HOLLYWOOD ACTOR PREP by Dana Kaminski

Overview Video, of 2009 Outstanding Actor Nominees, On The Red Carpet…

I stood  up  high, and held  the camera so  that you can see the actors as they arrive, and as they speak to the entertainment press.

Date:  Thursday, September 17th,  2009, at The Pacific Design  Center, Melrose Avenue, Los Angeles.

The catering was classic Wolfgang Puck…cajun spices and  fried mac-and-cheese, included.

In This Video Are The Following Actors:

…And, the shows they perform in, and are currently being honored for, here tonight….

Bryan  Cranston ::  Breaking  Bad

Jim Parsons ::   The Big Bang Theory

Seth Green ::   Family Guy

Christian Clemenson [Emmy Award Winner 2006]

Ellen Burstyn

Kate Linder ::   Academy Of  Television Arts And Sciences Governor of  Daytime  Programming

Don’t  forget to watch the 61st Emmy’s, on Sunday, September 20th, 2009.

Don’t forget to follow my tweets on Twitter, as I will be tweeting live from the  Emmys 2009.

If you don’t Tweet, well, you may miss some fun…Anyway,  if you are not on Twitter….  how will you tweet back?

Best,

;~Dana

Please share with all your friends.  Thanks very much

Tony Award Winner Jane Krakowski, is on Emmy-nominated-again! ‘30 Rock’  with Tina Fey, Alec Baldwin, and Tracy Morgan.  Here’s a few bits from a recent interview:

“At first, I was nervous about being on their level…

When I was a kid growing up in suburban New Jersey, I didn’t dream of getting married and walking down the aisle—I wanted to be an independent woman living in New York City. My parents were both very creative people, so when I was around 8 years old they gave me a key and made me a mail slot [in my bedroom door]. They would slip letters through it so I’d feel like I had my own apartment.

I started taking ballet lessons at age 3, and my first audition was an open call for a Broadway production called the Milliken Breakfast Show. I arrived at 7 a.m. and waited in line with around 200 people for at least five hours. I sang four bars of a song and I was hired! Sarah Jessica Parker was in the same show.

From the moment that Tina Fey hired me, she always said that she wanted to embrace the singer-dancer in me. I think it’s smart of her to utilize people’s special talents—and sometimes make fun of them.

There is great joy in making people laugh. Sean Hayes, my costar in last year’s City Center production of Damn Yankees, is one of the funniest people I’ve ever met. He makes people laugh. Full-on, stomach-guffawing laughs. That is a gift. “

In Honor Of Neil Patrick Harris Hosting The Primetime Emmys…

My Tweeting The Emmys, From The Press Tent

And… To Kick Off This Week Before With A Bit Of Fun…

I share this video with you…

Which also has these actors:

Michael Chiklis

Burt Reynolds

Ossie Davis

Dana Kaminski

This was 61st Emmys host, Neil Patrick Harris’s first acting job on television. ["How I Met Your Mother", "Dougie Houser MD"]

I believe it was Michael Chiklis’s first TV role, also. [From "The Shield", "The Commish"]

The two ‘fighters’ were student-interns at the Burt Reynolds Theatre, in Jupiter, Florida. They probably were getting their SAG cards, by working in this television scene…

Best,

;~Dana

Don’t forget to accompany me at The Primetime Emmys, on Twitter–and–

Please put this on your Facebook page, if you enjoyed it,

And do ReTweet!…Thanks very much!

At the 15th Screen Actors Guild Show, last night…in case you missed it…

‘Slumdog Millionaire’ took the highest award, called the “Best Ensemble’.

Here’s the rest of the list, in typical Hollywood Actor Prep Cheat Sheet form. 

(**Update** If you’d like to see more about ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ go to Hollywood OSCAR Prep. com…) SAG Nominees are listed along with the winners, in order of category, alphabetically:

WINNERS: 15TH ANNUAL SCREEN ACTORS GUILD AWARDS

Broadcast on January 25th, 2009

MOTION PICTURE

ACTOR
Richard Jenkins – “The Visitor”
Frank Langella – “Frost/Nixon”
WINNER: Sean Penn – “Milk”
Brad Pitt – “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
Mickey Rourke – “The Wrestler”

ACTRESS
Anne Hathaway – “Rachel Getting Married”
Angelina Jolie – “Changeling”
Melissa Leo – “Frozen River”
WINNER: Meryl Streep – “Doubt”
Kate Winslet – “Revolutionary Road”

SUPPORTING ACTOR
Josh Brolin – “Milk”
Robert Downey, Jr. – “Tropic Thunder”
Philip Seymour Hoffman – “Doubt”
WINNER: Heath Ledger – “The Dark Knight”
Dev Patel – “Slumdog Millionaire”

SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Amy Adams – “Doubt”
Penelope Cruz – “Vicky Cristina Barcelona”
Viola Davis – “Doubt”
Taraji P. Henson – “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
WINNER: Kate Winslet – “The Reader”

ENSEMBLE CAST
“Doubt”
“Frost/Nixon”
“Milk”
WINNER: “Slumdog Millionaire”
“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”

STUNT ENSEMBLE
WINNER: “The Dark Knight”
“Hellboy II: The Golden Army”
“Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull”
“Iron Man”
“Wanted”

PRIMETIME TELEVISION

ACTOR IN A TELEVISION MOVIE OR MINISERIES
Ralph Fiennes – “Bernard and Doris”
WINNER: Paul Giamatti – “John Adams”
Kevin Spacey – “Recount”
Kiefer Sutherland – “24: Redemption”
Tom Wilkinson – “John Adams”

ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION MOVIE OR MINISERIES
Laura Dern – “Recount”
WINNER: Laura Linney – “John Adams”
Shirley Maclaine – “Coco Chanel”
Phylicia Rashad – “A Raisin in the Sun”
Susan Sarandon – “Bernard And Doris”

ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
Michael C. Hall – “Dexter”
Jon Hamm – “Mad Men”
WINNER: Hugh Laurie – “House”
William Shatner – “Boston Legal”
James Spader – “Boston Legal”

ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES
WINNER: Sally Field – “Brothers & Sisters”
Mariska Hargitay – “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit”
Holly Hunter – “Saving Grace”
Elisabeth Moss – “Mad Men”
Kyra Sedgwick – “The Closer”

ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
WINNER: Alec Baldwin – “30 Rock”
Steve Carell – “The Office”
David Duchovny – “Californication”
Jeremy Piven – “Entourage”
Tony Shalhoub – “Monk”

ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES
Christina Applegate – “Samantha Who?”
America Ferrera – “Ugly Betty”
WINNER: Tina Fey – “30 Rock”
Mary-Louise Parker – “Weeds”
Tracey Ullman – “Tracey Ullman’s State of the Union”

ENSEMBLE IN A DRAMATIC SERIES

“Boston Legal”
“Dexter”
“House”
WINNER: “Mad Men”
“The Closer”

ENSEMBLE IN A COMEDY SERIES
WINNER: “30 Rock”
“Desperate Housewives”
“Entourage”
“The Office”
“Weeds”

STUNT ENSEMBLE
“Friday Night Lights”
WINNER: “Heroes”
“Prison Break”
“The Unit”
“The Closer”

LIFE ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
James Earl Jones

I will be posting about Heath Ledger, tomorrow….And then, later on in the week, on the acting performances that are nominated for Oscars.

In closing, I would like to thank SAG:

—For their dignity during this annual event, that came in the middle of such a stressful time for the Actors Guild
—For putting on a show that acknowledges how great acting is, and how important it is to all,
—And, personally,
because there was so much talent, there on that show last night, both in the audience and on the stage,
that it,
once again,
made me proud, to be one of those in-touch, outspoken, passionate ones

…an actor.

Special applause…

I am going to lump these actors together; but , I hope it isn’t diminishing, to their individual brilliance:

• Kate Winslet
• Meryl Streep
• Sean Penn
• Laura Linney
• Paul Giamatti

Anything I tried to write here just didn’t fit the respect I feel these actors deserve, so I will skip it for now.

I’ll just say that: this year, they gifted us once again. And somehow, they transformed, as actors and in roles; with imagination and talent so fecund; like a fountain, with no end. I don’t care if this IS hyperbole…there is no other way to describe their performances and craft; and how they did it ‘that thing’… again…is there?

One memorable moment from the SAG Awards show, that went over more than a few heads…

Tina Fey, as usual, was kidding with some very sharp truth. (…The humor didn’t, but did the significance of the ‘punch’ sail up-and-by a few folk….?)

Remember the ‘joke’ about her daughter watching her on television, in the future, and asking why there weren’t any residuals for the performance? … That joke had barbs.

And then, there’s Dr. House…

Remember the post I put up, a while back, with the video of Hugh Laurie’s audition for ‘House’??

Simple, great…(He didn’t talk at all during the “interview” part of that audition, remember??) Watch it again, or if you weren’t reading Hollywood Actor Prep, yet…Here is the link for the on-camera audition: ‘Dr. House’s Audition Is Worth The Big Actor Bucks’...

And–Here’s another Hugh-Laurie-post-link, where I put some of videos of his earlier (pre-’House’) …and very diverse range of acting roles; including bits from the broad comedy series (British), where he partnered with Stephen Fry. And, yes, a few of his commercials…

Okay, I think we’re overdone now.

Your turn to “share”…

Best,

Dana

PS Follow me at Twitter, if you don’t already…to get updates of this blog, and lots of other acting news blips and information….at twitter.com/__dana__

Rare Television Acting Clips:

One with Paul Newman, and one with James Dean        

      …at bottom of post…( Hey, don’t skip now!  )

 

Acting Residuals Began In Radio Days

Residuals are entirely a “show business” invention, and an American invention. They were conceived in the era of radio broadcasting, when technological advances created a broadcasting dilemma…which arose when recording became possible. 

Prior, on radio,  all American broadcasting was performed live.  And…just like the regular programming we now have on television, there were regularly scheduled programs, on radio.

Except there was no “recording” yet.

Acting :: Radio

All the programs were performed, by actors, live.  

Every show, every time.  Due to the expanse of America, and different time zones; the shows were performed twice a day…Once, for the Eastern part of America,\; and a second for the Pacific Standard Time Zone.

Actors would need to be at a studio, at the time of broadcast, and physically perform the shows over the air. They would get paid for their performance.  Paid for each performance; the same as they would for every live performance in a theater.

Joan Crawford

Technology Evolved, and Acting Was Able To Be Recorded

In the mid-1930’s, they figured out a primitive way to record the shows.  The actors wouldn’t have to act each performance out more than once, per each episode. 

Fanny Brice, Comedy Actress

Or so it was conceived.  But the recording technology wasn’t reliable enough, not at first.  

Actors Still Performed Live, For The First Show, At Least

And it was broadcast that way, with the actors gathered around a microphone, performing in the studio.

But because the recording was such a new technology, and not yet reliable, the actors would have to remain in the studio, waiting around, to be sure that the recording was good enough for the next time-zone broadcast. 

If not, they would act out the entire show,  live, once again.

Superman, Acted Live, On Radio

Thus, the term “residual”.  Actors were paid for their performances for the second show, just like when they performed it live.  Except the residuals were the payment for the recorded broadcast of their performance.   This began in 1941.

 Acting Was Live Only, In Early Television Performances

When television broadcasting came about, in the 1950’s, all performances were live also; the only thing that broadcast on TV that wasn’t live were actual movies: “re-runs”…which were originally made for, and had played first, in movie theatres.

In 1951, the first TV residuals, were paid. They were compensation for the movie re-runs.  To musicians…who had played music in the films, while in production.  (Like “royalties”)  This was set up by the musician’s union, called the American Federation of Musicians.

Actor Ronald Reagan

Kinoscope: First TV Recordings

Until a recording technology called kinoscope came into use.  In 1952, an actor named Walter Pidgeon, was the president of SAG.  He called for the first SAG strike, and it was then that actors received residuals for recorded performances.

Here’s James Dean, acting on television, in  an early kinoscope recording:

Again, kinoscope wasn’t the greatest, but it did allow television to be broadcast and shows to be rerun.

Frank Sinatra Show with Elvis Presley

The following is a kinoscope  called “The Army Game”.  It was broadcast on television, and starred a young actor: Paul Newman.  

Director Sidney Pollack (who passed away in 2008) was an actor before he became a director.  He c0-stars in this theatrical “television  special”.  

More on this, at a later date…

Best,

Dana

                                                                                     © ®  

All Rights Reserved.

Thanks for passing the word! (Especially to you: Twitterers!) Follow my update announcements on “Twitter”, my name is __dana__ .

AND, thanks very much for sharing with your actor friends, there is strength in numbers, for sure…All of you who are putting this blog on Facebook and MySpace–you rock + rule. I am smiling at you, right now!

Oh my.

Stuck in an editing stage, I actually have two separate posts :

1. An interview with a casting director, and I gave him “final approval” so when that gets back, I will post it
2. An article that I wrote on women’s roles in some smaller films, out now (but that has gone through a couple of revisions because I just can’t seem to stop myself from turning it into a rant…)
3. And, oh yeah…(Okay, three)I actually bumped into Richard Dreyfuss, while walking my dog, and I blabbered on about SAG-and-my-site-and-what-ideas-he-may-have-for -”younger actors”, and since he couldn’t commit be web address to memory  (no one can, can you?? Everyone please, sign up for the email, for heavens sake, they send my posts to your mailbox, and then you don’t have to try to remember!) ….so I emailed him a link to the blog, and hopefully we’ll hear from him soon…

So those posts aren’t ready, and I hope they are, soon..b-u-t, I do like to post frequently, and consistently…so as I was having an “online chat” with a friend, while having my  morning tea, today. I asked if he would like to do an impromptu interview by chat.

His name is John Mendoza, and he is a “stand-up”.  (Yes, and ha-ha, he is a stand-up guy, in fact, and I can attest to that; we have  been friends for over twenty years.  EmHm…However, you may not get that he is as stand-up as “all that”, by the words used his terse statements, especially here…but I can attest he is using comedic license…)

Click on his name, and you can see his bio, on IMDB.com, in a separate window.

You may recognize him from television, he even had his own television series, at one point.

If you haven’t seen his stand-up act,  you’re missing something.  He can, and actually only really does: make these tiny one sentence statements, and they are hilariously funny.  His “comic delivery” is so very special, and unique, only to him.

A vernacular note: I happen to know a lot of comedians, from my New York City days.  And they don’t call themselves comedians, usually; they call themselves”comics“.  Yeah, like the comic book, only they mean someone who does standup comedy.  

I am sure that Mendoza’s comedy won’t translate all that well to a page.  It really is true when I say, in general, about him: “You hadda be there”. If you are, you are probably laughing on the floor; while simultaneously, amazed, that he was able to turn an itty-bitty amount of words into something so unexpectedly hilarious.   

He’s sometimes scathingly mean with his viewpoint, or sarcastic; and it’s still hilarious.

Never once, does he crack a smile.  Nor does he even add any expression.  He’s deadpan, exponentially. And it’s that mix, the way he maintains his attitude and expression, with his comic statement, that makes tear-up-funny moments.

Throughout, he maintains his “Mendoza-ness”; giving off the impression that he’s barely interested, even; and this is while he is onstage.  That happens in “real life” too, by the way. He is the same.  

It’s too bad that his special and specific comedic-style didn’t transmit well to TV, when the network tried to make a show for him. Really too bad, because onstage, he is excellent.

He is touring, now; so he may be soon in your town.

 Chat History

11:33am

John

Miss Dana

11:33am

Dana

heynhey

whats the best thing about being in comedy

and this time answer the ‘f-ing’ question

11:33am

John

all good?

the drugs

11:34am

Dana

what s the worst

11:34am

John

the drugs

11:35am

Dana

what was the hardest thing to accomplish in the beginning

11:35am

John

cfear

fear

11:35am

Dana

and now?

11:35am

John

nothing

11:35am

Dana

can i post this on my blog?

11:35am

John

sure

11:36am

Dana

thanks lovey

gotta go only because i was waitng for someone to call back andthey havenow..

11:36am

John

got to jump on a plane

11:37am

Dana

write me from where evah

…no response…

 

 

Disclaimer: Just don’t believe what he says.  It’s bull, and not true.

Which shows might you watch for the acting?  I have comments, below this listing…

The TV shows premiering tonight:

7:00 PM ABC  Extreme Makeover Home Edition 

8:00 PM  CBS The Amazing Race

               Fox The Simpsons

8:30        Fox   King Of The Hill

9:00        ABC  Desperate Housewives

               CBS   Cold Case

               Fox   Family Guy

               ST    Dexter

9:30        Fox  American Dad

10:00      ABC Brothers And Sisters

               CBS The Unit

               ST  Californication

The Relevancy to Acting 

Californication

Californication is a must. It’s theatre, on TV.

Not only is the acting (David Duchovny) seamless, effortless, and relaxed-as-you-can-get; but the scripts are original and it’s great with as far as acting “relationships” (fa-real relating, modern).  It does jack up the uchh-Hollywood-sleaze-in-the-business..so if that already makes you creeped out, then don’t watch it…the show is so effectively done, the fear of being  “Hollywood-slimed” could  keep you from going after your career here!

Don’t worry…

Some people get H-slimed, others don’t.  (… If you keep your integrity, and stick with my site + blog…you can learn some good boundaries to stay out of that ‘world’ here…)  Generally, I find, some people are naive, and some people simply like sleaze and slime. They venture in, not just into Hollywood, but into the slime in Hollywood; they choose to walk right in.  Do they unknowingly get sucked in?

Some who get sucked in

Some do know it, as it happens. Yet,  it still happens, because they let it.  There’s conflict and discovery… and that’s what this show is about. 

Great drama often involves situations where the character is sinking into some lower state, and suddenly they find themselves immersed in an environment (external or internal) , that is different to what they know. Than what they’re familiar with. 

So how do you act that?

Acting is active.    

The most exciting roles, dramatically, are where the character is transitioning.  In the midst of it.  The discovery, where the character recognizes that he is not the moral or ethical person that he once was.  How he sees himself, the level that he holds himself.  The solidity, core of how he defines his identity, is transitioning.  He discovers as when we do, the audience.  We all discover it together; and then; we, as the audience, watch him struggle to try to get “himself” back. 

In this show, he almost can’t help himself; and there is an ongoing inner struggle there, and a human weakness and lack of control.  

I do love Californication, and don’t love to admit it… It really does a great job of portraying some  (existing somewhere)  ooh-yuk,slee-e-ezy  perspective of H’wood.  It’s a got a good lens on modern relationships, as well.

I give it a vote of very “real”.  Even though it isn’t a pretty “real”, not easy to take.  It’s art, like a David Raab play is: it’s “too much”, and that “too much” is part of what makes it art.

Can’t stand to watch it; and have to watch it…The tension is this: Is he going to pull himself up a little, or stay down; with his next step?

(I hate to use the word “character”, I just can’t think of a better way, right now.  It isn’t apt, not precise.  It distorts, describing acting.  As soon as I hear “character”–that makes it “once-removed”… it takes the connection out.  I do use “me” or “you” when speaking about acting; but when writing, that doesn’t “read” precisely, either–it doesn’t define…When I write or say “the character“;  immediately, it seems like detached acting, like bad acting, phony….)

Sociopaths, Psychopaths, Auditions

Dexter

Dexter is popular, I know.  From an acting standpoint, I think it’s good for research. Here’s a guy who actually is a sociopath.  (Sociopath and psychopath have the same definition; the “S” one is more polite, nicer-sounding! …Just some psychology F.Y.I.!)  

Actors often play those with mental disorders.  Again, it makes great drama.  Meaty roles to play, too. 

Dexter’s duality is that he works for the police, and is murdering people; two extreme sides within the same person.  

Personally, I find the premise to be too “gimmick-y”. However, it’s interesting to observe the acting choices, while watching the story; any sociopathic personality would be interesting to play, even without the “pushed” circumstances.  And they are unique.

Basically, sociopaths feel no conscience pulling at them.  They get their “thrills” in very different ways than most other people.  

Statistics estimate that there is one sociopath for every 25 people.  

Many don’t murder people, or even do other extreme, physically violent things. The pathology isn’t easy to detect, even by psychiatrists. But, they do have differences, and do act differently.

This kind of depth makes a role  interesting to play, because the symptoms are not obvious; they are under the surface, difficult to detect and define. Characteristically, sociopaths are quite engaging, socially.  These complexities can also make a role more difficult to play.

I always think it is a good idea, while watching performance, to keep one eye on how someone plays a role. What choices did they make?   Especially, when they’ve make a success of it.

I also think it is good to give yourself exercises, while watching.  You may do so, automatically; get in the habit, if not: of thinking how you might portray this specific sociopath, yourself… 

I’m not suggesting you play these parts in  your life.  

In Dexter, his pathology is central to the theme. 

When shows and roles become successful, that type of character becomes more prevalent in the “Breakdowns”.  There’s a good chance you’ll audition for a role like this, in the future, or at least do a scene in a class…

Best,

;Dana

The fall television season is underway. Want an easy schedule?

t night.   

Tonight:

 ABC 

UGLY BETTY 

(2 hours of) GREY’S ANATOMY

NBC

THE OFFICE  (followed by THE OFFICE SPINOFF*)

MY NAME IS EARL

ER

Jamie Pressley :: Actor :: My Name Is Earl

“30 Rock”, the big Emmy winner, won’t be premiering until late October.

No “Lost”, yet, (still my favorite show)—and it won’t be premiere-ing for a while…boo hoo!

No  “Miami CSI” yet either…they are scheduled for winter…

Harvey Keitel on Television

That’s really big news.  As far as great acting goes, well, Harvey Keitel is his own genre…

Movie actors didn’t used to migrate between television and film: it was really strict–one or the other, as a classification.  

What a great character he will be on the new show, called “Life On Mars”!  What great casting–  a hardened, weathered, New York detective.  

This show was already a hit, where it was conceived, in England.  On the BBC.

(Thank you, BBC, for creating and proving a hit; perhaps too creative to ever have passed up our past our “Network Brass”  to make it to air, here in the States.)

Another reason that it went right up, with a big pass, thru-the-ranks-of -network–was, that it started out as a David Kelley production (duh, “Boston Legal” etc)

[--and if you don't know who David Kelley is, may I send you, please, to the back of the room---]

He’s no longer involved, and the show is still on the lineup; with a few changes…cast  and city changes–it went from LA to NYC.

The story concept– “Life On Mars”:

Cop, in the middle of work, gets transported back to the 1970’s.  Same day, different year; same job, different cultural period!

Great.  Let’s hope it plays out that way!

The cast is a good, solid,  ”real actors”:

• Gretchen Mol
• Lisa Bonet
• Harvey Keitel (and again, I say: Harvey K.)
• Michael Imperioli 
• Jonathan Murphy
• Jason O’Mara   (Actor from Scotland, orig.)

Jason O'Mara

Best,

; Dana

Dancing With The Stars

ABC and Dancing With The Stars 

Reality television was included in the Emmys for the first time, this year.

Last night, “Dancing With The Stars” got some very high ratings; in this brand new television season.

Is “Dancing With The Stars” classified as “Reality TV”? Is that because it doesn’t contain professional actors; or rather, professional-actors-that-aren’t-acting. 

What do you think it means, that audiences are choosing “Dancing With The Stars” over other traditional types of television shows, as far as popularity goes??

…Just  putting out the question… 

How Actors Think About Reality TV

For actors, reality television means:
Shows without actors.

The more “reality” programming there is, the less jobs for actors.

There is actually a “master list” of all the auditions television, movies, and some legit theater–it’s called “Breakdown Services“… It’s a “wire service”, an auditions roster, it comes out daily. In Los Angeles.

Only some people are allowed access to “The Breakdowns”; they are the agents and casting directors, and some managers.

Easy equation, though, huh? Reality TV casts real people, so the numbers of auditions for network television lessens as they increase reality TV programming.

In other words, less professional actor casting.  Less auditions, less jobs available…

What accounts for the popularity of reality TV?
Is “Dancing With The Stars” really reality TV?

I’ll give my opinion sometime in the near future, and I do wish to mull it over some, and gather some more information.
In the meantime, I’m asking around….
;Dana