2001 Xmas letter
It's been an interesting year. The spring semester was one of the most stressful I've taught, with some very difficult classes. This fall, by contrast, was a delight. Most of my classes were great, and I taught two sixth grade classes (the first time since the '70's). The last day at school I spent five hours moving out old computers and moving in newer ones; I'll be spending more time during the vacation setting these up. I'm also in the midst of many hours of preparation of a new curriculum for the change in computers. The renovation was finally completed, after two years of slowly changing the campus. Our campus was one of 37 Texas secondary schools nominated as a Blue Ribbon School
Last year I worked on five feature films, only one of which has been released ("Miss Congeniality"). Earlier this month I finally got a copy of "Pagaent" (on video) and I am in three scenes, with dialogue in two of them; I also got an end credit as Casting Assistant (and this was before I started any of the casting lists). Sadly, some of the sound is of poor quality, which may prevent it from being released. A brief clip from it was broadcast on local cable ("The Jeff Davis Show"). "The New Guy" was postponed several times and is presently scheduled for a Feb, 2002 release. The other two films are still being edited.
This year I worked on eight projects. Two were feature films: "Xtracurricular," which should be about complete (I am in one scene, briefly, as a teacher) and "No Pain No Gain" which is in production. I will probably work on it four days during the holidays. I was in one TV pilot "Behind Closed Doors" which is about half completed. I am in more than one scene, and have a little dialogue. The rest are shorts; I tried out for a lead in one, "Close to Normal," (not expecting to get the part), and a small part was written in especially for me. Sadly, that project is in a state of limbo in part due to the economic climate. "The Late Show", "Making the Porn," and "Diamondella" are all complete. I expect to see two in early January, and saw the third in December (I’m briefly visible, and got thanked in the end credits). A fifth short, "Lonelyland" is still being edited.
I will probably work in two feature films in early 2002: "Good Time Boys" (from the same company that made "Xtracurricular") and "The Perfect Man Contest" (in which I will be playing Jesus's Disciple #5 - in one scene I will be playing basketball with Jesus)
For all of these projects I took photos, which were digital after I bought a very cool Sony CyberShot camera (which sadly has been in the shop since October - due back in January). I've been able to borrow the school digital in the meantime. All of these have been posted at Ofoto.com.
One year ago my Austin Casting list had about 500 subscribers and I had just started lists in Dallas and Lubbock. The Austin list is almost up to 1500. The Dallas list has about 1100, and the Lubbock list about 150. In February I started a list for Houston, which now has almost 700. During the summer I tried to spread the idea around the nation and helped start lists from Florida to Oregon. Several have been very successful, but none as active as my Texas lists. The lists I started in LA and California were not run by the people I helped start them, so I have been running them. The LA list is up to 400 and has been very active with hundreds of casting calls; I've found someone in LA to post most of the calls. Earlier this month I helped start a list in Chicago which is still under 100, but should be very large by next Christmas.
I made many great friends as a result of the lists and on the sets of the films I shot.
During the summer I was treated to lunch twice because of the list; once by the head of one of the top talent agencies in town and once by the director of one of the films I worked on. I was also the guest on a local cable talk show ("The Jeff Davis Show") in June and again in December.
I have written detailed accounts of my experience on these films and am working on the latest. You can read the details at by clicking on "messages"; click on "subscribe" to receive future accounts. (Yahoo deleted these in late 2019)
I met and got autographs (and in most cases photographs) of Lance Armstrong, Tom Wolfe, Treat Williams, Ben Crenshaw, P.D. James, Rip Torn, Sissy Spacek, David Clayton Thomas (Blood Sweat &Tears), and David McCullough. I also got autographs through the mail from Gena Rowlands, Susan Sarandon, Ed McBain, Ann-Margret, John Woo, Richard Dreyfuss, Bill Plympton, Ed Asner, and Ellen Burstyn.
Last year I bought a pedometer and was surprised to find how much I walk (1600 miles for the year.) This year it went up to just over 2000 miles.
I read almost 200 books again, and topped a total of 5000 books since I started keeping track. The best of list is much longer than usual; some amazing books this year: "A Primate's Memoir" by Robert Sapolsky, " Rules For The Unruly" by Marion Winik, " Diary Of An Adulterous Woman" by Curt Leviant, "How To Be A Chicana Role Model" by Michele Serros, "Memoirs Of A Geisha" by Arthur Golden, "Tuesdays With Morrie" by Mitch Albom, "Guns Germs & Steel" by Jared Diamond, "Shadow Of The Hegemon" by Orson Scott Card, " Princess: a True Story of Life Behind the Veil in Saudi Arabia" (and its two sequels) by Jean Sasson. All of these are recommended highly.
I saw tons of films; I recommend "Amelie", "Cyberworld 3D", " Amores Perros", and "Harry Potter "
I saw 34 plays this year, the best of which were "Vagina Monologues", "Requiem For Tesla." "Corpus Christi" and "Art Stripped Naked"
I continue to run a daily joke list sending items out to over 150 friends.
I hope your Christmas holiday was wonderful and that you have a great 2002.
