Here's the real story! My career shifted gears in October 2001, when I landed the lead guest star role on the hit series "X-Files". I was lucky to work the ninth and final season of the show. Further information is posted at X-Files.com under "episodes" and then click "John Doe". Months later, July 2002, I auditioned for the roll of a Portuguese interpreter for this new feature film called "ENVY". All I knew was that the director was Barry Levinson. I had no idea that the stars of the movie were Ben Stiller and Jack Black (Star of "Shallow Hal"). Well great news, I landed the part and was set to start shooting here in Los Angeles for one or two days in October. Initially the role was to be performed with a Portuguese accent, however three weeks before shooting, we were asked to re-audition with Italian accents, which I did!...and they LOVED it! Once again I was confirmed for the job but this time with a "minor" contract change. I was definitely shooting for one day in Los Angeles, but I was also being flown First Class all the way to Rome, Italy. I left for Europe in October and spent a week in Rome and 4 days in London, England. Even now, I have to laugh in disbelief as I tell myself, "All this, on someone else's dime. That's how it happens in this town. That's showbiz, baby! Showbiz!"

Now it may seem like I'm bragging but that's not my intent. I just had a really great year! In addition to the feature "ENVY" I was to shoot in October, I also landed a part in the new Universal feature called "Helldorado" starring The Rock! Once again, the role required a Portuguese accent. I was to shoot for possibly two weeks in November in Los Angeles and Hawaii.

The excitement of landing Helldorado was soon overshadowed by landing a recurring role on the NBC series "In-Laws", playing opposite Dennis Farina and Jean Smart. And, in between shooting the two episodes for the NBC show, I also worked a guest star role as a Santero Priest for N.Y.P.D. Blue. Okay, so here's an example of how plans change overnight in Hollywood. The producers of the feature "Helldorado" informed me that the role I was to play was drastically cut down from a two week shoot to three days only in Los Angeles. Here's where my experience in this town paid off. When we got the news, we immediately asked for a "3-day intended use deal memo" which is a binding pre-contract agreement that nowadays only a generous producer issues to guarantee the actor is still in the game. One week later, the producers announced that the role had been cut from the film entirely. I didn't even get on the set! BUT, I got paid anyway because I had the deal memo. "That's showbiz, baby!"

No doubt, 2002 was a phenomenal and life-changing year filled with extreme highs and surprising lows. So far, 2003 has shaped up very well. In January, I landed my first guest star role of the season on the new ABC drama "Dragnet" starring Ed O'Neill. I played Detective Rutter, which the producers pleasantly assured me that it could be a recurring role.

So, here we are up to date. Last week, I got close on a "CSI Miami" episode. The casting director made a courtesy call to let us know that I was the Director's first choice, but somehow the producers decided to go another way and alas the job didn't happen. It's tough to know that a chance to act and get paid well is so close and then just like that is snatched right out of your hands. Well, I do what I always do...toughen my "showbiz titties" and tell myself "That's showbiz, baby! That's showbiz!"
posted by Frank
at 7:10 PM