All Over The Place Blog Entry

I have some really dark days, and some times I start to think I am too old.  Questioned what am I doing wrong?  Why can't I break down these doors?  Why can't I be more black? Why can't I be more white?  If I was just cuter?  If I wouldn't eat all that junk food, and just got back in shape?  If I could act better?  If I was just a little taller?  If I could walk backwards,  do flips, swim, stand on my head, belch on cue, cry on cue,  be in New York and LA at the same time?  IF? IF? IF?  Didn't I move to LA for "NO" should of--Could Of--Would OF? All the questions that many actors have... You loose your confidence at times.

On the other hand I have days where I am overly confident, when my faith is stronger then others, when I say to myself nothing can stop me.  I just wanted to point out to my fellow bloggers that I am human.  The dream can be tough, the dream can be daunting, but the dream can also be so rewarding. Loving what I do is my light at the end of the tunnel, passion, love, and walking with GOD, listening to the universe.  All these things keep me steady, and keep me holding on to my dream.  As said before statistic state that as an African American, Gay, 37 year old,  man just moving to Los Angeles. I am not supposed to succeed.  You know what I say?  Kiss My Black Booty....

ENVY; The Tony Nominations came out and I had a ton of friends nominated for best actor, and best musical.  I moved to Los Angeles to concentrate on film and T.V.  I will be honest-- I admit my ego gets crushed when dreams of mine, happen to others.  I LOVE my friends, and I am so excited for them, but I want it too..  All in GODS timing but I am writing this not for a pity party.  I don't need to hear "your turn will come" or anything like that.  I am just writing to get my feelings out and be honest in every moment.  I want a TONY nomination, and the truth is.... I am no where close to one.  That is just the bottom line...

Behind The Scenes;  As I taught my dance class, and choreographed my first musical for the kids at the It Factor Theater. A new passion has rose up inside of me.  I love to teach and to choreograph.  I never saw this coming, it came out of left field. Then low and behold, right after my gig at the It Factor Theater,  I choreographed a Bollywood esque number for a short film.  I went into this project kicking and screaming.  I had a ball working with those talented actors.  The shoot went great and I can not wait to see the final product.  New love sneaking up behind me, and patting me on the butt, and nudging me to follow it.

AUDITIONS; OK, either I need to work harder or something needs to happen.  My audition season is slipping away, and I know the industry is slow until after the summer.  However, I haven't had a TV/Film audition in forever.  Praying on this situation, and I don't know what else to do, but attempt to be patient.  Do I have the right agent?  Do I have to switch up again?  How do I know what to do?  I will continue to walk with GOD, and ask him the tough questions.  I have so many questions myself, and maybe I am just inpatient.  Pray for me bloggers on this one.. I don't want to do anything drastic just yet...

IMDB gets on my nerves, I have been trying to post credits up on that site, and having no luck. :-( They need a knew system in getting your stuff up on that site.  I have people that are extras with stuff on there, and I actually did principal contracts and can't get it up!  UGH!

LOVE/Normal Job/Normal Life:  This part of my life is in complete tact.  I am happy in my romantic relationship, and very happy in my jobs.  TVI has been great and I love mentoring  my fellow actors.  Don't Tell Mama Los Angeles is amazing.  They have been promoting me like crazy i.e. radio show, facebook, twitter, website.  Free promotion works for me, and I love getting to sing every night.  The down fall is the hours, but it is still an awesome job!  Happiness...  I also am on tract financially although I do have some debt to pay off. Nevertheless, I am doing just swimmingly. BREWSTER-- My Dog and Baby is amazeballs as well... :-)

SURPRISE: I do have a surprise but I will not post about it yet.  The gig is official and I am very excited about it.  This job will be different for me, but an amazing opportunity at this point in my career.   Stayed tuned blog world for this announcement, as I will announce it on my fan facebook page first.. Then wait a week and write about it on here.  To follow me on Facebook here is the link;  www.facebook.com/whittingtonjr

GOD IS GOOD AND ALWAYS ON TIME, EVERY TIME I GET DISCOURAGED, OR SOMETHING DOESN'T GO RIGHT... HE IS ALWAYS THERE WITH AN EXPLANATION.  IT MIGHT BE ON HIS TIME, BUT HE ALWAYS SHOWS UP.  I AM BLESSED WITH HIS GRACE, AND MERCY.  SENDING HIS SON TO DIE FOR MY SINS, SO THAT I CAN LIVE THE BLESSED LIFE I HAVE NOW.  I CAN'T PUT INTO WORDS HOW HAPPY I AM TO HAVE A FATHER TO ALWAYS TURN TO....  HE LOVES ME UNCONDITIONALLY.  PRAISES TO GOD!

Do You Have A Star Meter?

In my quest to understand Los Angeles, and the process of getting noticed in this town.  I came across casting trends, that don't trend in New York City.  Learning there is truth when people say,  "It is all about who you know, and LA is a popularity contest".  I have heard many people say those words to me, but part of me never believed it.  My manager even said to me in so many words "If you were hot, and blonde, you wouldn't even need a resume, they would just call you in".  CRACK, CRACK goes my face. When in New York City, if you have the talent, you book the gig. Not that this doesn't happen in Los Angeles, yes you must have talent, but you have to network, and have a high star meter.  This is not always the case, but it is a big part of LA LA LAND.  Ummm, what the heck is a star meter?  Well, the explanation to this will come shortly.... FYI my star meter is extra low, and I need to bring it up fast!

Imagine you are a casting director, and you put out a breakdown notice that states.  Casting: African American Male or Mixed Race Male, intelligent, handsome, with a mysterious dark secret, for new Hit CW T.V. Show...  If you were me, your manager would submit you for this project immediately. However, (you) the casting director got about 2000 people that submit for this project.  How do you chose out of the 2,000 people? Who do you call in for the audition????  Do you call in the people that look the part, have training, and a resume?  Do you look at the actors reel?  Or do you call people that you know, and  people with a high star meter?  Most, not all casting directors-so I am told- call in people they know, and folks with a great star meter. Then there is me the dreamer, who thinks because I have a good look, and some talent, with Broadway credits, and some t.v. on my resume, that I will get called in.... WRONG!

I have to do the very thing I hate, and get my butt out there and network.  I have to meet these people, smile, and pray that they like me.  In Los Angeles they have many casting director workshops, where you pay money, to do monologues and scenes for these casting directors. Which I am willing to do, but this gets very expensive, so I can't do it all the time.  I need to go to parties, openings, industry events,  to get my big face out there.  I got my business cards, and now I have to use them.  This is my challenge, as I feel like I am kissing butt, and I don't want to kiss butt.  HA! Hustle, hustle, hustle, hustle, here I go as I work on the business part of the show.

Star meter??? Are you still confused, well, maybe you aren't, but I sure was when I heard these words.  Friends in LA would speak to me about there star meter, and my manager sent me links on how to get my star meter up. Where do I find this star meter?  Who decides whether it is high or low?  I am so confused???  To get my star meter up I have to have people visit my IMDB page, and just view it.  The more views I have, the higher my star meter.  Sometimes casting directors will go to your IMDB and look at your star meter, and that will help them decide whether to call you in or not.  PROBLEM, I have two IMDB pages, as I started my career as James R. Whittington, and later became J.R. Whittington.  Now I had to write them to sync my pages, which is in the works.  Then I need to pay 15 bucks a month, to become a member of IMDB pro, so I can put up my headshots, reel, and just hook up the page. Once it is hooked up to my liking,  I will be shamelessly posting my IMDB page link on Facebook, and twitter, so I can get a star meter.  A friend emailed me and said "GOD didn't create the world in one day, it took him seven, so relax"....  Thanks TRACY! :-) This made me calm down....  My faith in GOD has kept me positive, and that out pouring of support and love I get from the  blog world, and from my friends.  All of this keeps my heart pulsing, not to mention the love I have for acting, the love I have to perform, the feeling I have to get my love. With GOD all things are possible..