David H. Lawrence, XVII

A dangerous, perhaps deadly, email to my fellow SAG, AFTRA and WGA members

The WGA strike is in full bloom, and I write this to the people on my list. The responses from both sides via email follow. You can leave your comments here as well.

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This is a dangerous email for me to send out.

Why?

Because I happen to know a thing or two about how to make money on the Internet, and I'm concerned that if I speak my mind and voice an unpopular position, I will suffer at the hands of my fellow performers.

Ironically, I'm writing this from my hotel room in Las Vegas, having just spoken at BlogWorld on the need for podcasters to hone their craft and find their natural voices - to be more professional at what they do.

But...I've made my living as a talk show host and talking head for years, taking positions that, to me, make eminent sense, yet to others seem counterintuitive. And I've also figured out ways to make several millions of dollars on the Internet over the last 15 years or so, affording me a unique perspective on what works, what doesn't and why (thanks, Howard Fine!) - along with what will work in the future.

So, here goes.

Coming soon: The Secrets of Screen Acting Podcast

I'm very excited to be the presenter of a new premium podcast, powered by ShowTaxi.com, with world renowned author and BBC television and film director Patrick Tucker. It's called The Secrets of Screen Acting Podcast, and it makes it's debut on May 21, 2007.

If you haven't yet read Patrick's book of the same name, you're missing out on what is arguably the most insightful guide to real-world, on-camera job skills. He can, in five minutes, arm you with any number of potentially career-changing techniques.

New postcard goes out - we're in at Cannes!

Time to send out a new postcard to the casting directors on my list: we've been officially notified that we're a selection in the Festval de Cannes. That's the world-famous, really important, Nicholson-goes-there-to-ogle-the-women Cannes Film Festival.

And, again, I'm not going.

Do you have any idea how expensive it is to go to Nice or Cannes this time of year?

Saint's Row nominated in 3 categories by AIAS

The Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences (the video gaming world's equivalent of AMPAS etc) has seen fit to nominate Saint's Row in three categories, including one that I'm somewhat responsible for.

Wallace now in 3 10 13 17 festivals

My Name Is Wallace, the short film we shot over the summer in Nashville, was entered (so far) into over 190 festivals.

We've heard from 24 so far.

We've been accepted into...17.

What-what-what??

These are the festivals I've been happy to receive "You've been accepted!" emails from:

New commercial for Hahm Motorsports

Here's a spot I just shot for Hahm Motorsports in Anaheim. It's not a spot for TV, it's an arena spot - designed to run on the Jumbotron in the Anaheim Arena during motocross and monster truck shows - that's why the other guy in the spot says, "Hey! Up here on the big screen!"

Wallace premieres, SAG members get in free

My Name Is Wallace, along with a number of other award winning shorts, will be screened at the Fine Arts Cinema early this Saturday night (12/10 at 6pm) as part of Orange County Film's Network Film Night.

I probably won't be there.

Shot! Goodnight Burbank

We had the brainchild behind Goodnight Burbank on the radio show a couple of months ago, had a few meals and talked about the state of video podcasting. Recently, two things happened.

They won a Vloggie, and they cast me as the Station Manager. I'm so happy for them and for me.

I shot my first four episodes today, and did so with Orel. Moral Orel.

Cast! Mr. Potter in It's A Wonderful Life

My good friend and fellow The Future Dead member sent out a message saying that the holiday stage production of It's a Wonderful Life he was in (as George Bailey) was looking for a Mr. Potter.

My Name Is Wallace - The Trailer!

Enjoy.