News

Brief Early Summer Update

Making movies involves so many moving parts, paperwork, and patience, that I’m amazed any of them arrive on screens, large or small! After all the typical travails, we are wrapping main photography for ANOTHER LIFE, starring Kevin Sorbo, Chris Mulkey, John Boyd West, and me. On another feature film project, we’re close to locking the script, which I hope will go out to casting soon, as long as SAG/AFTRA either does not strike or gives waivers to independent films that don’t have deals with AMTPT members, as ours does not. As I wrote below, I’ve been cast in the Springer Opera House’s Spring, ’24 production of THE MINUTES, which has been cast with industry and SOH veterans, for what will be Paul Pierce’s final show, as he retires (I’m looking forward to a joyful send-off celebration!) Actor-writer Joachim Moore, based currently in Palm Springs, CA, has asked me to direct his next one-person show, after he and I discovered how sympathetic our artistic imaginations are to each other, when pow-towing on his current show, MEDGARXJAMES, which he’ll be performing in Seattle, this fall (I will post dates and venues as they’re locked.) On the personal front, my girlfriend and I are looking forward to a once-in-a-lifetime live-aboard scuba diving safari in The Maldives, this October, and we’ll be in the water a bit before that, checking out our gear and keeping up skills.

This is maybe the most fruitful era of my life so far as an actor and writer: having achieved a stable professional platform from which to work–now able to count on trustworthy, creative collaborators, and with enough work to keep me afloat financially–I’m feeling just ‘safe enough’ to enjoy projects more, and, deliciously, take the time to explore more the ‘story I’m telling’ as an artist, deepening my work. For me, having collaborators whom I trust, and trust me, makes all the difference. More, anon.

Thank you for checking in.

Next Spring at The Springer!

I’m delighted to say I’ll be playing Mayor Superba in Tracy Letts’ THE MINUTES, next year at The Springer Opera House, in a production directed by Paul Pierce, who directed me as Nixon, in FROST/NIXON, way back in 2012. This will be Paul’s ‘swan song’ as Artistic Director of The Springer Opera House, which he turned into a real force in regional and educational theater, over a long and protean career. He runs a wonderful company full of people whom I adore. I’m honored and thrilled to be returning in such a terrific play, which I loved, in its Broadway run. It’s a terrific ensemble show, featuring some veteran actors of stage and screen, that we’ll be doing in an intimate, 300 seat space, which I think is perfect. Please join us if you’re in the Atlanta area next April.

Now working with STW TALENT AGENCY

I’m happy to announce that I’m now represented by Susan Tolar Walters and STW TALENT AGENCY in the northeast, southeast, and as far west as Chicago, in film, tv, and theater.

I continue to be represented in the Pacific Northwest by Ryan Artists. This is a strong team that well fits my needs, particularly as my profile rises with projects currently in production and development.

ANOTHER LIFE

It’s been a hot minute since I’ve posted a meaningful update. So, I’m happy to report that right now we are well into production of the faith-based film, ANOTHER LIFE, at Atlantic & Pacific Studios, directed by Dean Jones, starring Kevin Sorbo, Chris Mulkey, John Boyd Wood, Lance Montalto, and me. We anticipate wrapping main photography before June, with a possible premiere date of early September. ANOTHER LIFE is a bio pic about Danny Jefferson’s career in both undertaking/funeral homes and stand up comedy, two careers at which he excelled despite also being born nearly deaf. The film looks great, I’m pleased to say, and am happy with my own work in it playing the role of SARGE, a Vietnam vet with serious PTSD. I look forward to sharing more soon about both this film and other exciting projects afoot.

A Word About Why No Updates!

It’s kill’n me, y’all! There are several delicious pots on the front burner on which I want to lift the lid to give folks a whiff, but not yet! I came to the conclusion a few years ago that the only way forward for me in entertainment, as an actor, was to expand my work to other aspects of the ‘business.’ So, to that end, I’m a producing partner on several film and tv projects, at present (one in which I have a modest financial investment, the others in which I have sweat equity). I’m not an actor in all of these, but I am in more than one, and I’m genuinely excited about them: e.g., one film has the best on-camera role that’s every been offered to me. I apologize for the ‘vague booking,’ but I had to say something in this space, because I’ve been silent in it, too long.

On the person front, 2023 is going to be a lot of fun, which I’ll pursue in spite of messes around the world that break my heart: especially the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and the hopeful–but painful–popular uprisings in China and Iran. Early in the year, I return to Cozumel with my girlfriend to scuba dive, in order to give her some experience with drift diving, because we’ve pooled our pennies for a live-aboard dive trip, with a great friend leading, to the Maldives, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. A wonderful aspect of diving is visiting far-off places. My most exotic trip, to date, was to the Galapagos Islands, more than a decade to go, a paradise of marine fauna to which I’d love to return.

I hope you also have plans to dive into creative work and adventure! I’ll tell you more about my own work, the closer we get to it!