Week 410: Abuse No More - Instilling Values

Weekly Written Review 

One of my superpowers is my high tolerance ability. I can put myself through a lot of crap and it won't slow me down. Thus, a lot of people complain about background work. I know it's a hit or miss but I don't have too many complains. I've enjoyed most of my background work experience. I've been a SAG Union actor since February and I'm technically not supposed to do non-union work anymore. Since I'm on my background farewell tour I figured I would do some for the rest of the year at least. After Sunday's abuse, I had a rude awakening. They had us there for approximately 12 hours and it was a crap experience from the jump. Internally I questioned myself, "what the hell am I doing here?!" I'm risking my union status for this crap. They promised us a cash payout of $50.00 and that a lie. One week later we still don't have the check they promised to send out the next day. All they had was bags of chips for us to eat throughout the day and cold pizza around 3am. I don't' know why I agreed to do it. I take that back. I do know why. I agreed because they reached out and I was available. They lured us in with the name of the director and producer and a note about "great networking." Uber falsely charged me $41.00 to get to Covina. Thank God I was able to get a refund later in the week. All of this crap for $50.00 in which I may never receive. This experience and the crappy high school background work from last Friday made reevaluate standards and values as a performer. Not much longer after Sunday's shoot, I started to filter my casting notices for union work only. I've been doing non-union work for over 7 years and there's not much reward from it. I'm a professional SAG union actor and I can't tolerate non-union nonsense anymore. I've honestly done enough non-union and it's time to focus on the prize. Although I'm addressing some strong thoughts right now, I honestly left there with a very positive point of view. I met too cool people. One person named KC who offered me a ride home in which I was really grateful for.  KC later came to my Video Game Party (Week 411) and he made some connections while there. I didn't accept the gig for the money. $50.00 can't do anything for me. I also like to network and interact with people. As awful as this experience was I got the awakening I needed. I'm filtering away from non-union work because it's time to set a standard and values on my craft.


Sunday, July 22, 2018

*On the way to the movie shoot, Uber changed a $13.00 rate on me to $41.00. I had to put a fight with Uber and thankfully I was able to get a full refund later in the week.

* The Fall Girls film shoot. This experience made me realize it's time to set standards and a value on my worth.


Monday, July 23, 2018

* SAG audition "Roast"

* Laying in my bed, barely waking up from a nap I recently decided no tennis today. That was a great decision because I got a text from Blok M casting for an instant booking. Following the text, I got a called and following that call I was in a Lyft driving to the gig. It was background work for an industrial video but it was cool, quick and easy. Plus its Blok M, I got to come through for Michael.

* Candy Lowe project video editing...


Tuesday, July 24, 2018

* Guilty Party booking day 1 (Central Casting)

* Audition video sent


Wednesday, July 25, 2018

* Basketball

* Chiropractor visit

* Completed Candy Lowe's video for her special event in Tampa

* Uber Refund


Thursday, July 26, 2018

* Guilty Part day 2 (Central Casting). I enjoyed this day much more than day 1. I got to flirt with a young lady in two scenes today. Compared to Tuesday, when I was basically walking in the background for most of day. Interesting enough, the director said I looked familiar. Another one of his crew members said I worked on something with him and the director before. I think I recall what he was talking about.


Friday, July 27, 2018

* Basketball...

* NBA 2K audition

* Best Buy pick up of Go Vacation. Game Stop pick up of Sonic Mania Plus (With my $19.00 gift card)

* Model photos sent for a Netflix show. I got a response. I sent it too late. Oh well.


Saturday, July 28, 2018 

* Mango pick up and a few errands of my landlady

* Video game party part 3 and it was a great success


As the quest continues...

The future of Late Night

Motown Maurice

Week 409: Crazy Risk, Crazy Favor

Weekly Written Review 

Early Thursday morning I got a phone call about a music video booking the next day, Friday. I was half asleep and I agreed. I was like yeah of course. It's for a highschooler background work but it's work in front of the camera. I like to work in front of cameras. Later in the afternoon, I got a phone call about a John Legend music video on the same day. My instincts immediately said yes. This immediately caused a potential conflict but it's a risk I had to take. 1. Blok M casting called. Michael has been looking out for a brother. Blok M casting put me on with This is America. 2. John Legend is a bigger name. 3. I will be featured as opposed to being in the background. After I said, yes, I knew I would make the John Legend video a priority. However, that didn't stop me from contemplating how I'm going to pull off both gigs on Friday. Later in the day with my Bike Boys crew, I got both call sheets. I read John Legends video call time at 9am and the high school music video at 12pm. That was going to be tough to pull off. I got home and decided to print all the call sheets and make a plan. When I looked closely at the John Legend music video call sheet I had to do a triple take then do a double triple take. I  misread the call time. John Legends music video call time for me was actually 9pm, not 9am. I didn't believe it. I've never had a call time so late. I was in shock but elated that I could pull off both. My first shoot was 12pm to 8pm. We actually got out just after 8:30pm. Then at wrap, I called an Uber and got to John Legend's shoot on time. Crazy favor all over my abundantly blessed journey. In hindsight, it truly wasn't worth doing the non-union background video in the first place but that's something I'll address in my next post.

Sunday, July 15, 2018

* MaTown Bday

* D.R.A.M audition

* Walked to Regal theatre to watch Uncle Drew. I enjoyed the experience.

* IMDB overload. I didn't know until today people companies list music video on the site. I surely added myself to a bunch. 


Monday, July 16, 2018

* Tennis

* Blogging...


Tuesday, July 17, 2018

* Basketball

* Audition video sent


Wednesday, July 18, 2018

* Chiropractor visit

* Actors support group


Thursday, July 19, 2018

* Cheese It audition. The coolest part about this is that the casting director mentioned that she saw me in This Is America but no callback from the audition :-(

* Audition video sent and help from Sim

* Bike Boys Santa Monica beach edition

* Potential double booking notices...


Friday, July 20, 2018

* Music video shoot # 1

* Music video shoot # 2 with John Legend


Saturday, July 21, 2018

* BlueLA rental pick up

* Airport drop off part 2 of my landladies temporary tenant

* Following the dropoff, I made a few runs at Ralphs and Trader Joe's (water and Saltine Crackers).

* Candy Lowe project video editing


As the quest continues...

The future of Late Night

Motown Maurice

Week 408: Union Official

Weekly Written Review 

After being on the SAG Payment plan for about six months, I finally got my official SAG card on Saturday. Whoop Whoop! In addition to that, I got an extra check from the This Is American music video. I was upgraded to a principal role. Talk about a total surprise. God bless Union's. I also my official Movie Pass card on Saturday. Balling!


Sunday, July 8, 2018

* Audition video sent

* Helping my friend move last week also got my hands on an old Nintendo Wii. I traded it in at Game Stop and got me some store credit.

* Bestbuy universal remote return

* Watching Cloak & Dagger again. It's cool. So far so good.


Monday, July 9, 2018

* Tennis

* Trader Joe's


Tuesday, July 10, 2018

* World Cup Semi-Finals. France VS Belgium. Hanging with Kevin and folks at a bar in Los Feliz

* Hanging at Kevin's...Fat Burger...Yuck...I don't even want to write about something I wasn't sure of in my food and what I saw at the restaurant. 


Wednesday, July 11, 2018

* AT&T audition

* Basketball

* MRI appointment...MRI not needed.

Thursday, July 12, 2018

* Audition - Huge In France...great responses in the room but as usual doesn't mean a damn thing.

* Went to the library to update Fornite

* Water pick up

* Jack In The Box audition VO sent


Friday, July 13, 2018

* AT&T audition callback. Terrible energy in the room. Terrible experience. What a waste of time.

* Chiropractor visit

* Victorious workout test

* Target universal remote pickup

* Hanging out with Cornelia


Saturday, July 14, 2018

* Laying low

* Official SAG card came in the mail. Whoop Whoop.

* Say what!? I got a This Is America principle upgrade. Mango power!

* My Movie Pass card came in. Took long enough! Yeaaa

* Tennis...Jr. Burger King...once

* Trip to Lowes then Jolibee and free food from my tennis connect Erick. Whoop Whoop. I really needed that meal.


As the quest continues...

The future of Late Night

Motown Maurice

Week 407: No Parallels! Just a Fortnite Victory

Weekly Written Review 

I had some Walmart basketball sneakers that quickly malfunctioned this week. It just so happens that I recall having some Walmart basketball sneakers that quickly malfunctioned during the summer of 2010. Hmmm, could there be a parallel. Hell no! Throughout my journey, I always find myself seeking summer 2010 parallels. The main reason for that is because I triumphed out of a grave spiritual defeat that summer. I need to stop because there are no parallels. All I got as a triumph this week was my first Fornite Victory. Although it's just a game, the win was really rewarding. I found a spot, waited it out and the last person fell right into my trap. Ha Ha Ha! Victory!


Sunday, July 1, 2018

* Watched Jurassic World with Kevin. He used Movie Pass and inspired me to apply for one myself.


Monday, July 2, 2018

* Tennis

* Came in 2nd place on Fortnite


Tuesday, July 3, 2018

* Basketball...with busted shoes. Less than two months ago (approximately), I got the bright idea to use BlueLA (car rental) for the first time and got some cheap basketball shoes from Wal-Mart in Burbank. Those shoes are done now. They started falling apart the last few times I played ball. Super glue can do so much. Thankfully the tennis shoes I purchased are still holding up.

* Simply Wholesome with Lauren

* First Fortnite Victory...Yeaaa!


Wednesday, July 4, 2018

* Trader Joe's at USC.

* New basketball shoes at Walmart. I had to go to two Ross's to find the right pair at the right price. $40.00 works for me.


Thursday, July 5, 2018

* Basketball...

* Uhaul adventure with Cole. It was a long night. Leaving the parking space Cole bumped a car. Luckily the driver was cool. Then the car started smoking and broke down for 4 plus hours. I considered leaving but I'm glad I stayed. I was able to get a TV and phone for my landlady. I didn't get much for me but I did find an old Nintendo Wii and traded it in at Game Stop for some store credit.

* People started noticing me on an episode of Marlon today.


Friday, July 6, 2018

* College Humor shoot

* Landlady TV set up


Saturday, July 7, 2018

* Basketball...

* Bestbuy Universal Remote pick up and Crash Bandicoot

* TV set up part two

* Started watching Cloak and Dagger...


As the quest continues...

The future of Late Night

Motown Maurice

Week 406: Week Good

Weekly Written Review 

It was a good week. I worked I played and I auditioned. On to the next week. 


Sunday, June 24, 2018

* Tea with Cornelia


Monday, June 25, 2018

* Tennis...

* Victory Marketing email...I had to bring the heat.


Tuesday, June 26, 2018

* Against All Enemies shoot. Dissapointing...no face time.


Wednesday, June 27, 2018

* Parks Music video shoot

* Chiropractor visit

* Tennis...1-Whopper


Thursday, June 28, 2018

* Kidding Shoot


Friday, June 29, 2018

* Basketball...

* Chiropractor visit

* Unnecessary trip to the post office. What I was finally looking for was finally left at my house. Certified mail can be so difficult.


Saturday, June 30, 2018

* 3 audition videos sent

* Tennis - 2 Jr. Whoopers


As the quest continues...

The future of Late Night

Motown Maurice

Week 405: Database In

Weekly Written Review 

I got a call for a game show this week that I didn't even submit to. They apparently still have me in their database. They asked me some trivia questions over the phone. I'm not even good at trivia. Surprisingly, even though I got about half of the questions right (or less) the interviewer liked my personality and set me up for a Skype interview the following Friday. The Skype interview went okay but the most interesting part was how it started. The first guy I spoke to on Wednesday set me up with a producer for the Skype interview. The first thing the producer said to me when he got on is, "I remember you from something before." I told him it probably was from a previous game show interview called Snap. I'm pretty sure they're not going to choose me for this show Child Support because that's what they do. The most important accomplishment is that they remember.


Sunday, June 17, 2018

* Audition video sent

* BlueLA usage for Barbra/Smart & Final

* Best Buy/Pro Controller


Monday, June 18, 2018

* Working...emails...

* Tennis...


Tuesday, June 19, 2018

* Against All Enemies fitting

* Tennis audition


Wednesday, June 20, 2018

* SAG Orientation

* Chiropractor visit

* Child Support phone call

* Blogging...


Thursday, June 21, 2018

* Basketball...

* Recycling...

* National skate day. Skating with Erick.


Friday, June 22, 2018

* Basketball

* Chiropractor visit

* Skype interview with Child Support

* Mario Tennis pick up


Saturday, June 23, 2018

* Laugh Tracks audition

* Couch Co-op Squad part 2 at Kev's

* EBT 24hr shutdown today until tomorrow


As the quest continues...

The future of Late Night

Motown Maurice