“MAINLAND” – A few sweet pictures…

We all just got back into town from the MAINLAND shoot, late Saturday night (except for the local-hire Camden, Maine members of our awesome crew, of course).  And…I cant even begin to express how unbelievable and profoundly memorable my experience on this film has been.

I’m so thankful to be a part of this film.  It’s going to look so beautiful…even better than this original video (thank you Film & Weather gods!), but even more importantly, it’s rooted in such a well-written narrative that centers around one of the most well-rounded characters I’ve ever gotten to play on film.  I really lucked out, guys.

If you’ve seen my Facebook Fanpage anytime these past two weeks, I know you’ve seen just a few of the 14872478926751897 pictures taken throughout the shoot (and those are just the few that I or others took via my Instagram feed).  And now, as the all of these awesome pictures begin to pour in from my friends in the crew via Facebook, I just wanted to share a couple of those pics with you now.  So here!  Take a peak!

Click on one and scroll through them all!

©2013 Mark Edward Dawson

©2013 Mark Edward Dawson

©2013 Mark Edward Dawson

©2013 Mark Edward Dawson

©2013 Mark Edward Dawson

©2013 Mark Edward Dawson

©2013 Mark Edward Dawson

©2013 Mark Edward Dawson

©2013 Mark Edward Dawson

©2013 Mark Edward Dawson

©2013 Mark Edward Dawson

©2013 Mark Edward Dawson

Found these still saran wrapped at a local general store. Just what Jake was looking for!

Aaaand that’s just a little bit of us after shooting was done for the day on one of the longer days. #SorryImNotSorry

“MAINLAND” – My new LEAD in a Super 16mm

Hey Guys!  So, last week I was heavy into two Columbia MFA films (PEEPING TOMMY, which I wrote about last time, and another film called STAY, that I became a part of while on the set of PEEPING TOMMY).  They were both amazing experiences.  They were each a really talented group of young filmmakers.  I really can’t wait to see the final cuts of each.  And I’ll definitely share each of them here, with you, if I can (or at least short clips from it). But now, I’m in something that is beyond one of the most exciting film acting jobs I’ve been a part of in years!!

I’m playing the lead role in a new film called MAINLAND, shooting right now, here in Camden, Maine.  And it’s being shot on Super 16mm (the same film used to capture this past year’s BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD and BLACK SWAN), which I personally find so, so cool!!!   The locations are awesome, the footage has been looking incredible, and the script is really something else.

I’ve actually been here since this past Sunday (January 20th), and we just wrapped on (another very long, yet insanely fun…and COLD…) Day 4 of filming.

I’ve already taken quite a few on-set pictures that I’ll share soon, but we also have two on-set photographers.  So someday, I’m so excited that I’ll also have access to SO MANY neat photos that will document this incredibly memorable experience.  Hellz yeah!

But anyway, instead of having me tell you a little about the film, let me just show you the MAINLAND teaser/featurette, where my director and production team will give you a little taste of what’s to come. I hope you guys enjoy it!!

CHRISTMAS, NEW YEAR, & FILM FILM FILM

Wow, for someone who knows and preaches so much about Social Media, the blogosphere, and its ability to be an awesome way to stay in touch with everyone, I sure sucked at taking action on that knowledge throughout the holiday season. Haha.

So much has happened since the last blog post. SO MUCH! So many awesome, cool events and opportunities that I’m so excited I got the chance to be a part of. So many auditions, callbacks, holiday celebrations, play readings, audition tapes, special screenings, and a little bit of time back home for Christmas and New Years…way too much to catch anyone up on within a single blog post.

I’ll start doing some “backlog blogging” as soon as I get the chance.

But for now, I just wanted to say “hello” from on the set of my latest film endeavor. I’m playing one of the leading roles as a funny, perhaps-too-curious kid named Tommy in one of Columbia University’s MFA winter film shorts, PEEPING TOMMY.

It’s a great little story, and there’s actually an entertaining little story on how I already knew the director from years ago, even though we both didn’t realize that we previously knew each other until after that first audition. (Thankfully, it was an audition that went really well. Haha.)

Anyway, I gotta go for now, but I have a lot of exciting, new things that I can’t wait to share with you soon! Thank you so much for following me along my journey, and I’ll catch ya again in a little bit.

~Bryan

ALMOST, MAINE Is Almost Here!! We Open Tomorrow…

So the other week, I posted the exciting news about my ALMOST, MAINE production (with Ground UP Productions) being remounted HERE IN NYC, as a part of their mainstage season!

And now, with the intense week of rehearsal being kicked off successfully this past Saturday night – with the “UNC in NYC Kick-Off and Fundraiser” party – we’ve been having some long, intense, and incredibly fun days of rehearsal at 2 Fifth Avenue.

And now the week has already flown by, the show is alive and breathing once more (and with such a new, for-the-first-time air of freshness, which has been so awesome to explore)!!!

AND NOW THERE’S ONLY ONE MORE DAY!!! We open tomorrow night at 8pm!!!

We’re actually setting up the stage in our performance space – Studio C of the Alchemical Theatre Laboratory, on W. 137 14th Street, NYC – as I type this (well….as everyone else is, as I’m clearly doing this right now…derrr).

Rough sketch of the set by Travis McHale!

Building the set at The Alchemical Theatre Laboratory – Studio

But, seriously, it’ll be my first show in NYC – as it will be for all of us – and it would mean the world to me to have as many people in that audience, as possible!!!! So in case you guys haven’t already noticed the bombardment of Facebook posts about this event (and even more-so bombarded, if you’re also friends with anyone else in the cast), please consider this blog post my personal invitation to you!

Please join me in the magic of this show, and in this milestone moment as I pursue my career! As always, you guys are awesome. 100%.

See you this weekend!!!

ALMOST, MAINE – show information!

BIG NEWS: We’re Remounting “ALMOST, MAINE”!!!

Hey guys!  I’m so excited to announce that I’ll be in the ALMOST, MAINE remount production with Ground Up Productions, here in NYC!!!

It’ll be featuring the same “cast of 5” as the original Ground Up “Underground Project” production of ALMOST, MAINE from back in August (orchestrated partially here and partially at UNC Chapel Hill).

And I couldn’t be more excited to again share this stage with such an incredibly talented group of people – all of them, many of my closest of friends.

And it will be my NYC THEATRE DEBUT (…of sorts)!!!

Jessica Sorgi and I – “Sad and Glad” scene from ALMOST, MAINE – Ground Up Productions at UNC in August 2012

Even though I’ve done a lot of theatre & film acting coursework here in the City (like the American Theatre Wing’s SpringboardNYC program last June, ACTeen’s film academy a few years ago, and the Ground Up “Underground Project” two separate times, this remount production of ALMOST, MAINE will be my first theatrical production in NYC after having moved here a little over a month ago.

ONLY 3 PERFORMANCES!
Friday November 16 @ 8pm
Saturday November 17 @ 8pm
Sunday November 18 @ 2pm

WHERE?
The Alchemical Theatre Lab
137 W. 14^th Street, 2^nd Floor
NYC, 10011

HOW MUCH?
General Admission – $15
Students – $10
*(CASH only at the door).

RSVPs Requested: RSVP@GroundUPproductions.org

Seating is very limited.

Ground UP Refreshments provided, as always!

I’m Finally In NYC!!! (…and have been for a month already?!)

I’m here!!

After such a long time preparing for this major move, it finally happened!  And “on schedule”, might I add – arriving one week earlier than the October 1^st date I had been telling everyone during senior year.

Friday, September 21^st, we loaded up the truck.  Saturday morning we hit the road, spent the night in Philly, and arrived Sunday morning (the 23^rd).

My family and I drove the 16 ft. Budget rental truck all the way from my home in Greensboro, NC, to my first NYC apartment, up here on the west side of Washington Heights (which I absolutely LOVE, by the way)!

So yes. That means I’ve been living here for a little over a month now and I’m FINALLY getting to the milestone “I’VE MOVED TO THE CITY” post!  I know, I know. My bad, alright?  Time has the capability to “fly by” wherever you may be, but I swear it flies by way faster when you’re in the city that never sleeps.

Not to mention, I’ve been insanely busy since the first moment the family and I crossed over the George Washington Bridge in that truck.   But “busy” hasn’t only been good.  “Busy” has been great!

Look out for the busy stream of short posts over these next many weeks that will cover all of the neat (more career-oriented) things I’ve already gotten to do during this short time here …apart from becoming an unofficial IKEA Master while setting up the apartment throughout that first week.  Speaking of …I leave you (for now) with pictures of my “IKEA mastery transformation”, as well as a few select others from that awesome, long weekend.

Packing up everything at Home back in Greensboro

Dad and I …just loading up the truck

Dad and Richard (family friend & Burton’s Pharmacy’s finest delivery man) continuing to work hard towards filling that truck with STUFF.

Look! No hands! #RoadTrip

Pit stop. One of many.

Aaaaaaand we’re here!

My favorite image from that day!

Before it’s gets taken up to our floor, we dominate the lobby.

Love my bed, but it was the HARDEST IKEA ASSEMBLY EVER! The most labor-intensive piece we bought, at least. Mostly, though, because of those additional, sliding drawers underneath the bed.

Done with it…finally!

The awesome view from on the fire escape of our place!! I love it so much! I think it’s so cool. …Even w/o this heavy photo filter. 😉

What a Beautiful (& Productive) Day!

So so much got done today!! And as I’m sure any of you can relate to, when you have one of those awesome days where you not only get SOOO much accomplished (that you had set out to do for the day), but it’s also an absolutely GORGEOUS day outside and you’re in a great mood (thanks to each piece of that puzzle)…you really do feel “on top of the world” just a tiny bit. Like, “Ah man, this is the life!” Just a little bit, at least, you know?

And those “Things I Accomplished” were:
1.) Finish compiling and exporting my 3 on-camera demo reels with Robb. The main “mix” demo reel (that’ll go on Actors Access and on the homepage of my website), a fully Comedic reel, and a fully Dramatic reel. And I had so much fun doing it! But I mean, I always do whenever working with Robb.
2.) Finally made it back into Chapel Hill to pick up some things I left at my friend’s apartment from the week doing ALMOST, MAINE at the end of August.
3.) Went into University Career Services and got some great last-minute advice while we reviewed and helped improve my “regular (non theatrical) resume” together. That was great!
4.) Ended up going to a seminar (immediately after my walk-in resume review session) about “Developing the Creative Resume & Portfolio,” which was FANTASTIC as I’m finally building a more-comprehensive website/online portfolio for FANBOY DESIGN, my promotional graphic design biz.
5.) Got some temporary prints of my newest headshots made (to last me until I get my order of actual headshot reproductions in the mail). That should hopefully keep me covered in the meantime (most of which will be filled with the time spent this weekend with the final “moving of stuff” to NYC).

And, again, it was a beautiful day outside! So the drive to Chapel Hill and Durham was awesome (…and was probably the last long drive I’ll have in my baby – my Scion tC – for quite a while…at least until I’m home for Christmas. And even then, I’ll likely still just be driving around Greensboro when I’m home vs. driving along the interstate). But yeah, so all those things FINALLY getting accomplished and checked off of the “To Do before you move” list feels…A-MAZING.

Holy crap, it’s nearly 2:30am! Wow, ok. Gotta go to bed. I’ve got a 9:00am tee time. Dad and I are getting in one last golf game before I leave. You know …that game where I pretend to be really good and honestly just celebrate any time I can at least make “par” on a hole? That one. Whatever, though. I still always have an awesome time. Especially enjoying the time simply spent out on the course with Dad. It’s like that old Visa commercial – “Priceless”.

Anyway, goodnight, guys!

BACKSTAGE MAGAZINE changes things up…

So as you guys may know, one of my other major passions besides acting would be graphic design.  I have my own company called FANBOY DESIGN where I couldn’t be more excited to work on marketing/branding consultation and promotional design for actors, singers, filmmakers, theater groups, and others within our entertainment industry (so check me out sometime!).

Whenever these two passions of mine overlap, I get very excited about it!

And just a few minutes ago, I stumbled upon the most recent development of this kind when checking through my email…

BACKSTAGE MAGAZINE….ring a bell to anyone?

One of our industry’s major, weekly publications – where actors of all ages can find advice columns, casting calls, and spotlight features on everything from “Moving to the Big Apple” to “A Career in Voice-Overs” to everything having to do with “Getting Your Headshots” taken…

As of today, BACKSTAGE MAGAZINE  (Note: online only, so far – as evident on their website & “Espresso” e-mail newsletter – and not yet within their print edition) is now among the list of recent editorial publications to undertake an overhaul of their old…

1.)  Logo Design

2.)  Layout Design

Which looked like this…

…for their new logo & layout design, which looks like this.

 

TWO NOTABLE CHANGES:

1.)  The Logotype font.  In the past many years, we’ve seen a common trend in logo redesign to take the “all-caps” logotype and make it all lowercase lettering. The font is also changed to a sans-serif font – adding soft curves to it’s “aesthetic”. Many of these companies are departing from the days where capitalized, serif lettering was HOT, in favor of the more streamlined, casual, modern look of sans-serif popularity.

It’s not always in this order, of course.  Another one of our own industry-related publications, ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY (which I once wrote about before), did the opposite of this.  Their original logo of the early 1990s contained all lowercase lettering and has long since, capitalized the “E”.

And not all companies that do switch are met with open arms from the public.  Does anyone remember the backlash from the GAP and the JC Penny attempts at logo redesign?  Oh well.

2.)  Does anyone else notice the strange resemblance to the age-old MACY’S logo (and their branding aesthetic)??  The color red, the star, and the lowercase lettering??

Not that I’m complaining or anything. I like their new look…I think. I just think it’s funny how much they remind me of each other.

SpringboardNYC 2012…I’m doing it, dude!

I just realized that I totally mentioned that I’m going to this thing in NYC in my last blog post, but that I actually hadn’t told you all about it yet.  My bad, guys!  But with that said, here’s what it is.

SpringboardNYC is a college-to-career transition program for the NYC theatre community and is organized by The American Theatre Wing, which will be putting on the Tony awards this upcoming weekend

I got in!

Speaking of the Tony’s, I’ll also get to go to the dress rehearsal for the telecast earlier that day – on Sunday.  I’M SO EXCITED and am definitely not taking this opportunity for granted! It’s so cool and I’m so fortunate to get to go to that dress rehearsal, let alone be able to attend this whole program.

We’ve been through 3 absolutely amazing, full days of SpringboardNYC so far (as it started Tuesday morning) and I look forward to catching you up on some of the highlights in a later post this week.  Thanks guys!

These Are A Few Of My Favorite Things

 

Yesterday, I was finally getting a chance to take a break from packing and doing some last minute work preparing for my 2-week long SpringboardNYC trip and decided that I’d just kick back and catch up on some reading.  So…..naturally I choose a magazine over important literature.

But no worries!  It’s my FAVORITE magazine, so…I mean, it was important to me, you know?

And yes, that magazine would be Entertainment Weekly.

Getting to the point, however, I was reading through the past few issues yesterday and realized that….oh man, the covers?!  Yeah, the covers of the past few issues of EW have have managed to market themselves perfectly to the inner Fanboy, summer-blockbuster-lover that I am!

I mean, if you could put the content of all EW magazines of this past month and a half together, it’d pretty much be the Entertainment Weekly “Holy Crap!” edition.  Right?!?