Bits and pieces
I’m starting to get little sparks and flashes about the project. This weekend at the Barbara Deutsch workshops (for those of you who don’t know, Barbara is this amazing career coach from LA that I bring up every few weeks) I heard from an actor that a woman named Gigi DeLeon was cast and it sounds most likely that she’ll be playing my wife. Wow, this gig comes with a "TV wife". Man, it gets better and better each day. Also, I was coaching Joely yesterday for her film "Almost Heaven" and she told me that Eric Johnson was cast as well. Eric is an actor from Alberta now living in Vancouver, I met a while back when he was doing Smallville. He also did this movie a even further back called Scorn, about a kid who gets his mom and grandma killed for their inheritance.
I also just got off the phone with a very nice young Nepali man named Shiva (yes, like the god) who is going to give me a lesson next week. So it begins, but no still no date of when I leave and no confirmation about Switzerland yet.
Man, it’s been a crazy weekend cuz both the Mastery and Barbara Deutsch were happening. So I was moving back and forth between the two. The experiences are helping prepare for what's about to happen next. I’m excited but I also have this sense of calm. I’m just setting things up before I go. I have a Skype account now, a myspace account and also got a webcam. Taking care of little things here and there.
Speaking of webcam, I also did this amazing thing this weekend. One of my students, Theresa Lee who I coached for this movie, "SON OF DRAGON" a few weeks before called me the day before her first day of shooting (I didn’t know she booked the job) from China! Desperately needing a coaching (always there for my students as much as possible cuz I love them!). We were able to work it via webcam. Isn’t that wild? It was a little early, 6:30 am but because of the other workshops, that was the only time I could do it. Gotta love technology.
So bit by bit ... little by little it begins ... I'm sure it's going to start moving fast enough.
Monday, March 27, 2006
Saturday, March 18, 2006
St. Paddy's at the Kathmandu cafe
I got to the Kathmandu cafe. It was pretty cool. Ang took me there for my birthday dinner. It was a really serene place and we got to eat traditional Nepali food.
We had a Boj or in English - Feast. Two small dishes and then a main dish. Nepali food is actually very close to Indian food. Simpler, smaller, cleaner.
Our first dishes were a shredded chicken dish w/ some crunchy rice and dumplings.
Then the main dish was a yellow dahl, roti, mustard greens and Basmati rice. Very healthy and not all greasy.
I also managed to talk to the manager named Abi. He is the head of the Nepali society in Vancouver. I asked him if there was any place to learn Nepali and he mentioned that the cook who was student would be more than willing to tutor me in Nepali.
So next week I'll be studying Nepali, check out the restaurant if you get the chance. The food there is pretty good, reasonable and a little bit of a change from normal Indian food.
I got to the Kathmandu cafe. It was pretty cool. Ang took me there for my birthday dinner. It was a really serene place and we got to eat traditional Nepali food.
We had a Boj or in English - Feast. Two small dishes and then a main dish. Nepali food is actually very close to Indian food. Simpler, smaller, cleaner.
Our first dishes were a shredded chicken dish w/ some crunchy rice and dumplings.
Then the main dish was a yellow dahl, roti, mustard greens and Basmati rice. Very healthy and not all greasy.
I also managed to talk to the manager named Abi. He is the head of the Nepali society in Vancouver. I asked him if there was any place to learn Nepali and he mentioned that the cook who was student would be more than willing to tutor me in Nepali.
So next week I'll be studying Nepali, check out the restaurant if you get the chance. The food there is pretty good, reasonable and a little bit of a change from normal Indian food.
Friday, March 17, 2006
Post Birthday Glow
It's March 17th ... St. Paddy's day and just relaxing after a nite's celebration of my 36th birthday. I haven't laughed like that in a while. We went to a Karaoke box and then to Celebrities. I think my favorite song of the nite was "Old Macdonald" ... always a crowd pleaser especially when Aubrey Arnason is making cluck cluck and woof woof noises ... FABULOUS!
I even partook in a little alcohol action ... crazy I know!
Then off to Celebrities where there wasn't really anyone there but we made the most of the dance floor. This promoter guy came up to me (with a sort of put on New York accent) and asked if I wanted to dance in his show. I respectfully declined. Speaking of dancing, there was a male stripper there too, those interactive kinds - YIKES! I was a little confused at first because he was in a Fireman's outfit and I thought "What's a fireman doing in the club??" I thought maybe he was doing an ispection of some sort. Well, he was ... Then the peeps I went with happened to mention that it was my birthday to him and then he started getting all sexy dancing like with me. I ran in the other direction fleeing ... I'm a modest asian 36 year old you know! Unlike my friend Lara who did this whole interpretive dance piece a la kama sutra with him. You go KIWI rocker chick!
So this morning I get a call from wardrobe for my sizes ... why is it in productions that wardrobe is ALWAYS the first to call?? Again another step that this Everest thing is going to be my reality for the next few months ... BRING IT I say ... BRING IT! Tonite, it's the Cafe Kathmandu ... I looked at the menu and it's quite interesting. I can't wait to start learning the language.
I also decided yesterday that I'm bringing back my official last name as an actor . So my name on all things will read: MIGUELITO MACARIO ANDALUZ. 3 names and I'm worth it damn it!
Will hopefully find out soon whether I'm going to Switzerland or not.
It's March 17th ... St. Paddy's day and just relaxing after a nite's celebration of my 36th birthday. I haven't laughed like that in a while. We went to a Karaoke box and then to Celebrities. I think my favorite song of the nite was "Old Macdonald" ... always a crowd pleaser especially when Aubrey Arnason is making cluck cluck and woof woof noises ... FABULOUS!
I even partook in a little alcohol action ... crazy I know!
Then off to Celebrities where there wasn't really anyone there but we made the most of the dance floor. This promoter guy came up to me (with a sort of put on New York accent) and asked if I wanted to dance in his show. I respectfully declined. Speaking of dancing, there was a male stripper there too, those interactive kinds - YIKES! I was a little confused at first because he was in a Fireman's outfit and I thought "What's a fireman doing in the club??" I thought maybe he was doing an ispection of some sort. Well, he was ... Then the peeps I went with happened to mention that it was my birthday to him and then he started getting all sexy dancing like with me. I ran in the other direction fleeing ... I'm a modest asian 36 year old you know! Unlike my friend Lara who did this whole interpretive dance piece a la kama sutra with him. You go KIWI rocker chick!
So this morning I get a call from wardrobe for my sizes ... why is it in productions that wardrobe is ALWAYS the first to call?? Again another step that this Everest thing is going to be my reality for the next few months ... BRING IT I say ... BRING IT! Tonite, it's the Cafe Kathmandu ... I looked at the menu and it's quite interesting. I can't wait to start learning the language.
I also decided yesterday that I'm bringing back my official last name as an actor . So my name on all things will read: MIGUELITO MACARIO ANDALUZ. 3 names and I'm worth it damn it!
Will hopefully find out soon whether I'm going to Switzerland or not.
Monday, March 13, 2006
Hurry up and wait
What's a boy to do when all he knows is that he's shooting sometime starting in April but that's it??? Well ... he finds a cafe in Vancouver, (on Commercial drive to be exact) that has Nepalese food and a network of people where he can learn Nepali.
Check out: cafekathmandu.com
As well, probably a few treks up the Grouse Grind would do well to build up my tolerance for altitude.
It's not for lack of things to do. I've been busy with teaching, coaching and chanting between 1-2 hours a day to prep myself mentally for this experience and to express my deepest gratitude for this amazing opportunity. I wonder how my life will be different after this experience or will it be the same? Will I finally like the colder weather and snow (I doubt it, but I'll probably have a huge appreciation for it because I'm bound to have some interesting memories). My career coach, Barbara Deutsch and a few other friends think that I'm going to meet someone on this project. Maybe, maybe not ... that's the last thing on my mind. But I do have to point out there are going to be a LOT of boys on this shoot. I don't know who else has been cast and there will be a few suprises in that department. Will I be the only Vancouverite??
I know this blog has this sense of weird anticipation about it but I'm just trying to enjoy the ride of the unknown ... savoring the moment ... this whole thing will come and go, just like that.
Speaking of which ... I turn 36 on Thursday, March 16th ... it's just such a strange number. I'm no longer in my early thirties. I'm going to be 40 in four years ... that's crazy ... how did that happen??? ... It seems like yesterday I was this 16 year old kid that got one of his first gigs on 21 Jump Street and it was a big deal filming it in my highschool Man, how strange is life but the rewards for sticking it out are HUGE.
That's it for now ... will try and report on my birthday.
What's a boy to do when all he knows is that he's shooting sometime starting in April but that's it??? Well ... he finds a cafe in Vancouver, (on Commercial drive to be exact) that has Nepalese food and a network of people where he can learn Nepali.
Check out: cafekathmandu.com
As well, probably a few treks up the Grouse Grind would do well to build up my tolerance for altitude.
It's not for lack of things to do. I've been busy with teaching, coaching and chanting between 1-2 hours a day to prep myself mentally for this experience and to express my deepest gratitude for this amazing opportunity. I wonder how my life will be different after this experience or will it be the same? Will I finally like the colder weather and snow (I doubt it, but I'll probably have a huge appreciation for it because I'm bound to have some interesting memories). My career coach, Barbara Deutsch and a few other friends think that I'm going to meet someone on this project. Maybe, maybe not ... that's the last thing on my mind. But I do have to point out there are going to be a LOT of boys on this shoot. I don't know who else has been cast and there will be a few suprises in that department. Will I be the only Vancouverite??
I know this blog has this sense of weird anticipation about it but I'm just trying to enjoy the ride of the unknown ... savoring the moment ... this whole thing will come and go, just like that.
Speaking of which ... I turn 36 on Thursday, March 16th ... it's just such a strange number. I'm no longer in my early thirties. I'm going to be 40 in four years ... that's crazy ... how did that happen??? ... It seems like yesterday I was this 16 year old kid that got one of his first gigs on 21 Jump Street and it was a big deal filming it in my highschool Man, how strange is life but the rewards for sticking it out are HUGE.
That's it for now ... will try and report on my birthday.
Sunday, March 12, 2006
Symbolic Sherpa
This whole experience is finally starting to feel real to me ... I'm just preparing my life slowly but surely for the changes. I've been trying to meet my group of 20 or so students before I head off sometime in April.
I was starting to have doubts about the role and also getting weird about not getting the movie with Will Ferrell instead. Then chatting with Cathrine Fuller ... one of my amazing students who's hung in this crazy business about as long as I have ... I realize the role of this Sherpa is parallel to helping my students, friends and family get to the top of their own personal Everest. It all makes sense. Will Ferrell eat your hear out! You may be needing my symoblic Sherpa services in the future.
This whole experience is finally starting to feel real to me ... I'm just preparing my life slowly but surely for the changes. I've been trying to meet my group of 20 or so students before I head off sometime in April.
I was starting to have doubts about the role and also getting weird about not getting the movie with Will Ferrell instead. Then chatting with Cathrine Fuller ... one of my amazing students who's hung in this crazy business about as long as I have ... I realize the role of this Sherpa is parallel to helping my students, friends and family get to the top of their own personal Everest. It all makes sense. Will Ferrell eat your hear out! You may be needing my symoblic Sherpa services in the future.
Thursday, March 9, 2006
To Blog or not to Blog
Well ... I guess to blog ... at the suggestion of my friend Tony in Berlin, I've decided to start this digital account of the goings on my life lately. Mainly because I want to start documenting and testifying the process of doing the Everest mini-series and all the other crazy adventures known as "my life".
The shock has finally started to wear off that I'm going to be playing the role as Sungdare, one of the Sherpas that helped Canadian climber Laurie Skreslet and crew make it to the top of Everest in '82. I just told one of my students today that as an acting teacher and even Buddhist youth leader, I do feel like a Sherpa helping people make it to the top of their own personal Everest. Helping them as they fall and get up again. So it makes all the sense in the world that I'm doing this role.
As it stands all I know is that I'm booked for the role, no dates, no money ... but the more I talk about it I know it's a reality ... 9 weeks in Jasper, Alberta ... and possibly 3 weeks in Switzerland. An experience of a lifetime ... I don't need to audition a lot ... I just like booking a few good ones thru out the year and I'm a happy camper.
Things change in an instant, one second I'm trying not to panic about the flood and possibly ruined floors in my apartment and next minute I'm going to be in this amazing project. Life is funny ...
I've also just retuned from this amazing trip in LA where I won my Oscar pool. Easiest $80 US that I made. 19 out of 24 categories. I can never get those damned shorts of docs right ... oh well.
So begins this amazing new journey ... where this experience takes me I'm not sure ... I'm so happy and grateful for the experience. I just have to keep chanting and stay grounded ... and after 20 years of doing this acting thing (today also marks that Anniversary), I finally feel like I'm getting it ... I guess it's the rewards of never giving up ... yet again, starting own personal journey to the top of Everest.
Well ... I guess to blog ... at the suggestion of my friend Tony in Berlin, I've decided to start this digital account of the goings on my life lately. Mainly because I want to start documenting and testifying the process of doing the Everest mini-series and all the other crazy adventures known as "my life".
The shock has finally started to wear off that I'm going to be playing the role as Sungdare, one of the Sherpas that helped Canadian climber Laurie Skreslet and crew make it to the top of Everest in '82. I just told one of my students today that as an acting teacher and even Buddhist youth leader, I do feel like a Sherpa helping people make it to the top of their own personal Everest. Helping them as they fall and get up again. So it makes all the sense in the world that I'm doing this role.
As it stands all I know is that I'm booked for the role, no dates, no money ... but the more I talk about it I know it's a reality ... 9 weeks in Jasper, Alberta ... and possibly 3 weeks in Switzerland. An experience of a lifetime ... I don't need to audition a lot ... I just like booking a few good ones thru out the year and I'm a happy camper.
Things change in an instant, one second I'm trying not to panic about the flood and possibly ruined floors in my apartment and next minute I'm going to be in this amazing project. Life is funny ...
I've also just retuned from this amazing trip in LA where I won my Oscar pool. Easiest $80 US that I made. 19 out of 24 categories. I can never get those damned shorts of docs right ... oh well.
So begins this amazing new journey ... where this experience takes me I'm not sure ... I'm so happy and grateful for the experience. I just have to keep chanting and stay grounded ... and after 20 years of doing this acting thing (today also marks that Anniversary), I finally feel like I'm getting it ... I guess it's the rewards of never giving up ... yet again, starting own personal journey to the top of Everest.
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