GKN Weekly Update 5/26/09

Happy Memorial Day!

I hope everyone had a fun and safe weekend. I was invited to five parties but I could only make it to three of them. I can't be everywhere, you know!

BTW I wanted to welcome about a dozen new Good Karma Network members. Some are from the Yahoo! Group and some are from Facebook. Please stand up and say hello to the rest of the gang! Also, I'd love it if you guys would post your headshot/logo and website link here for all to see. This is all about networking, you know!



Speaking of networking, the film "Transition" now has a website, a Myspace Film profile, and a Facebook group. Please join to show your support. We have three more shoot days and if you've contacted me already about helping out you'll hear from me soon.

I also had VO gigs at ETS in Princeton and at Full House Productions for Oxford UK.

TIP OF THE WEEK: It's nice to get back to normal after a long weekend, isn't it? After a few days of being unproductive I start to feel, well, unproductive. I like jumping back into the mix and looking for new ways to find work. This time around I'm gonna spend more time on LinkedIn and Plaxo looking for work on a regular basis. I recently dumped a bunch of job sites because they have yielded no results. That's what you have to do once in a while. Change up your routine. Re-examine your habits and behavior so you don't get caught in a rut. Trust me, it's good for your brain and for your soul!

QUOTE OF THE WEEK: Few men have virtue enough to withstand the highest bidder. George Washington

FOOD FOR THOUGHT: I originally started this section to start a weekly dialogue but there have been very few responses to it. Maybe it's because you're doing what the title says and "thinking" about it instead of talking about it. Should I give it a new title to encourage discussion? Ask different questions? BTW don't think about it, tell me!

Have a great week!

GKN Weekly Update 5/18/09

(zzz...zzz...zzz...) Huh, what? Oh, hi! Sorry about that, I slept in today. Why? Because I'm POOPED! POOPED, I say! And sun burnt. And I'm a big ole wuss, so there you go.

Yesterday I was the 1st Assistant Director for the film "Transition". It was an amazing day! We shot at Holmdel High School in Central New Jersey for almost 12 hours. The cast and crew were a pleasure to work with.

I want to thank the director Doug Bollinger for bringing me in on this project. I also need to send out some serious props to fellow GKN members Justine Topham who supplied us with sound equipment and a great intern, Jennifer Wos as the 2ND AD, and David Youngblood as our Clapper Loader. All of you did an incredible job!!!

Last week seems so long ago after yesterday! Some good things happened, though...

I sent out a targeted postcard mailing to every agent and casting director I've met via Voiceovers Unlimited.

I sent out my quarterly newsletter "The Rognog" issue 17. I hope you enjoyed reading it!

I did the final batch of retakes for those nine sci-fi short stories I narrated for Infinivox.

I had a very nice ESL recording session at Full House Productions and got to work with fellow GKN member Ollie Wyman. Good for you, good FOR you.

TIP OF THE WEEK: Yesterday was very gratifying on many levels. I was flattered that Doug would ask me to be the 1st AD. It's a hard job to run the set but everybody was so nice it was pretty easy! I was particularly happy at the amount of responses I got from fellow GKN members willing to pitch in. It was shocking! It proved to me how powerful marketing, networking, and developing strong relationships with your peers really are. And it yet again affirmed what wonderful people I've had the pleasure to meet and work with over the years. Remember, it's not who you know in this business, it's how you treat who you do know.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK: To avoid situations in which you might make mistakes may be the biggest mistake of all. Peter McWilliams, Life 101

FOOD FOR THOUGHT: When you go an audition or a booking, do you start conversations? Do you make sure to bring business cards? Do you thank everyone for their time and the hard work they put in?

My Newsletter!

My quarterly newsletter is now available at www.tomdheere.com/newsletter. Enjoy!

GKN Weekly Update 5/11/09

Happy Mother's Day!

I hope all you mommies out there had a great day and that you got all of the affection & gifts that you so rightfully deserve. My mom is doing the retired thing in Florida but I did get to spend time with my favorite little girl in the universe, ASHA!!! Insert gratuitous adorable pic here...



So last week I had two more recording session for ETS in Princeton and a great production meeting for the film "Transition". What's that you say? You'd like to hear more about the film and get involved? Well, okay...

My good friend Doug Bollinger has asked me to be the 1st Assistant Director (1st AD) for the SAG short film "Transition" which he is directing. It's a true story about a high school lacrosse player who has beaten cancer and is trying to get his life back. It will be shot in a few locations in Central New Jersey on the following dates:

Sunday May 17
Sunday June 7
Sunday June 14
Sunday June 21

The film is fully cast but there are a few crew roles that need to be filled. They are:


* Hair/Makeup (May 17th, 7am-7pm, June 7th, 8am-8pm)
* Location Sound (all dates)
* Script Supervisor (all dates)
* 2nd AD/Key PA (aka my assistant/extras wrangler) (all dates)


There is no pay but credit, copy, meals, and travel compensation will be provided. Please contact me ASAP if you are interested and available. Don't hesitate to ask questions. If you can work some of the dates but not all of them for the job you're interested in, that's fine. Feel free to write back or call me at 973-216-3808. This is DEFINITELY a project worth being involved in.

Here's more great news! the Radio Repertory Company of America (www.rrca.com) had released their latest sci-fi adventure "Anne Manx and the Empress Blair Project". I've listened to the first half and it's a romp! Thanks to Angelo Panetta for casting me. Order your copy today!

TIP OF THE WEEK: So my friend Carly (mother of the world-famous Asha) recommended the book "Blink" by Malcom Gladwell to me so I started reading it. Great stuff! It's about the power of snap-judgements and first impressions. There is also a reference to an interesting website: www.implicit.harvard.edu.

Go there and take the test!

QUOTE OF THE WEEK: I finally figured out the only reason to be alive is to enjoy it. Rita Mae Brown

FOOD FOR THOUGHT: How often do first impressions help or hinder you? What do you do to try and make a good first impression?

GKN Weekly Update 5/3/09

Happy May! A bit of a wet start to the month, ay? Isn't that only supposed to happen in April?

Last week was a bit light so this'll be short. The only in-person audition I had was a VO spot for Tecate Light. Funny script! While there I bumped into fellow GKN member Mike Rivera Smith who played Kevin the Cat in that Cartoon Network pilot I did. It was great seeing you, Mike, and I wish you continued success in South Pacific at Lincoln Center!

I also had a great conference call with my fellow Project TERRA creators. The real animation has begun!

Since last week was light I picked up a copy of the Ross Reports so I can do a targeted mailing of every agent & casting director I've met over the years at Voiceovers Unlimited. Did you know the Ross Reports is now called the Call Sheet and it's $10.50 an issue? Thanks to Steve Caputo for directing me to the Barnes and Noble in Paramus!

TIP OF THE WEEK: Wow, my first slow week in months! It was bound to happen. Good thing I have my Action Plan to keep me on track. That's how I got inspired to do the new targeted mailing. It's my go to, the thing that keeps me grounded. Call it nerdy, anal, micromanaging, or what have you, it certainly works for me!

QUOTE OF THE WEEK: Rule of the Great: When people you greatly admire appear to be thinking deep thoughts, they probably are thinking about lunch. Anonymous

FOOD FOR THOUGHT: What keeps you grounded, if anything? Family, a desire to succeed, the need to eat?

Have a great week!