jeff_mills

Breaking Bad

2009-03-25T04:59:42Z

After what seems like forever, I have a real Go-See tomorrow, as well as an "audition" for Crowley, which I'm sure will just be the casting office taking my picture and making sure my information is current. Man, I really need a haircut.

Yesterday, Briana and I went to Jeremiah's place where she did a screen test and we shot my Breaking Bad audition. For anyone who doesn't know, this is a national contest to "win" a walk-on role on Breaking Bad, an AMC show that stars Bryan Cranston and is, in fact, very good.

So, here's where I ask everyone for a favor: In order to be a finalist, my audition video has to be in the Top 20 for votes. So if you have a minute, please register on the website and vote for me (as long as you think I deserve it, of course). You're asked to provide a username, password, and email address, and you can opt to receive mail from AMC or not. It only takes about 2 minutes. Thanks in advance to everyone.

Link to video.

Swedish Film

2009-03-03T20:13:59Z

We've completed day one of what I'm calling my first international endeavor. Two more days to go.

No more music.

2008-09-10T04:09:27Z

KnowledgeBox is through.

Oh, fuck.

2008-09-08T10:29:28Z

The first night filming The Big Double went smoothly except for when I dropped a big rock through the rear window of Charles Gould's VW Passat during a blocking rehearsal.

The Northwest is beautiful.

2008-09-05T01:19:55Z

We wrapped on Arctic Sounds on the 1st. I spent most of the 2nd trying to get back on a "normal" sleep schedule because the last week was all nighttime stuff. Then yesterday I went to my first rehearsal with Tyler Benjamin and Charles Gould for Big Double. We're shooting this Saturday, next Saturday, and half of the Saturday after that.

Travis is talking about doing a short at the end of this month or the beginning of next, a prospect that has me very excited. I'm wondering if I can come up with the funds to have it shot on film.

About Arctic Sounds: Three solid weeks with no breaks and a pretty intense rehearsal schedule leading up to it. My second feature. Although not perfect, it's my best performance. Despite several hardships, an experience I would not trade for anything.

Day 11

2008-08-22T04:42:47Z

Today is day 11 of Arctic Sounds. I've been off the radar doing this film, turning down paid work and auditions. I think it's going to be worth it.

Most days the call times have been around 8am and we shoot until the sun goes down. There are no days off from this film for me. We wrapped Brian Allard this morning, and I now I've had just enough time to get some much needed sleep and eat dinner with Briana, then I'll be going back to film at 10:30pm. I miss Briana. I hope that this process isn't too stressful for our us in the long run.

I'm proud of the work I've done so far. I'm eagerly anticipating seeing my work cut together. I'm a little worried about what I'll be like after we wrap in 10 days. Is the adrenaline rush that's getting me through this film going to abate and leave me with violent withdrawals? Maybe. I know for sure I'll be needing to lose ten pounds.

Seattle on Sunday.

I'll whisper it ever so gently.

2008-06-25T20:13:19Z

Yesterday was the last performance of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer at the Fort Vancouver Library. In August I'll have two more somewhere in Salem. Live performance is a lot of fun, especially considering how interactive this play is.

After going over the script with Briana, I think I will be doing Tyler Benjamin's short, Big Double. It's going to be a tight squeeze between Self Distribution and Arctic Sounds. But I think it has to work. I hope it'll work.

Also: KnowledgeBox has a show at the Hawthorne Theatre tomorrow at 8pm.

Also also: Moving out at the end of the week. Today I'm going to borrow Josh's truck and go get some couches that Damon has given us.

I'm agreed. We gotta swear to keep mum!

2008-06-20T03:18:35Z

Yesterday I had my second rehearsal for The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. I somehow managed to get through it completely off-book, which is good because the first performance is on Monday. After rehearsal Damon contacted me to say that if I cut my hair I could have an industrial gig for the next day. I just had my hair cut and got new headshots, but I reluctantly agreed. (Okay, I agreed then cried.) Heather, the amazing stylist at the salon at The Jupiter did it. If I ever get rich and famous I'm going to hire her.

The gig went well.

We'll hear whether or not we got the house today.

2008-06-16T15:23:30Z

I opted out of my Friday industrial audition because the shoot date conflicted with Tom Sawyer. But I have another industrial audition this afternoon.

Wish I knew what it was for.

Busier

2008-06-12T04:43:35Z

RE: [sampo films] audition request from Jeff‏
From: sampo casting
Sent: Wed 6/11/08 4:57 PM
To: jeffmills2@hotmail.com

Hi Jeff, Thanks for signing up to audition for our film "red!" For the audition,please arrive ready to tell us a story no longer than 5 minutes in length.It can be about anything you wish. Please do not prepare a monologue or scene. We'll expect to see you between 11am-12pm on Saturday, June 28th. Please arrive as close to this time slot as possible. Auditions are being held at the NW Film Center's new space at 934 SW Salmon, across from the Bike Gallery.

Also, a lot of people have asked about the biking aspect. A major goal of the film is to utilize bikes for all functions of the production. This covers everything from location moves (with the aid of trailers), to crew running about town, to cast and crew arriving to shoots and rehearsals via bike. Most, but not all, of the film is being shot in NE Portland near Alberta. If you have any other questions, please don't hesitate to contact us atcasting@sampofilms.com anytime. We look forward to seeing you then!

Nick + Sampo Films Crew

casting@sampofilms.com

One of these new-fangled Green films, eh? That'll get some press for sure. I have a feeling that I won't be getting this one. It seems like they're leaning heavily towards non-actors.

In other news: The meeting with Zach Schultz went well. I have an audition on Friday for an industrial training video. And Briana, Andy, Travis, and myself turned in applications for the place on 18th and Burnside today.

Indy 4 was no Raiders, or even Last Crusade. They lost me with the monkeys.

2008-06-10T07:15:36Z

Things have been busier than usual. This morning I took my mom to the hospital for her meeting with the chemotherapy specialist. The meeting took longer than I thought it would and I ended up having to reschedule my first rehearsal for the children's theater gig I've been cast in. It's Tom Sawyer and I'm playing Tom Sawyer. It was nice to have a legit excuse to reschedule because I'm still scrambling to get off-book. The shows are on the 23rd and 24th of this month, and then on the 6th of August.

Tomorrow morning I'm reluctantly taking Briana's sister, Caitlin to the airport so she can go home to San Diego. Tomorrow night I'm doing what I think is a training video from Intel for Circuit City employees. I'm going to be that one slacker-but-well-intentioned Circuit City employee who either knows it all or needs to learn it all. They're underpaying on this as usual, but at least it's paid.

On Wednesday afternoon I'm going to look (for the second time) at a promising place we found on 18th and Burnside with Travis, Andy, and Briana. (Applications in hand, fingers crossed.) Then later in the evening I'm meeting with Zach Schultz and helping him audition an actress for Arctic Sounds.

On Thursday evening I meet with Revolver Digital Media Studio to talk about Self Distribution. Then I'm helping with the casting on Saturday. Maybe watching a movie with them on Friday.

Somewhere in there I need to have a Tom Sawyer rehearsal.

Arctic Sounds‏

2008-06-02T02:14:47Z

From: Zach Schultz
Sent: Sun 6/01/08 4:07 PM
To: jeffmills2@hotmail.com

Hi Jeff, Yesterday, I managed to finish the last of our scheduled auditions for the part of Paul, and after thinking it over, I'd like to officially offer the role to you. I really liked your take on the guy that's at the center of this story, and I'd love for you to be a part of this film. If you decide to work with us, you'd be entitled to 12% of any profits that Arctic Sounds should make--probably not the most glamorous thing in the world (given AS's somewhat limited chances in that regard), but we'll be working hard to try and make that someday worth something. As you're a professional actor (and since Paul's in almost every scene of the movie), I could see this kind of delayed compensation being a potentially large burden, so if that's the case, definitely let me know and we can see if something can be worked out. Anyway, it's no problem if you'd like to take some time to think it over before deciding (of course, not too long I hope), and really feel free to ask me any questions you might have about myself or the project as a whole. I think that's it from me. I hope your weekend's going well.

Best,

Zach

Awesome.

Without Paddleage

2008-06-01T22:47:43Z

WAP2 is over as of today. My last day was yesterday, where I graduated from Stand-in to Photo Double. They put a wig on me and put me in the back of a convertible. We drove around for five or six hours getting B-roll stuff. So, I'm guessing I'll actually be in the movie now.

I could have had a better read for the Arctic Sounds audition yesterday. But I had good rapport with the director, and was impressed by his plans for the film. I'm kind of hoping I get it.

Tomorrow I have a go-see for Powerball.

Without A Stand-in 2: Dude! My Stand-In Fucked-Over My Other Stand-In!

2008-05-23T21:13:39Z

So I drove 45 minutes out to the woods in Estacada, got shuttled another 5 to the actual set, only to find that I wasn't needed. According to Diana, the stand-in I was replacing decided he needed the money after all and showed up anyway without communicating. He's being thrown out after today.

I go back tomorrow and Sunday. Diana said she'll give me a schedule for the days after that. I'm kind of wishing a hadn't rescheduled my Arctic Sounds audition... twice now. Ah well.

Rejected.

2008-05-20T06:21:48Z

Belmont Casting Call‏
From: Julia Ruedig
Sent: Mon 5/19/08 3:47 PM
To: Jeffrey Mills

Hello Gentleman,

I would like to thank you for auditioning for Belmont the movie this past weekend. Unfortunately, we have not chosen you to represent the boys of Belmont at this time.
I applaud your bravery and commitment to the audition process. Our decision is based on several factors, one of the most important being age for these boys. It does not mean that you aren't wonderfully talented as actors. I encourage and look forward to seeing you at auditions for future projects, and seeing you work again on stage and in film.

I would like to take this opportunity to invite you to attend all of our events for Belmont. In addition, I would like to invite you to dayplay as a featured extra or help us by being a part of many several 'party' scenes we need to help fill. I will be sending out that call for extras closer to the shooting dates.

I wish you all the luck in the world for your future endeavors. I really appreciate all of your passion and interest in this project, and look forward to seeing you at future Belmont events and on-set helping out production or as an extra. Truly, we need all the help we can get from the community to get this film made.
Thank you again, and enjoy this wonderful week.

Sincerely,

Katie Rasmussen - Director Belmont

Julia Ruedig -Associate Producer

Caitlin Dwyer - Writer/Co-Producer

Wow. What a rejection letter. The part of me that wasn't relieved about not getting Belmont felt a lot better about it after talking with Travis. (Thanks, Travis!)

And while I was having lunch with Travis today, Diana Hammons from Rutabaga called. I have two more days stand-in work on Without A Paddle 2. Unfortunately, I'm going to have to reschedule my Arctic Sounds audition. I'm wondering if I'm getting my priorities out of order, taking stand-in work and rescheduling an audition. There's a chance that they may not want to see me at all.

Before I forget: KnowledgeBox has a show at The White Eagle this upcoming Memorial Day. And we've booked another show on the 26th of June at the Hawthorne Theatre.

The band marches on.

Last minute casting‏

2008-05-19T03:11:38Z

From: Andy Blubaugh
Sent: Thu 5/15/08 2:18 PM
To: Jeffrey Mills

Hey Jeff,

Andy Blubaugh here. I was wondering if you might be interested in helping me out on a little film shoot I have going on this weekend.

I'm shooting a test reel for the new feature film I'm working on, which is a film-within-a-film; a documentary about my attempts to make a narrative film about some events in my childhood.

For the test reel, I'm staging fake auditions for the roles in the film. I'm trying to line up some 25-35 year old guys to read for the script in front of the camera.

It should only take about an hour, and will be part of a really cool ten minute promo for my film that's (with any luck) going to the IFP market in New York in the fall.

If you're game, the shoot is Sunday, May 18th at 11 AM at the Film Center. We'd love to have you there.

Thanks a ton!

--
Andy Blubaugh Makes Movies
818 SW 3rd Avenue #140
Portland, OR 97204
***-***-****

I did the above proposed gig today. It was fun, and Andy's script is good. I only wish it had lasted longer. I should have asked if I could hang around for the rest of the shoot, but I probably would have gotten in the way.

Self Distributed.

2008-05-17T09:02:47Z

From: Actors in Action (actorsinaction@qwest.net)
Sent: Fri 5/16/08 4:44 PM
To: Actors in Action

Contact them

Casting Call For Self Distribution

hello,

my name is Benjamin A. Fluter, I'm an executive producer at Revolver Digital Media Studio in Portland. Revolver DMS is currently casting a short entitled self distribution, and we 'd love it if you would post this announcement I've attached to this email, to spread the word about the casting call thanks.

Benjamin A Fluter

www.thisisrevolver.com

----------

Self Distribution
From: Jeffrey Mills
Sent: Fri 5/16/08 5:15 PM
To: *******@gmail.com

Hi Ben,

My headshot and resume are attached. You can reach me via this email or by phone at ***-***-****.

Thanks!

Sincerely,

Jeff Mills

----------

Re: Self Distribution‏
From: Benjamin A. Fluter
Sent: Sat 5/17/08 12:33 AM
To: Jeffrey Mills

You've already been cast jeff.

Oh... well okay then.

There is an idea of a Jeff Mills, some kind of abstraction, but there is no real me.

2008-05-16T02:16:29Z

I wasn't expecting to have to take off my shirt at the Posturpedic go-see. It would've been nice to know beforehand. Good thing I've been biking the last few days, not that I think it's made much of a physical difference, but I felt a bit more confident than I would have otherwise.

Thanks to Travis and Kelly for the advice. It was funny, I was looking at American Psycho and jcrew.com and they were pretty much the same in terms of style. I guess the 80's came to stay for the Trust-Fund-Babies. I put a v-neck sweater on over a button-down dress shirt and didn't shave. I looked like three other guys at the go-see.

Tomorrow I have an audition for Trek as a commuter bicyclist. I'm bringing my Bianchi.

Go-see

2008-05-14T22:23:59Z

I have a Go-see tomorrow at Lars Toppleman photography. I have to dress to fit the following description:

Talent 1: “Trust Fund Baby”

Darren Winchester III-Male. Mid 20s to- late 30s. Let¹s keep it open for
now. Definitely don¹t want ordinary. But don¹t want overly-quirky either.
This guy could be the athletically-fit rich guy. It might also be funny to
take him to the slightly-disheveled, office body type. Either way, we see
him more as east-coast money rather than born from LA wealth.

Any ideas?

The Dude abides.

2008-05-12T09:45:19Z

Re: Casting call for feature-length Portland/Seattle independent film (Portland)‏
From: newlowproductions
Sent: Sat 5/10/08 8:42 PM
To: Jeffrey Mills

Hi Jeff,

Would you be available to read for the part of Paul next Saturday (the
17th) sometime between 8am and 8pm? We're hoping to schedule half hour
auditions for various parts all day, so let us know if you have any times
that won't work, or just general preferences. If the 17th is bad for you,
then we would also be able to meet on the 24th. (If Saturdays in general
are bad, then let us know and we might be able to work something out.)

We'll be meeting in a classroom at Reed College (one of the people
involved in this project is a professor there, and is lending us the
space). Reed's address is 3203 SE Woodstock Blvd, Portland, OR 97202, and
we will be in the Physics building. We can provide more directions (and
bus advice) if you need them, so feel free to ask.

If all that works out, then we'd like to meet and read through Paul's
"Who's the Man" monologue (pages 11-13 of the script). We try to make the
readings as good as possible (and the readers as comfortable as possible),
so if you have any specific questions about that scene, please email Zach
at (omitted) and he'll try to point you in the right
direction.

That's it from us for now. Be sure to let us know what times you'll be
available on the 17th (or 24th), and we'll look forward to meeting with
you.

Best,
Dewey Kim and Zach Schultz

In other news, I forgot how good The Big Lebowski is.

Some kind of zombie

2008-05-11T01:45:16Z

If they call me again to work on Without A Paddle 2 I will accept, but I won't be happy about it. There's nothing less rewarding than stand-in work. I much prefer being an extra. To that end I'm glad they haven't called, because they left me open to do The Outbreak, and it was awesome. It was the most fun I've had in months, even if I spent most of my time on the ceiling of an overturned car. A big thank you to Harold Phillips for getting me involved. (And since I know he reads this I'll applaud his charisma and professionalism as the leading man, too. Good work, sir!)

On set, Christina (Kortum) talked with me about auditioning for Ira's (her husband) zombie film coming up. Between that, a project with Bravado Entertainment, and a much talked about Revolver project, I may be up to my neck in zombies by the time the year is out. If the coming projects are anywhere near the level The Outbreak boasts, I'm going to be a happy camper.

This afternoon was the audition for Belmont, which I think went well.

stand-in in a band

2008-05-05T21:22:24Z

The Rock n'Roll Pizza show went surprisingly well. I didn't have high hopes because we were a fill-in for what was basically a Metal show. But they loved us. They were dancing and freaking out. A girl who looked roughly 16 screamed, "YOU ARE SO HOT!" at Briana. And the crowd agreed. One guy kept shouting his sign (Sagittarius) at her. I think Briana was a little dazed.

When we finished the last song of our set we were called on for an encore. The sound man wouldn't let us go. Thankfully, we had one song we'd left out that we were all still capable of playing.

The best thing about the show was that we didn't know a single person in the audience, this wasn't our friends and family showing up to support us. This was genuine admiration from strangers.

The AIA party the next night was not as good, but I think that the band agrees that it was worth the effort it took to play it.

I booked a gig doing stand-in work for Without A Paddle 2. (Dude! Where's My Paddle?!) I start tomorrow. I'm not sure how long it will last. I'm hoping I'll at least have Friday free so I can go have a small part in The Outbreak, an internet zombie film Harold Phillips is working on.

Eric, David, or Arthur

2008-04-24T04:52:30Z

-----Original Message-----
From: Keith Apland [mailto:*********@yahoo.com]
Sent: Tuesday, April 22, 2008 11:38 AM
To: actorsinaction@qwest.net
Subject: Casting for independent film

Hello,

My name is Keith Apland with Moving Wall Productions and I am interested in casting two lead roles for an
upcoming short film (30-40 min.) to be shot in late May. I see four potential candidates for these roles: Jeff Mills, Kevin Dahlgren, Craig Johnson, Ross Turkus. I would like to meet with them by next week.

My contact # is ***-***-**** and this email.

Thank you,

Keith

I'm worried about a short that is 30-40 minutes long, but I gave Keith a call and left him a message. I also have an audition on Friday for a corporate video. Also-also, I submitted, and have been sent sides for Katie's new feature Belmont . I'm trying to figure out which of the five characters to focus on.

Also-also-also: KnowledgeBox has booked a show at the Satyricon on May 19th.

Non-disclosure agreement

2008-04-21T03:38:17Z

Yesterday, I managed to book a spot on a Nike commercial. It felt great to have a gig after more than a couple weeks without even an audition.

A friend told me yesterday that I'm at the perfect age and skill level to be in LA and that I should go and give it a try RIGHT NOW.

I don't how she could properly evaluate my skill level, but the prospect is tempting (and scary) nonetheless.

Nominated.

2008-04-15T16:46:53Z

So, I didn't win anything at Lana's Third Annual Film & TV Audition Awards Party. There were three categories, Most Callbacks, Most Bookings, and Best/Most Inspiring Audition. I knew that I wouldn't be figuring in the Bookings category since I only booked two jobs through Lana last year. Sean McGrath won, booking six (Six?!) jobs through Lana for the year. I thought maybe callbacks, but the finalists had four or more and I had at best four. So I'm pretty sure my nomination was for one of my auditions, though I can't for the life of me pinpoint which one that might have been. Todd snagged that award for his Papa Murphy's audition. I can't think of a better person to win.

Thanks to my lovely girlfriend for cheering me up after the party.