My hair is getting crazy long.  I'm cutting it in two weeks.  :)

I've been in Los Angeles for 6 months.  6 MONTHS!!!

On January 6, 2011 I rolled into town with nothing but a dance belt and a tube of chapstick - figuratively speaking, of course, I don't even own a dance belt.  

Here are a few highlights from my first 6 months in the Golden State:

*Moved into Natty's spare room for the convenience, stayed in Natty's spare room for the cheap rent - despite the fact that she's a bit old-fashioned and thinks everything is going to spontaneously combust and burn down the neighborhood.

*Got Dotty, Vinny, and Danny - my manager and agents (which I think is rather exceptional after only 6 months - even if I still don't know the difference between an agent and a manager)

*Bought Phin, crashed Phin, changed Phin's oil.  In the process I broke my arm.  It's mostly healed.

*Saw my first LA transvestite.  Last week I saw 5 in one day.

*Went to countless auditions for student films, commercials, TV shows, webisodes, feature films, short films, video games, and theater.  (Did an episode of Spanish TV, and 3 student projects)*

*Got a job at a call center where the bathroom is locked and smells like grape fluoride.

*Went to Disneyland 6 times.

*Turned 28.

*Saw the Getty, the beach, the Observatory, Grauman's Chinese Theater, the Hollywood sign, the Kodak Theater, The Paley Center for Media, USC, UCLA, CSULA, Elton John in concert, The Santa Monica Pier, PCH, Pismo Beach, the Wayfarer's Chapel, Rodeo Drive, George Lucas, Deep Roy, Chelsea Hightower (she's in my ward, we're friends, it's true) Matthew Morrison, Adam Lambert, Rob Reiner, Jane Lynch, Will Ferrel, Jason Mraz, Melissa Joan Hart, Jamie Pressley, Sally Struthers, Dan Lauria, Diane Neal, David Caruso, Neil Patrick Harris, the Ellen Show, a large man in a small bikini riding a bike, and ate some incredible food (Urth Caffe, Blu Jam Cafe, The Griddle...)

So, it's been a pretty good 6 months.  The future's lookin' pretty good too.  Like giant pancake good.  Like 75% off good.  Like free dessert when it's not even your birthday good.  I think you get the point.  Bring it.

*Update on the last post:  I'm doing Bayside High School Musical, and the call center film.  Still haven't heard back for 100% sure from the church, though it's looking like a sure thing.  It only took them 6 months to let me know.  I auditioned for them the day before I got to LA.

I got cast in something.  Probably.  A couple of things actually.  I'm still waiting to hear back from several sources.

Potential thing #1:  The New Testament film project being produced by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (AKA, the Mormons).  I'm not sure how much I can give away (though honestly, they haven't said, "Keep this on the DL", so I can probably spill all, but I'll err on the side of caution here) but I've been submitted for a role and am now awaiting approval from "The Brethren".  I should know about that in a week or so.

Potential thing #2:  I auditioned to play a call-center employee (for which I feel especially qualified) and they loved my audition, and put me on "avail" (which in biz speak means "Hey, we want you to be in this project, make sure you're available for these dates").  They left me a message telling me as much, and I left them a message telling them that was fine.  I haven't heard anything from them since.

Potential thing #3:  Bayside High School Musical.  That's right folks, someone took our favorite teen sitcom and turned it into a 60-ish-minute musical extravaganza.  Yours truly will be playing this guy:

That is, if I'm not filming for the church.  See, it's a theater production in Burbank during the months of August, September, and October.  It performs every Wednesday night.  They have no understudies.  So first I have to find out about the New Testament and make sure I won't be in Utah on a Wednesday during those months (I know about a thousand questions just popped into your head regarding the shoot schedule of the New Testament, unfortunately I cannot, at the present juncture, answer any of them).  So as soon as I find out about one, I'll know about the other.  In the meantime, you can wait with bated breath alongside me to see what the future might hold.  :)

So, I don't need to be this guy:

Heck, I don't even need to be this guy:

I just want to ride my scooter around town without feeling my belly jiggle every time I hit a bump.  Am I reaching for the starts here?  I didn't think so.  

Anyone want to sponsor a personal trainer for me?

"Sorry I didn't stay very long, it's just that your friends are kind of intense and all of them are always trying to be the center of attention.  I just couldn't handle it."

This was an interesting observation made by my little bro.

I think we just need a little more validation than most.  What we do isn't easy and we want to know it's worth it.  We seem to have a need for constant validation/inspiration/motivation.

Here's something that inspired me recently:

When it comes down to life, religion, spirituality etc. this basically sums it all up for me:

What?


Oh, just changing the oil in my scooter.

Yeah.

What's that?

No, I did it myself.

Yeah, the box end of a 17mm combination wrench.

I know.

Hm?

Well I found the torque wrench box, but not the torque wrench, so just hand tight, then a little bit further.

Mm hm.

A couple of drops, but it was my first time.

Well thank you.  Yeah now I think I'll go grill some meat or hit some stuff or something.

...

What?

The mullet?  ...

Oh!  It's for a movie I auditioned for.  Yeah, still waiting to hear back.

This is the teaser of the Jose Luis episode I was in.  You only see me briefly, and you don't see me get tackled - which is a shame - but you kind of get the idea.  Jose Luis episodes aren't online - which is also a shame - or I would post the whole thing.  Regardless, enjoy:

The Utah Shakespeare Festival just announced its 2012 season.  Among other shows it looks as though they're doing The Drowsy Chaperone.  When I read that my heart skipped a beat. I wonder - if I started a Facebook campaign a la Betty White for SNL, would they let me do the show?