Last week Sunday, I had been in the world for 20 years (I feel like a grandpa) and at this point in my life I have realized that progression is the ultimate key to success. I’m sending you this update because whether you know it or not-I believe that you have had, are having, or will have a significant impact on my life. Therefore, I feel indebted to at least let you know what is going down in my hood! I will do my best to send out an update every month or so about my endeavors in the Entertainment industry and my life pursuits. Feel free to read this update at your leisure (maybe even come back to it…I know it’s a little long…it’s the first post) and I would love to hear your feedback, opinions, testimonies, or anything you would like to say. If you would prefer not to receive these updates, please just send me an email and I promise I will NOT take it personally (I understand with everyone getting spam and all that).
(-Nick) Nathaniel Simons (I think I’m changing my name to Nathaniel)
SUMMER 2009-
THE BIG MOVE
What a blessing it is to have moved from Riverside to LA. I left UC Riverside and the city of Riverside on June 15, 2009 and moved to an apartment on 3rd and Vermont in LA and officially became a USC Trojan (Game day today-San Jose State)! Thank you pops, David, and Jessica for helping me move stuff down! It only took me a van and two car loads (seriously). Since being in LA, I have a few gotten ladies numbers : ), an over-draft on my debit account, quite a bit of school loans, and (the icing on the cake) managed to get 4 or 5 parking tickets and a speeding ticket. The “average black man” would be questioning this situation, and truth be told- I am currently in a state of the “average black man!” If I get one more you might see me turn into a “BELOW-average black man” and raise some weeds! Lol.
By God’s unfailing grace, the following day (June 16th) I started my internship at Venture IAB talent agency and was blessed to work as a television/film intern under theatrical agent, Michael Goldberg. I was able to soak up knowledge about how an agency functions, how to submit clients using Breakdown Services, and ponder why certain actors would get auditions and why others wouldn’t. Michael’s faith in his clients taught me that not all Hollywood/LA agents are the Jerry MacGuire (saw it for the first time this summer)-egotistical-money hungry-people illustrated in the movie. Michael’s faith in his clients allows me to have hope in the Entertainment Industry. Highlight of my internship (aside from getting to work with the amazing staff and ask Michael endless amounts questions)-meeting Hayden Panetierre, Madeline Zima, and Tessa Thompson at Sunset Gower Studios while they were on set for Heroes (my favorite show). Heroes- Season 4 Premier- Monday, September 21st, 8pm on NBC! If you’re ever in LA on Monday Night-come by, we’ll watch! I’ll make dinner : )
In addition to my internship, the first day I moved in- I dropped my bags and went to Westwood, Hollywood, North Hollywood, Santa Monica, Downtown, and you name it-looking for a job. And, can I get a “God is good”!? I was blessed with a job within a week as a host at California Pizza Kitchen. As cliché as it was- young actor moves from safe suburb to the big city and lands job at restaurant, I knew a seed had been planted through God’s mercy and my efforts...However things ran a different course and now I am currently looking for a new job…Yeah….I know.
ENTERTAINMENT ENDEAVORS:
In regards to pursuing acting, I thought the move was going to be THE solution to my audition woes. No more missing class to drive an hour from Riverside to LA and 3 hours back in traffic only to mumble-jumble some lines at an audition. No more having to drive down at 5:30 in the evening and get back at 1:30 in the morning from acting class. Yes, friends- I thought “BAM!” the move was the only breakthrough I needed in my acting career. WRONG… After getting frustrated with my agency and questioning, “Why am I not being sent out? What am I doing wrong? Why are they still representing me when it seems like I can’t I book a job? Why do they hate me?...Oh, they must hate me and (Bo-hoo).” I have realized I needed to continuously be proactive about my career. I got out of the river I had cried myself into (I barely had my nose out of the tears) and started submitting myself on Actors Access and LA-Casting and while I hadn’t booked a national commercial or anything, I was able to get roughly about 10 auditions through my efforts. I got cast in a short student film through Inner-City Filmmakers called “The New Girl” and it played at their graduation ceremony at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. I also received a callback audition from Aisha Coley, the same casting director who casted Love and Basketball, The Secret Life of Bees, Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins, etc. for a feature film called “The Haymaker”.
In respect to my agency- over the course of 1.7 years, I have been sent out on roughly about 30 auditions received 4 or 5 callbacks, but not a single booking. As a result, the scrawny-lanky-insecure-kid with Steve Erkel glasses and toothpick legs that I once was came out with a vengeance! I have/ had become so insecure over not booking a job and even sometimes with the types of auditions I’m at. For instance, I received a call from the same office for a lead in a Keri Hilson music video and the lead in a Jennifer Hudson video-
“Extremely handsome/ sexy man with toned body and swagger” and I’m thinking, “why in the-Don-King are they calling me in for this?”
*At the Keri Hilson audition, she was sitting there and I forgot my name…seriously
Sometimes it is the athlete-
Breakdown: Looking for an athletic-good at all sports-type who can run fast and…
Now remember, I came from a past where I was the carbon copy of Steve Erkel (enough said)
Through receiving a referral from the Jeffery Gund emails and a great manager friend, Mr. Rupert Francisco I realized I needed to revamp my mindset and take a new class. I enrolled in “Hey I Saw Your Commercial”; a commercial class taught by Mike Pointer and felt like it was home. My first acting coach in LA often cussed and used a deadly concoction of arrogance and put downs to “encourage” (translation=snake) her students to keep taking classes with her. But Mike was/is different- sincere and humble. He uses his knowledge of the business (how to properly contact agents, communicate with casting directors, meet other actors, etc.) to REALLY encourage his students and instill within them a sense of independence from whatever the industry says, “Your fat! Your too skinny! Steve Erkel? Too dark!” Too light!” (the usual).
In addition to taking classes with Mike I enrolled in a Scene Study class with a well known acting coach, John Kirby. A great guy with a great heart… John has coached on movies sets such as “The Chronicles of Narnia”, “Peter Pan”, “Stick It”, and others. John has also become my private acting coach.
So how was I balancing two acting classes, scene-study rehearsals, writing two plays, auditioning, work, and an internship?-God! And peanut butter….(SKIPPY)…lol (don’t ask…) As summer was coming to an end and auditions from my agency were beginning to pick up, I realized that summer taught me that persistence, commitment, and faith foster success. I had acquired a wealth of knowledge and was ready to start my academic year at USC….
I moved into my new 1 bedroom/ 1 bath apartment on campus with a roommate and a very hefty monthly payment and felt blessed to be in LA. Despite the 1 man kitchen, yellow-tinted toilet seat, lack of (NO) air-condititioning…my apartment is aight… Side note: The girls at USC are REALLY : ) . Now if I could only get them to swap their Louis Vuitton purses for a bible…. As class started, I realized that I could not commute 45-1hr (in traffic) to work at California Pizza Kitchen anymore (last day is this Thursday). I had the opportunity to meet: Niecy Nash, Vivica A. Fox (someone called her Tyra Banks), the cast of “Glee”, some of the cast of “So You Think You Can Dance”, Jane Seymour, Tocarra (still not too sure who she is)… But problems with management don’t help….I had also become a little agitated with the Hollywood Environment….It’s a little overwhelming if you see a Michael Jackson impersonator every 10 feet you walk. So I came to the conclusion that my Bakersfield, CA-small-town-boy (living in I a lonely world- Journey?...lol) mentality had gotten the best of me. And I realized I needed to put in my two weeks notice : ( The manifold entertainment-career-related clubs and activities on campus made me realize I made the right decision in transferring.
This past week I had an audition (producer session-the writer, director, and producer of the show were in present) for a new and popular show on NBC : ) What a great opportunity! The audition went well and I had private coaching help from John. I would be playing a gang-banger? I had fun! It’s Hollywood…I guess? Lol. What show??? By God’s grace you will find out soon enough : )
ENDING COMMENTS:
With this summer, despite the road-bumps and constant working- I felt progress being made toward my career and future endeavors. While there is no “how to” book for pursuing a career as an actor and attending University, I will keep pressing forward. I thank God for favor in every area of my life and yours. Please keep pressing on and standing tall (not hanging in- Thanks Mike) and realize that every day is a blessing. Every positive thought leads to a positive action and with God’s blessing a positive outcome. Thank you for reading and you’ll hear from me again soon!!! Feel free to write back! God Bless!
RANDOM:
This summer I have gotten told a resemble/look-like some famous celebrities, especially since working in Hollywood….WOW! Here’s the list starting with the #1 and working my way down. Please note for future reference: NOT ALL BLACK MEN LOOK ALIKE!!!
1. DON CHEADLE (younger version…heard this one today)
2. DWAYNE WADE
3. TYRESE
4. IDRIS ELBA
5. WILL SMITH (not quite…at all!)
Tips for today and the future:
1) Eliminate “just” from your vocabulary. It eliminates the significance of things
Ex: I’m just a waiter
Ex: I am a waiter! (It’s more confident)
2) Make a vision board (something my brother inspired me to do) for 0-5, 5-10, and 10-15 years down the line. I believe in the philosophy that you don’t die when you stop breathing but rather when you stop actualizing your dreams.
* I put USC on my 5 year plan : )
3) Think about where you are right now in your Spiritual/Academic/ Personal/ Professional Life. Where do you want to be in a year? A month? A day? What are you doing to make it happen Captain!? Believe in yourself.
4) If you see a ambulance. Pray for them and over the person who they are attending.
5) Keep some extra snacks (granola bars, fruit snacks, etc.) in your car. If you see a homeless person begging for money on the street or freeway, offer them one. You might be surprised at your blessing in return : )
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