"Life is a combination of magic and pasta."
                                                           Frederico Fellini

Although Cannella's opened in 1978, until last night I'd never been there.  Gretchen and I have been looking for a good Italian place and since it had been years since she'd been there, we decided to try it again.

Cannella's is right downtown across the street from the Leonardo in a classic two story brick building.  The inside decor is great, exposed brick, hardwood floors and a lot of old black and white family photos on the walls; reminiscent of another former downtown favorite of mine, "The Red Apple" which was located in the basement of the Judge building.  Cannella's took over what had been a rather seedy bar on the West side of their space and by doing so, gained a bar and a basement seating area, they also offer a beautiful patio.  But, even with an open flame propane heater, outdoor seating in Salt Lake City in November is, at least in our minds, not conducive to an enjoyable dinner.

We started the evening off with an order of Bruschetta, something I always enjoy, and Cannella's version of this Italian classic was pretty good; five pieces of toast topped with fresh tomatoes, buffalo mozzarella, basil and just the right amount of Balsamic vinegar.

Both of us ordered the same entree', Pappardelle Bolognese, (rather unlike us, usually we get two different entrees so we can share).  I got the soup, a Minestrone and she ordered the salad.

The salad was good, a nice variety of greens, kidney and garbanzo beans, pickled beets, Friggitello peppers, tomato and more.

The Minestrone unfortunately was another story; in a word, it was bland, it seemed to be totally void of seasoning.  The stock reminded me of the watered down "juice" you find in a can of "Stewed Tomatoes" from the grocery store.  Simply adding tomato paste to the stock along with some parsley, oregano and basil would have added so much to an otherwise good soup.

And, as Gretchen pointed out on the way home; where was the garlic bread?  What kind of Italian restaurant doesn't bring out a small loaf of Italian bread or at least a basket containing four slices or so of good bread?

Our entrees arrived with one, that's right, count it, one small slice of garlic bread and the blandness of the dishes continued.  I'm notorious for complaining about the heat overwhelming the food.  But, c'mon people, this is Italian food, you know; oregano, basil, parsley, rosemary, thyme.  Again, the dish was ok, just not great and some seasoning would have elevated it to something wonderful.  It's obvious their ingredients are good, (for pity sake they advertise that they use a local favorite of mine, "Colosimo's Sausage" among other things) it's just that at least in our experience, their recipes are just too plain.

In 1980 I was involved in a long distance relationship with a woman in New Haven, Connecticut.  In March of 1980 I flew to New Haven and although the relationship later turned into a disaster of "another Episode of Oprah" proportion, I was introduced to some incredible Italian food in New Haven as well as Boston.  There are few things better in life than Cannoli Sicilia.  So, last night I ordered Cannoli for dessert, Gretchen ordered their gelato sampler dish; pistachio, berry and cherry chocolate.  (Among other things on the dessert menu they offer a, "Whiskey Bravo" High West's "American Praire Bourbon" poured over a scoop of vanilla gelato.)

A cannoli shell is supposed to be crisp, not rock hard like granite or basalt, but dammit, the ricotta and mascarpone filling was so very good.  The filling also had just the right hint of lemon, hazelnut and chocolate; again, so very close, but not quite.

Gretchen's gelato saved the day, it was probably the best dish of the night; such incredibly good flavors, so smooth; made me happy that we do share when we try a new restaurant.

The story of Cannella's is great atmosphere, a wide variety of wines and spirits available but in the end the food just isn't quite there.  (At least they serve Coca Cola products.)

I probably won't be seeing you again at Cannella's, but I do look forward to seeing you soon on the set, stage or in the studio.

"Riot"

Last Monday night Gretchen and I attended the cast and crew screening of, “Riot” and both of us really enjoyed it; it was great!  John Lyde and Matthew Reese came up with a great concept and Spanky Ward crafted yet one more masterful script.  (Note: I couldn’t refer to the script as “great”, I’ve already used my non Donald Trump “great” allotment for this piece.)

I’d never worked with John Lyde before, but his conversion of the story from script to screen was as close to what I was imagining when I read the script as anything I can imagine.  On set John’s crew was wonderful to work with; consummate professionals among them, Paul Hunt, Leslie Kidman, and Larissa Beck- thank you, you couldn’t have treated me better during my time on set.

I’m so very grateful that I chose to participate in the Knightstar talent showcase in March, without it and without John’s participation as a judge for the showcase, I would not have been cast.  When I initially read the breakdown, I was thinking of reading for the role that eventually went to Dolph Lundgren, but for reasons I’ve since forgotten, I didn’t even audition.  So when my agent, Liz Knight called and told me that John had offered me the role, I was both surprised and grateful.  (Anyway, after seeing the film last Monday, my now very rusty Tai Chi and Tae Kwon Do skills wouldn’t have been enough to do the role justice.)

But the most important and best thing about “Riot” is this; and credit John for this, the movie knows what it is and it doesn’t try to be anything else.  Gretchen and I came up with this almost simultaneously, unlike, for example, Disney’s “The Lone Ranger”-a film that tried to be too many things and ended being a total mess, “Riot” is an action movie, nothing more, nothing less.  It doesn’t depend on the action to make it good, it has a good script and story for that, the action is just one ingredient out of many in a very good, entertaining movie.  Without giving too much away, I can safely say that it’s 87 minutes of punching, kicking, high energy action; so bring on the popcorn, Twix and diet-Coke!

At the screening on Monday night, John told us that Universal has already purchased the U.S. and Canadian distribution rights, so I’m looking forward to seeing it again and getting a DVD or Blu Ray copy of it (hopefully with some special features).  My only disappointment on Monday was that my favorite movie daughter, Eve Mauro, was unable to make it back to Salt Lake for the screening.  I’m thankful that I was cast in this movie and if I’m real lucky, I’ll get to work with this great group of filmmakers again soon.

So until then, or maybe sooner, I’ll be seeing you on set, on location, on the stage or in the studio…

Sundance 2015, two weeks later...

I started going to Sundance when it was still the US Film and Video festival.  A poster from the 5^th US Film and Video Festival hung over my fireplace for years.  Oddly enough, in 2008 after I’d started acting again I didn’t attend until this year; six years later.  The first three years, I had a play going on every year and between rehearsal and/or performances, I couldn’t get away.  Since then I’ve either been working, on some project or another or I didn’t have enough vacation hours at the “day job” to take the time off.

But a year ago I made a conscious decision to have enough vacation hours saved up to enjoy Sundance this year.  And, AND in December, for the first time, I was given credentials for the, “Independent Filmmaker’s Lounge”.

What did I learn at Sundance?

The first thing I learned was that every, and I do mean EVERY late model black Cadillac Escalade, GMC Yukon and Chevrolet Suburban in Utah was either in Park City or on the freeway going to or coming from the airport.  The next thing I learned was that if, IF I parked where I’d initially planned to park, I was going to blow my four day Sundance budget on parking.  I also learned that if I executed parking “Plan “B”, the car would more than likely be impounded; and that would not only take the four day Sundance budget plus but, would also get me a semi-permanent spot on the couch.  So, improv kicked in and in the end, parking wasn’t a problem.

On day three, I learned that in spite of the fact I was wearing, dare I confess it, LL Bean fleece lined jeans, the door masters at the Eddie Bauer lounge granted me entry into their lounge.  On day three I also learned that it would be better if some restaurant owners would learn to relax during Sundance and, “go with the flow” so to speak (but that as they say, is another episode of, “Oprah”).

And on day three, or to be more precise Saturday night, I learned how kind and gracious actors can be.  The culmination of Daniel Thompson’s work and fund raising on behalf of “Be Like Brit” and “Operation Underground Railroad” was overwhelming.  And it was on Saturday night that it became incredibly apparent that the actors and celebrities I’d met at the lounge are quite simply, very good people.

So this year if I don’t see you on location, on set, on stage or in the studio, I’ll look forward to seeing you at Sundance 2016…

Fifty years ago this week in my acting career...

During the spring of 1964 my sister got our entire family involved in a pageant being presented in the Tabernacle as a part of the “Days of ‘47” celebration.   The night of the last dress rehearsal the Tabernacle was filled to capacity with over 6,000 members of the cast, crew and audience.  When we’d finished the director asked if there was a little girl or boy in the cast who’d like to offer the closing prayer.  (Please note: my parents were in another group of actors on the other side of the stage.  I had my own blocking which was totally different from theirs.)  Anyway, I raised my hand, actually I was waving it wildly with a near verbal, “Oh, Oh, Pick Me, Pick Me!” when the director picked someone else.  When that little girl turned to the audience, she froze and burst into tears.  Well, there were a whole lot fewer hands when the director asked for another volunteer and I was selected. 

My grandma was in the audience and later said that I gave a very “sweet prayer”.  My parents on the other side of the stage were very surprised when they heard me since they couldn’t see me from their vantage point. 

At the time, guest stars from Hollywood would be brought in for the pageants ever year.  This particular year the two guest stars were Keith Larsen and his wife Vera Miles.  Both of them were impressed with me too and they had the director contact my mother for an audition the next day.

I had horrible Hay-fever when I was little and July 1964 was pretty bad.  I’d been sneezing my brains out that day so my mother decided to give me a Benadryl.  As the phone started to ring with the director on the other end, I was swallowing that pill. 

Hmm, change out of “play clothes” (do kids have play clothes anymore?) into “good clothes” and a 30 minute ride from Midvale to downtown (I-15 was still being built) and the old Hotel Utah in July in a car without air conditioning and you may be able to imagine how groggy I was.  Needless to say, I was a whole lot less impressive the next day than I was the previous night.  The effects had worn off by curtain time for opening night, but I didn’t get a second chance and thus, temporarily at least, ended the acting career. 

The "Utah Film Festival Info Hub" on facebook

There are three annual events that Gretchen and I rarely miss; Living Traditions, the Salt Lake City Jazz Festival and the Utah Arts Festival.  But over the last three or four years, it’s been so hot during the Arts Festival, we started to take refuge from the heat in the library auditorium and discovered, “The Fear No Film” film festival.  Last year none of the festival’s stage acts were either, “have to see” or even, “want to see”; so we reasoned why pay however many dollars for admission when all we’d be doing would be eating at the food court?

So last year we went downtown late Saturday afternoon, had a nice early dinner, walked to the library and settled in for what turned out to be nineteen short films from around the world. 

The “Fear No Film” film festival is a juried show that receives hundreds of entries from across the United States as well as Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Africa, Canada, Mexico and South America.  A number of films are selected and formed into six or seven programs that are sub categories of a yearly theme.  And, as I stated in a facebook post either late Saturday night or early Sunday morning after we got home, there is no reason for Utah filmmakers to feel insecure or that their work is inferior, it quite simply isn’t!

The vast majority of the Utah entries that we saw were superior to ANYTHING coming out of Europe or anywhere in the United States.  (Side note: The animated work coming out of BYU continues to be absolutely AMAZING; as good, or better than anything you’ll see before Pixar’s latest feature length offering.)

The Utah independent film community has a lot to offer; Sundance quite obviously comes to mind when you think independent film in Utah, but did you know the Salt Lake Film Society is one of the most successful and viable art house theatres in the country?

The day after our “Fear No Film” experience, I singled out two or three facebook filmmaker friends and asked if they’d submitted any of their recent works and one of their replies has lead me to today.  Many of you know this guy’s work, it’s good, probably better than anything I saw that night, but he didn’t know where or when to submit.

The primary purpose of this facebook page is to bring the whens, who’s, what genre, wheres and costs associated with Utah film festivals to as many filmmakers as the page can reach.  It’s secondary purpose is to act as a venue for promoting premiers, special screenings and college or university showcases.  I have some favorite film venues e.g., Ft. Douglas Post Theatre, Brewvies, The Tower and of course the Broadway; as we turn out in greater numbers for events held at these venues, their status in the community will only become more secure.

No selling shoes or purses, if you are looking for an actress over seven feet tall with tattoos who will double as a grip and makeup artist, go somewhere else; this page is just for information on festivals, special public screenings and university and college showcases around the state.

This page will only work if first, everyone who joins is willing to post accurate information on every Utah film festival they come across; and second, if you invite every director, writer, producer, makeup and hair artist, lighting guy, sound guy, actor and indy film lover on your friends list.  I’ve sent out invitations to everyone on my list, will you do the same and together we can create an invaluable resource for the Utah independent film community.

It may be true that money can't buy friends, but if a man is wealthy enough, he can rent them...

About six weeks ago the perennial “Pay Your Actors” argument/discussion independently came up during my acting class shortly after one of my facebook friends had posted his opinion on the subject.  I always want to be paid for my work but until our classroom discussion that night, I really hadn’t thought of the concept of compensation not being equal to or synonymous with money. 

  

On any project compensation consists of some combination of these three things; relationships and networking; acting experience, Imdb credit and footage for your reel; and money.

Over the next three weeks I’ll be sharing my thoughts on those three previously mentioned items; first off, relationships and networking.

I think that maybe more than any other industry I’ve ever been involved in; there is nothing more valuable in the world of acting than relationships and networking.  With the advent of social networking i.e., facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and etc., networking is more accessible, but not necessarily easier.

When I returned to “acting world” nearly six years ago, one of the first things I did was to begin a collection of names, numbers and email addresses.  I grouped the email addresses into different categories and would send out information on projects to my friends whenever I heard about a new project.  For a time, I thought I was aware of all the projects going on at any given time.  Was I ever wrong! 

There are so many film projects going on all the time and I want my friends (well, and me too) to be working in the field they love as much as possible.  Networking and our relationships are key to achieving the level of success I believe we’re all striving to reach.

Through this blog post today, I’m asking each of you, my facebook friends and Twitter followers to help me be a better and more valuable friend to you.  I’m NOT looking for an excuse or reason to “unfriend” any of you.  If anything, I want to get to know you better so that I can share information about projects with you and refer you and your skills to the people behind those projects.  I’m asking each of you to either through a comment on this status update or through an email or facebook private message to send me two pieces of information; 1.) Your movie job; actor, DP, etc. and; 2.) What, if any, the first project we ever worked on together was.  If you choose to, also please send me your email address, phone number and Twitter information.

I’d like to ask all of you to follow me on Twitter.

By connecting with each other on facebook, attending the various “Meet and Greets” available to each of us and attending screenings, film festivals, MPAU and SAG-AFTRA events; I believe that we can all expect to work more, improve our skills, earn more money and maybe more important than anything make and enrich relationships throughout the Utah film and acting community.  How do you use social media to promote your acting or film career; let’s talk next time we're on location, on set, on stage or in the studio…

The Shirt...

Seven or eight years ago my ex-wife and I took the whole fam damily to South Florida for a ten day vacation.  It was not an inexpensive undertaking, but to her credit, Tamara took to eBay and in the months before we left bought meal cards and various theme park admission tickets at significant discounts.  In the process, she got hooked on eBay.  

Compared to Tamara, Gretchen is an Olympic caliber eBay shopper and had we been together seven years ago, “the shirt” would never have crossed my closet’s threshold.  Tamara bought “the shirt” without first asking if I wanted or even needed it.  I knew I didn’t want it the first time I ever laid eyes on it; so when Tamara and I divorced in ’06 and I went through my clothes closet and gave away every out of style, age inappropriate or worn out article of clothing I possessed, why didn’t “the shirt” find a new home at the D.I?

 I don’t know the answer to that question, but once I started acting, “the shirt” was one of the first things to find a new home in the dedicated acting wardrobe closet.  But, it’s green, and with green screen, cgi and all; well, as an actor you shouldn't wear green.  When was the last time you saw anyone in a movie or TV show wearing green?

So, “the shirt” languished in the dedicated acting wardrobe closet until “Rummage Rumble”.  When I agreed to do “Rummage Rumble” I was told to wear clothes I didn’t care about since I was going to get bloody.  So what better wardrobe choice could I have made than my “homeless guy” shoes and jeans and “the shirt”.  In “Rummage Rumble” Pam Berry shoots me in the leg and then Taunya Gren blows my head off (head to be removed in post using some cgi) with a shotgun.  But the point is, lots of mud, blood and brain matter on my pants, shoes and “the shirt”.  The weather for “Rummage Rumble” was miserable-cold, wet and windy.  After lying on the ground in the cold and wet for four or five hours, I was more than ready to go home, shower and go to bed.  Two, maybe three days passed before, almost as an afterthought, I threw my clothes into the washer, didn’t hit them with any laundry pre-treatment, just cold water and detergent on a normal cycle and the blood came out!  No stains, not even a trace, it came out!

So now “the shirt” was mocking me, taunting me, daring me to do my worst; time passed and then three weeks ago another shoot, another murder, another opportunity to get rid of, “the shirt”.  Maybe Eli would use a different blood recipe than Robin had nearly two years before, maybe indoors under lights it would dry on, set and become one with the fabric, I could hardly wait.

The fateful night came, so much blood, so many camera angles and takes, I was on the cusp of victory, man against “the shirt” and man would reign triumphant.  Once again I was exhausted at the end of the shoot, once again I waited, but this time I waited three days.  Warm water, detergent and when the cycle was finished, into the dryer.

The next morning I ran down the stairs like a child on Christmas morning opened the dryer and, and-it was clean, it was stain free.  I think Hershey’s cocoa and chocolate syrup contains a secret laundry pre-treatment.

Damn you Hershey’s Cocoa and Hershey’s Chocolate Syrup!

Damn you Schilling and your red food coloring!

And while I’m at it and for good measure, damn you Karo syrup!

And you, you damn cheap dollar store laundry detergent that I can’t even trust to ruin the shirt; damn you too!