So now that this year is about one-third over, it’s a good time to check in and see where I’m at with the personal goals I set for myself at the start of the year.

One of the first goals accomplished this year was that I actually finished the scripts for Magellan’s Children and got most of the dialogue recorded. Is it perfect? Heck, no… and that’s fine. The next step is mixing all the sound effects and getting music made so that I can release Episode 1 on target at the end of next month.

I’ve also managed to get into an acting school here. Presently I’m studying at the Australian Institute for Dramatic Arts (AIDA) and I’m having fun. It’s a good experience and I like being around the people there. I also have been fortunate to barter my mad janitorial skills in exchange for class, so that’s less money (that I don’t have anyway) out of pocket.

Speaking of that, this month has been largely spent really focusing on the kind of work I want to be doing as an actor. My class at AIDA this month was “Image & Career” and we’ve been spending class time refining out goal-setting and business management skills. It’s been an eye-opener. Last night was the last session and we talked about typecasting. I enjoyed getting up there and hearing what my fellow classmates discuss what I could be cast as. Some were things I had already guessed for myself, but a few surprised me.

Additionally, I attended the Showbiz Expo this past weekend. Although the show seemed to be geared more to the production side of things (and that’s totally cool), I learned some good things. One of the highlights for me was meeting the folks at Holdon Log, the folks behind the web app PerformerTrack. Brian Vermiere, CEO, was kind enough to attempt — multiple times — to take me through a walkthrough after I decided to invest some precious gold in buying the product. Although we never finished it at the show because of a lot of interruptions, he was kind enough to finish the tour personally via a phone conference a couple of days later. Way cool. I’ve only been using the tool for a few days, but I like what I see so far. He answered all my questions and even gave me some positive career advice on the side. So thanks, Brian, for your time and putting out a killer app for actors.

So I think I’m off to a good start. On top of this stuff, I am more actively seeking representation to give myself more opportunities to work. So if any of my L.A. friends or readers know an agent or manager who needs a dimensional overachiever for their client portfolio, have them give me a ring!

I’ll catch you on the flip side next time with… some other cliche I can’t remember.