Reflections on a book tour …

I met the most remarkable young man at my recent book event in Chicago, at the wonderful Volumes Bookcafe. 

Ryan had no idea where he was headed when his Dad suggested they go for a drive. Heading out of their suburban Chicago neighborhood, it wasn’t too long before Ryan and his father arrived at Volumes. His Dad happened to catch my appearance that morning on the WGN-TV “Morning News” program and heard me talk about the upcoming book event that night. 

Ryan has always been interested in … make that passionate about ... performing. He has appeared in every school production there has been so far … and, even though he is just 12, he is very clear about the career he wants to have when he grows up.

He didn’t know it when he drove off from home with his Dad that that particular Tuesday night, but his father hoped that an opportunity for us to meet, to connect and to talk about how Ryan can actually, really, pursue this might be a great opportunity for his son.

I can’t fully express the joy I felt (and feel) from seeing this father so supportive of his young son’s interest in a professional career that neither know anything about. We sat, we talked, we began to sketch out the early steps for Ryan to think about.

Both Ryan and his Dad asked lots of smart questions that turned into a really inspiring conversation, as much for me as I hope it was for them.

Ryan grinned from ear-to-ear. Maybe it was the joy of feeling heard. Maybe it was the joy of feeling validated. Maybe it is in the joy of having a Dad who is beyond invested in his son’s future and who was willing to take a ride into the city on a random Tuesday night to explore the possibilities.

With so much happening in the world that we can easily become discouraged about, my time with Ryan and his Dad gave me hope that, at the end of at least one particular day, one particular father and his son were on the right track ... and that makes me very happy.

BL

Emerson College LA Campus Discussion Raises Important Question in the New "Actor Economy"

Thank you to Allison Sampson, Melinda Valente and the team at the Emerson College Los Angeles Campus for providing the platform for an important conversation last night about the new business of acting. It was a wonderful, packed gathering of former students, current students and alum I met for the first time. 

I love this community and am so grateful for the tremendous round of support and for the very insightful discussion.

Among the many challenges in the new landscape we explored is the new "actor economy" and the struggle for even "working actors" to earn a living from their craft in an ever-increasing Ultra Low Budget (union) contract climate.

One of the people in attendance was Gregory Crafts, a former Emerson Business of Acting class student and my definition of a Hollywood "hyphenate" -- he is a published playwright, director, producer and actor who played a significant role in the Actors Equity 99-Seat movement in Los Angeles a few years ago. If you are unfamiliar with what took place then, it is worth getting informed.

Change can only begin to happen when enough people start asking the right questions. I am not at all suggesting that this needs to be a legal matter; it does not. But it would be great step in the right direction to start a conversation about the union's intention in introducing and implementing these below-standard-scale contracts with the facts of how these low pay-for-work rates and the costs actors incur in maintaining and growing their careers often raise the key question, "At what price a career?"

BL

Barnes & Noble/Burbank event launches "The New Business of Acting: The Next Edition"

I am beyond grateful to everyone who came to Barnes & Noble/Burbank yesterday afternoon for our book launch event for The New Business of Acting: The Next Edition. More than 75 people! Wow. 

Thank you so much for your support and for all the love. It was a very happy gathering and a great start to the book tour ahead.  


It's onto the Emerson College Los Angeles campus on Wednesday night for a student and alumni event there. Then Bookstar/Barnes & Noble next Saturday afternoon, before heading to Chicago for book events there.

Here is a complete list of where we'll be and what's coming up, FYI. Perhaps I'll see you on one of them!

With much appreciation ...

BL