Touring Queens West

The Pepsi Cola sign, originally uploaded by thenugespeaks.

Saturday, Amy and I decided to hoof it along the East river to explore Long Island City. I had always wanted to explore the different parks along the river, but especially the Vernon Ave/Jackson Blvd stop where a slew of luxury high rises have been built along Gantry Park.

This is primo real estate and the views of Manhattan will knock you out. The first thing I realized was how peaceful and quiet the area is. There were people sunbathing on the green grassy nolls, walking dogs, and strolling.

Right across the river I could see where I watched fireworks last year. I'm thinking this year, this may be the spot to be. The high rises are towers of glass and metal and one can only imagine what kind of views the tenants have right outside their windows.

Click here for more Long Island City Photos

To read a much better written description of our day, click on my girlfriend Amy's post.

Belly Full of Anger rough cut trailer

It's finally here! I know some of you have been chomping at the bit to see some footage from Belly Full of Anger. Here's a rough cut trailer that my director Andre put together. I think Andre captured the look of old 70s and 80s Kung Fu films perfectly.

Filming 11:11 Part Two

Today we filmed in up in the Bronx. It was at a medical supply office, and as I walked onto set, my fellow actor Rick was in a hospital bed hooked up to an EKG monitor. The crew was setting up for my scene, where I come in and check out his neck. It was like being in a toy store – everything looked great and realistic. The area that where we filmed must have been in some medical showroom set up to resemble an actual hospital room. Everything felt authentic, right down to the ceramic tile walls and stainless steel medical cabinets. Today was a very easy and quick shoot. Before I knew it I was wrapped and small feeling of sadness came over me. I just met the crew yesterday but it was kind of sad saying goodbye to them. There’s an undeniable bond that I think we all go through when we’re all collaborating together to create some art here and there.

It was a great experience, and the shoot was organized efficiently.

Filming 11:11 Part One

Today was the first day of shooting 11:11, a New York Film Academy short written and directed by Greg Saltiel. I originally auditioned for two different doctor roles which soon after was combined into one for me. The film is about a motivational speaker who after attempting suicide, wakes up in a hospital with no recollection of what he's done. I play the doctor that is there to evaluate him and decide if he should be released or not. We filmed two of my scenes in an office on the 14th floor of a building next to Grand Central on E 42nd st.

Even though the office was small, the view out the window framed an epic New York landscape filled with the mint green roof tiles of Grand Central, the glassy facade of the Metlife building and the iconic and timeless Chrysler Building, which I consider the most beautiful skyscraper in Manhattan.

We had four person crew and a small light set up. Everyone was way cool and on the ball. We filmed on Digital with a Canon XL2. This Camera can give even a dull looking office room a cinematic and artful quality to it.

At one point during filming, I looked around the room watching the small and efficient film crew setting up the next show and here I was, sitting in a plush leather chair with a good role I can sink my teeth into, and the Chrysler Building behind me towering behind me and a feeling of giddy/surrealness came over me - and I imagine it's the same feeling one gets one one is doing exactly what one wants to do in life.