Two Unemployed Actors - Juggling the Hustle | Ep 68

MAX: 00:12
Welcome back to Two Unemployed Actors. I'm Max. I'm Sam. Great show today. Lots to well, no, you know what? I I've been I've been busy on one thing. So I can talk about like one thing, the play, and life. Life and the play. Surviving the play. There's like at the moment now with two weeks to go, like bump ins on the 21st. What's the date today? The 10th. The 10th. Um I'm c it's there's kind of like BP and after P. There's before play and after play. That's that's it. At this stage, it's like it didn't help that on Sunday I um okay, so life gets in the way of things. I I was I had a message on Friday. Max, because I cause they said it. Is anyone able to to store the props? Look, I can fit it into the backyard. I've only got an SUV and a Vesper and a small dog. So I can fit a couch, a shelving unit, and a chest of drawers. Yeah, no worries, I'll put like, you know, a tarp over the top or something. And um it turned into um me hiring a van to drive around and pick up all these places on free Facebook Marketplace that weren't next to each other, but that's okay, you know, you clock the miles up. So there I was at 11 on Sunday, getting a message from the director going, look, you know, I'm not feeling the best. So alright. I've got the addresses. Um I've I said I being the convincing sales slash actor I am, roped Emma in. How would you like a free lunch? Oh my god. Says the smiling salesman. You can trust me. It just involves some physical labour. Uh so Emma was my co-pilot as we went from suburb to suburb, picking up the three pieces, loading into the van, coming here, unloading the van, then driving, dropping the van off, and then coming back and then picking her up and dropping her off home and then coming back, having a brief break and then racing late to rehearsals. Of course, the director wasn't there, but the two producers were, which is great, and straight into like a three till nine o'clock is the normal. I turned up 30 minutes late with a decent enough excuse. Like, guys, I couldn't get in the van 411. Side note, I could have, but you know what? I needed to fucking sleep in. Yeah, I just needed a bit of more time. Exactly. So I'll like a book the go-get. We'll chat, you know, a few subs around here, no worries. No, no, I'm not sure. I'm out of the way. Anyway.

Speaker 2: 02:46
Oh god.

MAX: 02:47
It's okay. We'll call it character building. Character building, Sammy. So I I there I am, character building. With the director who's got the producer who's got no idea, it's just like Max, uh, we're gonna wait downstairs because they've got this new rehearsal space. We're just happy to have one. Uh, no offense to my dining room and Fred, but yeah. So uh uh to get to a stage, we'll just call it my play.

SAM: 03:07
Yeah, so I I I'm like props, you're you got the the location like independent theatre.

MAX: 03:13
I mean, you know, versatility, versatile is the key word.

SAM: 03:17
It all makes it a sick, you were there, you know what you're just everything.

MAX: 03:20
Absolutely. The fact that it was the morning after Mardi Gras.

SAM: 03:24
Oh, he probably went out. So she probably went out. Yeah, maybe I don't know.

MAX: 03:31
Anyway, beside the point. So I'm rocking it like anyway. I walk in, the other uh cast member was late because she was baking something and didn't realise how long it required to be baked. Oh so I thought, well, I don't, I you know, yeah. So that aside, I I rocked up and I said, apologies, couldn't get the van 411 number, and the British just looked mortified. It's like what you went and picked up all the pro yeah. I looked at it, went, yeah. And they went, alright, it's all good. By the way, we've got a couch, we've got a dressing table, we've got stuff we need, and everyone's like, yeah, because like you know, apart from all the other accoutrement, which I could talk about after the play, because that'll be spoilers. Um, we're pretty much soaking up the entire prop budget for the four plays.

Speaker 2: 04:13
Oh yeah.

MAX: 04:14
Because there's nothing like organizing one play in COVID times, but four. And week one starts shortly, and week two bump in is on the Sunday, literally two casts bumping in within a day and tech runs.

SAM: 04:32
Nice.

MAX: 04:33
Right? Because you know what that's like doing one play. Yeah. And then on the night.

SAM: 04:40
You're in one of them though. I am, I am indeed. I am indeed.

MAX: 04:42
I'm not just moving the props around. Yeah. Yeah.

SAM: 04:45
No, no, I know you just move the props around.

MAX: 04:49
Because uh not to be confused by that guy who's you know the adult of the group. No, I I went to moral support officer or something. I've got a go-get account, so for those that know Sydney well, that that that that means you're um you're a removalist. So a handyman, literally, in life and the character. So I turned up, I turn up. Uh basically what's gonna happen is there will be a play on before us, and then they then curtains down, audience go into the lobby, um, literally I'm we're on, and the other play sticks around to reset the stage for us. Okay, and then we're ready to go as they move out, and then it literally the time is skinny. No, skinny time.

SAM: 05:34
So I learnt that Jordana.

MAX: 05:38
Yes, Jordana is I know Jordana. Oh, she did stay back in the new of you. Yes, interesting. That's a small world, isn't it? I know. So tell me what's Sam really like, and she just unloaded for like 20.

SAM: 05:51
No, I'm just no, it's the other way around. She's great.

MAX: 05:54
She's really good, she's really good. Uh she's really good. Yeah, her character, Cara, is my favourite. Oh my god, have you got tickets? You haven't, have you? Sold out. Sorry, champ.

SAM: 06:04
I know, I know. Well, that's when you message me.

MAX: 06:06
But you're a loser. Yeah. Because you're not one of the winning people.

SAM: 06:09
I asked you, I was like, I gotta get tickets. You're like, okay, two more shows, and then I hadn't yet, because I had to go to Newcastle, and then I you texted me, and you were like sold out, and I'm gonna go. Sold. I was like, fuck.

MAX: 06:20
If you're dead keen, I can there's I think there's a handful of media, and as they RSVP or not, there might be one hanging around. Right. Just admin is part of the media, but uh yeah, yeah, podcast. Yep. Uh I'll review myself. Brilliant, fucking brilliant. No, uh, but Jordana's great, uh, my favourite character, and it's just such a fun character to play, so over the top. Yeah, but it's really physical, right? So, what did I do today? I went and joined uh a gym and a swimming pool. There's down the road, literally closer than the other gym, which I pay but don't go, is a swimming pool, aquatic centre with a gym up top, and that's the unpretentious gym, right? This is the real deal, yeah. And so I'm there, I did they have a trial thing, which is great uh because free is good. And I trialled out the the gym, had a bit of a workout, and I'm gone to the 50-meter pool afterwards because I'm still in rehab from my shoulder. All I've got to do now, my last physio was last week, celebrations, but I've still got to do a bit of freestyle on the pool to help that last little bit of movement, that last little bit of range. And when I started kicking off doing freestyle, I'm like, one, my cardio fitness. Oh my god. Yeah, not quite the I just ducked back into the slow lane. And secondly, the range of movement. I'm doing freestyle and it's just coming out of the water, and the other one I'm nearly overturning. So I've got to get used to the getting back into my normal routine. So I'm basically gonna go every day. I have to, because otherwise I'll just pass out after the play. I'm feeling my age, right? Seriously, it's it's it's hurting some new aches and pains. And you get three personal training sessions in. I'm like, great, line them up. Yeah, so a join, they waive the admin fee.

unknown: 08:03
Okay.

MAX: 08:03
Sorry, sorry, waive the joining fee, which is $106, pay the admin fee $20. Okay, fine. And then I pay a monthly fee, which is only a little bit more than my normal gym membership, and I use the pool and the gym.

SAM: 08:15
There we go.

MAX: 08:15
So I'm a happy chappy, and tomorrow at 10 is my first personal training session. So nice and joy.

SAM: 08:22
You could get that tax deducted.

MAX: 08:23
Yes, absolutely. Because gyms for your I do, I do, yes, as an actor, because I've got my headshots out there. I need to look like I could do the same. Absolutely. Oh recommend it.

SAM: 08:34
Perfect.

MAX: 08:35
And uh of course, paying for it and actually doing it are two different things, I've learned. But uh I feel fitter paying for that fit. But look, it's closer, I get to swim, it's good rehab, cardio fitness, you know. I'm winning. So I did that.

SAM: 08:47
It's just a one, it's not a chain, it's a one place.

MAX: 08:49
No, no, it's just the one plate, but it's down the road, which is great. Yeah, no, it's literally scooter park right at the front. There's like reserved motorcycle parking. Perfect. I mean, come on. I've got to be able to get better than that. Almost didn't make it though, having said that. Uh, some quality drama at the end of the street today.

SAM: 09:05
Oh, your street or something, jumped on the Vespa.

MAX: 09:08
Uh huh. Rode down the end of the street, about to turn left, and the cars are backed up, whatever. Because I remember hearing sirens, and I'm like, it's not new. When you live in the inner city, like you hear sirens, like whatever. But they were quite loud and then stopped, which gives you a clue that something's around inner city life, whatever. I've I've just focused on how much I'm gonna die in the gym today. Uh, and so I get to in the street, and then there was the whole police and detectives, you know, all suited up with the badges and other ones in their polos that look like they just run a marathon on the poor buggers and um go, oh, tough job. And uh yeah, at the other end of the street. So uh all judging by the amount of neighbours that were watching, I'm gonna find out soon enough what happened.

SAM: 09:52
Yeah, yeah. They were detected. I didn't stick a plan.

MAX: 09:55
Yes, and it was the whole show, the whole lot. They were all there, the street was blocked off, it was all very exciting. So I just focused on getting the hell out of there because uh I didn't want to be part of the problem, and I really don't want any excuses not to go to the gym. Okay, it's too late. Oh, the police were in the industry, I was too scared, so I stayed out. You're already part of the problem. Yeah, so well I'll ask the I'll ask the uh part of many problems, but uh I'll ask I'll ask the neighbours soon what what actually happened at the industry. Good drama, good drama. Good drama, good drama. So I'm feeling fitter, kind of. Uh I've got to, you know, keep exercising in lead up to the play, and yeah, it's all about the play, the play.

SAM: 10:31
Yeah, no, I've I feel like yeah, I feel a lot fitter as well, because I'm going to the gym often. Um but like uh when I'm in Newcastle, like I don't. Yeah. So I'm like, I feel like ah.

MAX: 10:44
Because you've got you've got your normal you've got your your your job now, you kicked it's just kicked back in, school's in. Yeah, school's in. And you are still finishing the feature, which is what, two, two and a half hours away?

SAM: 10:56
Yeah.

MAX: 10:57
So yeah.

SAM: 10:59
Yeah.

MAX: 11:02
So just to give you a background, Sam's turned up today, um, and he said, Um, I'm really tired. I'll let you do all the talking. No worries, mate. I completely get it. Yeah, yeah. Get the survival job.

SAM: 11:14
I'll talk a little bit, otherwise, it's just like one unemployment.

MAX: 11:16
Otherwise, I'm just talking about how amazing I am, and that's boring.

SAM: 11:19
That's a bit too much max for our listeners.

MAX: 11:22
Uh so you're you've you you're just surviving.

SAM: 11:25
Well, I think just today, I think everyone's hit er everything's hit back because this is the first full week um back at work again for the past two weeks or whatever, just because of the filming. But the filming's so much fun, and I'm feeling that's good. Feel everyone's starting to feel a bit sad that it's gonna stop soon, that's gonna end. Um but yeah, you get so close to people over over such a lot of people.

MAX: 11:49
It's funny, isn't it? I mean, as artists, we're always more in in in into the left of oversharing than corporates, for example. And then when you're spending such an amount of time on set with and there's so much downtime with setups and things, yeah. Um, and then rehearsals and all sorts of stuff, like you do get to know people really well.

SAM: 12:09
And there aren't as many, there's not that many industries that have that many extroverts in one place. Oh, that's what I mean. All over share. Oh, that's what you meant.

MAX: 12:19
Yeah, it's like it's like with the play, yeah. You know, we're all thrown in there all over. It takes us about 30 minutes just to start. Yeah, you know, we're like there's yeah, turn up at three for Sunday and we don't kick off to like quarter to four because we're we're too busy to come. And and then and then what do we do? The first thing we do is warm up. I mean, come on, you know, we're already at a 10 to a normal person.

SAM: 12:38
Actors don't need a warm up.

MAX: 12:40
We're already warmed up. Life warms us up, but uh no, it's it's great. That's good to hear that you you're enjoying it still.

SAM: 12:46
Yeah, definitely. And I had a conversation with uh my agent, I rang him and just checked in, so that was good. I actually I ordered a blue screen. Oh, nice, and it arrived yesterday. So is it now?

MAX: 12:58
Because sometimes I found it it it can be hard, some of them like because they look all wrinkly. Yes, steam it. Is it cloth or is it like a volume?

SAM: 13:06
It's non-woven. It's like plastic. Okay, which is really odd, but I just got it and that's probably why it was cheap. But yes, it was folded like almost had a grid pattern of creases. Yeah. So I've I've rolled it up really tight. Yep, yep, yeah. And I'm gonna just let it sit overnight and stuff. Hopefully that otherwise I'll weigh it down with something as well. Um but it looks cool, could be good. I've got um a US audition-ish thing. Like it's a self-tape to send back to Mark. Right um to keep on file.

MAX: 13:38
Yeah, yeah, but it's actually some for something for something and keep on file. Okay, okay.

SAM: 13:42
Um that I maybe submitted for.

MAX: 13:44
There's a Julie Roberts um George Clooney rom com uh confirmed for Queensland.

SAM: 13:51
So I don't think there's any briefs yet, right?

MAX: 13:54
Yeah, no, not yet. No. I s I checked I'm DB Pro, it doesn't show who's casting it either, yep.

SAM: 13:59
Yeah, so it's really fresh.

MAX: 14:00
So underwraps. I I I I I I found the notice on LinkedIn and I wrote in the comments, oh, it's great news, even better if I get a 50 worder, and then tag my agent.

SAM: 14:12
Do they reply?

MAX: 14:14
Here's a big clue. Jess is so funny. Um a friend of mine actually asked uh if I knew any agents for um directing. And uh I don't. So I swung that by Jess, and she's so that's what I was talking to her last about. But uh then I've just yeah, randomly found that notice and just replied that's so funny. And uh tagged her because I'm like, yeah, it would be nice. Trip to Queensland to walk on set with those two. Sure, I'd almost pay them.

SAM: 14:44
You pay them that's fair, actually.

MAX: 14:47
So would I another workshop or but uh no, it'll be great. I mean they look the it well it's been great that the the COVID has been managed so well, the economy's bouncing back, confidence is high, and that then we're being rewarded with growth growth in the economy. Um it's a great place to make movies and we're lining them all up. So if I can get a couple of 50 worders this year, I'd be really happy. Well, I've had one with uh Jack the Jack the Lifeguard at Oh, I'm just supposed to at nowhere.

SAM: 15:22
Lucky this isn't line.

MAX: 15:24
No, I know uh at the lifeguard at all. So I'll beep that out. But uh yeah, so I've had one this year, and if there is a logie for best delivery of what'd you have again, five words or under it'd be it.

SAM: 15:36
No, no, what what'd you have this year again? It was Jack the uh lifeguard on uh don't you make me edit hard enough as it is.

MAX: 15:45
Oh no, sorry. That almost sounded like broken English. But yeah, no, so so there I've already had one. Well I've had one, but I'd like to get two more, it'd be nice. That'd that'd really make my I mean the corporate works great, don't get me wrong. Uh pays great, but it's nice too.

SAM: 15:59
Yeah, I'd love to get a supporting role in anything, like something, something whatever.

MAX: 16:04
Yeah, well, I mean you already kicked off again, you kicked off the year really well yourself too. Yeah, with the feature film. Yeah, yeah.

SAM: 16:11
Independent or not, it's pretty much fun.

MAX: 16:13
I mean uh even if the script even if the script is and and it's gonna go you at least you're you're on set. Yeah. And you're you're you're stretching your acting legs, you're doing the best you can. It's great experience, and you're staying work fit when the opportunity is for your way, you're ready to go.

SAM: 16:30
And our director, he Cam, he's really uh ambit uh ambitious and really persistent and um which is really good. So he he wants to put it forward for as many things as he can. I think festivals, I think possibly pitch it. I don't think he fully knows yet, but pitch it to like as many streaming services as he can, and you know, you know, uh once it's done. Are we I think I've said this on a podcast before, I don't think we've had like a teen coming of age uh comedy drama uh in Australia for a while. Yeah, like an Australian one for a while.

MAX: 17:04
It has been a while. I remember uh I think the yeah, there was a while where there was a phase of a few of them and I'm like oh for there's another one, but then it stopped. That was years ago. Yeah, you're right, you're right.

SAM: 17:15
There hasn't been a so I think it could could work, yeah.

MAX: 17:18
Well see, yeah, no, fingers crossed, break a leg and all that. That'd be great. But I mean I think ambition is good because I I say that because I've had experience in a few plays that are independent, and and this one's less community theatre, more professionally independent, thankfully. Uh and for and and the difference is the ambition, the fact that there's a drive behind the whole business model. It's not just about getting the play up and running and has it got legs, it's supporting up-and-coming talent. Be that writers, which we are, or or or um, you know, actors, stage managers, you know, the whole gamut. Um, and I think that pays off when you can say these guys are put on a festival with four ticket plays, not one, and it's all I think there's only one play with two nights left of tickets out of all four. There we go. So that's the difference with ambition and drive on the whole business model, rather than let's rehearse the play, the play, the play, the play, and then you get up, tread the boards, and you know, you're performing to a straight cut. Um you know what I mean. We've all been there, we've had those moments.

SAM: 18:33
Also, uh check out the film Cooked on TikTok, which we are now on TikTok. I don't have a TikTok. No, I don't I don't have TikTok either.

MAX: 18:42
I mean I'm not I'm not the target marker, let's be honest.

SAM: 18:44
Yeah, yeah. No, you could be.

MAX: 18:46
I'm all I'm on the LinkedIn target marker.

SAM: 18:48
The LinkedIn, but there was one video that they put they put up like a funny video and it got it's up to three million views.

MAX: 18:55
Three million? That's great.

SAM: 18:56
So hopefully this is good publishing. There's a lot of eyeballs. But check us out, follow, and check us out to unemployed actors. Two unemployed actors. Not on TikTok. We're not on TikTok. No. That what would we put? Just Fred the whole time. Fred.

MAX: 19:10
He's a bit quiet today because he's got his treat. Do not try and pat him now. You will lose you'll lose a finger.

SAM: 19:14
He also could be quiet uh if we made him the face of TikTok. He'd be like, finally.

MAX: 19:19
He'd love the attention. Something having done that dog walking app thing, that was hilarious. I think Fred could have been great. It's just the fact that there were other dogs that would have distracted him. Because he needs to be the top dog. Not even.

unknown: 19:30
No.

MAX: 19:37
So yeah, so for me at the moment, it's just focusing on staying like I'm like I'm off book and I've got the blocking down. Now's the time where I just experiment on choices. Yeah, that's the fun part. And it's so cool. I'm really enjoying it.

SAM: 19:51
Nice.

MAX: 19:52
Um while trying to stay fit and doing a few voiceovers. And oh, I had a really exciting moment. I'm I had a nerd moment. Nerd voiceover moment. Because, like, I follow a few actors who are kind of like me, up and coming, whatever, maybe a step ahead, you know, they've already had a few guest roles and stuff. There's a few, there's okay, there's two voiceover artists who I follow on YouTube and and like where because there's so much crap out there, as it as with anything, you've got to weed out the chaff, right? To find the good stuff. So two great guys who I follow and get some like like tips and tricks that I've actually executed and benefited from.

SAM: 20:32
Yeah.

MAX: 20:33
One of them's called Bill Deweys. Now, Bill, I've I've watched his YouTube channel since forever. Just a bits and sometimes it's a kick, you know. Have you done this with your marketing? I'm like, no, I haven't. That's a great idea. Let's do that. So other times it's it's it's some voiceover exercises that I haven't tried, or you know, so you never know what's gonna land and what's gonna help and work. But I'm open minded and keeping it together. Someone I uh some other voiceover artist I follow on LinkedIn has posted something about his setup and doing a corporate script, and he's got a great setup, L C D screen, so it's gonna be script up and he's uh his digital audio work work interface, whatever it is, the thing that makes the waves that helps you sound better. Oh, yeah. And all the soundproofing if you're on, like, that's a great setup, and everyone's like, Yeah, that's a great setup. I wrote um uh I I enjoy the corporate work too, although sometimes with the corporate written by committee uh copy, it can be really hard and take all of my acting ability to bring it to life, you know, like oh my god, yeah, yeah. But it's really it's enjoyable when it does. So, from that, about an hour later, I'm washing a car. Ding ding. I look at my phone. Bill Deweys wants to connect with me on LinkedIn. I did a little happy dance, I'm like, oh my god, this is I can't, it's great. Not only have I accepted within seconds, I'm like, great to connect with you, mate. I've been watching your videos on YouTube for ages. Oh my god. It's such a Nerd voiceover moment, and only I'd get, but I was so excited and so happy. And he's written back going, Great, you know, if you need any support, blah blah, I'm here. Nice. So it's it's great. And uh and yeah, he's and he's and of course some of his tips and tricks on LinkedIn too are helpful. So I'm like had this really nerdy happy moment, like my connections are starting to pay off. Yeah, um, I mean not starting to, it's like if you're not disingenuous, if you're actually writing comments that make sense and not all the time and up to everyone and all that sort of stuff, like you're actually using social media for what it's for, uh you really you never know where you know tips and tricks gonna come from. So it's great, and of course, when you're self-directed, like I don't have an agent for voiceover even. So it's not like I can check in and go, hey, how's everything going? You know, what's the market look like? How am I travelling? Yeah, it's me in a room with Fred, and as great as uh co-worker he is, it's just you know, he ruins occasional good take. Um and yeah, his feedback's pretty dry. So I think you know, so these these are the sort of connections that really help when you're in a room on your own talking to yourself, as you do with voiceovers. Yeah. So a bit of that, bit of the play, and that's about it for now.

SAM: 23:12
That's about it.

MAX: 23:12
And stay well, you know, try not to drown in the pool while I do just one more lap.

SAM: 23:16
Yeah, just one more lap.

MAX: 23:17
With your shoulder as he swallows more chlorine. Yeah, I drank a bit, but anyway.

SAM: 23:22
It's good for your teeth.

MAX: 23:23
I was all set. New swimmers, got the speedo um goggles on, you know. The racer max? No, I'm not no I'm not I'm not up to shaving that point one of a second off a lap yet. Uh working on it.

SAM: 23:36
That's so funny. You should get a switch. You should get a swimming cap with two unemployed actors on the side. Stop it. Oh, great merch.

MAX: 23:44
Oh, I'll be flying off the shelves. Oh, do we two? I'll buy two. Wonderwear to parties. Oh, mate, no. God damn it. Pass.

SAM: 23:53
And then we just wear them on the podcast.

MAX: 23:55
Definitely not. Um friend would wear them. All right. Well, that's enough for this week. Yeah, it is. Stay tuned for more. That's enough. I've just decided that is enough. No. Um stay tuned. Uh, we'll have another episode out next week. Make sure you like, subscribe, and follow um on your favourite social media platform and on your podcast platform as well. Yes. Don't forget to subscribe. You'll listen to Max. And Sam. We'll be back next week. Bye. To unemployed actor.