous fun. Both attorneys address the audience as they would a seated jury, delivering simultaneous opening statements that define the circumstances of the crime. And while the back story sequences delve into the relationships of the starving artist, they ultimately slow the momentum of the story. These flashback scenes, while amusing, develop the characters at the expense of furthering the plot, a flaw made all the more evident given how well the courtroom scenes managed to do both. That is not to say there aren't clever flashbacks. A montage highlighting the troupes stage productions is inspired, especially a re-telling of Shakespeare using vampires. But the impressive courtroom actors rule the night with Jason Ryan Lovett's theatrical defense attorney, Bree Pavey's uptight prosecutor, and Steve Hofvendahl as a tolerant judge.

That is from the Tolucan Times - we also recieved honorable mentions in Backstage West and The LA Weekly - so for us the show is going really great - we are out this weekend because of a wedding (that's right - wedding season is here and we are coming back to McHenry for P&K's day of bliss!)

Other than that - we have both been going out on a bunch of cool auditions - I didn't get any of the commercials I talked about earlier (McD's, Bud Lite, ect) but I did have an audition for a Casino in Portland - and I was a singing Valet. It was kind of a strange audition, but fun all at the same time! I had a blast when I went in there and we shall see what happens! If I get it, I get to head up to Portland for a week to film the commercial, which would be a blast!

Tonight, I am off to work and Bree is hitting the Groundling - she is having a blast there. My Simmons Commercial is getting another National Run, which is super cool - nothing like helping me out with those bills.

Well, I think that is all of the news for today - and for the last few weeks - X3 is coming soon - Superman Renturns a little after that! Cannot wait! Check them out... and take a run by my website - I have been doing some work on it, let me know what you think!

Later Taters!
J.






Look at Bree - Hard at work on The Playboy Shoot!

Big Days and Big Bucks!

So today was another big day in "Actor Land"!

Yesterday:

So my McDonald's Callback went great! I was playing "Goofy Dad" who is playing pirates with his really young kids, they are looking for treasure and they find a McDonald's game piece that gets them a free trip to Disney (it is a Pirates of the Carrabien Promo) They thought that I was funny and after I was done - I said thank you and walked right out - but before I could leave the casting director stopped me and the client asked to see me read another McDonald's spot! So I did one where a young dad takes his kids in their Hummer to McD's and Dad uses the Hummer to pull the drive-thru to them, instead of going through the drive-thru - They laughed again and I left - Really good vibes from that one!

And Tuesday was a SUPER LONG day - cause I had to work in the morning, got off to hit my callback, came back to work a private party and then went to Tech rehearsal at 11pm till 1am! WHEW!

And Today:

I had a really fun callback for a Bud Lite spot - it is about a group of guys playing in a softball game and they all want to lose to get right over to the Bud Lite - and I play the guy that thinks we are there to win the game - I had one big line "We're here to WIN!" It went good - and it is really funny, because I keep seeing all of these guys that are in 10 different commercials at all of my auditions, so I know I am hitting the big time stuff for commercials! It is only a matter of time before I break-through!

Then I had an audition for a Baccardi spot - filming in Monaco (which is south of France) this add - which sounds really freak'n cool - films the 15th-18th, and not only would I get paid for the work, but all I get a free trip to Europe! For a freak'n week! ...but if I get it I have to leave either tomorrow or friday! Talk about a quick turnaround - so I will keep you all updated!

And tonight, it is Tech as usual - late night style! We start at 9:30/10pm and we are running the whole show - hope we get out before 2am this time! Bree is running on E because she has had to work everyday this week and stay up super late - I am getting a little rundown myself, while I don't have to work most of the days this week, I do have auditions early almost everyday, so I am not sleeping much either, but I am also doing something super fun, so it makes it TONS easier on me.

Well - tons of love out to everybody! We will be home soon for Paul's Wedding and then again for Scott's - drop me a line and let me know how you are doing =)

Later Taters!

Skippy

The LA Weekly Love Us - OPENS FRIDAY!

Here's The info - come out and see us kiddies!

Best Fishes,

J.

What a Big week!

So Bree and I have been working like crazy - both at the DG and on the show - "The LA Weekly Loves Us" which opens this Friday night in North Hollywood. This is our second orginal show since coming to LA, so it is going to be a blast. Working with 3ko has been hard sometimes, and great at other times, and all in all, has been a learning experience of just why we got into acting in the first place - for the love of it.

So last week, I had three really cool auditions - a Bud light one, an EA Games/Tiger Woods one, and a McDonald's one - which I found out today, I got a callback for it tomorrow. I get to play a goofy yound dad, hanging out with his kids playing pirates - so keep me in your prayers! =)

All day today - and for the last few days - I have been working on the set for the show - we finished it today - and boy, is it huge! I am going to take some pics of it and of the theatre to post for next time - keep you posted!

And I got to see the full length Superman Trailer! OH MY GOD - I cannot wait for this movie - the trailer looked like the COOLEST THING EVER! This movie is going to rule!

Well, I must be off - tech rehearsal tonight, and then a double at work tomorrow, with my callback inbetween!

Till later,

J

Thank you to everyone for the well wishes and congrats about Mary! I cannot wait to find out what is going to happen with it next! =)




Here are two pics of the theatre - the outside and the audience of the space...

And The Winner is...

Resurrection Mary for BEST FEATURE FILM at the Chicago Horror Film Festival! Not only did it win - but it also got the People's Choice Award as well! I got a wonderful, short email from Michael, my buddy and the director

Resurrection Mary was in the 7th Chicago Horror Film Fest over the weekend. 36 films made the cut... from countries like Great Britain, Ireland, Japan, Canada, Austrailia and all across the US. And while we may have had the smallest budget, we came home with THE BIGGEST PRIZES! Yep... Resurrection Mary, our little movie, did it... winning Best Feature Film and the Audience Choice Award. WOW! My jaw hit the floor and I haven't stopped smiling yet. Congratulations to EVERYONE in the cast, crew and The Cooked Goose Productions Family. I never in a million years thought we could win against such competition... Mickey Rooney, PJ Soles (Halloween) and the director of Children of the Corn had films in this festival... so this truly is one heck of an honor for all of us. So to everybody who supported us... we appreciate and love you for it... and thanks for believing in ghosts.

Michael Lansu
Writer/Director/Your Friend
Cooked Goose Productions, Inc.

So thank you to everyone who saw the premiere when Bree and I were home and have been supportive all this time while we have been working hard to make our dreams come true.

And if THAT wasn't cool enough - I went to the Chicago Horror Film Festival website to check out all of the winners - and I saw that a film I worked on last year at this time (a short called Post Mortem) won Best Special Effects! So I had two films in the festival - didn't even know it - and BOTH of them won something! SUPER COOL! =)

Today saw an audition for a SAG Bud Lite spot - so I hope the good luck keeps on roll'n my way - and yesterday and tomorrow I am working/worked on the set for "The LA Weekly Loves Us" which opens next week Friday! So lots of great things are going on right now - tons of good acting stuff! Groundlings is going great for Bree and she has been auditioning alot to - went to a reading for a wonderful period film, kinda like Quills, except ALOT more twisted.

Cannot wait to come home see some McHenry Peeps soon!

Love ya!

J

Today is the big day!

The opening of the Chicago Horror Film Festival (I wish I was home to check this out!) Resurrection Mary has been everwhere for this festival - We were featured on Fangoria's website (The World's Largest Horror Mag) and we were in the Tempo section of the Chicago Trib yesterday (Thank you Lou!)

So get out to the festival - see the movie, support and vote for it to be your favorite - your winner for Best Horror Feature Film! There is some great behind the scene's buzz about it, mayn groups (some REALLY big ones) want to buy it and all are waiting to see what happens this weekend! So go now! Check it out!

Other than that - things here are movin along - I had a bunch of really great auditions this past week, and Bree had a few as well - plus a table read for a movie. She worked on this east coast commercial and now the director is working on a film, called her in to read and she gave a WONDERFUL reading, the casting people were there and even came up to her afterward and said what a great job she did! So Congrats out to her.

Still working on the Theatrical Agent, Bree and I got to meet Ginger Lawrence of House of Representatives on Monday and that went great - following up with her this week and hoping to hear back soon! =)

Plus I joined a group called "The Actor's Network" which is turning out to be one of the best things I have done in LA yet - I have just scratched the surface of what this place offers to me, but all ready they have turn into a wonderful tool that I am benifiting from!

So that is all for now - check out the Festival - vote often for Mary so we can win and sell this bad boy! And Maybe it will even play in the theatre again! Who Knows! Till then!

Best Fishes,
J.

You blink...

And it seeems like a whole month has gone by. Well, the main reason that I haven't been on here is because of my recent birthday gift - my new Xbox 360 on the new Elder Scrolls Game - which is the COOLEST role-playing game that I have ever gotten to play - but now that I am going to let the Xbox go on va-kay because of the work-out it has been getting since April 5th, I have time to come back online and fill in what has been going on in my life BESIDES video games - and you know what, there has been things going on!

For starters - thank you to everyone who drop a Happy Birthday day email, txt, phone call, card in the mail with money, or post on my blog or myspace account! Thank you so much, it means the world to me. My birthday was a little mellow, because money is tight (can you say XBOX! =P) ...no... mellow, because Bree hurt her foot and so we hung out around the house, which was nice. We got to spend some much needed me and her time, and it was great! I got lots of cool stuff - sporting my new GL hat while I write this, and my new Punisher shirt is in the wash!

Nick and I have gone back to hitting the gym... well, i have started going on a regular, instead of irreg, and Nick has gotten back into working out and eating! Good for him! I have an important meeting right after I come back from Paul's wedding - it is with a personal manager and I want to be Fight Club by that time - so we are working overtime on working out and I am droping things from my diet left and right. Good things to come on that!

Then there is the Groudlings - Bree started last week and is going again tonight - more word on that soon - but so far, she loves it!

A bunch of auditions this past few weeks - Visa, "Weeds" Promo, Dr. Pepper, and others... haven't heard back from them, but hey, I am getting in some doors, which is better than what I was doing a month ago... =)

Rehearsal for "The LA Weekly Loves Us" is going good so far - working hard on that and I should have stuff with the set building up and running by the middle of next week - so things are moving forward with that.

Tonight, I have to work at the DG and then I am going to be heading home to get to work on some acting stuff. I am in the process of putting together a shop on my website... I have to do some work and send it out to my Dad in the next day or two with some layouts for the site... Got the new cut of the Mary, watched it, and thought it was better than the first time that I saw it. The Festival is soon - so get out and support it, vote and win us some awards! Big money, no wammies!

OHHH! And Tuesday night, Bree, Nick, Nikki and I went to see the Doggers play the Cubs! It was super cool! According to Bree, I almost got us killed when I got into a heckling contest with a car full of fat Dogger fans! And then we got Boo'd at a ton from Dogger fans when we got into the park! They didn't dig on my Foam Cub Claw - But you know what I have to saw about that!? GO CUBS! ...i would say Cubs win... but they lost that night - It was a blast though - Dogs and Beer, Cubs and my favorite lady by my side (no not Nick, I am talking about Bree!) So all and all, a good night!

SO - I must get ready for work and eat... just go back from jogging and I need to get cleaned up!

Love and Best Fishes!

Jason

And the week rolls on

So we have been running around like crazy since this past weekend - working alot and hangin with Bree's Family, who has been in town.

Monday - I had lunch with the Kurzer's, who were in town while they were out on a cruise with Royal Carrabien Cruise Lines. We had lunch at my DG, since they were downtown, taking the train back to Chicago on Monday. And then the fun began hangin with Bree's Family - Her Mom and Dad, and brother and sis (Brian and Steph) all came out. When I got home, they were hanging out at our place and then we made our way back downtown for dinner at our DG! A good time was had by all - Steph got to meet Paul (our "trying to be a model" who does take-out - he is 20 and she is 15 1/2) and even got a picture of him to take back and show to all of her friends (ahh... to be 15 again... on second thought, being 15 sucked! Forgot...moving on)

Tuesday: I worked in the morning and a series of small events lead to a not so fun day - including, but not limited to, rain, walking and the train, being short money at work, missing my train home, getting off at the wrong stop, slamming my fingure in my dresser, and the list goes on... =) I am totally fine now, but man, it was sure hard to shake that day - but being cold, wet and angry will kind of make that hard...

Tuesday night we went out to The Grill off Rodeo, which was wonderful - dinner was half taken care of for us by Aurther, who is my boss' boss, and a wonderful man and friend of mine and Bree's (he runs The Grill) The family seemed to love and and then we went back to the hotel, and later that night, Bree and I took Steph to see "Stay Alive" - what a bore-fest. Steph (being that she is 15 1/2) was very scared of the movie, and I on the other hand, didn't like it at all... Bree thought it was okay.

Yesterday: Universal Studios Theme Park with the fam! What a blast - Brian didn't dig the Van Helsing Haunted House, but the ride were cool - The Mummy was great, and the Studio Tour was interesting... got to see a few people working, though they didn't really take us thru much of the real studio - but still, it was something fun! And that night, Bree and I had rehearsal for "The LA Weekly Loves Us" and then after rehearsal we went with the family to see "Failure To Launch" - which was really a fun movie, tho I think both leads are a tad bit old to be making these kinds of movies.. but that is just me.

Today I have to work, and I also have an audition for "Dr. Pepper". I found out the Mary is being looked at by Liongate and Artisian films - both of which are HUGE Deals for us! More money - and big chance to make another movie! I cannot wait to find out what happens! And I have a meeting with a manager next week - which is going to be cool. A friend of mine from work hooked me up with her manager, and she really seem interested in meeting with me, and my buddy from work has been going out for all kinds of GREAT stuff lately.

Besides these things, just working and moving forward - trying to live it one day at a time, and love what I am doing - here are some cool pictures from Seaworld last weekend and Universal yesterday!

Love and miss you ya!

J.


This is us with a Peguin at Seaworld








Bree and The Family at Universal Studios









Brian, The Hulk and I










Bree holding a Starfish at Seaworld










My littlest bearcub!










A couple of big monkeys!

A quickie can sometimes be best

So I will make this short and sweet (since it is 4 am my time) Sorry I haven't posted in a week, but some cool stuff has happened.

Last weekend, I took Bree to San Diego and we went to Sea World, which I had never been to before - and it was SUPER cool! Penguins all over the place! It was really great - we had a hotle that overlooked the Ocean. Just a wonderful time.

This week, I found out that I have been cast in 3KO's production of "The LA Weekly Loves Us", which goes up in may - more info to follow.

Also, Resurrrection Mary got into the Chicago Horror Film Festival and was nominateed for Best Feature Film and Best Director! So check out their site at chicagohorrorfest.com - go see the screenings, if you can, and the vote, vote, vote for us!

Lots of work this week, not alot of auditions, and I am signing up for classes at IO West (Improv Olympic) starting in April. Should be alot of fun! Still working out alot, and getting in shape for "Crisis" which should be starting soon, and I am going to be getting new headshots!

And I went to two casting workshops this past week, one with a working CD and one with a new agent in LA, who reps both coasts! So overall, a good and busy week!

Missed Macbeth, which Brian is doing, because trafffic was so bad that I couldn't get to Long Beach and tomorrow morning is my read-thur for "The LA Weekly Loves Us" - should be a blast!

Much love to you all!

J

PS - Check out phase one of my website - my dad put up some of the first work, it is cool! =)

Following in the Footsteps of Giants

And Bree is in the World Famous Groundlings! This is a huge and wonderful step for her - for those that don't know, she has been wanting to study there since we began talking about moving to LA, and now she is going to start taking classes in April. She joins the many greats that have walked this road before her - Phil Hartman, Lisa Kudrow, Paul Reubens (who created Pee Wee Herman at the Groundlings), Conan O'Brien, Will Ferrell, Cheri Oteri, Michael McDonald and many, many others. This is a VERY proud time for me, getting to see my baby doing something that she truely loves! Big congrats and pride go out to her - email her, call her, shower her with good wishes, because she deserves it! =) YIPPIE BREE!

As for me, I am still pounding the pavement for managers and working on finding a place to study myself. I found one really wonderful sounding class and am waiting to hear back about taking a meeting with the teacher. Her name is Catlin Adams and she teaches a class called "The Acting Lab" - she was the youngest member of the Actor's Studio, and has worked in films such as The Jerk, The Jazz Singer, Mr. and Mrs. Smith and many others (she even directed WANTED: The Perfect Guy starring your big Ben, kel... cool huh!? =P) So we shall se what happens with that. There are also some other really great classes that I am looking at and I am even looking at taking some classes at IO, which I was looking at a few months ago and then passed on, but now I am looking that way again, so I will keep you updated!

I miss you all and cannot wait to roll to the homeland for a few days, and spring is coming up faster every day, so it will be soon! Thank you for the nice notes - drop me a line and let me know what you are up to as well, that is always a blast! =)

Well, I am finished with my work for tonight, and I have tomorrow off to do some more work in the morning - the Xbox is calling and my 2nd season on Madden is about to begin!

Love you all, and good night.

J.

The weekend is down and a new week has begun!

So today, I had the day off of work (and since I had to work like a carzy person this past week, it was super nice to sleep in!) and I got to hang out with Bree. She had her audition for The Groundling today and we will find out tomorrow if she is in or not - so keep your fingers crossed for her =) And then Bree got to go to a Producers Workshop which Dozer from The Matrix was there! (she said it was a blast)

Right now we are enjoying RAW - Shawn Michaels got the crap kicked out him in cage match!

As for me, well I worked most of the weekend.

I have found a few class that I am going to have some meeting for (I have to make some calls tomorrow) - The Stella Adler School, Michael Chekhov Studio, and Eric Morris just to name a few...

Tomorrow I am going to send out a new set of manager letters (with the correct spelling this time ;P) and I got my 1st "Thanks but no thanks" from (Leslie) Allan-Rice Management; and the funny thing is they left me a message for "Ryan" saying that they were not taking any new cilents at this time... kinda funny - you want someone with that personal touch and they couldn't even read my stuff to see my first name was Jason not Ryan... =)

Anyhow, a new group is going out tomorrow and we shall see if any of those hit the mark or any of the ones that have gone out already.

I have work tomorrow in the morning and then I am going to come home and do some acting related work as well as get ready for my audition on Wens for "The LA Weekly Loves Us" which is the new show my theatre company is doing in the spring!

Till then!

J.

I leave and they are asleep

...and I return and they are all alseep... my home is very quite right now.

I am going to keep tonight short since I am very tired - I woke @ 5am to go and shoot down in Playa Del Ray this morning, on "What a Great Idea"... which I cannot wait to be finished with... and shot or something like that until noon, almost 1pm... afterward it was off to the gym (got to stick with it) and then into downtown to hit work. Bree was working on a shoot in Ventura (she was paid today to act, and I was not) and so I saw her dreaming as I left in the morning and now she is fast asleep. So it was off to the DG where I was informed that I would be opening Happy Hour and closing that night since the oter guy I was to work with called in sick...

Tomorrow is going to be another long day, a dbl bartending shift and then I have a day off, which is nice... next weekend I am going to do something nice for just Bree and I, as we haven't gotten to spend any - and I do mean ANY time together at all that isn't "So how was your day? Oh, good... so let's get ready for bed" and then off to sleep we go...

Can you tell I am a little tired today... tonight rather =) and I feel like I hurt myself in the gym, which is not good.

Anyhow, I am off to bed - good night friends!

J.

PS - Keri, I think you are right - since plato is a word my spellcheck didn't catch it... good thing I only sent out the first 15, which is one of five or more large mailings that I am going to do over the next week. Thank tho for catching that for me, or I would have sent them all out that way without even knowing it.

The first 15 are leaving the gate!

Boy am I pooped! So I put the finishing touches on my letter to the managers that I am trying to get. I worked on it till almost 2am last night and I think that it is a really great letter, that captures myself while still walking the line of being professional, but not at all stuffy! Here it is for you all to read and check out:

Hello there,

My name is Jason Lovett. and I’m an actor living and working in LA. I’m originally from Chicago, and right now I see myself as a “whale in a teardrop” - I have talent, drive, and a powerful Midwestern work ethic which has done well for me. I have a boutique commercial agent (RPM Talent) and I’ve booked some nice jobs through them, most recently a Simmons Beauty Rest commercial. But I’m hindered by my lack of ability to move up from the minor leagues. I’ve made some small films (one of which is being considered for Tribeca this year), booked commercials, played leads in Shakespeare and been nominated for an Irene Ryan.

Where I want to be is to be the worst actor in the room... what I mean by that is if I am in a room with Mark Ruffalo, Johnny Depp and Terrance Howard... I’m seen as the worst actor walking into that room. From there, I want to be the best actor walking into that room - but first I need to get into that room...

This is where you come in. I know my success as an actor will be greater and more lucrative when I can function as part of a creative team. I have the drive, intelligence, sense of humor, humility (sometimes...) and talent to be a successful and profitable actor. My goal is not to just work, not to just be a good actor, but to be the very best - the top of my field.

Up till now, my focus has been raw and I have reached a plato without someone to guide me and based upon my research, I believe we may be able to work together to create a strong cooperative aimed at developing and marketing my career.

I’d love an opportunity to meet with you to discuss my abilities and goals, and to determine whether we may be well suited to work together.

Thank you for your consideration. I look forward to meeting you.

Sincerely,

Jason Ryan Lovett

So what do you think? I like it - a little cocky, but I feel like it really grabs you. The people that are turned on by it are the kind of go-get-'er type managers that I want, and those that are turned off by it would only be turned off by me, and I feel like I saved us both the waste of each others time.

So today was another great day - I got up around 6:30am, hit the train into downtown, then hit the gym for another rump-kick'n work-out and then to the DG. Bree had the morning off, and I was glad to watch her sleep in for a change, she really needs some good relax'n time - because she doesn't take enough for herself - she was very beautiful and peaceful this morning, I almost didn't want to leave... but I digress... So work was kind of in chaos today, what with computers breaking and me getting out late because of slow people (you know who you are) and then it was a trip into Hollywood for my audition today. I was auditioning for an NHL Spec, which seems really funny and I would love to get - it is about this guy who is SO into hockey and misses it so much that he tapes everything in his tool shed like a hockey stick, and at the end, walking out with his newly taped shovel he sees his neighbour dressed like a goalee trimming his bushes - it is super funny!

And then it was home, and down to work on the computer. I am putting together a list of classes that I am going to audit over the next few weeks, and cannot wait to find a place to learn and play. And tonight I put together 15 manager mailing, which are going to go into the mail. I also found one in this group that I really REALLY want to get on my team - his name is Steven Nash (w/ Arts and Letters Entertainment - check them out online!)

Right now Bree is finishing up her night at work, which she says has just been CRAZY busy and then she has to be back at work at 5am (but only has to work till noon) because of the heating guys needing to come in then or something like that... I don't know. I have her foot spa set-up and her PJ's waiting so she can roll right into bed!

Well, another big day down and another coming up. Tomorrow I have work, filming for WAGI, and more mailings and research - so it is going to a blasty!

Love ya and miss ya - best fishes to ya!

J.

So day one is in the bank!

While RAW is playing in the background - John Cena's "My Time is Now" blasting, I know today has been a good day!

For starters, no freak'n work!

Woke-up this morning and hit the gym downtown. And let me tell you, I have been back to the gym for weeks now - feeling good and I hope lookin' as good as I feel, but today kicked my ass! I broke out some new work-out moves I found in my Men's Fitness, and it was great!

After that I headed to the DG and drove Bree out to her Callback in Santa Monica for a PSA. Rainy days are back in LA - gone only long enough for the Oscars... so funny. So I waited in the car and when Bree came back, she brough this young actress from NYC who needed a ride to an audition - she was without a car and so Bree and I gave her a lift into Beverly Hills - I hope she did well on her audition.

Then it was off to Westwood for some dinner - and while at dinner, I got an audition for an NHL Spec tomorrow and Bree got a call that she booked "Traffic's" (a commercial gig!) which she had auditioned for late last week! So congrats to Bree!

And now I am at home, with my love and my little buddy... Dash is upstairs washing some clothes... and Nick just walked in, the last day at The Daily Grill behind him and the congrats are on.

And me - well, Big Show and Cena are still going at it - Triple H watching in the background, and I am about to go on my mad dash for a new CEO in the JRL Entertainment Corp. Managers of LA, here I come - who will I pick? Only time will tell on that one.

Tomorrow is going to be a good day - some work, some gymtime, an audition, maybe even some movie-watching and some class searching.

So until then ~

J.

Paul - I got your msg buddy and I am sorry that I haven't called yet, but I am going to call ya tomorrow. And I am going to get fitted ASAP

And the Oscar goes to...

Well, you all saw the show - Crash, which I hoped would win Best Picture did. "It's hard out here for a Pimp" won best song, and was the 1st ever Rap Live Performance at the Oscars, since Eminiem turned then down two years ago when he was nominateed and won for "Lose Yourself". Others that I was proud of - Philip Seymour Hoffman, George Clooney, Reese Witherspoon and Rachel Weisz - really the first year that I was happy with all of the acting awards! While I did still want Terrance Howard to win Best Actor, I am glad that Hoffman won... I was, overall, a really nice show. And John Stewart was a GREAT f'n host - very funny! And the show seemed to move along at a nice pace, unlike most years - so good job John (though I did miss Rock - he was really great last year)

And it was great, and is really moving/motivating to get busy on my own carrer - and it also give you hope when you see so many faces up on that stage, and names being read that had not even been known a year ago.

Oh yeah... I had to work tonight (so I watched it at work) and it was kind of a slow night... came home early. The train didn't stop at Hollywood and Highland (which is where the Kodak is) and I thought that was kind of funny, but to be expected.

Well, tomorrow begins what is going to be a very important week for me. I am on the mad hunt for a manager to add to my team. While my agent is good, he is about to be going through some bad stuff and a change that is, in the end, going to lead to bigger and better things for him, which is great, and I hope bigger and better things for me, which is also great. But in the meantime, I need some help getting my plane put together and fly'n, because I am sick of being grounded. =) I am also on the mad hunt for a new place to study and some new to study with. I haven't been in a class for about two months, and I don't get to act on a regular enough basis and I feel like a class would really give me the chance to do that - explore and expand! So audits away! And then there is the working out - I found this super cool "Old School" full body work-out that I am stoked to break into starting tomorrow and I am hoping to see some major things changing up (I am also making the last move into changing how I eat, and that is going to give a major ass-kicking to my body!) One more month till I am 26 and I am going to hit my goals!

Well, I love you all and miss you too. Check out "Hustle and Flow" as well as "Crash" if you haven't yet. And also check out my new MySpace account!

Later Taters!

J.

(thank you neil for the great words my friend! I am hanging in here and working hard! I know that one day, it is going to pay off, in some form or another. But you know me, I want it now, now, now - and I am learning to wait, it can just be hard some days, but I am doing it! Thank you buddy!)

Vader wins the Razzie!

So after a long day of filming "Flushing Guppies" in Glendale, I am home and enjoying some time on the computer! Ok, well I didn't film today, I just worked as a PA to Bree. It was Bree's big day of filming. She is playing the part of one of the agents - you can check out a link in the sidebar to the Contra Films website - there is alot of cool things going on with this budding company, so check it out!

Anyhow... not much more has been going on in the past few days. A few auditions, hitting the gym and bartending.

Oscars are tomorrow and I have to work, but I am going to get to watch them while I am at work. Should be an interesting night - I am hoping to see Crash and Terrance Howard win tomorrow, and we shall see what happens!

This week is going to be alot of working and maybe a little bit of fun. I have some filming lined up this week for a project I am working on called "What A Great Idea", which Bree and I have been filming since summertime - I hope to be finished with it rather soon.

So my goals this week:

~ To get out 20 manager submissions.
(I am going to update who I sent stuff too and then we shall see what happens with them)

~ To find a new place to study here in LA.
(I want to find at least 5 classes to audit. I'll update - just to make sure that I am doing these things!)

Well, if you haven't added me as a friend on MySpace (Bree, Beth, Dunn... I'm looking at you) please do so, I would like that very much.

Miss you all!

J.

(watching "Unleashed" with Bree and my buddy Nikki tonight - lots of fun, check it out sometime!)

Superman has joined the JLA

So I finally broke down and created a MySpace account - it seems to be the place where everyone else that I know - and t a ton people that I don't know - hang out and spend all of their free time - so I thought, what the hell, I will join too!

So check it out - I have a link in the sidebar.

So after I posted last night I had to work and had a wonderful conversation with one of my regulars about acting and trying to find ones way in the world. He told me about a few friends of his that he has - some of them working in my industry and others working in, well, other industries - but all of them doing very well for themselves. He said "Look, I know you but I don't - and you seem like a good guy and a hard worker. Now these are things that I pick up from you. And you seem to have a way about yourself, people dig you, and that combined with alot of hardwork and the ability to wait will take you very far." He was saying that this town is full of great things and that the world, Hollywood and beyond, cannot turn their heads forever - one day they are going to want to know what the heck you are up to - and when that day come - hang on! And so I felt better - not to mention that the day before I was putting a fat check in the bank from my Simmions commercial and I still have one on the way from that gig! =)

And then I came home from work and Bree told me all about the casting class that she had gone too with our friend Phil - Seth Colten (CD for CSI:Miami) was teaching it - they were doing mock auditions, which he would tape and then go throught with the class afterward - Bree got massive compliments from Seth, was told that with an audition like hers she would have gone right to Producers (which is a huge thing, for those that don't know) and she learned a ton of wonderful things about auditioning and getting the type of work that is going to put us on the map - So needless to say, it was an ok day turned into a great night.

So this morning I home hanging with Nick and J-buddy - on my way out to the gym in a few mintues (after breakfast) and then to work tonight. Bree has two auditions today - one for the bank commercial I had yesterday and I don't remember what the other was for... (sorry baby) But none the less, they were both through her agent, which is great!

So I am going to put some finishing touchs on my MySpace account, eat my breakfast and then hit the gym before work.

Love to ya!

J.

A few days of rain

So after a few days of rain here in old LA, we are back to warmish weather and work.

Been spending the past few days working my tail of in the gym (In two days I have hit it four times! Trying to bust out of the "not making any gains" rut!) Also had a few auditions the week. One for a horror movie, which was kinda of a waste of time, because I went in to read for the leading role, yet I only read 3 lines, one time and then they said "Thank you" and I left. So who knows. And then I had an audition for a bank commerical, which was a huge cattle call - last time I went on one of those I got the Simmons job, so here is to hoping.

This week I am also going to finally finish working on a film I have been in since the summer of last year! So that will be nice to get of my plate and not have to worry about anymore.

Other than that, just doing alot of working and trying to get something really going for my carrer, which has been hard. We are moving forward, which is good, but I don't like waiting (not only waiting tables, but also waiting for something to happen from the work that I am sending out into the world) and while I know there is only so much that I can do, I just think that if I could get that one right auditon - BOOM! I would be in and that would be that... but then I would have a whole new set of problems trying to compete with big stars who have been around forever and don't want their ride at the top to be over.

Mainly I just want to be working more as an actor and making money doing that than working as a bartender or anything else for that matter.

In time... it takes time...

So anyhow... So this weekend Bree is filming her scenes in "Flushing Guppies" and then we are going to see Brian in Macbeth down in Long Beach. I am also going to be buying the plane tickets for both of the weddings in a day or so - which is exciting =)

Till next time,
J.

Live from JLA Headquaters

So it has been a little of a slow week - lots of working, haning out and hitting the gym.

Bree and I both had an audition for a Kia Commercial/ Live Event. and Bree also got a callback for a Milwaukee's Best Commercial (which I audition for and she didn't =P)

And the 22nd marked an important day for us - one year together in LA. I was a year ago that we pulled up with our truck loaded and filed all of our worldly good into our old, crappy dump of an apartment and started our quest to make our names known. We celebrated with Nick, having a little dinner at Sitton's - which is like The Little Chef back in McHenry, only open 24/7 and then Bree auditioned for the theatre company that I am apart of.

This past year had been a really good one and Bree and I have alot to be thankful for.

1st and most important is our family and friends that have supported us in this huge life change. Just a whole lot of love from us to you, we miss you all so much every day. There is plenty of sandy real estate here in LA... just as a thought.

Then there is how many wonderful things we have gotten to do and be apart of since coming here. Working on films, TV and getting to do theatre. Making new friends, and getting an agent. Working on The West Wing, or CSI (even if it was as non-speaking set dressing) to getting my 1st "real" acting job - which paid quite well for doing nothing. Having a great place to live that is quite and safe, as well having a great to work and make money while I am trying to make my dreams come true. As far as acting goes I feel like we have had a great first year! A few paying commercials, an agent, a bunch of fun (non-paying) acting work in short films and theatre and that is just the beginning! This year, I can already tell, is going to be much better!

And then I am thankful for something else - Bree. To have someone in my life that is as wonderful as she is, as supportive, light hearted and strong, makes my life so great. Relationships can be hard sometimes, and moving thousands of miles, leaving behind friends, family and the world you know to chase after a dream with someone like me... man, if that isn't a reason for sainthood I don't know what is. And things haven't always been easy once we were here either, be it money problems or the fact that we lived in the getto before moving to NoHo, she was and is always strong, always a rock and I love her so much for that. Her love and her support mean the world to me, and just wanted to let the world know how thankful I am for her and her love.

So alot to be thankful for - I am a very lucky, if not the world's luckiest, person to have so much good fortune! =)

On a side note - Today was a bit of a long day, or not so long, as we had Nikki and Cleo over last night and I got really drunk. Spent most of the morning asleep (slept till 1pm) and recovering the 2nd half of today - playing video games (Madden RULES!) and cleaning the house while Bree was gone. and now I am updating. =)

Much Love to you all!

J.

PS - Dad and Paul, I will call you tomorrow =)