I went to find my initial audition for this one to do the whole audition vs. final spot comparison situation, but looking through my tapes - yes, I keep every single one and occasionally watch them back like an athlete studying film - but I couldn’t find this character.
Then I remembered that I initially went in for a different role. The guy who booked that part was awesome btw! It was a pretty quick casting process per usual and the day of the callback casting asked me to read for RUSH, the character you see here.
“Yes! Sure. Of course, I got it,” I said while internally freaking the flip out.
I rushed (pun intended) to get off book and prep. Everything feels like life or death in these situations when in the grand scheme of things they’re actually quite inconsequential. Looking back, the thing I learned/was reminded of is: you just do the best you can.
Being obsessive or at least thorough certainly helps, but at the end of the day you have very little control over the situation. Whether you book this role or that one. Whether you work at all, frankly. So let it go.
I had a devised theatre professor in grad school who would bark “Your performance needs a BIG 🤬 YOU” from the back of the theatre! He meant you need the confidence to perform without any regard of how it goes. Do your best and let it go.
I’ve found life usually unfolds better than expected that way…and alleviating all that pent up stress puts you in a place where you can work through play.
🤓 You know, before actors were called ‘actors’ we were referred to as ‘players.’ Maybe we should get back to that.
“The Him I Knew” BTS. Now in post-production.
The truth is I wouldn’t have been able to do this role a year ago, or six years ago after I got my MFA or when I almost didn’t graduate college because I took my first professional role in a children’s theatre production instead of taking a psych class.
The reality is auditioning isn’t acting, neither is reading a script or learning lines. And while these things are necessary and important. Only acting is acting. Because it’s the only thing that demands you be in conversation with another. You can’t just do that on set. You have to train or at least I do.
Our culture seems to shun ‘tryhards,’ but since when did it become cool to come to set not knowing your lines, or not even bothering to read the script? Yes, I’ve seen these things happen. Please I beg you: Be a TRYHARD. I promise you the more I train, the more I work. And the more I get to do work I’m proud of.
“The Him I Knew” is definitely under that umbrella. And my favorite part about shooting this film? I was surrounded by a cast & crew of complete TRYHARDS. And I’m incredibly grateful that I had the privilege to work alongside folks I’d consider my kind of people: Passionate.
More about #THIK & other 2026 releases to come. Until then…TRY-HARD
I think my favorite thing about being an actor is digesting a writers philosophy on how to live…or in this case, how not to live.
There’s a Kobe Quote: “May you find power in understanding the journey of others to help create your own.” And I’m incredibly grateful that that exploration is exactly what I get to do for a living.
We all operate from a place of love received, love unreceived and survival. And the deeper I fall into my craft the more I understand how these three things can get in our way or propel us forward. Not just for the sake of playing a role but in my actual actual life.
This is all arguably too heady for IG, but hey - the bio says ‘existential crisis enthusiast’ for a reason.
As a dude whose favorite shows were “Boy Meets World,” Grey’s Anatomy,” “How I Met Your Mother,” “The Office,” “Friends” and “Insecure.” (To name more than a few, but less than I could).
You know, those shows where the will they/won’t they is palpable. When you couldn’t wait to tune in next week or quickly hit ‘Next Episode’ while streaming - I loved that stuff in my more formative years, which is why it’s super rewarding to actually get to play those roles now.
Final clip from “Conflict of Interest.” Currently in ATL working on a feature I can’t wait to share with you! But more on that later 🫡
This job has taken me to soo many different places: ATL, LA, Japan, and the list goes on - so someone tell me why I’m soo excited to be filming in OKC for a week? Maybe it’s because I’m from the boonies, or maybe it’s because the Thunder won the NBA Finals. Who knows? 🤷🏽
Anywho, I’ll be here shooting my third project for @watchcandyjar and as we gear up to start filming tomorrow I wanted to share my favorite clip from NAAY.
Mostly because I’m really excited for the week ahead - I just can’t say too much about it yet….buuuut…maybe you can guess…
Which role am I playing this time
Big thanks to @giodeval for sharing some beautiful insight into playing Sam—a character who shattered us quietly and stayed loyal even in betrayal.
At this point, I think we’ve all forgiven Sam in our hearts. And if he were to… hypothetically… be resurrected in a sequel? How vertically amazing would that be?
***Watch Fated Deal with the Mafia King on GoodShort
It’s soo easy to slip out of gratitude. I mean, there was a time in my life where I was at risk of not graduating high school. HIGH SCHOOL. 😮💨
Now I’ve got my MFA, I’m surrounded by wildly talented people who I admire (most of whom understand that I don’t actually like to hang out), I have the most well-behaved dog who gives me perfectly timed side-eye, AND more importantly: I get to wake up every morning to focus on the the things I love. 📸🎥🎬
Of course there are things I still want and desire, but when I look around and count my blessings, I’ve gotta admit: life is pretty damn good.
Anywho, some BTS from this week’s shoot for @newyorkornowhere . After all, it was NYON before I even lived here. 🗽
As an emo teenager who binged the CD Box Set of ‘Grey’s Anatomy,’ I was geekin’ for the chance to channel my inner McDreamy on this one.
Here’s some BTS from ‘Not All About You’ which releases on the @watchcandyjar app next Friday, June 20!
