Astor's Update

Snow In Los Angeles

2011-11-23T03:11:00.000-08:00

I experienced snow for the first time in Los Angeles today. The Grove, a farmer's market and LA hangout, was in full Christmas mode. Stores were decked out in red and green, a giant pine tree was lit up in the central courtyard, and Christmas carols were playing from the speakers. When "Let It Snow" came on, the air was suddenly filled with snow. It was fantastic!

The fact that it was foam instead of actual snowflakes mattered very little to those of us who were sharing the moment. A little movie magic for the holidays. Made my night.

-T

Upside Down

2011-10-16T15:26:00.000-07:00

I like to be upside down.

I like it so much that twice a week I pay $15 to the Los Angeles Gymnastics Academy to let me play with their toys. Previously, I just used the floor space. They tell me there are springs under it, so when I land on some part of me I'm not supposed to, I don't break it off. But lately I have been spending time on the trampoline. It is there that I can extend that precious second of upside-down-time into two and three seconds. I like to jump high and flip backwards slowly with my legs straight and my arms out wide. While this requires some degree of tension and focus, it is not stressful. I have never once been asked to solve a differential equation while upside down.

There will come a time, I can imagine, when being upside down will be beyond the capabilities of my body. But I hope that by that point I will have the good sense to have forget why it was important.

-T

The Mad Ones

2011-10-16T15:20:00.000-07:00

But then they danced down the streets like dingledodies, and I shambled after as I've been doing all my life after people who interest me, because the only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones that never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars and in the middle you see the blue centerlight pop and everybody goes "Awww!"

Time

2011-08-25T10:56:00.000-07:00

I originally wrote this as part of my application to film school last Fall for one of those "Tell Us About Yourself" type of questions. It's sentimental and rambles on. I still like it.

Now begin in the middle, and later learn the beginning; the end will take care of itself.
-Harlan Ellison

Physicists will tell you there is no such thing as time. Not as we perceive it. Sure, we find it a convenient tool for, say, meeting someone for coffee at 2:15. But the reality is that our experience of time is an illusion caused by our inability to perceive everything at once. You see, there is not one universe, but many. And in each of these universes, everything that possibly can happen does happen. This is not a science fiction script pitch. This is the bleeding edge of what we know, according to Einstein and String Theory. We perceive time because the previously mentioned universes are layered against each other, not unlike a motion picture. There is no motion or time, really. We blink from one universal frame to the next.

All this is to say that the natural world and the moving image have an awful lot in common.

That is something I seem to specialize in: finding connections in the seemingly unrelated. I have always been hyper-aware and hyper-sensitive. As a child who was desperate to please, I learned how to make people happy. I understood what would make them sad, make them laugh, make them jealous. I knew who was hiding pain, who needed a shoulder to cry on. It was not a matter of manipulation. I just developed a strong grasp of what affected the emotional state of the people around me.

A garden spider will build a web and then tuck itself into a corner somewhere, placing only one foot on one strand of the web. Despite an abundance of eyes, garden spiders do not see particularly well. But if anything touches the web, their highly developed sense of touch can tell exactly where it is based on the kind of vibrations they are feeling through that single strand. People are the same way. I learned very early that everything we are vibrates in every aspect of what we do.

And time, whether it exists or not, still heals all things. Heartache is not what is important. What is important is the person it helped me become. While that may still be a work in progress, I would like to think I am someone who cares. At the core, we are all storytellers. So the question really becomes what kinds of stories do you want to tell? And in that, I have some purpose. I want to tell stories that matter to people. I want to bring light to issues with which people struggle but are unable to give voice. I want them to build bridges, make connections, and I want to tackle the big stuff.

While my childhood taught me to look inward, my natural disposition pushes me outward. I am fascinated with everything. Math. Physics. Engineering. Economics. Sociology. Art. Music. Theater. I always want to know how things tick. And I think it comes out in my work. I think it is worthwhile to get things right. There is much to say about the natural world and our place in it. I think it is important to tell stories that get to the heart of who we are. I would rather make one honest thing that people love than a hundred that people like. There are too many important stories out there to waste time on the shallow, the trite and the banal.

Anyone can get a job in the film industry. But I want to be great at this. Making a motion picture means sharing a moment in time, not with a few people crowded into a theatre, but with the world. And that is something worth dedicating a life to perfecting.

-T

July 4th, 2010

Tennis Pro

2011-04-24T13:19:00.000-07:00

Tennis Pro starts principle photography on May 2nd. Stay tuned for more details soon.

Acceptance

2011-03-01T09:17:00.000-08:00

I was talking to my friend Paul last night about this latest interview with Charlie Sheen. One of the reasons I became an actor was so I could be Topper Harley from Hotshots. I feel like something from my childhood broke in watching what he had become.

Paul is, among other things, an addiction specialist, and I hoped he might be able to offer some insight as to what I was seeing in the form of the distressed, rambling, narcissistic Sheen. His answer, though not surprising, provided a lot of clarity:

"...The gist is this - it's a bio-psycho-social condition/disease. Most people want to alter their reality in one way or another. When people use mind altering substances their brains get hijacked. Chemistry changes and the more you use, and depending on the drug, more of your chemistry changes and neural damage occurs. Now add to this any psychological, emotional and/or environmental challenges and you get a spiraling down toward an impaired mind.

People get categorized as alcoholics and addicts when they cross that invisible line, and continue, despite negative consequences to use or "act out" as it pertains to behavioral addiction (gambling, sex, food, etc.). Charlie is a prime example of a stage four addict; he is in denial of reality and has a distorted perception of reality. Charlie, unless he is able to truly find something greater than him while working on his behavioral, psych, emotional and environmental issues is going to continue to die, spiritually, mentally and probably physically sooner than he would otherwise."

I think it's important to note that Charlie Sheen is not crazy. He is sick. Something that can happen to any of us.

It's too easy to de-humanize and sideline erratic behavior. I think Paul's second sentence is the most important: The idea that most people want to alter their reality. That things as they are are not ok. I definitely saw flashes of myself in that; flashes of people I know that are their own worst enemy.

I had heard the Serenity Prayer so often used by Alcoholics Anonymous before:

"God, give us the grace to accept with serenity the things that cannot be changed, courage to change the things which should be changed, and the wisdom to distinguish the one from the other."

I thought I understood it before, but I don't think I truly did until this morning. My prayer for you today is that you find acceptance of your reality. And that it is enough for you.

-T

Halfway Home

2010-11-02T20:08:00.000-07:00

After big shoot days, when I feel like I've really done good work, I always feel a little like the hobbits at the end of The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King. I'm sitting around, feeling like I accomplished this amazing, epic, important thing, and the world just ignores me. I sit at my table, and I look around, thinking SOMEBODY is bound to see the glimmer in my eyes and know what I've done this day.

I want to stand on my table and yell, "I JUST DID SOME OF THE BEST CREATIVE WORK OF MY LIFE, AND YOU MISSED IT!" But they don't know that. The whatever-it-is hasn't been released yet. Or they didn't see the show. They weren't there.

The fact is that no matter how great or not-great something I do is, most people I know will never experience it. It's just not possible. And trying to relate it later always feels false somehow. Like a grainy jpeg of the most perfect sunset you've ever seen: "But you don't UNDERSTAND!" you say, "It was BEAUTIFUL!" And your friends just shrug.

But I FEEL different. Satisfied. Today I just shot a piece for Halfway Home, a documentary about what happens once our soldiers return home from war. I hope you all get a chance to see it. It's due to be released in just a few short weeks. I'm proud of the work I did today. I hope I get to share it with you soon.

-T

The Resistance - Premiering October 4th at 8pm PST / 11pm EST

2010-09-26T14:27:00.000-07:00

Black Coffee

2010-07-04T00:19:00.000-07:00

Bravery

2010-02-03T21:29:00.000-08:00

I keep hoping that one day I will wake up to find that I am brave. But it doesn't ever happen. I just keep waking up each day terrified.

My first thought in the morning is the fear that I am late for something. For what? I don't know. But something. Then I worry about all the things I have not yet accomplished. It starts out with small things, like my dishes from yesterday. But then it quickly moves on to big things, like that I am just not adequate enough of a human being to waste my life pursuing, but never accomplishing, a life in art. (I have this thought several times per day.) I then spend the rest of my day terrified about one damn thing or another. Personal appearance issues, death by various implausible means, that everyone secretly hates me, you name it.

But of all these things, I am most afraid of casual interactions with my fellow wo/man. I don't understand you people at all. Was there a memo that got passed around on that day I was sick that explained how talking should work? Because I just don't get it. I can talk ABOUT things: "Olaf, please hand me the blue bipolar junction transistor." I get that. What I don't get is chit chat; talking with someone for the sake of talking. I vaguely understand that its purpose is to create camaraderie and/or to trick girls into dating you... I just don't know how to do it. I feel like one of those guys who's job is to figure out how to communicate with whales. Only I can't just hang out on my boat, because the whales have all the stuff.

All this is to say, that I spend a lot of my day failing at talking to people. Please note that it's not just you, and I probably like you just fine. I make everyone feel uncomfortable. That is, unless we're talking about bipolar junction transistors. Then you probably didn't notice.

-T

In Memoriam

2010-01-28T10:18:00.000-08:00

Anyway, I keep picturing all these little kids playing some game in this big field of rye and all. Thousands of little kids, and nobody's around - nobody big, I mean - except me. And I'm standing on the edge of some crazy cliff. What I have to do, I have to catch everybody if they start to go over the cliff - I mean if they're running and they don't look where they're going I have to come out from somewhere and catch them. That's all I'd do all day. I'd just be the catcher in the rye and all.

-J. D. Salinger

The Acceleration of Tranquility

2010-01-13T23:45:00.000-08:00

Because of our physical constraints we require a specific environment and a harmony in elements that relate to us and of which we are often unaware. The Parthenon is a very pleasing building, and Mozart's Fifth Piano Concerto a very pleasing work, because each makes use of proportions, relations, and variations that go beyond subjective preference, education, and culture into the realm of universal appeal conditioned by universal human requirements and constraints.

A life lived with these understood, even if vaguely, will have the grace that a life lived unaware of them will not. When expanding one's powers, as we are in the midst of now doing by many orders of magnitude in the mastery of information, we must always be aware of our natural limitations, mortal requirements, and humane preferences.

-Mark Helprin in The Acceleration of Tranquility

The Costco Story, pt. 2

2009-06-11T13:09:00.000-07:00

(If you have not yet done so, please take a moment to peruse The Costco Story, so you know the background on this.)

I have the most amazing friends and family on the planet. This story seems to have struck a chord with people, as I'm sure most people have had to fight a similar battle at some point with an online merchant, a cable/internet company, and other situations where you cannot get a human being to look you in the eye and fix the problem. After a tremendous outpouring of support, I am pleased to report that I am now holding in my hand $560... in singles and five-dollar-bills.

So here's how it all went down:

I made a bunch more calls to the Costco.com hotline yesterday, to no avail.

First, I talked to Jennifer from the Issaquah call center (425-727-7317, jbedell@costco.com). I explained my story.

Jennifer: Wow, that's horrible. That's the worst customer service experience I've ever heard of. I'm so sorry you had to experience that. I promise that I will take care of this.
Me: Wow, finally someone gets it. Thank you.

Never heard from her again.

Then, I talked to Gentry Valley (509-454-1234). And yes, that is his real name. He's the one that accused me of being a terrorist.

Me: Hi. Have you been told what I'm calling about today?
Gentry: Oh, yes. It's all right here in the notes.
Me: Great. So could I please have my money back now?
Gentry: No.
Me: Um... please?
Gentry: Can't do. You could be anybody. How can I really determine who I'm talking to?
Me: Um... you could ask me--
Gentry: (ignoring me) You could be an identity thief. Homeland Security requires us to not give refunds in order to stop terrorists.
Me: So, you can't give me my money back because you think I'm a terrorist?
Gentry: WHO ARE YOU??
Me: What kind of identity thief works this hard to RETURN MONEY to its original owner? I cannot begin to imagine the scam where someone purchases something on a stolen credit card and then returns it back to the same credit card. What in your mind is it you think I'm trying to accomplish?
Gentry: AMERICA! LOVE IT OR LEAVE IT!!
Me: Gentry, do you even have the CAPABILITY to help me? That is, can you personally authorize the transfer of funds back to my card?
Gentry: No.
Me: Then why am I talking to you? Please transfer me to the person who makes these decisions.
Gentry: No.
Me: Why not?
Gentry: Because you have to talk to me.
Me: But you can't help me.
Gentry: So?
Me: [Sigh.]

I was pretty down by this point. No longer clear if it was worth it or even what I was fighting for in the first place. But then the internet happened.

Costco.com started receiving loads and loads of phone calls and emails from all of you, and that's when they started calling me back. At first it was the same mid-level managers apologizing all over themselves. But then it was higher ups. I started getting calls from operations people and vice presidents and people with titles who had been forwarded links to my blog entry by people I didn't even know. I told my story probably another 6 times.

Gentry called back with a new attitude, as if he had just been ripped a new one by his higher-ups.

Gentry: Tim, ol' buddy, ol' pal! I fixed everything!
Me: Great! So you put the money back on my card?
Gentry: Sure did! I reloaded the money back on your gift card.
Me: [Sigh.]

I'm getting a nervous tick at this point. And trying not to resort to homicidal rage.

Me: I'm. Not. Buying. Anything. From. Costco. Ever. Again.
Gentry: Oh.
Me: What am I going to do with a GIFT CARD, Gentry?
Gentry: I'll make sure the money gets put back on your credit card. I'll call you back in an hour.
Me: For some reason, I'm not convinced.

Guess who did NOT call back in an hour? Shocking, I know. But Gentry did call back 4 hours later during the 30 seconds I was in the bathroom. This is the message he left (if I can figure out how to embed the audio, I will):

"Hi Tim this is Gentry calling back. Sorry i didn't quite make the hour window I had talked about earlier... The unfortunate answer is that I can't get the credit back to the credit card. What it really boils down to is that our loss prevention team... can't be 100% certain it's going back to the right person... Best I can recommend at this point is taking that [gift] card back into your local store... They can go ahead and cash that out for you."

There are so many things wrong with this message. Like the fact that he calls it "the credit card" instead of "your credit card" or the fact that once again they're making ME do all the footwork to fix THEIR incompetence.

He goes on to say that he's MAILING ME A $25 GIFT CARD to make up for my trouble. Besides the fact that the last &*$%#* thing I want to see on earth is ANOTHER COSTCO GIFT CARD... If you do the math, that's the equivalent of paying me 2.8 cents per hour of my wasted time. It's even less if you factor in that I could have invested that $560 in something that didn't make me want to commit murder.

So next comes more people calling me higher up in the food chain, responding to several of your emails, saber rattles, and a phone conversations. I even got a call from a guy named Scott who told me he was personally responsible for failing to properly train the Yakima phone office (read: Jeff).

Scott wouldn't give me his full name, because he had read my previous blog. But for the most part, I had to once again explain the situation to these guys. They go on and on about how in all their years with Costco, they've never heard of a customer service story as bad as this. They will fix it, blah, blah, blah...

But even they were pretty much worthless. The best they can do is tell me WHY Costco's policies are set up to prison rape me.

Scott: Your (second) order was canceled because we couldn't verify your address.
Me: Ok, that's the first I've heard of this. Did you try Google Maps?
Scott: No, we use our own system.
Me: How's that working out for you?
Scott: We cancel a lot of orders.
Me: I'll bet. Why didn't anyone just call me and ask if there was a problem?
Scott: We don't do that.
Me: Who would've guessed. Well, thank you for at least giving me straight answers. But you haven't helped me one iota. (To quote Mark Andrus:) I'm drowning here. And you're describing the water.
Scott: I'll look into this and call you back tomorrow.
Me: I totally believe that. What's your full name and contact information for when you don't?
Scott: Oh, you WILL hear back from me!

For those of you still not paying attention: Scott did not call me back.

It seems very simple to me. I give you money for a product. You either give me the product, or you give me my money back. If something goes wrong, you don't make your customers run errands. Especially not after dozens of calls, hours trying to fix it, and three runs to the same store for the same reason.

But fine. I had my stupid gift card. I called the store, gave them the schpeil, and had them verify the balance on the card. I told them I would be there in the hour and a half that it takes to get there. When I showed up, they told me they couldn't cash it.

I made them look in the notes of the account where it said that they could cash it. Didn't work. I made them listen to the phone message where Gentry said I could cash it in store. Nope. "Our policy is to not cash [gift] cards." Over and over and over.

I planted my feet and told them I wasn't leaving until they gave me my money back. I argued with them until the store closed. The head of store, wanting desperately to go home, finally relented with the magical words I have been waiting so long to hear: "Anita, would you cash him out?"

It was that simple. All it took was for ONE PERSON to say, "You know what? Maybe we should stop bending this guy over and help. Maybe I should circumvent our policy just this once."

So Anita takes my card and gives me American dollars in return. Only it's the end of the night, so all she has in her register are a crapload of one's and five's. It's not like you can just tuck that many bills into your wallet. So I cram them in every pocket and orifice I have. I walk out of there, looking like a damn stripper. And not even a high-class one.

So yes, my internet friends: We have succeeded... Sort of.

After 36 days of people from Costco.com promising to call back without doing so (7 times), promising that it would all be "fixed by tomorrow" (5 times), and promising to fix the problem without doing so (so many times I couldn't begin to count), your friend Tim is now...

...back to where he started a month and a half ago.

Anybody know where I can get a good deal on a Playstation 3? (Preferably somewhere where if anything goes wrong I can punch someone in the face.)

-T

The Costco Story

2009-06-09T22:29:00.000-07:00

A fun lesson in customer service for you:

But first, a little bit of history: Despite the fact that I used to play video games professionally for Activision, I am not much of a gamer. I received my first Nintendo second hand from my grandma after she got tired of it and bought a SuperNintendo. I'm not kidding. I've never had any money to begin with, and I don't like spending money I don't have on something I don't have time to get good at. But what I DO like is keeping in touch with my friends. Buying the same system that my friends have lets me do that. And my friends are into the expensive crap.

I bought a Sony Playstation 3 from Costco.com somewhere around the end of April. I don't even own a TV, and I bought this thing using my credit card and my friend Adrian's membership number. About a week later, it arrives at my doorstep. But, as previously mentioned, I don't own a tv. So I take it to my boss's house. (I cannot recommend transporting a PS3 on a motorcycle.) I go through all the trouble of hooking the thing up only to find out that it only half does what it's supposed to. This was to be the first in a serious of disappointments.

I called up the Sony tech support line. Four hours later, I got a human being on the phone:

Him: Did you turn it off and then back on again?
Me: Yes in the four hours I spent listening to your elevator music, I found the time to turn it on and off a coupl'a times. I adjusted every setting on the thing and performed hard and soft wipes. I also learned Portuguese, but now I can only remember it in elevators for some reason.
Him: So, could you turn it off and then on one more time?
Me: Sigh.

I'll spare you the rest of his thorough evaluation and skip right to the part where he tells me that it's "broke". Now I'm not a scientist, but that sounds pretty bad to me. Since I've had the thing all of 15 seconds, he tells me that it's still under warranty. All I have to do is ship it out of pocket to Philadelphia, and wait 6 to 12 weeks to get it back, good as new. This sounded like a trick.

Having read Costco.com's return policy, I opted to exchange it at my local Costco store. But the only time Adrian could go with me was on Saturday. I don't know if you've ever been to Costco on Saturday, but they literally BAIT the store. They give away free samples (read: Power Bait) in an effort to jam as many people as possible into the warehouse for what I'm sure must have started out as a dare. The net result is something akin to a Tokyo subway car at rush hour:

So I wait in line at the customer service desk. God bless him, Adrian stayed with me the whole time. Finally, we get up to the front desk. I tell the agent about the defective item, and I ask to go get a new one. She says, "Sure, just grab another one and I'll do the exchange." This was a trick, too.

They didn't have the bundle that I bought (with an extra controller, a game, etc.), only the console. No big deal, I think to myself, I'll just exchange this console for the broken one and keep the bundle stuff.

No dice. The customer service rep tells me that she can't do exchanges for different products. At this point I'm eyeing the two IDENTICAL CONSOLE BOXES I'm requesting they switch out. I point that out. Again, no go. In Costco's eye, I was a criminal trying to swindle them.

Ok, whatever. I figure I'll just return the thing now and order another one online. It's time wasted, but I can wait another week for it to arrive. So I ask her to please put the money back on my card. For some reason, this all of a sudden becomes a huge hassle. She can't find the guy with the key on the right machine to do the thing. Then she wants to hand me a wad of cash.

Me: How am I supposed to buy something online with cash?
Her: [Blank stare.]
Me: Can you just please put the credit back on the card I bought it with?
Her: No.
Me: Why not?
Her: Mumble mumble mumble guy mumble key mumble wrong machine mumble.
Me: [Blank stare.]
Her: I can put it on a gift card!

Now if ever I have been presented with a trick, this was certainly one of those times. I don't know why I wasn't more on the ball about it. I guess I was tired and hungry and angry and Adrian was looking at me like "let's get the hell out of this store" and my mind wasn't quite right. So, knowing that I was just going to go home and order the exact same thing again, I accepted the gift card, and got the crap out of there.

I went home and ordered the exact thing that I had just returned, and sat back content in the knowledge that I would soon be blowing up nazi zombies with my friends back in Washington. But a week later, instead of a shiny new Playstation 3, I receive a shiny new email.

Email: Dear Tim. We have canceled your Costco.com order for absolutely no reason whatsoever!
Me: FU.

So I call up the Costco.com hotline. And then I learned another language while I waited on hold. Finally I got a hold of a human being.

Human Being: Hi, this is Jeff. How can I be of service?
Me: Hi, Jeff. I just got an email that says my Costco.com order was canceled.

He looks up my information.

Jeff: Yup, looks like it was canceled.
Me: Right, that's what I just told you. What I want to know is WHY it was canceled, which would hopefully lead us to getting it UN-canceled.
Jeff: Yeah, they don't really tell us anything. You should probably just re-order.
Me: So you can't tell me what went wrong?
Jeff: [silence]
Me: So what's to stop the next order from being canceled?
Jeff: [silence]
Me: Here's my other problem, Jeff. After I placed that second order, the gift card was empty, so I threw it away. Could you please just reinstate the order that got canceled for an unspecified reason?
Jeff: No.
Me: Well, thanks for your time, Jeff. I'm going to need to speak to someone that's not you.
Jeff: Ok.

And I got put on hold again while Jeff tracked down a manager. Learned another language by the time Douche Bag Manager picked up.

DBM: Hi, this is Douche Bag Manager. How can I be of service?

I explain the situation. Douche Bag Manager's solution? MAIL ME OUT ANOTHER CASH CARD.

Me: So let me get this straight. Instead of just mailing me a Playstation, you want to mail me a piece of plastic with a number on it, which will take a week to get here, so I can order the exact thing that I will have now ordered three times? Again, I ask you, why can't you just mail me the PS3?
DBM: Because I'm a huge douche and I need to be beaten with a rubber hose.
Me: Fair enough. Ok, new question: Instead of mailing me a card with numbers on it, can't you just tell me the numbers that would be on the card so I can order my PS3 right now?
DBM: Oh, that's a good idea! I'll email you the new card number.
Me: Douche Bag Manager, I don't trust you even a little bit. What is your full name and phone number, so I can be sure to harass the holy hell out of you when you don't follow through with what you've promised me?
DBM: Robert Knight from the Yakima Costco Call Center. (509) 454-1245.
Me: Thanks, Robert. I'll be sure to not publish this on the internet.

So, I start to settle into the idea that everything is once again right with the world. But oh no. They're just getting warmed up. A few days later, I still have not heard back from anyone. So, I called them back up. I'll skip the hold times, since I figure you've got the picture by now. Needless to say, I learned a lot of new languages.

Jeff: Hi, this is Jeff. How can I be of service?
Me: Huh. That's weird. I got you again. How many of you are there in that call center?
Jeff: About 40 on this floor.
Me: Ok... Listen, Jeff. I was supposed to get an email with a new gift card number on it. Haven't heard back.

He looks up my information.

Jeff: Looks like they mailed you out a cash card.
Me: Sigh. Really? Because I specifically asked them NOT to do that.
Jeff: Can't help you. I'm too retarded to live.
Me: You sure are, Jeff. So can you tell me when the card will get here?
Jeff: Looks like it hasn't left our warehouse yet.
Me: So the gift card that you sent... hasn't been sent yet? Then why don't you just... nevermind. Just transfer me to Douche Bag Manager.

DBM: Hi, this is Douche Bag Manager. How can I be of service?
Me: Hey Douche. Remember that email you were supposed to send?
DMB: No.
Me: Oh, right. Forgot who I was talking to. Well, maybe you remember that card that you WEREN'T going to send? Well, you're sending it.
DMB: Huh.
Me: Could you maybe stop that process, and just put the money back on my credit card so I don't have to wait even longer to get a piece of plastic with number on it instead of a Playstation?
DMB: Can't do. The card's already been sent.
Me: No it hasn't. Jeff just told me it hasn't left your warehouse yet.
DMB: Well as far as our system is concerned, it has.
Me: Wow. You are a huge douche.
DMB: Yup.

So last Friday, this card FINALLY arrives. It is now well over a month since I ordered my next generation video gaming system. Normally I do not put up with this kind of crap from a company. But the thought of gaming with my friends that I rarely get to see has given me hope. And hope is a dangerous thing. I pop online, scoot on over to Costco.com, and AGAIN place my order online. By this point, I've done it so often that Firefox has taken the liberty of filling out all the forms for me. Before I process the order, I do a quick balance check of the card:

ZERO.

I waited this entire time so they could mail me an empty gift card? Fantastic.

Jeff: Hi, this is Jeff. How can I be of service?
Me: Jeff. Buddy.
Jeff: Oh, hey Tim. What's going on?
Me: You guys mailed me an empty gift card.
Jeff: No we didn't.
Me: Yes, you really did.
Jeff: You're probably just not using it right.
Me: There's really not a whole lot of ways to use a gift card, Jeff.
Jeff: Well you're wrong. There's absolutely no way we sent you an empty gift card.
Me: You seem pretty sure, but...
Jeff: Did you activate it?
Me: I have to activate a GIFT CARD?!

I hang up with Jeff. A closer inspection of the card paperwork reveals that I do indeed need to activate the card to use it. I look at the number they have to activate it. It's available M-F, 7am to 6pm. I check my watch: 6:04pm on Friday. &*$*#%. I try it anyway, but it's definitely closed.

The next morning (Saturday) I call back the Costco.com hotline.

Jeff: Hi, this is Jeff. How can I be of service?
Me: Ok, seriously, Jeff. How many people are sitting next to you answering phones?
Jeff: About 75 today.

How do I keep getting this guy?! I explain to Jeff that I can't activate my card because the activation line is closed. He proceeds to tell me what a moron I am for not being able to use the 24 hour activation line.

JEFF is telling ME that I'M a moron. And he's using a patronizing tone. Ouch.

We go around and around until he finally figures out that he, AS A COSTCO EMPLOYEE, has access to numbers that I don't have / wasn't given with my (2nd) gift card. I get that number from him, and call to activate the card. It's an automated system, and it wants me to enter everything about my life through a telephone keypad. Not just my card number, birthdate, address, social security number, zip code, name of my dog, first girlfriend, etc, etc, etc. I get to the end of this colonoscopy, and it says, "I'm sorry. That card is not valid." and hangs up. I try it 4 more times (each one takes about 20 minutes).

At this point, I am DONE. I call back up the Costco.com line (speed dial 1). Guess who answers? (It was Jeff.) I tell him that I'm going to need a refund. Jeff tells me that he can't give me a refund. They have to do it in-store. So I head to my "closest" Costco store in Venice Beach (on a Saturday). Learned several more languages in line. Once I got to the front, I explained the situation, and said that after all of this, I just wanted my money back.

Normal Costco Employee: Sure, no problem.
Me: [blank stare]... I'm sorry... What?
Normal Costco Employee: It's not a problem at all.
Me: Are you sure? They were making a big deal about the card not being "activated".
Normal Costco Employee: Doesn't matter. As long as they put money on the card, I can look up your account history and give you a refund. I'm sorry about all this.
Me: [hissing and shaking a stick]

She takes gift card #2 and disappears for a while. A long-ass while. When she comes back, she hands me back that f***ing plastic card.

Normal Costco Employee: There's no money on this card.
Me: Sigh.

I am losing my mind. I pick up the phone again.

Jeff: Hi, this is--
Me: Jeff! My main man. Jeff. Jeffy. Jeffy Lube. The Jeff-ster. Jeff.
Jeff: Uh oh.
Me: So Jeff... Remember how you told me that there was NO WAY you guys sent me an empty gift card? Remember that? I feel that I've been pretty patient with you guys. Tolerated far more than any reasonable human being should have to. I need you to fix this. NOW.
Jeff: I'll be right back.

And then I got put on hold. Now I don't know what "be right back" means to you, but I don't think 53 minutes qualifies. After waiting outside the store for 20 minutes listening to elevator music, I popped in my headphones, got on my motorcycle and drove home. From Venice Beach to Beverly Hills, with elevator music in my ears. I was 10 steps from my door when Jeff comes back on the line.

Jeff: Still there?
Me: I think maybe we need to have a little chat about what "be right back" entails, Jeff.
Jeff: Yeah, that took a little longer than I expected.
Me: What is wrong with you, Jeff?
Jeff: Huh?
Me: Nevermind. Please tell me you fixed it.
Jeff: Well... no.
Me: Sigh.
Jeff: No one's really here right now to help you until Monday.
Me: Do you think you can write down what we've talked about so far today, Jeff? Please ask someone who can fix this to call me back on Monday.
Jeff: Absolutely. I feel really bad about all this, man. You've been trying to get this order done for like a WEEK, huh?
Me: Sigh.

Wow. Just... wow. I cannot imagine running a business with the level of incompetence that I have witnessed over the last several weeks. It boggles the mind a little bit. It's not just Jeff AT ALL. It's training. All his supervisors. A general attitude that people just don't matter. An anonymous person on the phone is so easy to dismiss. Take a wild guess if I got a call from Costco on Monday.

Not so much.

For the past two days, I have been calling every hour, leaving messages with Robert Knight, his boss, his boss's boss, talking with Jeff, pleading with what seems like every call center employee and manager in the nation. I don't want to be a dick, but this is beyond ridiculous. No one can give me a straight answer, and no one seems to have the ability to fix the problem. And it's always the most bizarre excuses why no one can help me:

-"Our system doesn't give refunds."
-"It's a Homeland Security issue."
-"We're not allowed to talk to them."
-"The office that can help you is closed."
-"My manager is on the roof."

I wish I was making this stuff up! As of this moment, it has been 1 month, 5 days, 21 hours and 44 minutes since my purchase. I have no Playstation 3, no $560, and nothing to show for my efforts thus far. I'm exhausted and down, but not out.

So, if you've been stirred to action by my humble tale and you feel so inclined, kindly head on over to Costco.com and leave some feedback about what you think of their customer service and how they've treated your friend Tim. Maybe you guys can light a fire under them.

Again, just so I'm clear, I have no problem with Costco stores; I've never had a bad experience there. It is only Costco.com that seriously needs to rethink the way they treat people (read: me).

Be Lucky,

Tim

Project Gutenberg

2009-05-14T12:12:00.000-07:00

Has anyone heard of Project Gutenberg? I just found out that, among other things, my favorite book as a kid is free for the world:

It's Like This, Cat

-T

No Place Like London

2009-04-08T01:22:00.001-07:00

-T

Out of Town

2009-04-04T19:32:00.000-07:00

I'm headed out soon, taking my first trip overseas. I may be out of touch for the next several days, since I don't know what kind of internet/email access I'll have, and I definitely won't have phone service.

So far on the docket: London, Stratford, and Paris.

I'm just going to take it real easy for a while. I've been running myself ragged lately, so this will be a much needed respite. If you want a postcard from one of those places, make sure I have your address before I leave on Monday.

-T

Homeland at the Phoenix Film Festival

2009-04-02T16:34:00.000-07:00

Homeland plays the Phoenix Film Festival this weekend! Anyone in Arizona, this is your chance to see our film. It plays in the Features Competition at the Harkins Scottsdale / 101 Theater.

11:50 AM, Friday the 3rd
6:00 PM, Saturday the 4th
11:30 AM, Sunday the 5th

For tickets, go to:
http://www.phoenixfilmfestival.org

-T

Very Good Day

2009-03-24T09:06:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, I did the ADR (voiceover) for The Resistance. ADR stands for Automatic Dialogue Replacement, and it is anything but automatic. I've done a couple of jobs where I have to match voice to a previously filmed performance, and it can be challenging. It's very technical, and there's not a lot of room for change. This gets further complicated by it being months later in a warm room, far removed from the circumstances that led to the original performance.

It's a slow process: you get about 2 seconds warning before you try to say a few words exactly the way you did when they filmed the original material, and then you sit in complete silence for several minutes while they discuss what you just did (while fear and paranoia that you are the worst actor on the planet creep in). You have to carry a modicum of patience, as it's easy to lose confidence in that kind of environment. But ultimately it's very rewarding when a director says those magic words: "We got it. Moving on."

In other news, the project that I've been working for months to complete just came through. It's been one of the most difficult and trying things I've ever done, and it's a complete game changer. One of the things that kept me going when I didn't think I had anything left to give is a quote by Orison Swett Marden:

Success is the child of drudgery and perseverance. It cannot be coaxed or bribed. Pay the price and it is yours.

Truer words were ne'er spoken.

-T

New Reel

2009-03-11T21:59:00.000-07:00

Updated reel. What do you guys think?

(Click the YouTube icon to see it larger. Don't forget to turn on HD.)

-T

Whine Up

2009-02-09T08:14:00.001-08:00

Friday night, I got to hang out with Kat Deluna briefly before her show. She was very charming and a consummate professional. I wonder if I'll ever get used to this stuff...

Sorry about the crappy cell phone picture, but I don't often get to be backstage with rockstars:

-T

The Resistance Trailer

2009-02-06T00:37:00.000-08:00

The new trailer for The Resistance (the pilot I shot late last year) is out! Check it out HERE.

There are quite a few shots of Yours Truly all up in there, too.

-T

Melt My Heart to Stone

2009-02-01T18:38:00.000-08:00

I've been listening to this woman, Adele London, lately. Felt like sharing:

-T

Inauguration Day

2009-01-21T18:53:00.000-08:00

There are moments which mark your life; moments when you realize nothing will ever be the same, and time is divided into two parts: before This and after This.
-John Hobbes.

September 11th, 2001 was a moment like that. January 20th, 2009 was another. History books will say that Barack Hussein Obama, the first African American President of the United States, was sworn in at the Capitol Building in front of a crowd of two million. Journalists will say the Oath of Office had to be repeated later because of word order. But years from now, when someone asks me about that day, I will say that I was there.

I was smack dab in the middle of that crowd, halfway between the Washington Monument and the Capitol. I watched history with my own two eyes. I felt the stinging cold on my nose, breathed in the smell of frozen grass on the Mall, watched the sun come up over the Smithsonian Castle.

Do you know what it feels like to want to hug two million people?

I cried some. A lot of people cried. I was excited. Hopeful. And I was afraid for the safety of the President Elect; all of us, really. I passed no security check. There were no metal detectors, no pat-downs. And I remember feeling as if someone had made a mistake. I worried how easy it would be to... who knows what. It made me remember that there are precious few that want to do others harm. We cannot run a society catering to the crazies. Democracy only survives when we do not let fear rule our actions.

And nothing bad happened. There was no terrorist attack, no disaster, not even especially long lines at the Port-O-Potties. There was pomp and prayers, songs and celebration. There was a terrible poet. Oaths were taken, and a parade marched down Pennsylvania Avenue.

Traffic flow was a huge problem, and the city was overwhelmed. But that was, I suppose, to be expected. At several points the crowd was boxed in on all sides, and that was really not cool.

While I was in Washington, I got to see a few friends that work in various senate offices. It was pretty incredible to hear some of the inside story of what's happening on The Hill, and then see it play out later that week on CNN.

I won't get into too much in terms of policy, but I will say that I am optimistic, and I hope this new term brings a new empathy and pragmatism to Washington.

-T

Vive la Résistance!

2008-12-07T21:57:00.000-08:00

Big day yesterday.

I woke up at 3:30am, after having not slept at all. The first day of filming The Resistance took place at Blue Cloud Movie Ranch, the same place they filmed Iron Man's middle eastern scenes, just down the street from Magic Mountain in Valencia, CA.

I left at 4, even though my call time was 6am. Google Maps told me that my drive could be anywhere from 45 minutes to 27 hours with traffic, so I decided to play it safe. I arrived in the pitch black at 5:15, with the earliest of the crew. The 2nd AD, Erin Egan, welcomed me and pointed me to the craft services truck. The truck is exactly like a magic lamp. You go up to the truck, rub the side of it and ask Felipe or Carlos for something... ANYTHING... and poof! it's on a plate for you. I had a bacon, egg and cheese burrito. It was at this moment that I knew it was going to be a good day.

After a lot of handshaking, I was off to wardrobe. They got me suited up, and I had a little bit of downtime while we waited for the sun to come up, so I went and met some more of the cast and crew. The Resistance is a post-apocalyptic war story, so props got a lot of cool toys. If you've never experienced the sight of an entire U-Haul's worth of guns being unloaded, I highly recommend it.

I headed back to the actor-trailer to wait, and Erin handed me a copy of the latest script changes. They change the color of the script's pages each time they make a major revision, so everybody knows instantly if the script they're holding is the latest. I have received close to a half-dozen script revisions this week. This latest one now replaced the "pink" version from the night before. But as I thumbed through the script I discovered my character was gone completely. They made it so that the story centered around just one of the citizens, instead of several of us. It was actually a really good writing move: it personalized the story around one character, streamlined the scene, and gave it an emotional hook. Kevin Pietila, Matt Ragghianti and Sarah Donohue really did their job. Even so, I have to admit I was pretty bummed. No actor wants to be written out of a scene. I wondered why they hadn't called to let me know that I wouldn't be needed.

Until I saw the updated cast list.

They had given me the new citizen part! I was happy just to be on set, but now I was getting to play the character that helps introduce the central conflict of the whole series! I could not have been more excited.

It was a loooooong day of shooting, but very satisfying on every level. Adrian Picardi, the director, is incredibly gifted. Can't say enough good things about that guy. Everyone kept commenting about how much he has accomplished "for someone so young". I think that's crap. Adrian IS only 21, but he's just talented. Pure and simple. Age has nothing to do with it. This is what he was born to do. He knows exactly what he's looking for, and he gives clear, precise direction to make it happen. And that's layered on top of enough technical skill that he doesn't have to think about it. In other words, when he's talking to Eric Ro, the director of photography (DP), he speaks DP. When he's talking to me, he speaks actor.

He also took the time to acknowledge the people there. On set, he's all business. But at lunch, I watched him make his way to every single person, check in to see how they were doing, and let them know they were appreciated. Not in a fake, smarmy way. Totally sincere. Sharp guy.

And I felt like I came through for him on set. Some of the shots were fairly intense, and I was worried about that fine line between being over the top and coming in under it. But Adrian seemed pleased. I don't want to give away too much, but after one especially tough take, Adrian said "cut" and everyone let out a sigh at the same time. 150 people were holding their breath. I have the best job on the planet.

Several cast and crew members came up to me later and said some really nice things. That was pretty neat. On stage, you can use the audience as a barometer for how you're doing. On film, sometimes it's difficult to tell how you're doing. You can feel great about a scene, but when you see it later, it's total crap. Other times you think something's going to be terrible, and it looks totally fine on camera. So it was nice to have that feedback.

It was kind of bizarre to have such an awesome crew. Usually there is at least one jerk, and he makes himself known right away. This was a relatively young crew, but nobody was That Guy. I mentioned that at lunch, and everyone agreed. Then I realized, "Oh wait. Maybe that means it's me." Everyone laughed. We then spent the remainder of the day passing around the "Douchebag of the Day" title whenever possible.

But I place the credit for the great crew attitude at the top of the food chain. From the director and our awesome producers, Eric Ro and Don Le. But especially our first and second assistant directors (ADs), Don Thompson and Erin Egan. ADs are not really assistants. They are in charge of the set. And with the amount of things that can (and do) go wrong, it's most people's worst nightmare. Those two ran production like a Swiss clock. I have never before seen two ADs as calm or professional in my life. And because of that, everyone stepped up and brought their A-Game.

So that was pretty much my day yesterday. They called, "That's a wrap" at about 5:30pm, and I drove the motorcycle home in the dark, exhausted and happy.

-T

The Resistance

2008-12-06T02:24:00.001-08:00

Shooting my first pilot today: The Resistance!

So, yeah. It's a pretty good day.

-T

Look to this day

2008-11-19T10:42:00.000-08:00

Look to this day, for it is life. The very life of life. In its brief course lay all the realities and verities of existence, the bliss of growth, the splendor of action, the glory of power. For yesterday is but a dream, and tomorrow is only a vision, but today, well lived, makes every yesterday a dream of happiness and every tomorrow a vision of hope.

-Sanskrit proverb

Congrats

2008-11-04T20:14:00.000-08:00

Congratulations to President-Elect Barack Obama.

-T

Googled

2008-10-28T16:39:00.000-07:00

Drawn on the main whiteboard at Google Headquarters by Yours Truly.

-T

Glide Action Blaze!

2008-10-17T11:26:00.000-07:00

Made the front page of Brevity TV!

-T

Dr. Horrible's Sing Along Blog: Evil League of Evil Application

2008-10-14T11:15:00.000-07:00

Enjoy!

-T

Dr. Horrible's Laundry

2008-10-13T18:14:00.000-07:00

My friend Jordan found the laundromat where they filmed Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog. How awesome is that?! (Unless Neil Patrick Harris is Eight feet tall, he's probably standing on an apple box.)

-T

National Suit Drive

2008-09-03T23:11:00.001-07:00

This is normally not the forum for this kind of thing, but I wanted to put it out there because it's a really easy way to do something to help people in a tangible way. For many unemployed men, a new suit is the first step toward a real chance. This month, Men's Warehouse is sponsoring the National Suit Drive, collecting gently used professional attire to benefit at-risk men and youth transitioning into the workforce. If you have a suit (or dress shirt, tie, etc.) that's just gathering dust in your closet, please think about using it to make a difference.

-T

Crystal

2008-08-21T01:35:00.000-07:00

The fragility of crystal is not a weakness, but a fineness.

-T

Google 411

2008-08-13T11:18:00.000-07:00

Ok, so Google has a new 411 service. It kind of rules:

-T

Best. Google Search. Ever.

2008-07-28T02:08:00.000-07:00

Do yourself a favor:

Go to Google's homepage. Type in "find Chuck Norris". Click "I'm Feeling Lucky".

-T

Changing the World

2008-07-16T11:14:00.000-07:00

The world is turning, oh Internet Friends. And every once in a while, it spins toward the better. And it is just such a turn for which I write to you today.

Joss Whedon, the creator of Firefly, Serenity, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Dollhouse, etc, has created something truly spectacular in Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along-Blog. Please check this site out if you have a moment. Not only is it very very funny, but what is happening with it is important for all of us.

It was born out of the latest labor unrest between the various creative unions (Writers Guild, Directors Guild, Screen Actors Guild, etc.) and the producers alliance (the money). Dr. Horrible is a shot across the bow to the evil corporate giants that have taken the power away from the people creating content and the people consuming it. How many times have shows you loved been cancelled? And is it really so much to ask that the person who created something that's making zillions of dollars be adequately compensated for it?

Creative-types have not been receiving fair compensation for their work for some time. And labor unions can't seem to get their act together to combat it. (Here's a hint: Corporations are not your friend, and they won't give away a penny to labor that they aren't forced to.) But now that the distribution channels are changing (YouTube, iTunes, Netflix, etc...) it is now possible for creatives to produce and distribute their own content. They don't need studio backing for equipment and financial investment.

Enter Joss Whedon. He created this three-part series on the cheap with his friends as an experiment to see how important studios really are in this brave new world. And it's great. I think he is on to something really big here.

Check it out; see for yourself:
www.DrHorrible.com

And whether or not it's your cup of tea, you have to appreciate a group of people getting together to change the system for the better. It has lasting implications, not just for Hollywood, but for everybody that feels trapped in a system bogged down by bureaucracy and unfair compensation. (This includes pretty much everyone in America right now.) This is the kind of stuff I would love to be a part of.

Make a difference doing the thing you love.

-T

Cricket Feet Showcase Promo

2008-07-06T20:59:00.000-07:00

This is the showcase I'll be performing in on Wednesday and Thursday. Kinda cool, huh?

-T

Tim's Calendar

2008-05-23T03:33:00.000-07:00

Come See Me in Seattle!

2008-05-03T09:47:00.000-07:00

Don't forget to join me tomorrow at the University of Washington in Hutchinson Hall, Room 211 at 1pm for a seminar about life as a working actor!

Hope to see you there!

-T

Need Your Vote

2008-04-28T10:38:00.000-07:00

Voting is now open at BrevityTV.com. Check 'em out, and vote for your candidate! (And if your candidate is me, I won't complain...)

-T

Stump Speech

2008-04-17T09:14:00.000-07:00

Just made the homepage on BrevityTV.com.

-T

BrevityTV.com

2008-04-15T08:59:00.000-07:00

BrevityTV.com has officially launched!

-T

Family Dinner

2008-04-10T08:16:00.000-07:00

I drive a Dodge Stratus!

-T

April Update

2008-04-06T13:21:00.000-07:00

My apologies for the lack of posting lately. I've been more than a little bit pressed for time these past few weeks, and unfortunately blogging about life tends to take a backseat to living it.

I've been out of town for the last few weeks on a job that took me from Boston to New York to Philadelphia to Washington DC and back again. It was an absolute blast, but left me completely exhausted. It's good to be back.

Tonight I'm filming a project under the artful direction of Cat Youell. I'm taking a crack at one of the most beloved film characters of all time, George Bailey. Big moment for me to get a chance to follow in the footsteps of the great James Stewart. I keep thinking: "...We little men live where heroes once walked the inviolate earth"

I'm also doing some last-minute prep work for a class I'm teaching at UW. If you're in the Seattle area on May 4th, please come to my seminar about the life of a working actor. Bring questions, marketing materials, or just yourself. I'll post more details soon, but if you're interested, you can find out more here.

-T

Mali Finn

2008-03-07T10:37:00.000-08:00

-T

Confessions of a Superhero

2008-03-05T20:31:00.000-08:00

Just finished watching "Confessions of a Superhero", a true-documentary (that is: not a Michael Moore documentary) about some of the people that dress up as characters and pose for pictures with tourists. It's a solid film, and I have nothing but great things to say about it. But the thing that stuck out at me the most was the still photography scattered throughout the film. I had to share some of them here:

They are credited in the film to Matt Ogens, Charlie Gruet, and Joseph Viles. I have never seen anything that captures Hollywood as perfectly, on every level, as these images. Just incredible.

-T

Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance

2008-03-03T17:11:00.000-08:00

Spent a little time working on the bike this weekend. In addition to some basic tune-up stuff, I took down the windshield for the summer:

And I finally replaced that torn seat cover:

With a new one (Thanks Dad!):

Ready for summer.

-T

Click to Call Me

2008-03-01T16:36:00.001-08:00

If you need to get in touch with me, just click the above button and Grand Central will take care of the rest. Slick.

-T

Today has been

2008-02-25T23:14:00.000-08:00

a tremendously solid day.

-T

Both Sides Now

2008-02-20T11:51:00.000-08:00

I'm a little bummed that we won't be able to see the lunar eclipse in California because of the cloud cover. On the other hand, I did get to see both sides of these particular clouds, flying in last night. I think they are nimbostratus, if I recall... I really don't know clouds at all. (Joni Mitchell is going to come over here and slap me.)

Needless to say, I'm back from New York. Had a fantastic time, and I got to meet some pretty incredible people. Quick shoutout to my new UK friends, especially J.B. More to come soon. Exciting things are on the horizon now that the Writer's Strike is over. Congratulations to the WGA for hanging in there.

-T

DGA Awards

2008-01-30T23:47:00.000-08:00

I was lucky enough to be at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza last weekend. And guess who was hosting the DGA Awards? My buddy, Carl Reiner. By far, the coolest cat in showbiz.

Congratulations to Joel and Ethan Coen, along with all the nominees and winners from Saturday's Guild Awards.

-T

Bob Fraser is not too busy to drop a line

2008-01-25T14:15:00.000-08:00

Bob Fraser wrote me back! How cool is THAT?!

-T

Dear Tim,

Thanks so much for taking the time to write to me with such nice comments. I really do appreciate hearing from you.

I'm very interested in hearing your reactions once you've completed the course. So, don't forget to write to me when you do.

Having a short memory for the 'failing' part is a crucial attitude. Keep it up - and realize that all the biggest successes in life have that precise mindset.

Have a splendid weekend and, as always ...

Much Success,

Bob

Old Friends and Fame

2008-01-17T11:41:00.000-08:00

Hung out with a very excellent old friend this morning. He was in town for a couple of days, so we hit the Promenade in Santa Monica. There is nothing like seeing someone you haven't seen in the better part of a decade and picking up the conversation right where you left off. Awesome.

In other news, I'm famous! I am an advertisement for headshots! Cool!

-T

Critics Choice Awards

2008-01-08T15:06:00.000-08:00

It's officially Award Season here in Los Angeles. On the 7th, I was lucky enough to score some tickets to the Critics Choice Awards through a contact at Universal. And even though I felt like a goon, I took a bunch of pictures so I could show you guys.

Anyway, here they are:

-T

Fan Club

2007-12-21T19:40:00.001-08:00

Hi Chelsea and Kari! Co-founders of my fanclub!

-T

Today...

2007-12-11T22:16:00.000-08:00

...miracles abound.

-T

A New Look

2007-12-06T10:22:00.000-08:00

Got some brand new headshots yesterday morning, courtesy of Character Photography, one of our November Cricket Feet sponsors:

I would love any and all feedback on these. Also, I posted some outtakes from the shoot here:

-T

Meet Orion

2007-12-03T20:42:00.000-08:00

I've been keeping a lid on it for a few days now, but I have a very big announcement to make:

Mr. Orion Barnes of Rogers Orion Talent Agency will be taking the reigns as my theatrical agent. He'll be representing me for film, television and theatre projects. We met through the Cricket Feet Showcase, and he comes highly recommended. Believe me when I say that I did my homework in making this decision. I could not be more excited to have him on my team.

-T

Tim on VCN

2007-11-24T12:00:00.000-08:00

It's official! I just got word that Victor, Jim, and I have been confirmed to have our Cricket Feet scene filmed for VCN, an extension of Breakdown Services, Ltd. This is a huge opportunity to reach industry figures on a massive scale, at their homes and in their offices.

It's a very big deal. A huge thank you to Bonnie Gillespie and Gary Marsh for making all of this happen.

-T

Pre-Thanksgiving Thanks

2007-11-21T00:47:00.000-08:00

I feel like every other post these days is me thanking somebody for something. But honestly, with Thanksgiving just around the corner, I have much to be thankful for. I'm certain that there are people out there more deserving of all that is happening for me right now... But you'd be hard-pressed to find someone more grateful.

I just found out that I was cast in the 'possum production (which will go live on January 14th). A lot of people bent over backward to get me seen for that, and it's just about the funniest script I've ever read. I just got word from James that Transcontinental is getting pretty close. And without giving away too much, I've been having some really great representation meetings. I'm trying to be business savvy and smart about these decisions, but it takes most of my energy to not jump up and down on their office furniture.

It's all very surreal; like I'm passing through an archway where all these great actors before me have signed their name, and they've left me a space to do the same. "You're on the right track." "Keep coming." "Not much farther now."

Powerful stuff.

So thank you to those of you who have been opening doors for me lately. And especially thank you to those of you who keeping praying for me. Seems to be working.

-T

Being Upstaged

2007-11-18T23:23:00.001-08:00

I had an audition tonight. I had the last audition slot of the night, because I needed to be at a fundraiser for the Exceptional Children's Foundation until 9pm. So I roll into the theatre at about 9:15. But I can't find anyone. All the lights are on, the doors are unlocked. But there's no one to be found.

"Hello?"

I hear a shuffling from the main stage. I went back down there to find the entire production team (of 8 people) huddled in one corner of the stage, clearly scared out of their minds.

"What's going on, guys?"

"There's a 'possum in here."

Sure enough, a small opposum was cowering behind a couch on the other side of the room. I looked at the frightened marsupial. I looked at the frightened production team. I looked back at the opossum. (Suddenly world politics didn't seem all that complicated anymore.)

I helped shoo the poor thing out the theatre door. That settled, I went ahead with my audition. They thanked me for coming.

I heart this town.

-T

Gratitude

2007-11-09T02:11:00.000-08:00

Tonight, I have a long list of things and people for which I am thankful. I have never worked with such a talented group of professionals (who also happen to be the 40 nicest human beings on the planet). I am overjoyed just to have been a part of this November cast of the Cricket Feet Showcase.

But, as if that wasn't enough... Over the course of the showcase, the directors, agents, casting directors, and producers in attendance voted on their favorite scene. We got the results tonight after the final performance. And out of all those amazing scenes, ours was voted as the industry favorite. How cool is that?!

"The Interview," written by Aaron Pruner was directed by Annie Wood and stars Victor Fischbarg, Jim Gleason, and myself. It was produced by Bonnie Gillespie and Eitan Loewenstein under the Cricket Feet banner. I would like to extend a gigantic thank you to the above-mentioned people, and also Keith Johnson, who worked tirelessly to make sure the show ran smoothly.

And thank you to those of you who came out and supported us. Your response was incredible, and I look forward to following up with each of you very soon.

-T

PS Please support the Writers Guild of America in their struggle for a fair and reasonable deal. I firmly believe they are doing the right thing by striking in order to protect each other in the long term. As much as I would love the strike to end (so I can act in more stuff), I support them holding out as long as is necessary.

Welcome

2007-11-08T11:21:00.000-08:00

I just wanted to say hi to all of you who may be visiting for the first time. Judging by the bandwidth spike at TimAstor.com and the 2,483% jump on IMDb.com, it seems there are a few new faces out there.

So, welcome! Feel free to take a look around. And don't forget to check out the other talented cast members of the November Cricket Feet Showcase.

-T

Long Day Tomorrow

2007-11-03T23:58:00.000-07:00

Tech for the Cricket Feet Showcase starts tomorrow morning!

Then an audition at 9pm (or as soon as I can get there after tech).

-T

Linkage

2007-11-02T14:29:00.000-07:00

Some of you have asked about links and where to find certain things, so I thought I'd put all of them in one place:

Website:
TimAstor.com

YouTube Channel:
YouTube.com/user/AstorTim

Blog:
TimAstor.Blogspot.com

MySpace:
MySpace.com/TimAstor

FaceBook:
Facebook.com/srch.php?nm=Tim+Astor

Internet Movie Database:
IMDb.com/name/nm2374954/

Breakdown Express / Actors Access:
Resumes.Actorsaccess.com/TimAstor

Now Casting:
p_7a6224.NowCasting.com

LA Casting:
LACasting.com/TimAstor

-T

Is That What You Want?

2007-10-13T22:12:00.000-07:00

Just got back from the "Is That What You Want?" shoot. I have to say, it went really well. What an amazing group of people I got to work with today. Talented, dedicated, and all with amazing attitudes. It was our first attempt at shooting (together), and it seems like we pulled it off nicely. We still need to edit and do all the post-production stuff, but I will happily share it with everyone when it is available. I too am anxious to see how it turns out.

-T

RSVP for the Cricket Feet Showcase

2007-10-11T20:28:00.000-07:00

As many of you have heard, I managed to snag a spot in the upcoming Cricket Feet Showcase. Several of you have asked about getting tickets. Here's how it's done:

INDUSTRY:

1. The easiest way to RSVP is to go to the RSVP Website at http://cricketfeetshowcase.com/rsvp.html

2. If you hate the impersonal nature of the web-based RSVP, just call 310.856.9855 and provide the following information:
* name
* job title
* company
* number in your party
* night you'll be attending (11/6, 11/7, or 11/8; 8pm sharp)
* phone number in case we need to tell you we're at standing room only

IF YOU DO NOT HEAR BACK FROM US, your INDUSTRY reservation is confirmed. Please note that the dedicated reservations line is for industry only. Industry = someone who can lead (directly) to a job for the showcase cast. That means a director, producer, casting staff, agent, manager, or other VERIFIABLE professional in the industry.

3. Another option is shooting all of that same info to RSVP@cricketfeet.com, but if you're gonna do that, you might as well use the form.

NON-INDUSTRY:

You are invited to the PREVIEW performance. This is the one we'll do on Sunday, 11/4 at 7:30pm(-ish). The ONLY WAY to RSVP for the PREVIEW performance is via email to rsvp@cricketfeet.com with the
following info:
* name
* number in party
* that you were invited by me

That's it! Hope to see you there!

-T

New Reel

2007-10-01T06:43:00.000-07:00

Just finished editing a new reel.

-T

So... What are you up to?

2007-09-25T00:24:00.000-07:00

There's a question I often get asked. The "Hey, what's going on with you out there in LA?" question. And the answer should be simple: I'm building an acting career. But doing that is anything but simple.

The expectation of the asker of this question is that I should be able to show them something tangible to prove that I'm making that happen. And invariably, I struggle to explain how big of deal it is to get into the Cricket Feet Showcase, or when half a dozen crew members from a student film I was in individually pull you aside to compliment a performance... all while I can hear the person on the other line get more and more disappointed at these banalities.

As Jenna Fischer put it ,

It will be hard to explain your first milestones to friends and family back home. They are waiting to see you on TV or the big screen. It is hard to explain how a second callback for a job you didn't land was the highlight of your month and a very valid reason to celebrate.

I know you guys believe in me and cannot fathom why Hollywood hasn't been tripping over itself to put my handprints in front of Grauman's Chinese Theater from the moment of my arrival. You've seen me get to do a lot of pretty cool things in a relatively short amount of time, so it's natural to wonder what the holdup is. I am so glad each of you are in my life, and I can't imagine what I would do without your support. I know you don't want to see me struggle. But please understand: I am enjoying the struggle. It's like Tom Hanks said in A League of Their Own,

It's supposed to be hard. If it wasn't hard, everyone would do it. The hard is what makes it great.

It's like this, cat: My job is auditioning and getting auditions. Sometimes, I get to do some pretty amazing stuff, but for the most part, my daily grind isn't all that glamorous. When you ask "What's up?" I might say, "Nothing much." This doesn't mean you need to feel sorry for me. It just means I have nothing exciting to report (besides my everyday submissions, auditioning, classes, research, marketing, showcasing, sketch-writing, rehearsing, eating, breathing, and sleeping). Although I'm not out there saving the world like some people, I am doing extremely well. Don't worry if you don't see me in every movie trailer just yet.

But while you're waiting... Please do me a favor and read Bonnie Gillespie's article called The Other Costs of Acting. Bonnie is pretty amazing. In addition to writing a weekly column called The Actors Voice, she is also the "Cruise Director" for the Cricket Feet Showcase, a well-respected casting director, and an incredibly kind and generous human being. She touches on this subject perfectly and says in a few paragraphs what would take me weeks to try to get at. I have nothing but great things to say about her, but I'll talk more about her in a future post about the Showcase.

Anyway, thanks for listening. And please don't stop asking questions! I love to hear from you guys, and I'm always happy to answer anything you might wonder about this business of show.

-T

Oscar Tickets

2007-09-23T01:49:00.000-07:00

For anyone interested in bleacher seats for the Oscars:

http://www.oscars.org/bleachers/

-T

Bob Got Shot

2007-08-27T15:47:00.000-07:00

Bob Got Shot! Now on You Tube, Myspace, and Picasa... Take your pick!

-T

No Duh

2007-08-22T10:44:00.000-07:00

Saw a No Doubt tribute band called No Duh, thanks to my friend Adrian last night at Whiskey a Go Go. They were actually pretty fun. The lead singer especially put on a really great show.

-T

One Firefly Pilot

2007-08-17T23:55:00.000-07:00

Talked to Alan Tudyk today. I love it when you meet people you admire, and they are even cooler than you thought they'd be.

-T

Which Firefly Character Are You?

2007-08-10T01:30:00.000-07:00

Which Firefly character are you?

You are Captain Malcolm Reynolds, aka. Mal or Captain Tightpants. You saw most of your men die in a war you lost and now you seek solitude with a small crew that you are fiercely devoted to. You have no problems being naked.
Take this quiz!

Quizilla |
Join

| Make A Quiz | More Quizzes | Grab Code

Child Actors

2007-06-26T21:27:00.000-07:00

I finally figured out why children who grow up as actors become so screwed up later in life: Child actors have no survival skills.

Case in point: I was at an audition today. There were three roles being cast: a salesman, a 5-year-old, and her father. They took three of us in at a time. I was up for the salesman. The scene is set up so that I have a conversation with the little girl, then she goes and talks to her "dad". We do it once, and the director says, "Y'know... I think this scene would work better if 'Dad' picked you up."

At this point I take a look at the actor who is up for this 'Dad' role. He was pretty gross. I wouldn't touch the dude with a ten foot pole, and I am certain they don't allow him near playgrounds in this state. I then look to the little girl, and I can see the cogs turning in her 5-year-old brain. She then turns to Skeezy McGrossness and jumps into his arms.

So, so wrong.

-T

Wow.

2007-06-21T23:06:00.000-07:00

Um... ok. Has anyone else tried the new Street View function on Google Maps? Might wanna check that out.

Wow.

This is the block I used to live on in New York.

-T

Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip

2007-06-10T22:56:00.000-07:00

You guys know that I don't plug TV all that often, but Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip is back on NBC. It got pulled mid-season because of low ratings, but NBC executives, in their wisdom, are giving it one more shot to find its audience. But it's still in danger of ending up like Firefly [*sniff*].

It is, without a doubt, my favorite show. The writing and the acting are the best that I have ever seen on a first season show. It's on Thursdays at 10pm (NBC) or you can watch the latest episodes online, which is what I usually do (since I don't own a TV). Check it out. Tell me what you think.

-T

ICON Awards

2007-06-01T19:33:00.000-07:00

Last night I lent a hand to UCLA's Center for Healthy Aging, which was a pretty good time. Rubbed elbows with quite a few people of note (Larry King, Roma Downey, Della Reese, and Buzz Aldrin, to name a few). Had a great time. Raised a bunch of money for a good cause.

-T

Transcontinental Outdoor Stills

2007-05-14T00:34:00.000-07:00

Three new production stills are up online!

-T

Done and Done

2007-05-07T23:10:00.000-07:00

After a whirlwind 10 days, I am now officially wrapped on Transcontinental and back in Los Angeles. If this movie turns out to be half as cool as I think it's going to be, I'll be bouncing off the walls.

Huge ups to the cast and crew, who worked their butts off to make something pretty special. Watch for production stills soon...

-T

Time Being Relative

2007-04-23T17:52:00.000-07:00

I just got a random call from a director in Chicago. He offered me a part on a show that shoots this weekend. I had to turn it down, since I'm shooting Transcontinental for the next week and a half. But here's the thing: I auditioned for that role in SEPTEMBER...

-T

Resevoir Hot Fuzz of the Dead

2007-04-22T11:14:00.000-07:00

Friday night, a friend and I were looking for something fun to do. We decided to see a movie, and the two choices we agreed on were Meet the Robinsons and Hot Fuzz. The decision was clinched by the fact that Hot Fuzz was playing at Arclight, the greatest movie theater in the world. So I head down Sunset in the pouring rain on a motorcycle. The new jacket works well, but it's never fun riding in the rain in LA.

I saddled up to the desk and ask for two tickets. The ticket agent explains that all she has are front row seats left. I said that will be just fine. (Anywhere else, that's a little close, but it's Arclight, so it's not an exaggeration to say that there is not a bad seat in the house.) My friend and I head in, sit down, and enjoy an insanely funny movie by the guys that did Shawn of the Dead. The credits started to role, and one of the Arclight staff came out and said that everyone wishing to participate in the Q & A session should remain in their seats.

We remained in our seats.

It was at this point that things got a little bit surreal. Quentin Tarantino walked out and introduced himself. He then introduced the stars of the movie,Simon Pegg and Nick Frost. Then they brought out the director, Edgar Wright. Mind you, we're in the front row, so all of these people are about 10 feet from us.

They answered questions, made jokes, gave away free stuff. They were great. They are all so insanely quick and witty. Every single one of them. It was so bizarre to be there, having just gone in to see a movie. Tarantino talks a million miles a minute and he uses obscure people's names as verbs. I'm sitting there nodding and smiling, not understanding a word he said. After the official Q & A session, they hung out and talked with people as they filed out of the theater.

I can't say enough about all four of those guys. That they took the time to do that, put up with dumb questions in stride from overly-excited audience members. The thing that I was most struck with was that each of them had such a deep passion and respect for movies. When you see so much garbage churned out by a jaded Hollywood system, it was really nice to see a team who cares about their work. And at the same time, one that can have that much fun with it.

"By the power of Greyskull!"

-T

Two Words: Roller. Derby.

2007-04-15T11:44:00.000-07:00

Last night, I took part in one of the greatest experiences that LA has to offer. It wasn't the Chinese Theatre or the Walk of Fame. Not the Hollywood sign or a Dodgers Game. Oh no. I'm talking about VIP tickets for the LA Derby Dolls, where the Tough Cookies thoroughly trounced the previously undefeated Fight Crew.

If you have never been to a roller derby event, stop reading right now and go get yourself a ticket. Sell your first born if you have to. It's one of those things where it's still fairly underground and you kind of have to know somebody. (But now you do!) Costumed kitsch, charity auctions, the best audience on the planet, and (of course) massive amounts of girl-on-girl mayhem. There is no finer cultural experience to be found anywhere.

-T

Multi-Touch Display

2007-04-13T12:04:00.001-07:00

This is insane...

-T

On the Road

2007-04-08T16:01:00.000-07:00

Happy Easter, everyone!

There is so much to update you guys on, and I'm sorry that I don't have time to do it right now. Suffice to say that life has been bending in my direction for the past few weeks, and I am overwhelmed with gratitude. My best bud / hetero-lifemate drove all the way from Eastern Washington to visit me, and we've been road-tripping it all over the place.

Met some amazing people last night in the Arizona desert. If you're out there, shout-outs to Sarah, Will, Jen and the birthday girl Robyn for the best party I have ever been to. Keep in touch!

-T

The Hidden Wick of My Overwhelmed Instinct

2007-03-22T16:57:00.000-07:00

There's this myth that if you're a good actor, you're a good auditioner. But it's just not true. I've been taking class at Lesly Kahn's recently, and she posted this letter on her website. Lesly defines the struggle so beautifully here, and I had to share it. The first note was written by an actor wrestling with the audition process, but this is great stuff for ANYONE who has ever struggled under pressure.

-T

-----------------------------
LETTERS TO LESLY KAHN

Dear [friend],
Lesly is amazing. What she sees and how deep she goes makes you wonder, "Huh, I still have so, so very far to go in my understanding of material and character."
Love,
[So Far]

Dear [So Far],
You are so nice and so wrong. The fact that I will NEVER have to go on the audition or perform the role puts me in the enviable position of being able to look at the material far more objectively than can the actor who has to go DO it -- like today. It's why I love coaching so much. I'm free to listen to my instincts.

As an actor, though, I was always so WORRIED --

Would they LIKE me?
Was I doing it RIGHT?
Was I GOOD?
Was I PRETTY enough?
Would they HIRE me?
Could I pay my RENT?
Would I ever work AGAIN?

The screaming, worried voices in my head were so loud and unrelenting, they overwhelmed any instinct I mighta had about the material. True, my prior experience, basic ability, decent instincts and the information that had been provided all HELPED, and enabled some decent acting to sneak through the barrage of hideous insecurity, but I rarely was able to let go of the noise in my head long enough to achieve anything near my potential. Which pissed me OFF.

When I work with an actor like YOU, though, you are PAYING me to allow MY relatively UNFETTERED instinct to be a fire that can light the HIDDEN wick of YOUR OVERWHELMED instinct. It's like your instinct (your wick -- forgive the sexual nature of the metaphor), is all wet -- drowning in a sea of noisy, COMPLETELY VALID insecurity. I wave my fire around you and your wick until the heat makes all the liquid (noise) evaporate. As the water dries up, you finally start to hear both what I'm saying AND your own instinct ('cuz you're dry), you get turned on by both, and, in SPITE of yourself, now that you're DRY, your intuition ignites! You consume my fire with your fire and start a whole NEW FABULOUS fire of your own.

Sexy, huh?

I guess what I'm saying is to not give yourself a hard time about what you perceive as an inability to do what I do. WE DO DIFFERENT THINGS! I'm no more talented than you are. I'm simply NEVER gonna be JUDGED as you will be. (I quit acting -- so I've made SURE of it.) It is far less DANGEROUS for me to make choices than it is for YOU to do so.

By coming to me, you're being smart. You KNOW you're not achieving your potential because you know there's unnecessary shit in your way. You're just hiring me to be your own personal garbage collector -- to remove the shit that's in your way.

Wave my fire over your water 'til it's gone.

New metaphor: you wanna win a marathon, but you have an in-grown toenail -- painful and infected (and kinda gross). You have two choices:

1. berate yourself for having the in-grown toenail, run the race poorly because you’re in pain and lose, or
2. go to the foot doctor, have the toenail fixed, let it heal, run the race and win!

It wouldn't be smart to run on a sick toe anymore than it would be smart to audition on a sick instinct. Go to the doctor, get it fixed, let it heal and go win the freakin' race, baby! You deserve it.

Love,

Lesly Kahn

10 Seconds to Save a Life

2007-03-19T08:39:00.000-07:00

The Breast Cancer site is having trouble getting enough people to click on their site daily to meet their quota of donating one free mammogram a day to an underprivileged woman. It takes less than a minute to go to their site and click on "donating a mammogram" for free (pink window in the middle). This doesn't cost you a thing. Their corporate sponsors/advertisers use the number of daily visits to donate mammogram in exchange for advertising. Pass it along to people you know.

www.thebreastcancersite.com

-T

Starship Trooper

2007-03-14T23:08:00.000-07:00

Had a nice chat with Denise Richards today. I was making some script notes for an upcoming audition, when she asked if she could sit down across from me. I said, "Of course," without really looking up. I sat there with her for ten minutes before I looked up and realized it was her. Then she asked me what I was working on, and we chatted it up for a bit until I had to run. Total sweetheart.

-T

Updates

2007-03-06T21:20:00.000-08:00

So... New updates. Just got a bunch of stills in from Chris Bennion, who did the production stills for Black Coffee at A.C.T. I tacked them up under "Media" on the website.

Kev got some crappy news today. Keep him in your prayers.

-T

International Dialects of English Archive

2007-02-18T18:46:00.000-08:00

http://web.ku.edu/idea/

Recordings of English language dialects from all over the world. An invaluable resource for any actor.

-T

Music Video

2007-01-20T19:02:00.000-08:00

Just got back from the video shoot with A Day to Remember ("The Plot to Bomb the Panhandle"). Their new CD comes out on Tuesday. "The Plot..." will be on MTV2 sometime in the next few days. The guys are insanely cool, and really down to earth.

Surprisingly, so is Ron Jeremy.

-T

Kind of funny

2007-01-16T18:05:00.000-08:00

Saw this bumper sticker. Had to post it. It says "Who Would Jesus Bomb?"

-T

Sarcasm

2007-01-14T14:27:00.000-08:00

Made it back to LA. Safe and sound.

-T

Best Day

2007-01-08T08:31:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was arguably one of the best days of my life. My last full day in Spokane was definitely one for the books.

I woke up early only to find out that I could sleep in for an extra couple of hours. It was as good a day of filming as I've ever had. Everything went right. The day turned out to be much warmer than expected. The Irish step went better than I could have hoped. We were rolling on the floor laughing at each other's stories, including my Air Force adjudication story. We wrapped the caboose shots with no injuries and everyone feeling pretty positive about their piece of the puzzle.

After wrapping, I briefly walked through the gun show / flea market adjacent to the shoot. If you've never been to a gun show, I highly recommend it. Those guys are the craziest coots on God's green earth. Do I really need another dozen assault rifles? You can never have enough tactical holsters! One guy kept trying to sell me a surface to air gun... as if the air force was coming after my good linen. I loves me the gun show.

Had dinner with the guys: Kev, Joel, and Doc. We just sat around talking and making fun of stuff, everything you can't do over the phone. Got a great message from Zana, my online hombre. Then Kevin and I played video games until the wee hours of the morning. I went to sleep, listening to great music and rehashing old memories. I can't remember being this happy in a long time.

Okay, Tri-Cities today, quick visit to (Great!) Grandma's house, then back to LA tomorrow. All my best to everybody, cast, crew, friends and family, in the Washington area. I'll miss you guys. It's just not quite the same over phone and email.

-T

Irish Step

2007-01-05T16:57:00.000-08:00

If you'd like to see how the Irish step from Transcontinental was done, it's posted below. It's slowed down here to about 1/4 speed.

Irish Dancing

-T

Oh Yeah!

2006-12-31T14:50:00.000-08:00

Happy Last Day of 2006!

What an amazing year... From New York, to Seattle, to Los Angeles... Learned an incredible amount... Earned a SAG card... Shot a bunch of amazing projects... Got agented... Attended the prestigious Lesly Kahn Institute... Met some amazing people... Strengthened some relationships... Was finally forced to let go of some as well...

Overall, I feel as if I am a better actor and a deeper person. I have been very blessed this year. Thank you to everyone who has been a part of it.

-T

Trains and Heaters

2006-12-31T14:03:00.000-08:00

Transcontinental is off to a good start. Yesterday was the first day of principle photography, and Friday was a quick rehearsal. Really like the cast. Really like the crew. Good people, all the way around.

Trains are fun. The shoot itself is a lot of hurry-up-and-wait, but that's pretty standard when making movies. And it's frickin' freezing, Mr. Bigglesworth. I'm developing a very close relationship with the radiant heater in the diner car.

Today our DP (director of photography) has a wicked cold. So everyone has the day off. So, I'm going to go play around my old stomping grounds; we'll see what kind of trouble I can get into...

Thanks Dad, for the save.

-T

Love and War

2006-12-22T11:42:00.000-08:00

Wrapped Hemingway's Lost Love yesterday. Could not have asked for a better cast or a nicer crew. I played Henry Villard, the man who would eventually write Hemingway's war biography, Hemingway in Love and War.

-T

Holiday Greetings

2006-12-17T16:19:00.000-08:00

From my Uncle Dave:

"Please accept with no obligation, implied or implicit, our best wishes for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, low-stress, non-addictive, gender-neutral celebration of the winter solstice holiday, practiced within the most enjoyable traditions of the religious persuasion of your choice, or secular practices of your choice, with respect for the religious/secular persuasion and/or traditions of others, or their choice not to practice religious or secular traditions at all. We also wish you a fiscally successful, personally fulfilling and medically uncomplicated recognition of the generally accepted calendar year 2007, but not without due respect for the calendars of choice of other cultures whose contributions to society have helped make America great. Not to imply that America is necessarily greater than any other country nor the only America in the Western Hemisphere . And without regard to the race, creed, color, age, physical ability, religious faith or sexual preference of the wishees. By accepting these greetings you are accepting these terms. This greeting is subject to clarification or withdrawal. It is freely transferable with no alteration to the original greeting. It implies no promise by the wisher to actually implement any of the wishes for herself or himself or others, and is void where prohibited by law and is revocable at the sole discretion of the wisher. This wish is warranted to perform as expected within the usual application of good tidings for a period of one year or until the issuance of a subsequent holiday greeting, whichever comes first, and warranty is limited to replacement of this wish or issuance of a new wish at the sole discretion of the wisher."

Merry Christmas everyone! And Happy New Year!

-T