I have a second interview in about an hour for a day job that I am pretty excited about.  Growing young company with their corporate office about 30 miles from here.  Lots of opportunity to advance.  On the one hand I know I need to be making some money.  On the other hand...where is Spielberg when you need him?

Watched THE TOURIST (2010) last night with Johnny Depp and Angelina Jolie and was not expecting much...and that is what I got.  Directed by unknown Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck, this film plays like a 1960's Cary Grant film with the long slow shots of actors walking streets as well as of locations involved such as the Venice backdrop here.  It did have its enjoyable cute moments with witty dialogue between Depp and Jolie.  The absence of sex and violence and the slower pace again made me think of the earlier films made and may help it play to an older more reserved audience.  I enjoyed Paul Bettany as the Inspector and Timothy Dalton put in a nice appearance as well. 

Just watched THE FIGHTER (2010) on a rainy Saturday afternoon and was quite pleased with the outcome.  David O. Russell directed and did a nice job of telling the story of Micky Ward, played by Mark Wahlberg, and his battle with boxing, his family and his eventual title match for world light welterweight.  I have always wanted to like Wahlberg but usually don't.  However in this film I believe he was the character he was playing.  Supported by his brother, played by an amazing Christian Bale, Wahlberg rose to the occasion.  Bale won an Academy Award for his "crack-head" yet knowledgeable boxing performance and I am stunned that he has not been nominated in the past.  Amy Adams puts a very nice gritty performance together as the girlfriend rocking the family boat and Melissa Leo, as the matriarch, fights to keep her family together well enough to also take home an Academy Award.

Shot the Piedmont Federal Bank commercial spot yesterday in Winston Salem.  Had a good time.  Great crew.  Very organized.  Worked with "Wally", a 4 year old Springer Spaniel who was adorable albeit not always cooperative.  Special effects had it raining and then the sun coming out...that was pretty cool!

Found out yesterday I booked the Piedmont Federal Bank job shooting next Thursday.  KEEP THEM COMING!

Now we're cooking with gas!  Have the Destiny Road film audition this morning, then a Duke Energy commercial spot audition early afternoon, and then go to Wilmington to audition for the new Three Stooges film.  Also on callback yesterday for Piedmont Federal Bank, I am First Refusal.

Callback today for the Piedmont audition on Monday...let's get it going!

Audition this Friday for a supporting role in DESTINY ROAD, an Ultra Low Budget SAG film shooting in the Raleigh area.  Reading for JOE, the hard drinking blue collar father in the story.

Just watched THE KILLER INSIDE ME (2010), a remake of the 1976 film of the same title, with Casey Affleck, Kate Hudson, and Jessica Alba.  Set in the late 40's, a small town deputy sheriff played by Affleck steps out of line for what appears to be the first time in his life and the domino effect leads him to much mayhem.  In flashbacks to his younger days it seems life was just a bit twisted and now it's all calmly coming to a head.  Photography is rich in the dust bowl it plays out but it seems a bit slow paced.  I'm sure this is intentional so we can see how A leads to B and then B leads to C but along with the muted dialogue, it was hard to keep my attention.  It seemed stilted and just too matter of fact for me.  There was also some serious violence but I did not see where that came from.  Maybe more backstory was needed so later we would understand why he had this inside him for so long and hadn't acted on it sooner.

Watched 127 HOURS (2010) last night and once again director Danny Boyle has told a story in his visual way that enhances the plot line and keeps you wanting to see more as he did with SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE, 28 DAYS LATER, THE BEACH , and TRAINSPOTTING.  James Franco turns in a good performance as the mountain climber stuck "Between a Rock and a Hard Place" which is the book written by real life Aron Ralston which the movie is based on.  With delirious flashbacks we meet his family and friends and learn he is a loner and considered selfish, which he now has to reconcile with being alone and nobody knowing where he might be.