Old Photos from bygone eras

Been busy adding some older photos to the net ... take a gander ... click on the pics to see more ... will add more soon!!!


My Awsome Apartment/Room In A'dam


X-mas 2006 in London

12 Angry Men n 1 Babe

This was from our wild night Out and About in WEHO after a show 12 Angry Men n 1 Babe

ENJOY!!!

Period! 'Nuff Said

Take a moment and really look.

It's Apartment Time!!!! (think Mc Hammer)

At my usual haunt ... Ground Work ... watching people walk by and feeling pissed that I didn't get to the gym today :O( but been busy setting up an account on Mandy.com. Will take an hour or two to memorize my lines for Act 1.

Guess what!!!! I have an apartment!!!! 5-7 min walking from my coffee shop!!!! I went and paid my deposit a few hours ago. The girl that came at the same time as me took the other upstairs apartment. If i wasn't alone i would never move into this place ... very interesting people live there (I'll take pictures in the next weeks). It's definately not my place in A'dam (that's fracking AMAZING). You know it kinda like a white trash Melrose Place, as if Melrose wasn't trashy enough). This place though has the lower income bracket of Hollywood ... we'll see how it goes.

Have a show tonight at 20:00 - this one I'm stage managing, guarding and judging.

I soooo should be studying my lines!!! Will do after updating a few pics on the blog ... all for your enjoyment ... all 2 of you that read my blog.

Sean

Another week - makes 3 - I'm still kickin' it :O)

Will run down my week, cause I know ya'll are just dying to know what I've been up to ...

Friday 24th
Today I woke up early, as usual, after going to be late, as usual. Took me a loooong time to get my "baby got back" ass out of the house, but Jodi enticed me to do something really really naughty! It's all her fault, so I'm gonna blame her for everything ... she took my big ole ass through Mid-City, Koreatown, Jefferson Park and finally to Crenshaw ... to ... HELL ... the place where all people with a sweet tooth are cursed to forever roam ... the imfamous yet addicting ... Krispy Kream. I bought 2 dozen (24 in total all for me), no actually for the cast for tomorrow's show (one cast memeber has a B-day tomorrow) and just because I'm a really super nice guy. I did not eat that many ... only 3 ... I slipped into a sugar coma as Jodi was driving back ... I think I still am having the shakes. Last night I heard that it takes 1.5 hours on the treadmil to run off 1 donut - if that's the case then I'm definately fucked!!!!

Jodi dropped me off at the bus stop and like an idiot I get on the bus, ask the driver where Cahuenga Blvd is, he has no idea. I have ony 25 min till I have to meet a guy to check on an apartment. Well I'm not 100% sure where Chatuango, Catuwronga, Chatchagoogoo Blvd is, even though I have a map in my bag, I'm not smart enough to take it out and look at it (I knew there was a stupid American in me somewhere), so we pass my stop and go all the way through the golf course (about a good 4 long LA blocks). I have to walk all the way back - damn if I'm gonna waste another $1,25 for the bus - finally the other bus comes and I arrive at the apartment about 10 min late. It actually worked out quite well ... there was a cute girl (went to Uni in Fort Collins, CO) who's just moved here 1.5 months ago and is going to acting school. We hit it off and I think the guy renting the place like us both. I filled out my application then and there and tomorrow will call him, go by drop off the deposit and then move in begin Sept. The place itself is ok ... bit shabby round the edges ... definately not new ... lot's of wild Hemingway Cats, a dog and a film studio. He's a director that just made a movie with a famous Czech actress (I don't remember her name - I'll ask him next time and blog it). If all goes well with my application I'll be able to choose from 2 rooms on the 2nd floor (1st floor for the fellow's EUers). One is $525 the other $550/month - unfunished - so I'm gonna have to get my ass to Ikea and spruce it up a bit :O) Probably just a futon, table and chairs ... something like that. The apartment is called a "batchlor apartment," which means that there is no kitchen, you have to share the shower and WC with other's on the floor, you get a fridge and the room is a very basic studio, but I have to tell you the location is PERFECT!!!!! I can walk to my gym, my fav coffee shop, the Arclight, my bank, etc. We'll see ... I'll keep ya'll posted!!!!

Right now I'm listening to Mika; I'm loving it!!!! What a great CD!!!

So as I pop into my fav coffee shop ... damn ... I'm here every day, I'm addicted!!! Guess who I see Kirsten Vangsness from one of my fav crime shows Criminal Minds. Now, very rarely do I actually go up and say anything to actors/actresses, but I did go up to her, intrupt her converstation to her two guy friends saying, "I just want to ... um ... say ... um that I really like ... um ... show and that I like ... um ... your character ... and you're great on the ... um ... show ... um ..." She must of thought I was a major dweeb, but she smiled said thanks, blushed a little and when she left later said bye to me. I must say that she's more beautiful in person than on the show - film doesn't even do her justice.

Comedy Night started again, but I couldn't stay because I had to go get a manicure/pedicure; it was very nice even had a massage chair to boot. I was in heaven being pampered and watching America's Next Top Model. You know if I didn't nibble, slightly, on my nails I would have better ones. I'm gonna have to stop it if I want commercial work.

Right around the corner from my new apartment, hopefully, I found a pretty decent Thai rest. (King's Thai Food) that delivers!! It's a little dive, but good food. It's sooooo nice to have international food and not this American stuff. Usually when I head out it's only steak and let me tell you, you think LA (land of yoga and heath) would have lots of veggie stuff - NO!!! Meat Meat Meat Meat everywhere!!!!

On my way back to Jodi's I stopped off for some groceries at Paviloins for food shopping and picked fruit with James Remar.

Now onto what's been happening this week ...

Thursday 23rd
Went to yet another steak house, but this one is one Jodi used to work at. It's in downtown LA and I had a chance to see a bit of downtown:














Can you believe it? This is fucking rediculous! See how expensive parking is in downtown LA?

Had my opening night on stage at Juror #2. Went well - only dropped one line - a funny one too, but went well. I have to say I love being up there. Afterwards we went out and about on the town: [pictures to be inserted].


Wednesday 22nd
Don't remember what I did - if it comes to me I'll post it ...

Highs n Lows all in less than 12 hrs

Man O Man - does it get any better? Well I can answer that already - yes it does!

ARGGGGGHHHHHH! What the fuck? Does God, the Universe, Allah or whatever you want to call it, him or her not want me to have a checking account in America? Went to Wells Fargo this AM and the guy was just entering my account into the computer 24 hours after I opened it. I've tried to log on via the web, but of course it's not letting me!!! They should give you a temp ATM card, but they've ran out of them! I was going to transfer long overdue money into my credit union account, but naturally I left all the paperwork at home! ARRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHH!

with further ado about nothin' let me explain the last 12 hrs

During a break from lining myself to death (learning lines for the show), I saw this beautiful black woman (I don't know about you, but I think black women are very very beautiful - starting with Jodi and most of the others I know) grabbing a coffee - she looked a lot like the woman I saw last Friday here (Ground Work aka my office) at Ameture Comedy Night (she was one of the best), and I wanted to say congrats on a good performance. Alas, she was not the woman, but instead a singer/songwriter (writes/produces all her own stuff). She gave me a demo and I must say I'm so impressed I put it on my ipod! Check her out www.carlaholden.com. She's also the reason I started my own MySpace page:

Sean's MySpace Account

Not much there right now, but it's a start.

After having a wonderful conversation with her I lollygagged my way to the Arclight Movie Theatre to watch a wonderful movie: Stardust (http://imdb.com/title/tt0486655). Amazing performances from all - particularly Robert De Niro - you'll have to check the movie out to see what I mean.

I then trotted off to my 24 hr gym - Monday is one of the days it's actually 24 hrs - go figure. Workout was nice - finally got a chance to do some cardio. Then I had the bright idea of going to the steam/dry sauna. Now after growing up in Europe and going to many many saunas in various countries my philosophy is one of this: YOU SHOULD NOT HAVE TO BE FORCED TO WEAR ANYTHING IN A SAUNA! It should be your choice. My gym in Amsterdam and the other ones I've been to are mixed saunas - men and women - all have the choice of going naked, wear a towel or trunks if they want. In the 8 years I was working out I think I only saw 2 men wear trunks (they were Arabic so probably had to do with their religion). Most of the women were naked about half of them, even less, opted for a towel. Men and Women sitting side by side naked with nothing sexual happening - what is more natural than that? Well ... in this occasional 24 hr sauna I had to wear my trunks. Now even though I'm thinner than before, some of you might remember that I gained about 15 kilos/30 lbs for the last role I did (going from waist 32 - 34 - 36 - 38 and back to a current 34), I can hide my fat easier in a towel than in shorts - with shorts the love handles just ooze every which way (I refuse to wear my corset into a sauna - plus the warping would be a bitch). So ... I'm sitting there oozing and sweating and oozing and sweating looking at all the buffed n trunked bodies around me when to my surprise a quite portly Latina comes bumbling in to the steam sauna ... and ... I was gob smacked!!! She was dressed in full gym garb ... tennis shoes ... white socks (American's have this thing about white socks with everything - I will stick to my Euro black ones) and ... and ... it gets better ... she had her ipod with her ... yes ... her ipod ... in the steam sauna ... Hmmmm was all I could muster to myself.

Well after my traumatic sauna experience I decided to walk home - it was about midnight by now and let me tell you one of the best times to be walking round LA (weather-wise) is once the sun goes down. Well I learned there are some places in LA, even in Hollywood/Hancock Park that you shouldn't be wondering round. Don't get me wrong - I think I have a pretty good sense of good/bad places and can feel the vibe, but last night I saw a residential but crowded street and thought this'll be ok ... um ... I thought I was walking through a drug cartel of 12 year olds.

So ... I arrive safely home ... chat briefly with Jodi on my day/night then start crying and crying ... you might think it was all the stress of everything, but what it actually was was ...

Earlier at the cafe I gave a call to one of my best friends in the whole world - one I've know for quite a long time - they told me they have cancer and they've known for 2 weeks. 1) I was shocked to hear cancer 2) I was pissed that they didn't tell me. Jodi helped me realize that they and their wife had their own reasons for not telling me ... probably had to process through it themselves. If I start to think about it I might start crying again, which would be great in a cafe full of strangers. So cancer ... malignant cancer ... of all the types I guess it's the best (if you can say that) to have: skin cancer ... 2 spots found on the face, which will be removed in a few weeks with minimal scaring.

Cancer ... sigh ... Cancer

Ok, dwelling too much ... have to get back to studying my lines

La La Honeymoon Is Waning (2.5 weeks in)

Don't know what it is today, but I'm in a funk ... actually it's been happening for a few days ... I'll detail day by day after I vent a bit ...

Funk Funk Funkity Funk ... so I'm in Ground Work sipping one of the best Chai Tea Latte's ever ... listening to Euro (Eurovision) music on my ipod, which is flooding back memories: me tramping through the tulips, riding through the Amsterdam canals, catching up with dear dear friends at Bagel n Beans, making fun of the "Frenchies" (especially one specifically), hearing a plethora of accents

... instead ...

I’m having banking trauma with my freaking credit union and finally had to open a Wells Fargo account here, looking for a cheap apartment (thanks to Jodi for letting me crash on her couch thus far), sitting in cafes all alone surrounded by strangers, having people talk to me in Spanish 1st then when I turn my head to one side with a puzzled look -like a dog does they realize Yo hablo no Espano, sweating and sweating and sweating and sweating ... getting sunburned walking to and fro, paying for a gym membership at a 24 hr gym (only 4 days a week - explain that to me) which I've only used 3 days in 1.5 weeks, waiting in the scorching heat for eternity for the busses, spending money like it's Hollywood hill trees caught in wildfires, longing for houses that I would only be able to afford in my dreams

so you can see that the la la honeymoon is beginning to wane

... in leiu of all that ...

I'm stage managing and acting in a show (didn't I originally come here to do that?), getting to learn the layout of LA (well Hollywood/Hancock Park - not so much WEHO), having headshots retouched - printed and acting business cards made, surrounding myself with very talented actors serious about their craft (yes Matt that means you too)

I think I'm homesick and experiencing culture shock. I'm missing all the things I'm used to having around me for 8 years; now I get a little glimpse of how people feel when they spend their entire life in one place and finally move. It's tremendously painful to tear up those roots and plant yourself somewhere else. Even as I'm typing my eyes are tearing a bit thinking of all I've left behind. Should I be here? What am I doing? Can I make this place home? Should I? Should I use my return ticket in a few weeks, hop back on the plane and go home? Would people then label me as a wus or more importantly - would I?

So, on to what I've been doing for the last week ... Disclaimer: If you fall asleep reading anything below, drool on your keyboard and electrocute yourself I will not be held accountable for funeral or hospital costs :O)

Sat 11AUG07
Blocking set for 12 Angry Men

Sun 12AUG07
Explored Silver Lake and the area with a friend; went to a wonderful lunch/dinner at an amazing Thai rest. (www.leelaThaiLA.com). If you haven't tried it yet you MUST!!!



Missed Jake's BBQ on the beach (isn't there a written law about not inviting vegetarians to meat fests?) Just kidding Jake - I'll bring my tofu turkey next time.

Had Rehearsal went very late.

Mon 13AUG07
Putzed about. Think I signed up with 24hr fitness on this day - had to go through "THE SPIEL!" OMG!! - I just wanted to slap them and say, No Thank You! But the manager came over and gave me a super duper deal I could not refuse, so I joined - put up a fight n made them sweat a bit.

Went to Swingers (http://www.frommers.com/destinations/losangeles/D40935.html) - a well known hot spot in LA. Last time I was there with Jodi (about 6 years ago) we saw one of the BackStreet Boys, and lo and behold today we saw actor Hank Azaria. I have to say the malts here are some of the best in the world!!!! I sucked one down in no time flat:



but careful ... the whipped cream can be dangerous:



OOPS!!! I can't be taken anywhere.

Tue 14AUG07
Helped Mike move into a new apartment on one of the hottest days ever!!! HOW RUDE!!!! You think that evil Dutch god that made a rain cloud follow me all around Amsterdam would at least find me over here, but NO! NO! I had to sweat the day away!!! Bastard!!!

Later Mike and I went to Swingers for a bite and you bet I got one of the biggest malts ever!!

Had a very very very late rehearsal - till 3AM.

Wed 15AUG07
Mike was nice enough to let me borrow his car to head out into the Valley (about 30 min drive - or 5 hour walk) for my headshot session. Jessie Blitz (www.jessebiltz.com) was great - took pics in natural light - and even tough my extremely light sensitive eyes (remember I've only seen the sun since I've been in LA) made me cry in a lot of shots we got some wowzers! His beautiful fiancé did wonders make-up wise - making me look years, decades younger. I ended up getting 300+ shots with 4 different looks for a very good price of $200. I highly recommend him!!!

Went shopping with Jodi. For some reason she went goo goo gaaa gaaa over this cart:



I couldn't believe the super sizes of things you can buy over here - yep - it's almost 2kg of grapes, which lasted me 1.5 weeks and was DAMN yummie!!!!



Later Jodi and I went to The Grove to eat at The Cheese Cake Factory - whom did we end up seeing there? One of our fav actors: Ryan Gosling!

Thur 16AUG07
Opening Night - show went well - considering a few fuck-ups from the Stage Manager - hmmmm who might that be?

Went out for drinks/dinner at Infamous IHOP (The International House of Pancakes) with Mike (Director & Forman) and Matt (Juror #8)



See what happens when you ingest too much syrup:



Come to think about it - it's actually his regular face - LOL!

Fri 17AUG07
Walked into Amateur Comedy Night at Ground Work - was pretty hit and miss - but entertaining either way :O)

Went to the gym then to see Invasion at the Arclight (http://www.arclightcinemas.com) a great theatre, but very expensive ($15.00 per movie). The movie was ok - Nicole Kidman was all right and Daniel Craig was good as always.

Sat 18AUG07
Met Paula n Cam for her B-day dinner at the Grove. Went to eat at a Steak House (isn't there a written law against taking a Vegetarian to a Steak House? HOW RUDE!) I ordered veggie sides and was a pretty happy camper.



Performance of 12 Angry Men - show was pretty ... um ... ok

Sun 19AUG07
Show - was much better today - except for an unplanned frying of the circuit breaker, which resulted in the actors and audience being thrown into blackness. The actors were great in covering it - stage was dark for at least 7 min as I was back stage muttering, "Fuck Fuck Fuckity Fuck" to myself. Luckily we could add it into the play, because it's an old building with broken air-conditioning. To remedy the fault the house manager had to go on stage to reset the breaker. All in all it was fun and kept us on our toes.

Saw Clue - the other show running along with 12 Angry Men. Was a wonderful production with talented actors/tesses!

Mon 20AUG07
Finally opened a bank account.

Went by to get my photos retouched; I told them to make me look 20 years younger then they told me, "Sorry sir, we can't work miracles."

Sitting here writing this update for ya'll - it's taking me FOREVER!!! You better still be awake and read every last word - otherwise I'm gonna whoop you up side ya head!!!!

Sean

!!!! HEADSHOT HELP NEEDED !!!! [http://web.mac.com/ameurotrash]

Damn again that I haven't been able to update more often, but things have been crazy with the show ... rehearsals till 3AM even 5AM and I'm not ready yet for the show. Have to head home and nap before call.

You know ... the thing I've strived to keep for uniqueness: my affected American Euro Trash accent is actually a hinderance here for me. I have a funny cadence when I speak and it's coming across in my characters; the strange thing is that my ear can't really hear the difference, but I know I'm speaking affected. When I put on other American accents: New York or Southern it's not there. HOW RUDE!!!!

Well the main reason I've placed blog is for you're help!!! I've just took head shots for furthering my fabulous film, tv, commerical, porno carreer. Don't worry I will have a professional retouch everything: blemishes, zits, wrinkles, dark circles, stretch marks, lypo, face lift scars, etc ... when he's finally finished I should look like a modern day Joan Rivers :O)

So to vote for your most fav please post a comment here; if that doesn't work email me at ameurotrash@gmail.com. The winning photo(s) will be published on my next blog.

To see the head shots check out: http://web.mac.com/ameurotrash

Mucho Ta,
Sean

PS: Yesterday I say Ryan Gosling in The Cheesecake Factory!

Me - 16 years ago - OMG!!

Here's a really old pic of me years ago with Jodi. We were young whipper-snappers ... ok ... I'll come clean ... the picture was taken actually yesterday ... ok ... really it was 1991 Halloween; Western State College; Gunnison, Colorado.

Jodi went as a can can dancer and I went as 80s white trash; you gotta love the shoes and what's up with that hair?

Today had rehearsal early 9:00 - 13:00 and came to my fav coffee shop to update ya'll.

La La Land - One week and still surviving!

Damn,

It's been forever since I've written something and some friends have been chasing my ass to get something up; especially since I've moved my, not as fat as before ass, over to La La Land aka Los Angeles. Forgive my grammer - I done checked this over a bit and dink all is like ok n stuff, like ya'know what I mean?

I would have wanted to write something sooner, but just haven't had the time to sit my ass on a chair and share, but now I'm doing it so my Eurotrash friends can shut their traps (ya'll know I love ya lots).

Let me tell you what has happened in the last week:

Thur 02/AUG/07
The whole week before I was very very sick with a bad flu, which was pure crap; I had to cancel important bye bye dinners and business appointments. When all was said and done Thursday came round and I was still sick; no fever, but coughing up a storm ... plus trying to deal with the freaking crappy summer Amsterdam was having (flash floods, thunder, etc). I had so much to do: clean my room, pack, clean storage, last good-bye dinner and gym. Needless to say I didn't get much sleep that night (ok about 30 min), because at 6:00 I had to get up to be at the airport by 7:30 for my 10:30 flight.

Fri 03/AUG/07
The big day!!! No sleep and off to the airport! Yipee! My big adventure to La La Land! I was too tired to be nervous or to be anything at all but a Zombie.
At Schipol I met a super tall (6'5"), model beautiful Serbian woman - Natasha. She lived for many years in Huston, TX, but is moving to NYC to attend Columbia Uni. We had some good chats on the plane and parted ways in Atlanta. On the plane from Atlanta to LA I meet a young Swiss Deutscher on his was to LA to study English for 3 months; I arrive in LA and start speaking German, go figure. As I was deplaning I saw Adam Levine the lead singer from Maroon5 (one of my fav bands) munching down some food near my gate.

I was so excited I couldn't help blab it to my friend Jake who picked me up from LAX.

Poor guy as I stayed with him in Marina del Ray (right next to the beach - I could see it from his apartment)

I blabbed about this and that and this and that and ...








Sat 04/AUG/07
Walked on the beach; took lots of pics (will attach the link here later).


Jake brought me to Hancock Park (just South East of West Hollywood) where Jodi (one of my "bestest" friends from Uni - we've known each other for 17 years – damn I feel old) lives and where I’m gonna to stay for a bit. Went to see a show a friend of mine from NYC (Michael - originally Canadian) was in Blood Wedding. After the show was hanging out with Michael and Helen (cool Europeanish chick from Canada) he offered me a chance to understudy 2 roles in 12 Angry Men the show he's directing (http://hollywoodfightclub.com/12angrymen_press_release.html). A little over 24 hours in LA and I get a part - sorta. So I'm playing Juror #2 for a night - maybe - the actor has to go to San Francisco for the day and is not sure he gets back in time, while it would be nice to play another role I am hoping he makes it back. He's great in this role and it would be a shame for him to miss a night. I'm also the understudy for Juror #7 (last 3 shows). The original actor has a film to shoot on those days and can't make it. #7 is a juicy part so I'm excited bout that, but the actor playing him is soooo not me. He's Latino, 6-pack abs, killer looks, and killer biceps and I'm a pale, pasty, big assed, chunky Eurotrash white boy. Thank god for audience suspension of belief.

Sun 05/AUG/07
Putzed round with Jodi. Walked round Hollywood, Westish Hollywood and Hancock Park. I must say the weather is AMAZING here - a bit too warm at times, but not a cloud in sight. So different than Amsterdam. As I was pounding the pavement a couple pulled over to ask directions ... guess what ... they were German, so, even though I was only in LA for 2 days I was able to take out my handy-dandy map (a B-day prez - thanks Annika) and "sagen" where they must "gehen." I leave Europe and I'm speaking German left and right, go figure.

Mon 06/AUG/07
Finally get a US phone card. Walked round the "hood" = West Holly"Hood" and Hancock Park in a photo snapping frenzy




Tue 07/AUG/07
Rehearsal at The Hollywood Fight Club - where we're also doing the show. Found out today that I might have to understudy Juror #12 for one night; the actor might have to shoot something that day/night. In a few days the director will tell me if I need to learn those lines. Also found out that I will be stage-managing the show and playing the Guard the nights I'm not understudying other roles. I sooooo need to learn my lines.

Wed 08/AUG/07
Rehearsal. Went to lunch with Michael (the Director)


Bank Trauma!!!! Transferring money from EU to USA. Do you know that there are 2 countries in the world that do not use IBAN (pronounced eeebaan in Europe) numbers? Go on take a guess ... China and ... and ... The USA!!! All other countries are civilized enough, but not the USA ... so I have to run to around and withdrawal money from my NL account and try to deposit into my US one. ARRRRRRGGGGGGHHHHH! If only life could be so easy.

Thur 09/AUG/07
Rehearsal. I had my best Chai Tea Latte EVER! EVER! In a little coffee shop (that's cafe to you Amsterdammers). It was at Ground Work (http://lacoffee.com). Yum Yum Yumity Yum!

Dinner with Jodi at The Abby.



Friday 10/AUG/07
Today! Rehearsal. I sooooo need to do lines. Get to the gym. Grab a bite and blog!!!