Amazon Theatre: A-list actors, product placement, real budgets...not your average short films.

See "Portrait" at Amazon Theater @ www.amazon.com

Amazon.com has entered into the short-film game. Ordinarily, I would think this is a good thing, but as an actor trying to make a name for himself and get work, I'm troubled that they seem to be going the route of using name actors.

On the business side, I can see the appeal of using name actors...obviously name actors sell, but will Amazon really see an increase in traffic because of this? I doubt it. I think they would have done better to launch NEW films written by NEW writers made by NEW directors with NEW actors in them. Amazon has grown by being innovators and now they're taking the easy (albeit more expensive) route.

I will say that there listing the product placement items in the credit with the actors is rather unique and may help them plant gift ideas in the minds of visitors to their site. If it works, they will probably have to consider upgrading the script standards. You'll notice that the story is a bit thin and basic and you can predict just about everything that happens, but it LOOKS great!

Funny Films on The Web

C! True Hollywood Story: The Life of Jackie
This one is on iFilm and it's a Mockumentary about Jack of Jack-In-The-Box restaurant fame!

All Amateur Ecstasy
AtomFilms exposes these women's little secret.

How To Be A Cyber-Lovah
Go to www.herbzipper.com and click on the link. That will take you to AtomFilms and you'll see one of the funniest short films that I've seen on the web!

*Do you have any favorite films on the web? Comment or email me!! :)

Jeff

Cruisin' for the weekend.

We went on a 3 night cruise this past weekend and it was great fun. Sometimes you just have to get away from all this craziness. There was NO networking, NO rehearsing, NO writing, NO strategizing...nothing biz related and it was great fun.

In retrospect, we met some great people and also some...well...characters. I've definitely added to my pool of people to draw from.

The ships are like small cities and just about any field I can think of is represented, including entertainment. Mostly they use singers/dancers to put on Vegas-"style" (not quality) shows. There were two standups onboard that did hour long shows each night.

The crew is about 950 people strong and they represent some 57 countries in the world. In fact, this ship only had 5 (or 6) Americans on it.

More pics from the trip:
http://flickr.com/photos/dalydose/sets/30886/

Henderson-Zuckerman Casting Workshop

OK...I finally broke down and participated in a CD Workshop. Actually, I view this 4-week intensive more as a class than a traditional workshop so I still feel good about myself! :) I feel like I'm learning more about auditioning. Which is great because no acting/improv classes I've ever had take the time to teach auditioning. Traditional acting classes teach from the perspective that you've already got the part, but someone needs to teach HOW to get the part. Auditioning requires quick decisions, choice making, risk taking and doing a little something extra to stand out from the crowd. I never really thought about that, but it makes sense that if you give a polished, but 'safe' audition, that they will see that reading 30 times. A small adjustment or choice might make you stand out and get you the job. They explain it and teach it better than I can report on it, but I hope you can see what I mean.

They are actually a really great teaching team and I'm getting alot out of it. I've noticed from this class that people who seem to have steady work aren't necessarily any more talented than those who can't find any work. I've always suspected that, but I've used it to justify why I'm not rich and famous...now I see it in action. Maybe my 'auditioning' will improve from this class...I just wish someone taught a person how to GET the audition which seems like the toughest task in this biz.


If anyone is interested, here is their blurb from NowCasting:

IT'S ALL ABOUT YOU!

One more 4 weeker and 6 spots left. Absolutely last one this year starting Nov 16th Tuesdays 11amCasting Directors - Cathy Henderson & Dori Zuckerman are offering a series of 4 week intensive workshops with limited enrollment. 1 on 1 career consulting and guidance, the secrets to getting you in the door and infront of the right people, cold reading and audition techniques,and much more.

Email inquires to hnzworkshop@yahoo.com.

Here are their imdb.com credits

Dori Zuckerman
Cathy Henderson

I have completed 2 weeks and go to my 3rd this Tuesday (tomorrow). I'll give you the roudup and tell you how I did after my one-on-one meeting with them.