Blog du Wren

I Wanted To Be a Millionaire

If you haven't seen the episode and don't want any spoilers, I suggest you skip to the end of this post and give it a watch before continuing. I can wait...

Nearly 4 years to the day after I taped my Wheel of Fortune episode, I found myself back in a TV studio, this time in Las Vegas, nervously waiting to appear on Who Wants To Be a Millionaire.

The process with Millionaire wasn't too dissimilar to Wheel, if you replace face-to-face testing and auditions with Skype calls*. There were a few more logisitics around bringing your "" and my producer was a bit more specific about wardrobe*, but overall the process was something like:

apply online -> [get lucky to be picked to move on] -> take a test -> [be smart] -> have audition -> [get lucky your attempt at jokes go over well] -> wait hopefully (and a bit nervously) -> [receive "You're in!" letter] -> do a jig -> anxious wait to hear about taping date -> binge watch the show for studying purposes -> keep waiting* -> fly to Las Vegas to tape the episode -> exhale

It turned out to be 9 months between taping date and air date, a long wait while having to keep a secret. The episode turned out great. I feel I came across quite well on screen considering I didn't do as well as I wished I had. Sure it was hard to relive missteps like burning those two lifelines early on and not correcting Chris's pronunciation of Anacortes, but I didn't cringe as hard as I thought I might. In fact, for the better part of that 9 months, I was stressed about how it might all turn out, knowing what I knew about the outcome. But via a couple of awesome and the fun facebook group with some of my fellow almost-millionaires, I found much more joy in the outcome than I expected.

Overall, it was a wonderful experience. I got to meet some really great people, added another cool adventure to my life resume, and ended up with a little bit of change in my pocket*. While the result of this pass at TV game show-dom didn't quite support the this-is-a-big-part-of-my-how-I-make-my-living plan, I'm not going to let that stop me from continuing to try!

Oh, and if you never saw my Wheel episode, check it out here

Thursday May 2 2019

File under: video, pictures

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TV and Film Resume

Progress on the old be-an-extra-in-a-movie life goal proceeds at a slower than hoped for pace, but that doesn't mean it isn't progressing. I've posted here before about various extra/background stuff I've done, but I've finally gotten it together to put it all together in one place. I introduce to you my TV/Film Resume! It has screen shots, links, dates, and more!

Despite the slowness of progress on said goal, it is nice to see the resume start to build up. In just about all cases, you can barely see me for a split second here and there (hence the screenshots), but some respectable names are represented (SyFy Networks, Adult Swim, MTV, Netflix) which has gotta mean something. It will also be a place where I post future film related appearances, so feel free to check back on it every now and again. I even added it to the header!!

Chances are I've already mentioned it to you in person, but in case I haven't, I'm serious about pursuing this dream. If you have connections or hear about anything that might get little old me on TV or in a movie, please let me know! I'll fly to Spain* if I have to.

Otherwise, it's a neat little list* that you might enjoy taking a peek at. I'm not saying I'm famous, but...

Thursday December 6 2018

File under: extra, video

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EXTRA EXTRA - American Vandal and others

For the past 2 or so years, I've been directing much of my manifesting energy* at trying to achieve a life goal of being an extra in a big budget movie. While that hasn't happened yet, I'm slowly building a resume and having some neat experiences along the way.

This spring, I was able to be an extra on the Netflix show American Vandal (a pretty neat show if you're looking for something to add to your queue). The taping day was 14+ hours long, I had to take an uber to location (since public transit didn't run that early), and I only ended up with about 3-4 seconds of screen time. But even so, I'm pretty stoked on the experience. Seeing how TV is made is very interesting; you meet some fun people, get a free lunch, and even get paid!

Here are the screenshots (with episode and timestamp in case you want to see me in all my glory!). Hover on images to highlight me in the background.

Season 2 * Episode 2 * 19:04-ish

Season 2 * Episode 3 * 00:49-ish

Here are a few other clips of other projects I've been involved in

Z-Nation (as posted about last year)
an industrial for Microsoft (just the briefest of passing by in the background)
EDM music video (hilariously disco-ed up)

As you can see, I'm taking all opportunities I can find. If you know someone that might be able to help make my dream come true, please let me know!

Sunday September 30 2018

File under: extra, video

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ACPT 2017-Tournament and Talent Show

In what has become a lovely yearly habit for me, I recently attended the 2017 American Crossword Puzzle Tournament out in Stamford, CT. With it being my 4th year, I now know my way around the tournament and hotel, have met some great people that I always look forward to seeing year after year, and have some helpful data to see the progress my solving skills are making. But overall, I just have a lot of fun.

First, the progress: This year, I finished , putting me in the 54th percentile, my second best showing. Besides one stupid error (which cost me about 20 places in the rankings), I don't feel bad. The puzzles were decidedly harder this year. As usual, destroyed me with a super complicated double theme. , supposedly an easier one, left me somewhat flummoxed with names of elements I've never heard of. Puzzles , , and I aced and had just 1 square wrong on each of and . So, overall, I'm not displeased—room to improve but still a strong enough showing.

But the real fun of the tournament, for me at least, was the talent show. Since my first trip to the ACPT, I've been brewing this act combining my love of juggling and love of crosswords. This year, after poking at it here and there over the years, it all came together and I had a chance to present it. It was a hit, with people really appreciating the nerdiness as much as the talent. I'm excited to work out the kinks and get a few more run throughs to really solidify it. Then the hope is to add it to our upcoming summer shows. I'm sure the reception won't be nearly as great as it was with a room full of hardcore crossworders, but hopefully it will stand on its own. See for yourself!

Thanks to all who made the ACPT such a fun and successful event! Hope to see you all again next year!

Thursday March 30 2017

File under: crosswords, video, juggling

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My TV Extra Debut

Back in September, I posted about my initial foray into the world of being a film extra. For two days, I went in, sat through an hour of make up, sat around for hours doing nothing but observing what there was to see, and then did my thing. You can read all about the experience here. Well, in a film-to-screen time that beats out my Wheel experience, my episode aired in December.

I knew from the filming that my screen time was going to be very limited and chances were you wouldn't be able to see my face. I was right on both accounts. Below, you can see the clip. I've stretched the clip to include a bit of context. Keep an eye on the roadside zombie. That's me!

Okay, not so impressive for a first go. There are continuity issues and my acting could use a bit of improvement. But it's a start, a start that hopefully turns into something more. As I mentioned before, being an extra in a movie (where you can see my face and in a movie that people would actually have heard of) is a my current life goal.

While waiting around to film scene, I was also able to impromptu provide hands for another scene from another episode. Even going frame by frame, it was hard to identify me. I did, however, manage this screen shot. If a hand on screen for .35 seconds ever screamed destined for greatness, it's here.

As my resume grows (as I truly hope it will), I'll keep posting about it here, so stay tuned! In the meantime, feel free to watch this clip over and over and over again. Or, heck, go check out Z-Nation and watch from the beginning!

Saturday January 7 2017

File under: extra, video

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Perpetual Marching Machine

Who doesn't love a good parade? To promote their upcoming run at the ACT theater in Seattle*, the Flying Karamazov Brothers organized a parade through downtown last weekend. It was great fun! The highlight, some might say, was when we ended in the Convention Center on the escalators, in a perpetual marching machine! With as much fun as we were having, it could have gone on for a long time. The security staff at the convention center, however, didn't quite agree. I guess that answers the age old question of who doesn't love a parade.

Anyway, if you are looking for a good time, check out the FKB show at ACT Theater.

Oh, and you can see me juggling in the parade dressed in an orange petticoat and wig, headed up the up near the beginning.

Tuesday January 31 2012

File under: video, circus

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Soap Box 2011

Thanks to Luke for filming and putting this together!

Tuesday September 13 2011

File under: quarry, video

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Youngest. Juggler. Evar.

Sunday October 3 2010

File under: video, juggling

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The Amazing Race

People often ask me what goes on at juggling festivals. "Juggling...duh!" I helpfully reply. But it is often so much more, esp. in the case of Lopez Jugglefest. The non-juggling shenanigans are often pretty epic. To that end, as promised in that earlier post, here's footage of the Epic Footrace of 2010. (I think there was only one club related injury reported*.)

Tuesday September 28 2010

File under: juggling, video

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The End of Summer

[Aside from the upcoming 3 consecutive weekends of fun (soapbox, lopez juggling fest, and frisbee tournament,] summer is over. I think I'll go throw myself off a cliff.

Bummer video quality (although surprisingly good for a phone), so I apologize for that. Also, please accept my apology for the blatant filler content.

Tuesday September 7 2010

File under: video, quarry

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