A Wee (EXCITING) Update

Looks like it's been a little bit since I posted last. I have been talking to the camera a lot more.

But the other day, I got a big wrench thrown into my plans (maybe in a good way). For one thing, I have a self-tape audition with one of the biggest directors (and some major executive producers) in Hollywood. I had to sign an NDA to get the sides for it, and the sides give away nothing anyway. This is a giant huge incredible deal, the reason why you want real reps in this business.

And once we got a line producer involved, Sonetta started laying out the timeline for the feature doc as being more like a 2027 release, whereas the footage I am currently sitting on feels very of the present times. So I am now pivoting to what I think I would potentially be best at, hosting an edutational comedic variety documentary show. There's gotta be an oscar for that, right? A poor man's SNL, but with a focus on the artists via those QR codes.

But back to that self tape... the first thing they asked of me was just an intro video that answered a few questions, then gave me a chance to basically pitch myself. I think it was on the fifth take that I knew I had it. Same sorta feeling that I get with these daily song videos sometimes. But I snagged a motel room for dosmorrow night for this self tape.

Oh, and last night, I gave in and bought Pokemon Arceus for Nintendo Switch. And I cannot tell you how incredible I feel as a Pokemon Master. Well, future master, but it is already all too obvious. I was waiting around to avoid paying full price, but I cannot describe to you how good it felt to give in and buy it. This is due in part to the parts I have been cast in of late. I am not rich, but I am at least losing money more slowly!

Filmmaking

No more waiting around for opportunities to come to me. I am officially in production on my comedy special and documentary! I get to have animation! I get to do little bits, and they all get their time onscreen.

Eat your heart out, Bo Burnham, 'cause this comedian doesn't need a studio apartment or fancy lighting to make his comedy special.

And it turns out that I know a bunch of people who know some celeb comedians. I think I can get cameos from some decently big names. Kyle Mooney, Dana Carvey, John Mulaney... not to mention favorites like the hosts of Hollywood Handbook and the Birthday Boys.

Do More See More Be More

Ah, my death year. I did creature modeling, been hitting the stage for open mics, and it is not enough. I need to do more to grow faster.

Gotta put out more narrative stuff again, little music videos, work my way up to regularly doing improvised songs onstage.

Just learned that the Comedy Store has in-person potluck signups, that the old email system (that I have reminders to send every week) is no longer in service. How helpful!

America's Got Talent has easier auditions now, emphasizing virtual submissions. All I need is a good clip from a live show, and I'm set! Or maybe not, depending on their programming.

And one of the discussions happening on twitter lately is that there has never been a funny live action Joker in Batman. Maybe Heath Ledger, but he is dead. Then I realized that it is me. I can play that role, and I would be incredible. Lean into every odd quirk, all the instincts that I typically suppress, including the cruel joke ones... Could be fun...

Invited to a Filmed Open Mic

I had my first standup comedy open mic experience in over a year, and I kind of killed it. I was great. 5-ish minutes of little songs and one-liners. And critically, it was fun. Felt loose, natural. The show's sponsor pulled me aside afterward and asked me to go to a taped open mic the following week (this upcoming Wednesday). They are doing a version of Kill Tony (which I have never enjoyed) called Open Micers. And yes, I think that they should have thought for a split second about SEO because their event will not stand out in an internet search. But you know what will pop up? A reddit post warning about this standup show producer not paying up the promised prize for standup contests. But I digress.

I have since written down that five minute set as I performed it, then edited to optimize. I did voices that I had not even planned on, but it was great!

Now I need to memorize it really well (I consulted notes in that performance), then I can play it loose and fun for the filmed thing.

Oh, and the documentary! Since my onstage persona requires some degree of dialogue with myself, I think it is a good habit for me to get used to talking to the camera. So I have been doing so more, trying to get plenty of footage stashed away before my (presumably) inevitable rise to fame.

Showing Initiative

I released another EP or album, or whatever we wanna call it. Boosted the volume a little, but nothing else.

But a fun fact I just remembered is from my time in med school. There was such a learning curve, not just with the academic side, which was overwhelming enough, but also with practical basics on the island. How do you go grocery shopping if you do not have a car? Where should I live? A fancy apartment? A dorm? What is travel like? Are they serious when they say to bring cash for food? Because I did not. So at some point fairly early on, I wrote down everything that I wished someone had told me. And that very long Word document would later be revised and incorporated as a standard part of student orientation.

Kinda neat. I tended to take initiative as a leader in so many areas, not because I love being in charge, but because I wanted to spare anyone else from suffering as I had, assuming that they had the patience to read what I wrote. A big assumption, I know.

Released an EP

Slipping back into the throes of sobriety. It is cruel how much better I am when sober. Cannabis products kill my productivity, ruin my attempts at basic bodily maintenance. Want to stay in shape like you always have? Sorry, edibles will ruin that for you. A couple days off of edibles and I am waking up at decent times, saving so much money by having a decreased (normal for me) appetite, and craving pacing on a treadmill while my electronics charge. Booze is a mixed bag though. On the one hand, it kills, ages, makes you have to pee. On the other, you can be super functional up until your skin and various organs die.

Released an EP this week. Mostly for funzies. Edible had kicked in one night, but I still had the presence of mind to record some stuff. I have had enough friends release music to know that it is largely inconsequential, that no one will notice or care, and you will not make money on it. Therefore, I opted out of paying for studio time, for mixing/mastering, and instead just released the tracks in their raw, original format, including false starts.

I have been sitting on a few of my favorite tunes for awhile. I mean, I posted them on socials, but I did so like a year ago. The irony there is of course that I think I tried harder at fun storytelling back then, and now I am better as a musician but potentially worse in the narrative department. Ain't that just the way.

I went to a networking event aka free pancakes on a lovely Sunday. The host is a comedy director buddy of mine who has won loads of awards, and there was another comedy director in attendance (also award-winning, which is how they met). They are currently working kind of normal jobs, because the industry continues to be dead for the foreseeable future. This means that they are hungry to work on fun and easy projects, which is why I pitched the idea of filming a no-budget music video. I of course pitched by playing the first verse of it, "it" being a song I had improvised a year ago in Texas. They LOVED it. Both directors interested, so now I am trying to find/write more songs to fit their flavor.

See, to win those awards, these directors shoot a film. They submit that film to a billion festivals. Regardless of success or lack thereof in these festivals, it takes a year or two for their art to make it through the festival circuit, like, just to find out if they are in. And as an incentive for festivals to help them, they will give a festival exclusivity for a premiere or whatever.

All of that translates to years of waiting for anyone in the public to see what kind of work they do. Sure they post promos, little posters and teasers, but when your short film is already short, there is only so much to be done with that.

But music videos? Immediate release. Lots of room to play and create, without having to worry about audio. I know this is easier because I have been making my own little music videos, and have noted the simplicity of just focusing on visual gags while the music takes care of the narrative. And this is a chance to work with directors on set as a writer/actor, which is WHAT I WANT TO DO, and is also THE BEST WAY TO GET TO KNOW SOMEONE YOU WANT TO WORK WITH PROFESSIONALLY.

So for this month, my comedy director buddy Roe will be working out in Wyoming, but we tentatively plan to shoot the music video next month. This means that I need to finish writing it. Will the third verse be from the perspective of a waiter? A dog? A dog waiter?

Oh, also, I have been filming sorta video blog things for what I hope will be a fun documentary someday.

Today

I cannot describe how annoying it is that I am so much more talented when sober. Churned out four songs the other day, plus a few intro jingles for a comedian buddy. Every time I post a requested song, people ask for more, and I get more followers. In other words, my approach is working, ever so slowly.

Had my first birthday celebration since I got to LA. Celebrated with other improv friends first by performing in a show, then by going to karaoke. I am still typically a pretty distinctive performer, but it is so nice to not be the only one who goes hard! I love my current life. I am soaking up every minute as I live it, in part because I feel like it must end soon. Too good.

I have been LOVING this open mic. I get footage that makes me look like a paid performer. And multiple clips have now gone viral on Instagram. And today, I bought a carbon fiber ukulele. Not as resonant as my wood one, but the strings are spaced better, and apparently you can run over these carbon fiber ukuleles with a car (but the strings might get damaged).

Just finished editing clips from today's open mic. One of these might put me over the top. Clickbait editing and everything. But now I am high and exhausted, so I hesitate to post. But also, what the hey? It is posted.

Got a song request asking me to say why OnlyFans is ruining a generation. I think it is making the best out of a bad situation. Off the top of my head, here are lyrics that come to mind.

I don't think that Onlyfans is the problem.

I say that 'cause you have to pay to watch 'em

And because there are very few jobs,

But this one is a type

That lets women (or whoever)

Work as much or little as they like.

Just from the fact

That they are incredible