SMALL TOWN GUY MAKES GOOD!

BLAKE EVERETT is originally from a small town in Virginia. According to Blake, “When I was 4 years old, I saw the movie that would change my life forever: “Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein”. I knew from that day to this that entertaining people was the life I was destined to live.

I performed the Abbott and Costello routines on stage for years, but it wasn’t until I competed in the AMTC (American Model & Talent Convention) competition in July of 2003 that I was finally able to start living my dream. Despite my age at the time (mid-40s), a well-known agent from Hollywood, who was one of the dozens of professional judges at this competition, took interest in me and thought I had “the look” and the talent that would get me noticed.

At the agent’s urging, I made my plans to finally fulfill my dream of moving to Hollywood. I saved money for the next six months (I must admit, though, that I totally misunderstood how expensive life in L.A. was really going to be – I should have come here with thousands of dollars more than I did!) and made the move in 2004.

I won’t say it hasn’t sometimes been a difficult journey, but I have met so many kind and giving people out here, most of whom have encouraged me to keep going, that I feel it’s all been worthwhile.
Whenever I get down and feel like giving up…I book something!

I have booked a number of short films and commercials, including a commercial for the Belgian Lottery (See? Now I’m “international”!); a music video for the Australian group, Bumblebeez, “Dr. Love” (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=novN-7Qzt_o - you really start to see me at 1:50 on the counter – I’m the “telephone”); a bunch of pretty weird shorts (playing the wacko/zombie/nut job); and now I’m a member of the sketch comedy group, “MyBlueCollar.com”. I also booked a feature film, “Funeral Director”, but unfortunately, my role was cut. That booking, however, did put me in the position of becoming a union member.

I guess my most exciting accomplishment so far was the day this spring when I got to go down to the Screen Actors Guild and hand them a check for (gulp) $2,400. I’d been saving up for that moment the entire time I’ve been in Hollywood and now I’m a proud, card-carrying member of SAG! It “only” took 4 years, but I’m told that’s about average, especially for someone in my age range just starting out here.

I’ve managed to get into some great acting classes and man! do they help! I would never have learned what I know now back in Virginia, that’s for sure. In fact, my booking rate has really gone up thanks to the one I’m currently taking at A.C.T. (Actors Certified Training) in North Hollywood. My first teacher here was the casting director, Craig Campobasso. No one could have been more giving and encouraging for someone like me and I’ll always be grateful to him for giving me a chance to learn from one of the best.

I’m a big believer in “giving back”. That being said, I have put together a seminar - “So You Want Be An Actor” and I’m takin’ it on the road (along with my acting associates and fellow Hollywood transplants, Kathy Lamkin and Caleb Pearson). If you’re interested, check us out at the following link:

www.myspace.com/soyouwanttobeanactor

Or simply go to www.myspace.com and enter “So You Want To Be An Actor” in the search box.