Semi-Pro

What is up Briantologists!!! The biggest news for me over the last few days is that I've officially joined the Upright Citizens Brigade. Ironically, my buddy Pack starts the day before I do (April 21). I'll be going twice a week to knock out the introductory course so I can start moving up the ranks. For those of you who don't know, UCB was one of the reasons I came to New York. It's one of the premier improv training grounds in the country, and I'm really stoked to be studying there. I talked to my buddy and personal improv Obi-Wan, Brian Chapman, about how they start everyone off in introductory, and his response was just classic. "OK, so go in and dominate." Can do. I know Pack and I will represent PIT well on the coasts. Along with signing up for UCB, I've been perusing acting classes as well. Obviously to keep the instrument in tune, but more or less because that is where you make your contacts to move to the next level. When I started at the Pro Actors Studio 4 years ago, I didn't know anyone and had a handful of theatre credits to my name. Flash forward about a year and a half, I was repped by one of the best agencies (if not the best) in Atlanta or the southeast, Houghton Talent, I was continually working, and I was building a nice reel for myself (mainly by being recommended by friends). This business is seriously who you know, and if I have to play the political game to get where I want, so be it. The class I'm looking at was recommended by my friend Ashley, and it's the William Esper studio. Great Alumni and it's basically grounded in Meisner Technique, which is what I'm all about (i.e. Meisner is basically listening and reacting, or living truthfully under imagineary circumstances....sounds easy, right? Yeah, it's not). I also signed up for a New York parks membership. Basically, for $75 per year, or $37.50 for 6 months, you get unlimited park access, which includes indoor pools, workout facilities, and a rock climbing wall. I worked out today, and I'm good and sore. In the words of Ron Burgundy, "it's the deep burn!!!" So, if you've been wondering how I've been up here and what I've been up to recently, you are now caught up. Oh, that and I hate tax day, but I don't want to get on my soapbox about that (and you don't want it either...trust me, once I get upon that thing, there's no getting me down). Final thought....TBS is playing "Wild Wild West" now. No Stack, it's not a good movie, but you're still my boy. Terrible movie, no wonder the Fresh Prince started checking out Scientology...