The Aspiring Actor's Guild Bloggings

Planet Billboard.com

2008-06-03T12:28:00.000-07:00

Planet Billboard is definitely out of this world! Everything is very convienient and easily accessible for your navigation throughout the world wide web. I'm an actor who uses Planet Billboard for finding acting work through casting calls in their commuter cinema section but not only do I use it for that, I use it for my everyday purposes. I use it for reading up on current events, checking the weather, it's great! Planet Billboard is the way of the future, and it's moving fast. So, just don't sit back and get lost, jump on the bandwagon and have some fun! I suggest you recommend this to all your family and friends.

Check out Planet Billboard today!
www.planetbillboard.com

National Treasure: Book of Secrets

2008-05-21T20:10:00.001-07:00

National Treasure: Book of Secrets (Now on DVD)

Now, this was a FANTASTIC film to work on in my opinion! I had a great time. I know others who will more than likely disagree but I don't care. I got to meet Nicolas Cage who's always been one of my favorite actors since I was a child.

For those of you who don't know, National Treasure: Book of Secrets is the follow-up sequel starring Nicolas Cage, Diane Kruger, Justin Bartha, and Jon Voight as the band of treasure hunting ruffians that we came to know from the first time round in National Treasure when the find the great Knight's Templar Treasure. I got to work on this film for two nights, April 10&11 of last year, in Mount Vernon, Virginia. Yes, we filmed at the home of George Washington. It was really awesome. The weather was great and I was excited to be there. I showed up for my calltime which was 5pm. I went through and got my tuxedo that I was to be wearing for the scenes I would be in. I didn't know much about what I would be doing other than I was a guest at a party. Boy was I in for a surprise! I was in the President's Birthday Party scene where Nicolas Cage kidnaps the President. Well, not really, but...just go watch the movie. lol. I don't want to spoil it for those who haven't seen it. Well, the first night of filming was LONG! I sat around on set talking with people, making friends, just having a good time for HOURS! Then finally at like 2am the production decided to use us. I came outside from the extras holding area with all the other extras and guess who walked right past me? Nicolas Cage and Bruce Greenwood, back to back. I was in awe. I had been use to watching Nicolas Cage up on the big screen for so long and I was close enough to touch him. Note: Actors are normal people here folks. If you ever work on a movie set, don't freak out and bombard them with questions and what not. I respect everyone that I work with. Nicolas Cage is someone that I have always respected as an actor and I would love the chance to actually work with him side by side one day with me having a speaking role this time, of course. lol. Anyway, back to the story...

The scene was simple. I got to walk around talking to people at the party, drinking champagne all the while. It was a blast. Then later on I was standing around a craft table drinking a cup of coffee to stay awake when I saw Nicolas Cage standing by his trailer. I finished my cup of coffee and started to head back to set. I was passing Nicolas Cage and his trailer when I heard that all to familiar voice. I spun around and I was right. Nicolas Cage was talking to me. He said that someone on set told him there was a young guy walking around that looked like him. I flipped out. I accepted the compliment. We chatted for about 10 minutes and then he gave me a card. He said to call the guy on the card and say that he told me to call. What do you think I did?

The second night of filming was great too. Then a HUGE Nor-Easter storm hit and that was the end of that night. It started raining so bad we had to stop filming. Footage was being ruined, costumes were soaked, wardrobe people were being flushed out. It was an even longer night than before. Oh me. Well, National Treasure 3 is in the mix. I'm actually trying to get a screenplay for it I am writing with my girlfriend pitched to Jerry Bruckheimer, the producer. One way or another, I'm going to be in that movie. Whether I write myself a role in or not. lol. Stay tuned for other actors and actresses stories from when they worked on National Treasure: Book of Secrets.

John Adams( 7 episode HBO Mini-Series)

2008-05-20T20:47:00.000-07:00

JOHN ADAMS (HBO MINI-SERIES)

Well, this little excerpt is going to be about my days that I worked on John Adams. You will be able to read about other actors and actresses experiences of working on this film too. Just be patient. Oh and for those of you who don't know, John Adams is starring Paul Giamatti, Laura Linney, Tom Wilkinson, Sarah Polley, David Morse, Rufus Sewell, and more. It's been airing on HBO since late March. To get more info check out:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0472027/ or http://www.hbo.com/

Yes, believe it or not that is I, Dennis Farrell, in the pic via left of this text on my first day of working on the HBO Mini-Series, John Adams this time last year. I was an Upperclass Philadelphian for the Philadelphia scenes in Episodes 2&3. I'm actually seen briefly in Episode 2! I got to work two days back to back for the Philadelphia scenes. I had to get up each morning at 3am to get ready and leave for Mechanicsville, Virginia to be on set at 5am. Boy, it was fun. lol. My first day I got to the parking lot where we were supposed to park at, then I boarded the bus that was shuttling extras to the set and the bus driver was apparently semi-retarded. The entire way to set this driver kept repeating to everyone on the bus, "I'm about semi-retarded and they're paying me $8k to drive this here bus." I kid you not. The guy kept saying it over and over again, like it was a mantra. lol. But, hey whatever it was 5am and it was great entertainment for me and everyone else. My first day was a blast! I started making friends instantly and I was grabbed by Matt Lake, one of the PA's (production assistants) to come be a stand-in for one of the lead actors! I was stoked. I had to film for 22 hours but nonetheless, I got paid well, met great actors, and got a great experience. Plus I got a Union Voucher! This counts toward your SAG Eligibility for those of you who don't know. My second day on set was great too! I got to sit on a sidewalk next to David Morse, most of you probably saw him in The Green Mile, I got to see Tom Wilkinson and Paul Giamatti. I talked to Justin Theroux who was in Mulholland Drive without even realizing who he was. lol. It was great. Well, a month and half later John Adams called me to come back to work. This time I would be working on some night shoots and a day shoot as a Wharfman for some Boston Harbor shots. This was in Goochland, Virginia and we had later calltimes. Let me tell you to start off with, NIGHT SHOOTS SUCK! Well, if you are a background extra anyway. There is soo much sitting around and waiting I can't stand it sometimes. That's why it's always good to bring a book or something when you have downtime. Other than that though working as a Wharfman was great! I got to be dirty and play with a great big fire! Juan knows what I am talking about. He was there with me. We got to play with this fire in one of the scenes. It was soo much fun. Just fanning the flames and throwing wood into it, okay enough of that. I'm not a pyro. Other than that it was just a lot of celebrating and welcoming home John Adams from France which was in Episodes 6 and 7 I think. Stay tuned for other actors and actresses experiences from working on John Adams and until then enjoy my pictures and my writings to you!