If you are receiving this- it is because you have had, will have, or are having an impact on my life and I feel the least I can do is let you know what's going doing in my neighborhood. You can find previous email updates at http://nathanielsimons.blogspot.com/, If you would prefer not to receive these updates, please send me an email and let me know (no offense taken-It's all gravy, yams, and biscuits!)


2010!!!??? What? When!? So, in keeping the trend of delaying my updates (I might have to make it every year), I am extremely honored and humbled to share what is going on in my life with you. I also love hearing back from you, so please feel free to ask questions and let me know how you’re doing. God is truly at work in my life and I am learning to trust him with small, great, and “Houston, I think we have a problem” decisions. A lot has been going down (speaking optimistically, UP) with me, for me, and through me. I hope that you will find a comfortable futon, a relaxing bean bag, or a mound of marshmallows (wouldn’t that be FLY) to chill on while you read this. As you are accustomed, you may want to have a meal during the span of reading this email update (preferably a 2lb. jar of SKIPPY peanut-butter- “OH, baby!” as Nathaniel currently spoon-feeds himself a ladle-sized mound of peanut-butter). I hope that you will enjoy reading this as much as I did writing it! God Bless!!!
-Nathaniel


LIFE UNDER CONSTRUCTION:

…So-uh…Merry Christmas and Happy New Year? I guess I’m a little late, right? Well, please excuse my N/PCT (Nathaniel/Person of Color time) and think of it as an advance for 2010. After recuperating from my initiation to USC (Hard work should NOT equal mediocrity), I had the opportunity to go home and spend the Christmas in the 8th wonder of the world, Bakersfield, CA (Note: not sarcasm- TRUTH <–family and friends=joy) + Bakersfield now has a Super Target and a Super Wal-Mart. Also, I finally learned how to do the electric slide (a big thanks to my niece Grace-love and my sister-in-law Jessica)…It took about 3 hours 25 minutes and 14 seconds to teach me but I’m pretty confident that mine and my brother Kobby’s Electric Slide could most definitely generate enough electricity to keep you happy during a California black-out (I’ve been practicing too- normally while grocery shopping…people tend to look at me a little weird). I can’t wait till the next wedding I go to! I plan on charging my Electric Slide on top of the bride and groom’s table. I also had the opportunity to go visit the OLD-man in SAC-town. Coming from someone who strongly opposes the concept of a buffet, GOLDEN CORRAL is the best thing that has happened to Sacramento since Cesar Chavez’s Civil Rights March. Right before I left for break, I applied and interviewed for a position as a Resident Advisor (otherwise known as the no-fun-jerk that ends parties and the usage of ______). Well, can I get a “God is AMAZING”!? Seriously! ---- Come on, say it!!! Okay, now that we got that covered- I got the job! As soon as I got back to campus, I got to leave my often quiet and sometimes bland apartment with the yellow-tinted toilet seat and no air conditioning for a more spacious and FRESH apartment with a non-1-person-sized-kitchen (I make a mean BBQ-chicken pizza…It’s how I get the ladies-just kidding mom-kind of). Did I mention housing is now…paid for? And OHHH- so for my first program I decided to teach an Ab-Attack Class with free smoothies and granola bars…There are over 700 residents currently living in Troy Hall..guess how many showed up? 5- Nooooooooooooooooo, not 50 or 500 (I didn’t forget any 0s)…5 period --- (.) Not cool, right! In addition, to the RA position- I am BLESSED to be the new Assistant Director of Alumni Affairs for Undergraduate Student Government, an anchor on Trojan Vision’s own show Platforum, and once-again a volunteer tutor for The Chaka Kahn Foundation. And classes- I got my work cut out for me this semester…AGAIN. In other news, f your newspaper, television set, facebook, twitter, and best friend have all failed you- I am here to inform you that Pete Carroll is leaving USC (he might as well go to ucla -once again, please note how ucla is in a smaller & non-capitalized font when compared to USC). How do I feel about it? Well, Pete- “You go make your $32 million dollar/ 5 year deal- because after your done driving in your new Mercedes S550 while bumping your $500,000 BOSE-sound-system and listening to Kanye West and chilling in your new $10 million mansion with your fancy gold-plated toilet and your happy family and your…(wait, where am I going with this?) Uh- Congrats Pete (period)-(.)

ENTERTAINMENT ENDEAVORS:

Through reading a purpose Driven life by Rick Warren (still got 26 more chapters), I have a new outlook on the journey of actordom. Rejection=Direction. With every “NO” that comes my way (it happens pretty often) is another step in a direction appointed by God smoothiefied with hard-work, persistence, and a plan. I had the opportunity to work on great short and student films in 2009 and not only will that increase in 2010 but so will other opportunites…as indicated below!
As I drove back on the foggy Bakersfieldian Grape Vine and passed the wind-ridden trees and the frost-bitten mountains on January 9th (sorry I’m kinda in an Edgar Allen Poe mood), I journeyed into 2010 with 4 auditions in 2 days!? Say What??? Yup- 2010 is year of increased blessings-- Believe it and receive it baby! A McDonald’s callback, ARBY’s, K-Swiss, and a reenactment for Discovery Health show, “I Didn’t Know I Was Pregnant” (please note: this is the name of the show- Men do not, nor will ever be or have the capacity to be pregnant…or so we thought), about a married couple with a baby!!! If you asked me which job I was going to book - I would have said hmmm.. “I like McNuggets, I like to play with curly fries, and I wear shoes but uhhh…marriage/kids??? Two things that make every man run and catapult into his SNUGGIE and Scooby Doo Night Shoes!!! It wasn’t that I don’t have faith in my abilities--- it’s just that I’ve been told I resemble more of a Don Cheadle and the actor playing the character in the show needed to resemble more of a not Don Cheadle….But even when we doubt our abilities, God presents opportunities! Essentially, he’s saying, “Who said you couldn’t do this?” “Who told you aren’t that? Needles to say- I booked the job! When does it air? I have no clue! But I’ll let you know when I find out! There’s a picture attached below from when I was on set- If you want to see more pictures- check out my blog-http://nathanielsimons.blogspot.com/which I will start updating periodically with entertainment and everything related endeavors starting next week!


Proactiveness (apparently it’s not a word- because I’m getting the little squigglely line that says “you suck at spelling”) is building block for success as I have realized with pursuits in the entertainment industry. I’m currently taking two Cinematic Arts Classes: TV Station Management & Motion Picture Camera. I’d like to think I’ve been pretty proactive of late and as a result have been auditioning at least twice every week. In addition to booking a job on Discovery Health, I booked a job for Vh1 for a new show called “Famous Crime Scene”, a reenactment of Michael Jackson’s death in which I play M.J. himself (just kiddin, we would have to go back quite a few decades to make that work or I would have to get $5million in plastic surgery- so I play his assistant, Michael Amir)! Check out the pictures below (please note: the Michael Jackson one might be a little scary- more on the blog). When does it air!? Once again, I don’t know…but I’ll let you know! This week alone has been a blessing- Thursday I had the opportunity to audition for the casting director who was behind “Stomp the Yard” and “Notorious”, yesterday I had a hosting audition, today I had an audition for Coke, and Monday an audition for a movie trailer!!! What a blessing!

I also recently did some submissions (actually sent them out on Thursday). As I submitted, I did not even know that this particular agency I submitted to did only voice-overs. They represent Jane Lynch from Glee, Jim Belushi, Tony Danza, Kevin Dillon and bunch more. I got a call yesterday evening from this particular agency that is very well known for voice-overs and they want to bring me in for a voice-over audition next week! “Say What!!!!?” (in African Accent) “Say What!!!!?” ( in British Accent) “Say What!!!?” (in Jamaican Accent) “Say What!!!?” (in Southern Accent) “Say What!!!?” (in Filipino Accent…working on it). I’m about to get my James Earl Jones on! FRESSSSSSH! So…(shameless plug…again) if you check my blog, sometime next week, I’ll update you!


ENDING COMMENTS:

The backwards-upside-down-adrenaline in your face-about to make you throw up feeling is an emotion that we get when we pursue our purpose (should I say “purpoi”- would that be plural? It’s been so long since English class). I feel blessed (I don’t and cannot believe in luck- I believe in blessings) and so grateful for the opportunities that have arisen. I pray that as you sit there on that fluffy marshmallowed and beaned-baggen futon that you are progressing toward your purpose and realizing that every detail of your life is not a coincidence but a signal of direction. Thanks for reading! Feel free to check the blog http://nathanielsimons.blogspot.com/ (shameless plug #7000) every now and then!



TIPS FOR THE FUTURE:

1. If currently believe you are incapable of doing something, ask yourself who told you were incapable?
2. Peanut-butter makes the world go round (SKIPPY that is)
3. Pray for the beautiful country of Haiti and find it in your heart to donate whatever you can.
4. Ask yourself if you are in the right atmosphere and mindset to achieve your dreams? If not, what can you do about it?
5. DON’T go see “The Book of Eli”- Denzel, you let me down man!
6. Please do yourself a favor- Go for the SAINTS...If anyone wants to bet jars (as in multiple) of SKIPPY, I’m so down!