ON LOCATION

This week was certainly an intense one. Not only did I have to juggle 2 different shows rehearsing, work and the tv episode shoot but I also had to travel a lot to Oakland to take care of my friend's cats while they were away. Busy, busy indeed.

Here's the scoop on the shoot:

I went in for costume fittings on Tuesday to their costume department in Treasure Island. The ladies were very nice and I tried on several different outfits. Because there is food involved in the scene, they had to make sure that I had multiples of the same outfit. The fitting didn't take long and I waited to hear instructions about the shoot. Thank goodness my pal Colin Thomson filled me on what to expect before and during the shoot. His advice was right on the money. I got a call from one of the Assistant Directors on Wednesday evening and I was told to report to Golden Gate Park at 8:15. Naturally I arrived with plenty of time to spare and I noticed how incredibly organized all of this is - coordinating which streets are closed with police included. I hardly slept the night before from nerves and it was a chilly morning in San Francisco. Everyone was incredibly nice - the ENTIRE CREW WAS INCREDIBLY NICE. It was a wonderful sight and feeling and now I see how all this wonderful treatment can get to people's heads. I was there only for a few hours and felt like a star. I was taken to my trailer and waited to sign my contract. I was taken to hair and make-up which is were I met Cliff Curtis who plays Rabbit on the show (my scene is with Rabbit and his partner Marisa.) and who was very nice. The scene we were about to shoot was not a nice scene in any way of form - the scene is about humiliation. After hair & make-up I went back to my trailer to get changed and then at 9:15 we got in a van that took us to the location: Ocean Beach.

The sight was out of this world: a helicopter, huge fans, crew, cameras - it was all so surreal. I shook hands with our director Norberto Barba who couldn't have been nicer. He asked me if I was Cuban and I told him Peruvian and we chatted about the wonderful restaurant La Mar in SF. We rehearsed the scene and started the shoot. It was cold, very cold and Cliff had to dump a large diet coke on top of my head several times. The shoot lasted about 3 hours and in that time I got to meet and work with Aimee Garcia who plays Marisa. She was so lovely and had wonderful compliments for my performance. I am very proud of the work I did, as it was not an easy scene to shoot emotionally or physically. I am so blessed and incredibly grateful to have had this opportunity. I couldn't have asked for a better scene to make my national television debut. I hope that Trauma is a big hit and that someday they'll ask me back =+)

This week doesn't get any easier as Company opens, although I feel confident about my performance. The cast is really, really good and so much fun to work with. I think the show is going to be quite good so I hope people come to see it.

It's 2:30 AM so I better get some rest.

Have a great week y'all

M.

Watch the premiere episode of Trauma tonight at 9 PM on NBC!

P.S. I will not be at Max's until October 11th!!

PHONE RINGS, DOOR CHIMES, IN COMES... TRAUMA!

I received the most amazing news on Friday. My agent called to tell me I booked my first national TV gig. I'll be playing a role in an upcoming episode of the new NBC drama TRAUMA which premieres on September 28. It is a terrific little scene (it's intense!) and I couldn't be happier. Some amazing Bay Area talent is being booked on the show including my friends Brian Yates Sharber, Louis Parnell and Colin Thomson. Below is a pic of the leading cast:

I finished my first week of Company rehearsals (week 3 for everyone else) and I couldn't be more scared. I have very little time to work on it and I only have a week left before tech. I pray that by channeling Mr. Sondheim, I'll be able to learn where these BobbyBubi lines come in. I am hoping for the best but needless to say this has not been a very fun experience thus far. I must commend the amazing cast who all have fantastic moments in the piece.

Today my sister & I went to see American Idiot at Berkeley Rep and without a doubt this is the most exciting new musical I have ever seen. It does need some work before it heads to the Great White Way but the cast led by John Gallagher Jr. is out of this world - the pure energy on that stage was out of this world. An amazing set, some of the coolest lighting I have ever seen on stage before and of course these amazing Green Day songs. As we were leaving we saw Mike Dirnt, Green Day's bass player and my sister was overjoyed (she is a HUGE Green Day fan). It was a really awesome experience. I was supposed to have seen the show on my birthday but thanks to the new Bay Bridge entrance traffic was backed up for miles and we couldn't even get to the bridge. Thank you so much Berkeley Rep for allowing us to return to the show. I loved it so much I am going to try to see it again.

Alright, huge week ahead, double rehearsal duties and I shoot my episode of Trauma on Thursday. Onward we go!

Have a great week y'all.

Martin

TURNING 31

I had a really busy summer working for Hillbarn Theatre's summer conservatory but had the best time working with wonderful friends both old and new. In Alice In Wonderland I met one of the coolest people I have ever known: Jillian Toby-Cummings, who was our wonderful choreographer and a hoot and a half. Doing Snoopy I got to collaborate with the delicious team of Matt Mattei and Shannon Stowe. Who could ask for anything more? I had a wonderful time directing Snoopy. The kids were terrific and I really learned a lot about myself this past summer. I found hidden in me the fact that I love directing. I had such a blast doing it during the summer that I am doing again at the moment. I am directing and music directing Once Upon A Mattress for Hillbarn Theatre/Crocker School working with the wonderful Vicki Holden as my choreographer. We just started auditions this week and Vicki & I will finalize casting tomorrow.

I turned 31 yesterday and I wasn't one of the best birthdays on record (the new Bay Bridge ramp was making traffic slow on 101 and I was stuck in traffic and couldn't get to Berkeley Rep to see American Idiot which was my sister's present for my birthday.) Needless to say I was not a happy camper. Today was a much better day because Debra Lambert has invited me to be a part of NDNU's upcoming production of Company to play the role of Paul (he's in the Getting Married Today number). Coming back to NDNU so soon after graduation wasn't exactly on my to-do list but to do such a cool show, work once again with the delicious Billy Liberatore and Greg Fritsch and on an equity contract proved this an easy decision. I start rehearsals tomorrow.

So it looks like my schedule went from light to busy in only a day. Company runs the first two weekends of October. I haven't performed in a show in over 9 months so I am looking forward to returning to the stage.

That's all for now.

Cheers

Martin