Desperate Housewives/Josh Zuckerman

I like to see an actor, that I think the world doesn't know about, and give this person a shout out! I have been watching Desperate Housewives, since it has first aired. Now mind you, some of the seasons have sucked, but this one is actually pretty good. Sometimes I'm like "why am I sticking with this show"? This season hasn't let me down, and is pretty intriguing. Now there is an actor on this show, who usually has one or two lines every episode. In Desperate Housewives famous form of writing, now the whole series is spinning around his character. I was so impressed by this young actor, and was blown away by his work. I'm sure he has done tons of film, however, he is not a house hold name, and I'm thinking he will be soon. This actor was so connected, so corky, honest, and intriguing. The things he is doing with his work on Desperate Housewives equals a BRAVO from me. I think the world needs to watch, because JOSH ZUCKERMAN is the new amazing boy in Hollywood!

Museum Project 2 (Rated R) Not Intended For Children!

Tiffany and I are a tiny bit late on our second museum date, and we are going to try to get together sooner next time around. I always say better late than never. The second museum date was very intriguing and interesting as we went to The Museum of Sex in Manhattan. Tiffany had talked up the Museum of Sex so much, because she went to the one in Amsterdam. I didn't know what to expect in a big old museum like this one. However, it was naughty, funny, and sometimes an educational experience for me. Now this museum is very over priced for a museum, so if you go make sure you have your wallet open and ready. What ever happened to the five dollar donation that most museums have in the city? This was I guess like going to Madam Tussuad's, but not that expensive. Tiffany came prepared with her student I.D. and a coupon, so we only paid thirteen bucks.

You start off in a room full of ....well.... basically porn videos. This was really alarming, as you first walk into the room. You get the history of sex, oral, threesomes, orgy, four play, etc. I watched videos of Paris Hilton giving a blow job, Collin Farrell penetration, and many others. I had no idea that the sex museum could use this material???

After leaving that room I went up stairs to look at the history of a condom, and that was pretty interesting. I also saw the first vibrators, and how they changed through out time. Then it went into diseases, and it was very educational about HIV, and other sexually transmitted diseases. I also learned about studies that they had in the 60's with African American men. How they kept injecting a group of African American Men with Syphilis, and tried to cure them, and kept doing so until they died. In exchange for food, and boarding. Yet again treating my people like lab rats. This section of the museum became very educational for me. I also saw pictures of what Syphilis did to peoples bodies. Man was that gross, this disease just ate away at the human tissue. Lot's of safe sex practices on this floor, and some fun art etc.

We went around the river bend, to another room where I saw sex toys, paintings, photos and dolls! There were these very artistic photos of people having sex, in positions, I have never seen or even thought about. Rubber sex suits, slings, and all kinds of craziness were in this room. Tiffany loved the Japanese porno animation section, and found this to be very intriguing to her. I watched her, as she glistened looking at the cartoons on the wall. She asked me "If you can draw, why not do a Disney cartoon, why would someone chose to do sex animation"? I found this to be an interesting question, and one I couldn't answer.

Lastly we went upstairs and watched a ton of animals having sex. The interesting part to me, is to watch the homosexual section of the animals. I had no idea there were gay Lion's, Tigers, and Bears..Oh My!??!! We laughed a ton in this museum, and I was surprisingly educated in some of the sections in this museum. I highly recommend the sex museum, however, you have to take it seriously. Americans, in my opinion, make such a big deal out of the human body and sex. Maybe I am a free spirit like the Europeans, but it was not such a taboo for me. I will admit, this museum could be fun to go to with a spouse, because I sure left wanting to have sex. Nevertheless, no sex for me, because I am single and not in love. Well, that is whole different story, but it was a hot, amazing time with my good friend Tiffany! Stayed tuned for museum project three, we promise it will be not rated R!

Creditors

I saw the production of "Creditors" presented by the Donmar Warehouse, at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. Which I am now a supporter, and patron. It sounds so "old man" to be a patron of a institution. If I was to become a patron anywhere, BAM is the place, to give your money and support. It is in my neighborhood, and it puts on some of the most cultural, and amazing pieces of music, dance, film, and theater. Anyway, back to the play I saw, Creditors was an amazing piece of work. As I watched I thought to myself "how do you even attempt to start this work as an actor"? I was so impressed by all the actors in this piece. They were all superb, and we American can learn so much from the British! I also loved the script, it was very engaging, and dealing with the dept we rack up from doing things for a spouse, and or yet even an X-lover (a very intelligent piece of work). This was a hard piece to even attempt, as it was simply about the text. The text was the star of the show, and to emote, and use the words to tell an awesome story, was amazing. This actors had the moment to moment down to a science, as the text ping ponged from one actor to another! It was was amazing to watch these pros at work, and to yet again learn from another experience at the theater!

Finding Me 2

Last night, I woke up way too late from a nap, and had to rush to get in the shower, dressed, out the door, and to the C train to acting class! You see my sister was in town, and wore me out, from doing so many fun tourist things. We had a blast in the city together, and now I was so tired. I was kicking, screaming, and fighting on my way to acting class. I actually didn't want to go, and was giving myself so many excuses to just sleep in. However, when I got there, I got this really dry, comedic, scene, where I had most of the lines in it! I memorized the scene, (which is tough when you are half asleep), but I did it. Not as fast as I did last week, but what the hey! We blocked, filmed, the scene and it went great! I learned two most interesting things about myself at the end of the day. One being that I can do comedy, and that I am funny. The class was laughing so hard at my scene, and the teacher said I have perfect timing. I had no idea, because I was just saying the lines, trying to be honest, and find the truth in the character. This was fun and new for me to make people laugh. You see all my career, I'm cast as this dramatic actor. Now I know I can be funny, and play the sarcastic, dry, types of comedy. The second thing that was said to me during class was "That he cast me wrong the whole first few weeks of the class". He assumed I would always play the nice, good, friendly, guy! Last night this character was dark, and a big butt hole! My acting teacher said "you should play the dick more often, you are so good at it"! Which brings me to my second discover in class last night, the bad guy is fun, and I can flourish in it! I actually felt more comfortable playing him, then the nice guy the other weeks in class! Lastly, after class, I asked my acting teacher to type me racially. He said I have a gift for playing many races. This gift that has been a CURSE during most of my career. He thinks "this gift" will eventually open many doors for me. Right now he says I read the most middle eastern, and Latino! There was no black in there, yet again, but I will take it. I will now try and use this rainbow of a race, as a gift!!!! It has distracted, deterred me, and GOD made me this multi racial looking creature. I will try from now on to use my multi-culturalism as a positive, casting people will think what that want. I will attempt to give them everything they need in the work, and not worry about what image I give them, and let them decide. This is a new thinking in a good way, in my direction. Acting class ended up, being, yet again an amazing evening. I'm so glad I went, and it is nice to learn and grow!

Signed, Sealed, Delivered, I'm Yours!

I did it my friends, I just signed my life away to a new manager! Thanks my blog friends for your love, support, and prayers. I still have a ton of fear, but like pastor said today in church, "give all your anxieties, and fears to GOD, and stop stressing"! I'm living by faith, instinct, and inner voice, and I pray that my decision will open doors! Thank you again my blogger friends!

Decisions And Prayers

All this week, I have been praying, stressing, and challenging myself with a new fear. If you read my blog, I have been taking my time, and meeting with a ton of agents and managers. I want to do this right, and not rush into anything. I'm looking for the right fit for me, and most of all someone that believes in me, and what I have to offer to the world as an artist! I have found new representation for me, but the catch is this person wants to sign me for longer than I have ever signed a contract in my life. My commitment issues are racing through my head. I have been burned by bad representation before, and this is my career I'm talking about here! However, our meetings have been great, and I like the energy I get from this firm. I'm scared, of signing, and being stuck with someone I don't like, if things don't happen in the direction I was promised. I am writing this because, I would love for prayers from my blog friends. I need guidance, I'm trying to listen to GOD in this moment, and I'm hearing nothing but crickets. LOL My mind races, and my answer to this keeps going back and forth. One moment I'm signing the contract, and the other I am not! Mind you I have asked to be signed for a shorter amount of time, and the answer was "no" they want to develop my career. Entrusting my professional life to someone else is a big step for me. Pray for me that I make a sound decision, that will help me make my dreams come true. Thanks Blogger Friends!

The Innocent Ignorant Girl

I took this one day class on how to market yourself in the entertainment industry, because I'm bad at the business part of the show! It is not called "show business" for no reason at all, and me and business don't mix! I'm good with doing my gig, and being on the stage or in front of the camera. However, marketing, promoting, and schmoozing is not my thing at all. The class was very interesting, anyway, we got on the topic of type. I started to speak about how being bi-racial could be a drag, and sometimes I don't get cast or looked at for African American parts, because small minded casting people don't think I am black enough! Then the drama began in the class, a very nice looking Caucasian girl said " I can see why, because you don't talk black"! When I tell you every African American in the class almost jumped out of there seats and killed the poor girl. How does a black person speak? You mean to tell me, because I don't speak with Ebonics, slang, or unintelligible does this mean I don't speak black? Racism at it's best was yet again presented to me in the weirdest form. Which I never expected in a liberal acting workshop in New York City. The girl started to cry, because even the other Caucasians in the class jumped down her throat! I spoke with her after class, to explain why it was not the most intelligent thing to say to a African American or any other race. I truly don't think the girl meant any harm, and just didn't know any better. I am sure she learned a huge lesson even more than marketing herself, hopefully she learned about people, and race!

La Mission

I went to see Benjamin Bratt's new film "La Mission", which is a movie written and directed by his brother Peter. It was such an unexpectedly thrilling movie. I spent the movie crying through most of the scenes. I had to blog about this movie, it was so touching, and dealt with so many issues, in the Latino community. I will correct myself, and say it dealt with many issues in ANY community. As this movie is a universal picture, however, it was a little personal for me. It was also nice to see a good piece, done by a mostly Latino cast. It is good to see Latinos finding there place in American cinema. I hope this family team continues to make more films, because it is missing in today's America. The performance where all stellar, although, there was some writing issues, and directing issues. However, I overlooked them because the piece was so good, in many other ways. It made me want to see the movie again, and own it. Go support what I think is a great piece of cinema "La Mission"!

Next Fall

I went to see one of the funniest plays on Broadway, and genius because while yet funny, it touches on some real serious subjects! This play is produced by Sir Elton John, and had me turning in my seats with laughter. The story is about a homosexual boy who is in a coma, and hasn't come out of the closet yet to his family. His partner is in the waiting room, with the boy's religious southern mom and dad , the boy's boss and fag hag, and the boys religious gay best friend. You go back in time to explore the relationship between the lover and the boy. You see the boy is a christian, prays after sex, and believes his homosexuality is a sin. However he loves his partner, but his partner is not a believer at all. The boy continuously trying to save his partners soul. This causes a huge drama in his relationship, not to mention he is not out to his family! Tons of action and drama happens between the family in the waiting room, and the partner not having any rights. With the flashbacks back in the home, dealing with religion and sexuality. I know? This sounds like a drama, but it is not. Don't get me wrong, it has many dramatic under tones, and yet it deals with religion and stereotype at it's best. I won't tell you the whole story, but this highly interesting relationship is brilliant on stage. I highly recommend "Next Fall", you will laugh, and you will cry. Most of all you will have an amazing night at the theater!

Finding Me

I had a great film class this past Monday, it is such a hands on experience type of a class. I absolutely love it, and truly look forward to going to this class! I never mentioned the name of my teacher, his name is Bill Hopkins, and he teaches this same class at Stella Adler, Lee Strasberg School, and Weist Baron. I must admit the hardest part is memorizing the copy you get, as soon as you walk into class. He sits down and "type" casts you, and you uncomfortable watch him as he glares at you for fifteen minutes, going back forth with different scripts. Then you go and do your best to work with your partner swiftly, to come up with, what the hell you think is going on, and get this puppy stuck in your brain somehow! It was amazing watching the people who are re-taking his class, (because they love it so much), they memorize copy so fast, and go and shoot that stuff like a pro would. Us newbies go into the blocking praying the copy is memorized, and hoping the magic happens as he directs you. Watching myself back on Monday was very eye opening for me. WOW, I look so intense, and boy do I have big ass cheeks! I couldn't stop watching my big cheeks move up and down, so I have no idea how my acting was. He kept saying "good J.R.", so I guess I did fine. However, those big fat cheeks flopping in the wind was a little overwhelming. I can't wait until I'm not so self conscious at looking at myself. Will I ever be comfortable? Hmmm, Bill says we will be, but we shall see? Nevertheless it is like getting to play every week. To work on your acting chops, at the same time memorization skills, and yet trying to master the art of film acting. This to me is a dream come true, and I am enjoying every moment of this experience!

The Miracle Worker

On Sunday the revival of "The Miracle Worker" on Broadway closed, way too early! I got a free ticket to the closing night performance, with people like Jay Binder, and Joan Rivers sitting right behind me. I think in times like these (a recession) folks don't want to see a play about a deaf/blind girl! However, this piece on Broadway was so well done, moving, and so beautiful! I wish everyone got a chance to see this classic play revived in such a good manner. The direction was simple, and yet you got carried away to this other world, that was so honest, and natural! I really enjoyed this production of the show, the team of actors in this piece was so extraordinary!

Two people to watch out for and should have Tony nominations in my eyes are actress: Alison Pill and Abigail Breslin. These two performance were the heart of the show! Don't get me wrong the other actors were superb, but by nature of the writing, and the piece, these two characters naturally draw you in. These two amazing talents did more than give justice to the piece. Alison Pill you might recognize from HBO's "In Treatment" or the movie "MIlk"! I have enjoyed her work on t.v. and film, and after seeing her portrayal of Annie Sullivan I am official a fan of the young, mature, actress! This is an actress on the rise, with so much, strength, conviction, passion, and truth in her performance. She has swept me away as an actor, and I want to work with her now! I know you all know Abigail Breslin, best known from the movie "little Miss Sunshine"! This performance is so stellar, it is like a 40 year old veteran actress, is stuck in a little girls body! She was so superb, in it from the beginning to the end! She only says two words in the play, and yet she captivates you, and takes you to places emotionally that some adult actors couldn't even begin to do. This little girl is a star, and we all better watch out for her. She carried the show, and her Helen Keller, should go down in history, as one of the best! Too bad, theater goers, didn't go out and get to see this short lived Broadway show. With so much critical acclaim, and for good reason. I guess that is the nature of the beast, you can do some really good work, be a part of a beautiful new revived project, and it still become a big old flop. Not fair, but this is the business I love so much and chose to be in.

Why Did I Get Married Too

I went to see Tyler Perry's new movie "Why Did I Get Married Too", and had the time of my life at the theater. I am such a movie goer, (as you all know), and love to have a whole experience at the movies. Therefore, many movie theaters I will not go to in New York City, because of the clientele, being loud and noisy. I love to watch a movie and take it all in with silence, and appropriate laughter if it is a comedy! However this time I purposely chose the loudest, most ghetto theater in New York City to go see this movie in (AMC on 42nd Street). This was the best choice I have ever made in my life, to hear folks scream at the film, laugh loud, talk back to the actors, make jokes, hoot and holla in a Tyler Perry movie, is the only way to go! Was the movie predictable at times? yes! Was it shocking and over the top? yes! Like always with Tyler Perry was there a strong beautiful message? Yes! Did I have an amazing time at the movies! YES!!!! This movie did exactly what it was cut out to do, and made you feel the way you were supposed to at all times. BRAVO to Tyler for giving so many African American actors work!!!! I will point out that Janet Jackson's performance in this movie was superb. You can tell she dug deep from her big brother's death, and it must have been a therapeutic experience for Janet! Her acting chops were so strong, and she was so connected, and in it to win it! I honestly feel that all the actors grew from the first movie to the current. Other stand outs in the movie are: Tasha Smith, Michael Jai White, and the amazing Jill Scott! Go have fun, and see Why Did I Get Married Too!

The Man Bag Saga

When I was in Japan, I found this cute leather "man bag", that was calling my name. At first I was uncomfortable with buying a "man bag", I thought to myself is this to effeminate? Is this a purse or a proper "man bag"? Anyway, this bag was calling my name, and not to mention, I didn't want to always carry a big old book bag. When all I needed was a bag that would fit my chap stick, wallet, keys, camera, and maybe my journal. I went inside and purchased my first "man bag"! Which I use all the time on days that I'm not going to an audition or the gym. Those days are amazing to just walk around with a very light bag, and always have my essentials.

I walked into a Guitar Center store with my roommate the other day, and I was asked to check my "man bag"! I didn't mind checking my "man bag", because I love to try and follow the rules. However, I became very upset later, while walking through the store. I looked at my roommate with her big old purse wrapped around her arm. I said "Didn't you have to check your bag", "No" she said, and then I got upset! As I slowly started to realize she could carry that big old purse, with her life inside of it, around the store. I couldn't carry my small little bag with chap stick, camera, wallet, and keys. Now I started to feel like this was unfair, and I was just discriminated against because I had a bag and was a man. I fumed as my blood pressure raced, temper flared, and my mind got a little wonky. Trying to smile as I walked through the store, and be a good co-shopper with my roommate. However, I would look down at her big green bag, and I was ready to waltz back up stairs and say give me my "man bag" back NOW! I tried to relax and took a deep breathe, and like a crazy actor, tried to remember this moment, just in case I had to use it again for some character. LOL! Next time I go into guitar center I'm going to refuse to check my bag! If a girl can walk through with no problems, then so can J.R. Whittington!