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It's always fascinating to review the previous year's activities. This was, mostly, a great year, though being hit by an SUV did put a major damper on things for several weeks. For the third time since I've been in Austin I was in a play (Conversations While Dining Alone - written and directed by Ken Johnson). We had six performances in January (Act 1 starts at https://youtu.be/cuTEVFatYGE with links to the 12 monologues that follow. act 2 https://youtu.be/b9HsPbyIDUM) and filmed a version of it this summer (https://youtu.be/PwanuGDeDXM). It screens at Windsor Park Library on January 22, 2013 at 6:30. For the stage version I also served as the stage manager, which initially was a challenge since I was given little preparation. I did very well once I had time to prepare properly. The finale from the play, "The N Word" can be viewed at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eMlnN8TJlKo. In January 2013 I will be in another play, 9/11- the Al Qaeda press conference, which will be performed January 16 as part of Fronterafest. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xAZ-uP4d7fw) I was in a play for that festival in 2005, Dear Mr. President. Its playwright, Dave Miller, has been planning since then to write the new play with me in mind and, once he writes the second half of the script, it'll happen. I will be portraying a press spokesman for Al Qaeda, delivering their viewpoint on that fatal day. It's a very provocative piece and it'll be interesting to see what kind of reaction it evokes. It was a very good year for me as an actor in films. I got my first voiceover role (paid, no less) in Speed Levitch's (produced by Rick Linklater) web series for Hulu, Up to Speed (which you can see at http://www.hulu.com/watch/392750#i0,p0,d0). I'm the voice of the bridge. It was over two months after the audition before I learned I had gotten the part; I had completely forgotten that I had auditioned for the project until I got the script. I acted in seventeen films, three of which can be viewed on Youtube. Guardian Angel (I'm a patient) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KRno7MDu33s); The Last Carnival (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8IN8CjFryk); and After (https://youtu.be/UHsjZ8vKFrM) In Greenbelt I was cast as Leslie (the infamous cross-dressing character who was an Austin icon for years; he died this year and his obit appeared in the New York Times). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m5OrGfYK_8Y I attended two more great Will Wallace workshops and Will cast me in his feature film, Red Wing. I had to travel to Whitewing (40 miles north of Dallas) driving 535 miles the day of the shoot. Thanks to this role, I became SAG eligible. I got a great role in a third feature, Sacrifice, thanks to a video audition. Marilyn Rucker cast me in a music video, Rude Jogger (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2wYS5kh6Rec). The song was based on a John Kelso column and Kelso appears in the video. Among the other films were Heelers (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vb9HV7YqtIk) and Misanthropos. In both a part was written just for me. The latter also led to a role in The Dead Thing (shot by the same crew). I discovered I could get into almost any Austin City Limits taping, but only went to three this year (most didn't interest me). Bonnie Raitt was a wonderful taping and it was a real treat to finally get to see her perform. An added treat for that taping was the presence of Michael Morton, sitting two rows behind me. I was able to tell him after the taping that his interview (two days earlier) on Overheard was very moving. For information on tapings and a chance to see them, go to https://www.overheardwithevansmith.org/tapings/. For upcoming ACL tapings, go to https://acltv.com/upcoming-tapings/ I was able to attend every taping of Overheard with Evan Smith (18 of them) until my accident. Highlights were Deepak Chopra, Meat Loaf, Elie Wiesel (courtesy of Ballet Austin - they had the first three rows reserved for their members, but my usual front row seat was reserved for me. I chatted with their choreographer and executive director, both of whom remembered a former student of

2011 newsletter It's hard to believe another year has passed. Most noteworthy events: Slacker 2011, Medicare and Mikhael Gorbachev. I was in a play (Conversations While Dining Alone) for the third time since I've been in Austin. This one was written and directed by Ken Johnson. We filmed a November performance; one show earned a standing ovation. We perform the show seven more times in January, 2012 (https://www.facebook.com/events/205237586229139/#!/events/205237586229139/). Version one is at https://youtu.be/TcMKJMrAz3g. Version 2 act 1starts at https://youtu.be/cuTEVFatYGE With links to the following monologue (music rights from youtube necessitated this work-around) act 2 https://youtu.be/b9HsPbyIDUM. And the film version is at https://youtu.be/PwanuGDeDXM. I was in several other films, mostly as an extra. I was in Andrew Bujalski's "Computer Chess" and Paul Bright's "Goliad Uprising". Each year the SXSW Film Festival opens each of its dozens of screening with a humorous short film (called a "bumper"). I got to be in two of the five bumpers. In May I was part of a Drink 'n' Drive Go to Jail press conference for the Texas Department of Public Safety portraying one of eleven "drunk drivers." We each held up a sign showing our lame excuse for our DWI conviction, all of us dressed in a prisoner's orange jumpsuit. (https://youtu.be/zg1VXprU7CA). We had to stand with our backs to the press for twenty minutes before the event started, and, as a result, I got to visit with the young woman next to me, Amber Calderon, the current Miss Austin. I was also part of a photo shoot for "Failed Superheroes" a book by Scott Allen Perry scheduled for a 2012 release. And I was in an episode for the ABC Family show "The Lying Game", scheduled to air in early 2012. From 1986 to 1997 I attended 128 Austin City Limits tapings, but none since then. This year ACL moved to a new studio, and, with its much larger capacity, I was able to see eight tapings; the best of these were Steve Miller, Miranda Lambert, and Randy Newman (one of the all-time best). For information on tapings and a chance to see them, go to http://acltv.com/upcoming-tapings/. I attended two more great Will Wallace workshops this year. Will was in town preparing a feature film that Terrence Malick's producer, Edward Pressman, is producing. Its shoot is planned for 2012. I hope I'll be part of it and may have persuaded Will to cast Bob Hinkle, a new friend. I met Hinkle the same evening as Jeff Bridges' ACL taping. I passed up the taping to see Hinkle speak. I had recently read and loved his book ("Call Me Lucky"), one of the best books I read this year. Bob was hired to teach James Dean and Rock Hudson to "talk Texan" for the film "Giant" and was hired by Paul Newman to do the same in Hud. Bob also knew LBJ and told of his encounters with him. Bob now lives in the Austin area and I was able to arrange for him to introduce a screening of Hud in San Antonio shortly after I met him. I videotaped most of his talk (until my camera's memory card filled up) and you can view it at https://youtu.be/gf0n6R_JmaM In January I noticed what seemed to be another hernia (after hernia repair surgery the month before) and my surgeon agreed that it needed tending to. It turned out to be some fatty tissue sticking out; the surgeon operated again and pushed it back in, adding another net to prevent recurrence. My health has been good; my doctor was very pleased with my physical exam, telling me that my EKG was "perfect" and the lab results were great. I continue to walk a lot and for the first time ever walked 19 miles in one day, following it up by walking 20 miles two days later. In May I logged 400 miles for the first time and ended the year with six 400-mile months. Last year I logged 4282 miles and this year raised that to 4696 (an average of 12.8 miles a day). I was able to avoid driving 92% of the time, up from 82% last year and 73% the year before. As a result I only needed to fill the tank twice. In April I screened Z: a Zombie Musical in San Antonio. I got to visit Bob Maxham, a good fri

2010 newsletter It's hard to believe another year has passed. I had the good fortune this year to be in both a Coen brothers film ("True Grit") and a Robert Rodriguez film ("Spy Kids 4", which opens summer 2011). I'm clearly visible in "True Grit" about twenty minutes into the film. When Mattie enters the courtroom, she has to shove past me. I'm hard to spot in "Spy Kids 4"; I play one of five scientists (in the background) staring at an enormous clock during a TV newscast interview with the chief scientist. (I am visible, very briefly) While working on "True Grit" I discovered that another extra attended Brackenridge H.S. (San Antonio) the year ('68/'69) I taught there, and was even in the band. I was the unofficial Assistant Band Director that year, announcing the band's halftime performances and sitting in on French horn during the early morning before-school rehearsals. I was even the substitute teacher the day of TMEA (getting to conduct the band, an enormous treat - my university band director joked that the only band I'd ever conduct would be a rubber band). It was not surprising that the guy didn't remember me at all (it WAS 41 years ago). I was in several other films, mostly in a small capacity. I starred in a spec ad for GoDaddy.com (http://vimeo.com/18248544) which competed against 200 entries. We came in sixth in the popular voting, which, sadly, was ignored in the awarding of the prize money. We also shot a sequel, (http://vimeo.com/18244740) also great. I had surgery this year as well as two MRIs. My right shoulder had been bothering me for several months. A steroid shot/medications didn't solve the problem, so my doctor ordered a shoulder MRI. After the shoulder specialist examined the MRI, he requested a neck x-ray, followed by a neck MRI, which confirmed his diagnosis: the problem was the neck, not the shoulder. Two vertebrae in my neck were misaligned. I had several weeks of PT and have been continuing the exercises. In 1975 I had left-inguinal hernia surgery. I scheduled it during spring break, hoping that I'd not miss any school. I believe I was in the hospital about four or five days. I had to take off another week to recover; I was barely able to walk, moving as fast as a geriatric. In the mid-1980s I had right-inguinal hernia surgery; methods had improved so much that I was back in action much more quickly; I may have stayed in the hospital overnight. I discovered this year that the repairs had worn out on both sides. On December 16 I had both sides repaired. The surgeon used a laporascope, making the procedure much quicker and safer. I was on the operating table at 10:30 a.m. and on the way home (thanks to Fred Woody) two hours later. My walking was slowed down somewhat, but I logged 12 miles one week later. The surgery went very well and after two weeks, there was some discoloration around that area, and minimal discomfort. Otherwise, my health was good. In 2000 I started tracking my walking and logged 2101 miles. Every year since then I've walked greater distances. I was up to 4280 miles this year, which was also the third consecutive one that I walked 300 miles every month, with a record 380 miles this June. I also am using public transport when I can. Last year I avoided driving 73% of the time. This year it's up to 82%. As a result, I only had to fill up the gas tank four times!!! Once again I was able attend all of John Pearson's fantastic master classes. Highlights were Rob Thomas (a former teacher at Reagan H.S. and the creator of Veronica Mars - I was able to watch all three seasons after I saw him, and it was really a great show), Evan Shapiro (the president of Sundance/IFC), Elizabeth Avellan (producer of Robert Rodriguez's films and his ex-wife), and Spike Jonze (director of "Being John Malkovich"). Once again I attended most of the tapings (in the eighth and final season) of Evan Smith's great interview program, "Texas Monthly Talks" (http://www.klru.org/texasmonthlytalks/) and got to meet and get autographs and photos with most of the guests. Highlights were Tim Matheson, Sally Ride,

January 1, 2010 I'm always amazed at how much I've accomplished when I review the previous twelve months each year. This year numerous events felt like they'd happened LAST year. Of course, since much of my life was spent in the classroom (34 years teaching and 17 more as a student), last spring IS considered last year. So that feeling is understandable. The most exciting event for me was a commercial. It will be broadcast, starting in late January, throughout Texas. It's a PSA for the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (photos are at http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0AbN2zNi3ZtmTGEA). It was exciting just to get a callback and even more to be cast. It was filmed the week before Christmas about seventy miles northwest of Austin in Llano County near Packsaddle Mountain. I play a crazy man wearing a sandwich board. "The End is Near" is on the front and "When do you renew?" on the back. An eighteen-wheeler drives by and I spin around revealing the back. I'm the only actor in the spot, which is very cool. They filmed three other PSAs, which I expect will be aired in rotation. https://youtu.be/-rNW3cfKrVI The same week I had another unique experience: I was hired to be on the cover of a local band's (Anew Revolution) second album. The shoot was originally scheduled at one of the locations we used for the Just Z It trailer. When I arrived, there was no one there. I then discovered that permission to shoot there had fallen through; we shot instead at the location we had used in Z for our zombie guitar quartet. Jim Swift shot a KXAN news story on us there. I was photographed in a hospital gown, barefoot, in front of a building on Fourth Street (the temperature was in the 40s that morning by the time they got to my shot had warmed up enough). They will photoshop the album title "iamerica" onto the large piece of cardboard I'm holding. (photos at http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0AbN2zNi3ZtmTF7A). https://www.discogs.com/Anew-Revolution-Imerica/release/7607514 Last summer I was in a short web video ad for the game Serious Sam HD. https://youtu.be/KeeTzzrgxC4 I had a great role (as a dad) in a short film entitled Betta, which I hope to finally see in early 2010 (completion is long overdue). See it at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pSwbFaD02II I play a shop owner in the local feature Altitude Falling which will get DVD distribution on completion in 2010. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7zr6KxMlnY In "Wave to Life" I got to dress in an Uncle Sam outfit. https://youtu.be/7ZWB6lThlgc I got to play a doctor, again in a delightful "sick" short, Lord of the Greens. I played a small role in the Pompeii video that Liz Reeder shot for the singer Michelle Shocked. https://vimeo.com/99179215 I got to play God (again) in a Doritos spec ad (for the Super Bowl competition). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hcfjr86NruM It seems very unlikely I'll ever see the Nike video I was in a year ago, https://youtu.be/l8QDGz7zyX0 The 2008 Westwood College commercial I'm in is at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZq5g0Z0nUc. When my dad died thirteen years ago, his inheritance went entirely to his widow. It was a very pleasant shock to learn that one of my uncles had left a nice sum of money to my cousins, my brother and myself after his widow's death last year. That check arrived this summer. I had a major shock last summer: I was mugged while walking home from campus. Just after I crossed Airport at 46th, I noticed two young men standing on the sidewalk. One started walking next to me and asked for some money. I told him that I had none. He then demanded my iPod and grabbed for it, only getting the earbuds (the iPod stayed in my pocket; its battery was nearly dead and was replaced the next day,). I reached for the earbuds and he punched me two or three times, knocking me down. At his point his friend called him off and I got home safely. I had bruises on my forehead, left knee, the heel of my left palm and three fingers of my left hand. Half of the pinky's fingernail was broken off and there was a bruise on part of my upper lip.

January 1, 2009 Another busy year. The most notable event was (finally!) my first commercial, a big one: Nike. It was shot in July and I had to dance, not my greatest skill to say the least. I auditioned on my birthday. I had heard nothing after two days, so I figured, no surprise, that I hadn't gotten it. The next morning I got emails from three people informing me that not only did I have the gig, but that there was a rehearsal that afternoon. The ad was scheduled to go on the web in September, but has been postponed several times. Twice I was filmed in close-ups. The ad was a follow-up to a 2007 Nike commercial featuring Ladainian Tomlinson, star running back for the San Diego Chargers. The delay may reflect the Chargers' disappointing season (they did manage, barely, to make the play-offs so maybe it'll finally be posted). Whenever it does go on the web, the advertising agency will email me a copy. (https://youtu.be/l8QDGz7zyX0) Soon after, I was in a second commercial (a Visa ad for Canada). This time I was an extra; I'm not even visible (I was able to get a copy). I was placed next to two of the featured actors for a while, but got moved (as were dozens), ending up in the back row. This fall I was in an ad for Westwood College (an online university), which I haven't been able to get a copy of yet. I play a professor who is boring his class. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZq5g0Z0nUc. In December I was in a training video for Cap Metro (as a bus passenger). I also played a homeless man on Sixth Street for a live performance film of stand-up comic Jim Gaffigan (to be broadcast on Comedy Central late March 2009). In July I performed a monologue ("Hunting Cockroaches") for a Talent Works showcase (see it at https://youtu.be/pqY3a-tcq8o). Its DVD was distributed to agents and producers throughout Texas. (My previous showcase "Dream of the Red Spider" is at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HOV2i4bLRyk&t=3s) I took acting workshops with Sally Jackson, Laurie Guzda, Daniel Foster, and Will Wallace. Last year Will wanted to cast me in a film he produced in Wisconsin; the director instead selected a friend who was so lousy that his footage was dropped from the film. I arranged the first public screening of "Z: a Zombie Musical" at the Arbor in June and had a great turnout. (There was even another article in the Chronicle right before the screening: http://www.austinchronicle.com/gyrobase/Issue/story?oid=oid%3A634974). I arranged a screening at the Drafthouse in San Antonio in July. I was able to get a news story in the Express-News and was interviewed by the NPR station. There was a good turnout (enough that they invited me back in October when there was a very small turnout). I also got "Z" into the Horrific Film Festival in San Antonio in August where I met the man who, in 1941 - age 8 - was the voice and model for Bambi, and the son in the Son of Frankenstein. I scheduled a screening in Houston, but it was postponed due to Hurricane Ike. An October screening in Dallas had such a small turnout (including two great former students: Trevor White and Jody Armstrong, and a good friend, Gwendolynn Murphy) that I canceled the Houston screening (I hope to find a university venue there where I can show it in 2009). That screening did yield two rave reviews, "Okay... seriously. I haven't laughed this hard in quite some time! This musical is the new Rocky Horror Picture Show. Every time I would start laughing I had to make myself stop so that I didn't miss anything." And "Z is a very busy film. There are so many things going on in the background. I'd like to buy the DVD just so I could go back and see what I missed. The songs are catchy, the dialog is full of funny innuendos and the cast bounces around unlike any Zombie I've ever seen. Y'all must have had a ball making this film. Great jobs guys!!!!!" I was in several films; most notable were "Mommyhood" (https://youtu.be/EGX6c_FIdh4) and "Polecats" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vYiaT8L5QMs). The former is a short written, directed and co-starring Deborah Abbott. My part was writ

January 1, 2008 It always amazes me how much I've accomplished each year when it's time to compose this report. I am hoping, against odds, to get "Z: a Zombie Musical" a theatrical run here in Austin. The theater manager sounded hopeful when I spoke to him last week. In September we held a second benefit concert for Z and raised some more money to help pay off the $3100 it cost to recover the film. We spent over $500 trying to get Z into film festivals and were turned down repeatedly. We finally got an invitation from the Providence Zombie Film Festival. (We hadn't even applied; they had heard about our film from a friend of a friend). We screened in late October and Z sold out. "Generally, the crowd got into Z as they seemed very interested to experience a zombie musical. The Festival organizers - all four of us - are more than satisfied with screening Z." I submitted to a few film festivals that didn't charge and was accepted by the WT Os Film Festival in Os, Norway in November. They wrote, "The film was one of our biggest audience successes, and I overheard people talking about it for days (now, a few girls left it half way through, but then again, it certainly isn't everyone's cup of tea, so...). It was recommended by one of the festival managers in a newspaper interview prior to the screening," I received some great feedback about my role from Cambofest noting, that "Professor Zombie number is very funny! Would be great if entire movie was of caliber of Professor Zombie segment." I hope that we can get the DVD version of Z out in 2008. The May 4, 2007 issue of the "Austin Chronicle" included a feature story about me written by Joe O'Connell (http://www.austinchronicle.com/gyrobase/Issue/story?oid=oid%3A471806) I teamed with John McLean to produce a great short film, "How to Succeed in Film Festivals...Without Really Trying," which John wrote after we didn't get in SXSW. You can view it at https://youtu.be/_DQzAtBEA_4. The trailers for Z are at Just Z It https://youtu.be/8i3xopUMPTQ, Bloodweiser https://youtu.be/RC12URl4E6I, Blood Be Gone https://youtu.be/m-pdIzhDXCI. Paid film work, sadly, is rather rare. Early in the year, I was twice a paid extra for "Friday Night Lights", as well as for a feature film set in the 1930s, "Kings of the Evening." This fall I was in six student films at UT. One was a scene from Spike Lee's "25th Hour" that required several hours of rehearsal and a performance in front of the class before it was filmed. The best of my UT films was "Stalled." https://youtu.be/dlvh-SOk6j4. I almost got to be in a spec commercial (i.e., shot in hopes of it being sold) for Emerald Nuts (which has run ads in the super bowl). I was cast in it, but the producer didn't have enough money to shoot both the ad he was in town for as well as the spec; he promised me that I'd be in the ad if he ever does shoot it. A feature film I was in three years ago, "Chalk", got a theatrical release in several cities (courtesy of Morgan Spurlock ("Supersize Me")). It was played an extra three weeks here due to great box office and is a great film (and now is available on DVD http://www.chalkthefilm.com/). Numerous strangers have recognized me from my memorable appearance in this wonderful film. Early in the year I helped John in pre-production for our next big project: "Ex Libris." John wrote most of the business plan, but was side-tracked by the need to earn money; he's been writing and working full-time on the staff of Esther's Follies the past few months. I found a professional writer (Bill Crider - I've read 31 of this books) to read John's novel. He loved it. Michael Moorcock used to work with John at Origin; when I noted that John wasn't sure Mike would remember him, Michael commented, "What does he think I am, a goldfish? Of course I remember him." Michael read the beginning, but his schedule hasn't allowed him to finish it yet. I submitted to a publisher, who rejected it and found a local publisher, who won't look at it 'till John finishes it (it's about 95% finished). If you'd like to read it, let me know; it's a wonde

Xmas 2006 It's been quite a year: movie producer, concert booker, theatrical lead, adopted uncle. In January I FINALLY met with Jeff at Acclaim Talent (he spends most of his time in Louisiana, where much of the action is now). He signed me up, so I've got an agent again. Also, in January Amy Jordan welcomed me into her family as her adopted uncle. We completed shooting "Z: a Zombie Musical" in August. John McLean had been editing during free time and was able to finish that process in late September. Due to all of my work on the film, I was promoted to a Producer. When I realized that we would be unable to finish by the Austin Film Festival’s regular deadline, I was able to get an extension (I have worked there as a volunteer the last four years). They accepted our film, but, just as John finished the end credits, our hard drive crashed. All of the film was lost (including Joe King Carrasco's feature film). We were able to recover it all for $3105. The delay, however, kept us out of the festival this year. They offered to screen the film after the festival as part of their Austin Film Festival Presents... series. However, since such a screening would keep us out of other festivals, I postponed it, pending other festival results. I was able to get an amazing collection of cameos for the film. Joe King Carrasco was our zombie mayor. Our Austin mayor, Will Wynn joined two former mayors, Jeff Friedman and Bruce Todd as zombie highway bums. Peter Bay (conductor of the Symphony) was an artist's model. Mark Zupan (star of "Murderball") was a zombie badass. Dale Watson was a zombie senior (lip-synching to my singing). Joe Ely, Sara Hickman, Michael Fracasso and Jimmy Lafave performed as a zombie guitar quartet (covered by Jim Swift on KXAN-TV) https://youtu.be/XgfPock-8KA. Joe was originally scheduled to be part of a guitar trio, but Dan Rather and Senator Kirk Watson backed out. The Tosca String Quartet recorded a song composed for them and appear in the film dressed in black, wearing angel wings, in a cemetery. Kinky Friedman agreed to do a cameo in January, but was too busy during the campaign and changed his mind. I'm hoping we can add a bit with Kinky in early 2007. (not able to) In September I spoke with Willie Nelson while working as an extra on his film, "Fighting with Anger." Willie agreed to do a cameo for us. Sadly, he was in Hawaii the last two months of 2006 and is in Europe in January. With his busy schedule and the difficulty in getting the needed paperwork from SAG, his bit may not be possible. (It wasn't.) News 8 Austin ran two stories on Z. https://youtu.be/CUD9h5kNWVU. Hanna Hardin (our female lead) and I were interviewed as zombies on a Sunday morning KVUE-TV newscast. https://youtu.be/5vY4tz9agog. John Kelso wrote a column on us for the Statesman and Joe O'Connell wrote an article for the Chronicle about his role as a zombie casting director. https://www.austinchronicle.com/screens/2006-02-10/337588/ and https://www.austinchronicle.com/screens/2006-02-10/337588/ We have had three cast/crew screenings: one at our attorney’s screening room, one at the Dobie Theatre (during which three of the songs got applause) and one at the Arbor Theatre. All three audiences enjoyed the film. I am very proud of the film, especially the music, which was my responsibility. We have one more screening scheduled at St Edward’s University this month. In December I was a guest both on KOOP-FM (playing six songs from the soundtrack) and on The Jeff Davis Show (local access TV). John McLean, our writer/director loved my acting: "Just wanna say again how proud I am of your work as The Philosopher, a role I created and wrote specifically for you, as you well know. You freakin' NAILED that part, from start to finish, and I'm always delighted whenever I get to that section of the picture and get to watch you work for a bit." In October we scheduled a benefit at Threadgills to pay for the hard drive recovery, but weather caused a postponement. The booker kept switching dates on me after I had already announced them, until I finally dumped

Xmas 2005 In mid-January 2005 I auditioned for Eye for an Eye (UPN). The show has been described as "Judge Judy on acid" and is hosted by O.J.’s old "buddy" Kato Kaelin. Two weeks later I drove to Dallas and was the star in the Mail Order Bride of Frankenstein episode which first aired in November and no doubt will be repeated (its second showing actually was an hour after I typed this; two days later, while shopping, I was asked by someone (who'd just seen the show) if I'd been on TV - she especially remembered the noise I'd made describing overheard conversational noises). Two months later I drove up for the Revenge segment, but the location (a sports bar) was too noisy (due to a "Sweet 16" basketball crowd) and I had to make another trip in May. Call time was 6:00 p.m., but no one from the crew had arrived (a previous taping ran late) and we didn’t finish 'till 2:30 a.m. The show was a blast and I did a great job. It was very exciting to play a starring role in a nationally broadcast TV show. Sadly it took many months for them to pay me (they are notorious for dragging their feet when it comes to paying both talent and crew.) (https://youtu.be/TWv1aD2tBNM) In January I had a few new headshots done (gratis) by Suze Lanier, a fabulous Hollywood photographer (Mena Suvari is a client). At the end of that month I signed with K Hall; I stayed with that agency for about six months, but only got one audition and we parted company. This week I signed with Acclaim. In late January I performed in the showcase at Casting Works LA. This is a videotaped performance before an audience of agents and casting directors which is mailed to all the casting directors in Texas. My scene (with Rana Haddad) went extremely well. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HOV2i4bLRyk&t=3s) In February I was in my first play since college. "Dear Mr. President" (actual war letters to LBJ) won Best of Week at Fronterafest, and was repeated on the weekend. That month was also the world premiere of John Corigliano's Circus Maximus (his 3rd symphony - commissioned by the wonderful UT Wind Ensemble - which was chosen by the composer over the NY Philharmonic). Six trumpets were in the aisles; two french horns in the first balcony and a saxophone quintet in the second balcony. A seven-piece band marched in the aisles, swinging their horns as they played. It was a thrilling composition and performance. I’d met the composer in '96 and '01 (and, many years earlier, his dad - concertmaster of the NY Philharmonic and later of the San Antonio Symphony) and chatted with him after. My all-time favorite dance company, Pilobolus, performed at the Paramount (the seventh time I’ve seen them). At SXSW, the subject of an inspiring documentary, "Emmanuel's Gift" invited me to see his film. He (now about 22) was one of the 10% of Ghanaians born deformed - only a stump of a leg. Most beg on the streets, but his mom vetoed that. He shined shoes ($1 a day). When his mom died he moved to the capital where he could earn $2. A handicapped athletes foundation granted him a mountain bike on which he rode (one-legged) 650 km across Ghana. He rode in a race in the U.S. and was fitted with a prosthesis which enabled him to knock three hours off his time the following year. He used a $50,000 grant to help the handicapped in Ghana. I took great acting workshops from Cindy Wood, Pato Hoffman, M J Vandivier and Will Wallace (through whom I was able to get his father-in-law’s autograph (Terrence Malick)). I saw a great radio play ("The Living Room") at HRC (by the LA Theatre Co.), later broadcast on NPR. Before the movie opened, I got to see the live version of "The Producers" at Bass, which was wonderful. Another fantastic play was "American Fiesta", (yet another magical work by Steven Tomlinson). In May I saw the annual hilarious Cimrman play (in Czech with subtitles) "Africa: The Czechs Among the Cannibals" AMOA had a wonderful Andy Goldsworthy exhibit (one of the greatest I’ve ever seen). Another thrilling exhibit was the Ansel Adams at HRC (supplemented by a wonderful lecture by his biogra

When I was a kid we'd usually take the annual family Christmas picture around Turkey Day. In early December, I would help address the 400-500 envelopes, stamp our return address and add a postage stamp to each one. Once the cards had arrived from the printer, they had to be folded and inserted in the envelopes, which were sorted geographically. It always amazed me that our list was so large. I never anticipated having as large a Christmas list as I do now. A few years ago, it was several dozen, but, thanks largely to "the list" it's up to 350! The big news this year has to be my retirement after 34 years of teaching. The spring semester continued the fall pattern. For me (as well as several colleagues) it was my worst year. As of January the faculty had already written as many disciplinary referrals as the entire previous year. Because I was assigned to teach math lab (kids who failed the TAKS test the previous year), I had more "problem" kids. This year would have been the same if not worse. After doing the research, I realized that I'd put in enough years to have a decent pension (and was very surprised to learn the two years I worked as a clerk-typist at UT were included in the calculations, giving me credit for 36 years of teaching.) I finished my final year with perfect attendance. The last time I was absent was January of 1981 or 1982. I taught a total of 6147 students. Two of them, Harry Knowles and Wiley Wiggins, are well known in the film biz; several others are also actors whom I've met on sets. Sadly, I also had two who were convicted of murder. Three of my students were connected to the Yogurt Shop murders: one of the victims, one of the four arrested, and the prime witness in the first two trials. I had the good fortune to teach many great students over that time (as well as many who were not as great). In January I took Gary Chason's Golden Walnut Acting Class (he invited me to take the class after reading last year's Xmas letter!). There were only six students: one writer and five actors. The actor was also a writer, so we ended up shooting three short films; I got to be the lead in two of them, "Fat Chance" and "The Mortician's Girlfriend". When the films were screened, I was named best actor for the former and the latter was picked by the audience as best film. All three (the third is "Foiled") films (as well as "Keep Austin Weird") can be viewed online. Foiled https://youtu.be/ncxZrydOH04, Morticians Girlfriend https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hD_-X-Nj6f8, Fat Chance https://youtu.be/I-3gXNv_gDQ. I saw the usual 2 to 3 dozen films at SXSW and met Julie Delpy (here for the wonderful "After Sunset"), Kevin Smith and Annabeth Gish. In May I took a great weekend workshop with Pato Hoffman, The Art of Not Acting. I took two weekend improv workshops (in January and May) with Laurie Guzda, and several during the year with Cindy Wood. Rob Nash taught a workshop in June on solo work (Flying Solo). Also in June I took an amazing intensive workshop from Van Brooks, The Mastery. In the summer I took John Lansch's advanced acting class. On Saturdays starting in July and continuing through October, I took the best acting workshop I've ever had, with Barry Pineo (who will be teaching it at CWLA next year). My acting grew a great deal thanks to hard work and Barry's guidance. I now have seven monologues in my repertoire. In October I enjoyed a workshop with former "General Hospital" star Chad Brannon. I took C.K. McFarland's delightful creativity class in the fall. One weird element about that class was the fact that I was the only male in a class of ten. Really enjoyed the class and there were some great people in all the classes and workshops. In May I met Neil Stone who asked me to audition for a big budget film of "Also Spoke Zarathustra", which will be shot in New York City, Hawaii, and Australia. It's currently on the back burner. Neil plans to run for city council next year. My Austin casting list has grown to about 4100; there are 9000 on the five Texas lists, with a grand total of 11,600. I worked on 28 films t

2003 newsletter It was a difficult school year for me. Last Spring I taught math 7, math 8, math lab, and two computer classes. I had some very troublesome students, and four preps is no picnic. Our principal retired to move back to Bay City and get married, after getting us National Blue Ribbon status. She assigned me to teach all math lab (6th-8th) this year, giving my computer classes to the Tech Ed teacher (who didn't know about it and didn't want them). Math lab is remedial math for the kids who flunked the TAKS test, and thus a challenge, with an excessive number of "problem" kids. It's been a battle. Luckily there are some good kids too, but not enough. The new principal, Mike Atchley, is doing a good job and is very nice. Once again, I had perfect attendance (which makes either 21 or 22 straight years). In February, school was called off one day by an ice storm. That morning, when I went out to get the paper I slipped on the ice and got several bruises. The next day, school was delayed two hours by the icy streets. Film, as usual, played a large part in my life. My Austin list grew by 1000 and is now over 3300 (the largest in the nation). A friend offered to run a South Texas list, which I started a month ago. The Texas lists now number over 7000, and there are another 2000 on the other lists. I again made many wonderful friends through the list. I ended up working on a baker's dozen of films. "A Promise Kept" was shot in January and a screening was held at the Paramount in August. (I'm clearly visible during the sniper scene, shot in the cold rain, temperature in the 40s – fun in spite of the cold). For "Go Round" I had a supporting role, but the film remains in editing. Recently I did extra work for two Hollywood films: "Cheer Up" and "The Ringer." During the summer, I had a fun part in a mock commercial, "Order Now" by John McLean. My scene was shot in my back yard. (https://youtu.be/TVhKookQy7I) I did a photo shoot for "Leviticus" in 2002, but the film is still in a fund-raising mode. I finally saw "The Other Side of the Hill," (2002) I got a "casting by" credit; each cast member got a photo in the end credits with our names. "The Perfect Man Contest" also had its first screening; I was heavily involved in the film last year, getting credit for extras casting, still photography, and as Jesus' disciple #5. The film was fantastic and I am very proud to be associated with it. In the summer, we finally completed reshoots for "No Pain No Gain." I'd been given credit for this film as still photographer (http://imdb.com/title/tt0306846/combined), but had not been visible in any scenes. During the final audience re-shoot, I got my own close-up. In November, Joe O'Connell profiled me in his monthly Statesman film column, a real thrill. (https://www.austinchronicle.com/screens/2007-05-04/471806/) This summer I was able to take (free, thanks to the list) audition classes with John Lansch and intermediate film classes with C.K. McFarland. In September I took a fantastic (and fun) improvisation workshop with Laurie Guzda (with another session next month). Earlier this month I took an advertising workshop with Donise Hardy. Two friends, Jeff Curley and Dan Parsons, provided me with free headshot sessions. My neighbors next door (who'd been there since 1946) had to move to an assisted living facility and this summer the house was thoroughly renovated for their granddaughter, who arrived in August. The renovation boss noticed that my side porch roof was coming off and arranged for some of his workers to repair it. This summer I bought a Fingerworks Keyboard, but its learning curve is steep and I haven't had time to master it yet. I saw lots of plays, but only two really stand out: "The Kentucky Cycle" - an amazing play of 200 years of history (1770s to 1970s); lots of violence, cheating and irony. The play was in nine parts and filled two evenings. The other was "I'm not Lying," Jaston Williams' (Greater Tuna) amazing autobiographical play that will play again early 2004. I received two jury summons early in the year, both d