My blog

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• planes, trains, and automobiles....

  Saturday, May 17, 2008 11:39PM / Standard Entry

  Now I know how John Candy felt...the last couple weeks have been a haze as I've literally been on the go, go, go.  I've finally found a small window of time now to sit, chill, and not have to worry about being somewhere, bringing something, living out of my suitcase.  It's actually been a good stretch and I'm not complaining at all.  In fact, right now in my life, being loaded is exactly what I need to keep propelling myself forward.  I feel like in many ways I've been trying to outrun my past and so with each new day, with each new endeavor, brings a fresh perspective, new people, and experiences that continue to fulfill me, teach me, and make me a more whole being than the previous day.  I know that just sounded awfully cheese-filled, but sometimes that's just what I am: a hot pocket filled with oozing cheese.
  
  A couple weeks ago I did a job with my faux baby girl for a bank.  I love it!  Her mom has kept in touch with me and even invited me to their home to play some time.  Apparently, sometimes my baby girl says my name...where's Brian?  I hope her real dad isn't getting too angry about that.    Well, after that spot, it was one thing after another as I went on to do an ad for Bayer where I portray a healthy man in control of his diabetes.  (Move over diabetes, I'm driving.)  I actually thought I was going in to do an aspirin session, but to my surprise, will be the face of diabetes I think in some places in China at some point.  (Hey, it's a job and hey, it reminds me that I have to watch my white rice intake as my dad, who developed adult on-set diabetes now doesn't ever eat white rice.)  After that, it was onto a session for Foxwoods Casinos through an Asian advertising agency.  I worked a couple days on that which was interesting for reasons I'll get to later.  The day after that, I was up at the butt crack of dawn off to Parsippany, New Jersey to shoot an industrial for Deloitte & Touche at one of their big offices.  Ah, how it reminded me of being a corporate drone.  We actually shot it amongst real D&T workers and I think I found myself more interested in watching them sit there staring at a computer monitor for the entire day while occasionally getting up to get a cup of coffee or an apple than I was in working on the spot.  That used to be me and essentially and I'll do anything to not ever have to be that person again (unless it's acting the part!)  I was feelin' their pain.  That day lasted a lot longer than I thought it would and for it, I had to rebook my flight home for Saturday morning - I was going home for Mother's Day!  So, Sat. morn, again at the butt crack of dawn I found myself at JFK for a 7am flight only to find out that it was canceled once I got there.  Rerouted, I had to wait around for an hour and half for the next flight.  It wouldn't have been such a big deal were it not for the fact that I was only going to be home for 36 hours!  I had to cut the trip short going out and then I also had to cut it short on the way back.  I wanted to stay home with my family for a few days since I haven't been there since October, but I had another job to get back to NYC for on Monday...crud.  So, I landed in SF on Saturday noon, hung out with my family for 2 whole days - Mom's Day was great and Mom was happy (especially since I missed last year's Mum's Day due to another job), then was off on a red-eye back on Sunday night.  Come Monday morning, I get back to my place, have time to grab a few winks, and then was off again for another job with Foxwoods Casino.  Foxy fox in my life a lot lately.  Whereas the previous week's Foxwoods job was through an Asian ad agency and shot in NY in a studio, this spot was through a mainstream agency and to take place at the actual casino up in Connecticut - a good 2.5-3 hours away from NYC.   What was interesting to see was that whereas the Asian spot was held in NY with a tiny budget, the mainstream one was held at the actual casino with no holds barred.  We had Dunkin' Donuts and a skeleton crew for the Asian one.  Once I got up to CT, we were given a per diem, food was catered, they put us up in a plush room, and there were a million people swirling around on set.  I understand that the client will never push tons of money into Asian advertising here in the United States, but the ironic thing I thought about the situation was that it's probably the Asians here in the US who wind up spending the most money and gambling the longest hours than any other community.  Foxwoods spends little to target them, yet they get the most return from them.  Dunkin' Donuts versus a rack of ribs.  Something was askew.  But who am I to say anything?  I'm just a hired gun doing a part.  What was also funny on these Foxwoods spots was that each time, there were photos of previous Foxwoods ads floating about and when I looked at them, I found myself in them!  I'd done another thing for them 3 years ago and I guess it was time for them to refresh their look, only they reused the same person...ha.  Further, in one of the old photos, I was with a different woman than the one they paired with me this time.  Only I'll know that, but it's funny to think that maybe in these ads, it's the same person with a different women 3 years apart because the first relationship with the other woman didn't work out.  That'll be my little back story anyway to myself.
  
  I'm glad to be back without work for a little bit so I can finally get working on producing responsibilities.  We've got one film in post now and one in pre.  It's an exciting time...the last 2 weeks, I lost track of what day it was, what bed I was sleeping in, what city's air I was breathing.  Again, I'm not complaining, just happy and appreciative to be able to share this.  After all, it means I'm alive...not dead.  Onto LA in a few weeks...
  

  
  
  
  move over diabetes, i'm driving.
  
  
  
  we're so happy to win an iPod at foxwoods.
  
  
  
  office drone.
  
  
  
  at the mgm at foxwoods with my "current gal"
    dude to the right was straight mcdreamy look alike.
  
  
  
  3 years ago with my "ex"
  
  
  

  
  i just got sent this last one by the girl i worked the last foxwoods job with.  i'd never seen this.  she was in this as well...how come she gets these things and i don't!!?!
  
  

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• my (faux) baby girl

  Saturday, May 3, 2008 6:39AM / Standard Entry

  Knock on wood.  Things have been going pretty well professionally speaking recently.  Can't complain, can't complain.  Thought this might be interesting to share...I got hired this week to work on a Chase bank job where I got to play a dad once again.  That's been happening a little too often recently and trust me when I say that I have stopped in my tracks and realized that people are perceiving me to be of that age now.    Well, if I get to work with kids like the baby girl I had this week, I won't mind one bit.  Jessica was simply adorable.  Yea, everyone says kids are such and yea every kid probably is, but rare is the time when I walk away from a kid actually wishing that he/she were my own kid.  I think I saw my future in this girl and it just struck a cord in me or something.  Maybe my hormones are going haywire.  Men have those things too, right?  Anyway, just thought I'd share the process that was with Daddy and his little girl.
  
  A couple weeks back, I went to the initial casting.  It was a madhouse with potential daddies and even more cute little girls.  By the next day, I was at a callback with just three little girls and before I knew who they picked, when I saw Jessica, I knew she had to be the one.  The other girls were cute, but Jessica...just stood out.  She was obviously a cutie, but her voice, her playfulness, her nature, her...her....being.  She just had it, whatever it is.  Despite her mother, who had brought here there, thinking I was Korean and acting surprised when I spoke Chinese to her, I wanted Jessica to get it.  And, obviously, I hoped I'd get it too.  Anything to work with Jessica.
  
  The casting director had all the candidates team up together to see who had a natural feel and look together.  This is what it looked like:
  
  
  
  That was Jessica and I.  This was another girl and I:
  
  
  
  Yes, I felt like a cheatin' father as I had different girls in my arms.  As fate would have it though..a week later, when I arrived to the shoot, there Jessica was waiting!  We'd found each other.  Only, there was another girl there, the one in the 2nd photo who tested with me.  What? 
  
  Turns out - and this I didn't know - often with children at a young age, they like to have their main choice and a back-up on set just in case that day the first choice isn't having a good day.  Kids, you know how they can be.  So, in case Jessica might have been upset or fussy or something, they were covered.  (Hey, what if I was feeling fussy?)  Turned out too that a friend of mine was one of the creative directors on this shoot.  He'd just started at the agency the week before and whether or not I got any help from "above" with this job is something that maybe will be answered over beers and shots one day - when the truth comes out.
  
  Jessica and I get to working and while she was a little camera shy at first (she's still only 5 after all and not savvy quite yet), she eventually warmed up and our photographer got many many many shots from which the agency/client would have to work with.
  
  Example:
  
  
  
  They squeezed off some photos of the other girl while she was there too just as a precaution I think.  I felt bad, but at least am comforted by the fact that she doesn't know any better about the whole thing.  To the little girls - even Jessica - I think the whole thing is just playtime for them.  The innocence of youth - it's tremendous.
  
  My friend sent me the shot that the photographer liked best.  I'm guessing this might be the one that hits the scene.  Whenever that is:
  
  
  
  I was sad to part ways with Jessica as we wrapped, but perhaps, if it's meant to be, one day, we will get together again. 
  
  All in a day's work.
  
  Hope to see you again, my love..
  
   
  
  
  
  

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• Blog: Monday, Apr 21

  Monday, Apr 21, 2008 1:10PM / Standard Entry

  It's an exciting time right now for many reasons.  A couple of reasons are thanks to us being in post-production and pre-production for two different features right now.  Until we're totally good and ready, I'll just wait till the time is really right to talk about the projects.  Hopefully you'll all like it when the time comes!
  
  Our director Kit Hui, in NYC, trying to solve a complex problem:
  
  
  
  I'm psyched, cause one of my favorite new bands has agreed to allow us to use their music in our soundtrack.  Check 'em out: PAPERDOLL.  They have a hype sound!
  
  
  

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• tiger and i...

  Friday, Apr 11, 2008 9:43PM / Standard Entry

  Well in the same vein that I did a commercial with LeBron James, here's one in which I worked with Tiger Woods...
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Man, I wish.
  
  

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• no foolin'...

  Wednesday, Apr 9, 2008 3:29AM / Standard Entry

  Man, I got taken to school this April Fool left and right.  I hate that "holiday."
  
  For you Lost fans, this cracks me up:
  
  
  
  
  
  And in work related news...(why do I feel like a newscaster?) I'm feelin' remarkably good about the way some projects are going right now.  Can't wait to talk about them more at some point.  I hate jinxing things, ya know?
  
  Apparently, right now, if you're coming into the American Airlines terminal at JFK in New York, I'm welcoming you with a beer in hand.  An ad I did for SAP/Asahi is up on display in airports here and there now I guess.  Hey, can never get the party started too early, right?
  
  

  
  

  
  I recently also did a recruiting video for the US Army where I played a cook getting talked into enlisting by this sergeant.  My friends are telling me that basically I'm doing something that promotes the war as I'm, in an indirect way, getting soldiers to sign up to fight.  I'm not a proponent of the war, but at the same time, don't shoot the cook, I'm just an actor!
  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  

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