William Mapother

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A Wolf in Beverly Hills

Posted on: June 6th, 2012 by wmapother 1 Comment

So there’s this war, see, and the people back home want lots of updates, well, they’re a people not inclined to like to wait for things, see, and then there’s this whole 24-hour news network, and they need stuff to fill the airwaves, and well, the whole thing ended making a Wolf into The Wolf.  And that’s the story of how Wolf Blitzer became WOLF BLITZER.  The end.  Back to you at the News Desk, William.

Field reporting isn’t what it used to be….Last week the Artists and Athletes Alliance, a sort of bridge between Hollywood and D.C., sponsored with UCLA a discussion by Wolf Blitzer at the Four Seasons.  Wolf covered politics in general, plus some notable moments from the recent Republican debates.  Takeaway:  Moderators do probably just as much prep as the candidates.  Takeaway #2:  Journalists can out-politicize politicians.  Takeaway #3:  Two takeaways is usually enough.

Kudos and thanks to UCLA, and to Artists and Athletes (on whose Board I serve [how ’bout that locution?]), for their ongoing sponsorship of east-coasties venturing westward.  Here’s a UCLA article on the evening, including a salaam by yours truly.

Posted in Los Angeles, News & Events, Other Photos, Press, Random

Culture Made Easy

Posted on: December 2nd, 2011 by wmapother No Comments

Suggestion for actors #2,317:  Sign up for email newsletters of your local museums and cultural centers.
Among the many advantages:

•  They often have free events.
•  They’re a great opportunity to make contacts with writers and directors (It was at a reading by Adam Gopnick at LA’s Skirball that I met the NYC director who led me to NYC’s Public Theatre’s Shakespeare Lab which led me to the casting director who thought of me for Another Earth (more on that some other time.  You get the idea.)
•   The events are good to go with a date.  Or someone you want to be a date.
•  Pt. 2 of the line above:  They’re a good place to make contact with a date.
•  Did I mention that some of the events are free?
•  Filmmakers love it when actors see classic movies.  Such as those shown at museum.
•  You don’t have to trust yourself and/or take the time to view their websites.  Actors like it to be easy, right?

Some in L.A. to get you started:
Skirball
LACMA
Hammer
Getty

[This has been another in a continuing series of potentially helpful, hopefully commonsensical information to actors on practicing their craft or surviving while trying to do so.  I bear no responsibility for how this or any of my posts might ruin your life, lead you to law school, or make your parents sick with worry.]

For more suggestions to actors, click the ‘Info to Actors’ category at left.

Posted in Acting Tips & Info, Los Angeles, NYC, Recs

Taxi, Anyone?

Posted on: October 2nd, 2010 by wmapother 7 Comments

The 3rd Street Promenade in Santa Monica is one of the too-few places in L.A. to get a somewhat urban experience (ie, Angelenos using their legs for actual walking).  Buskers are almost always performing, and the other night this fantastic guy was dancing, or rather, swaying, solo.

The sign seems odd if you don’t get the joke.  Taxi dancers were popular in old music halls.  They were women who would dance with patrons.  They got their name because the longer they danced, the higher the fee.

A link to the great Rodgers & Hart song sung from a taxi dancer’s perspective, Ten Cents a Dance, is here (sung in this version by Anita O’Day).

So, care to dance?

Posted in Los Angeles, Music, Random

If Ethan were to adopt…

Posted on: August 24th, 2010 by wmapother 7 Comments

As faithful, unpaid readers well know, in the past few months I’ve participated in several shows at the marvelous UCB comedy theatre in Hollywood.  In my most recent show there, SketchCram, one of the skits went well enough that UCB decided to shoot it as one of their short films.  (Several shorts a month are posted on ucbcomedy.com/videos).

The set-up, for the slower among you, is that I decide to adopt.  Happily, and then sadly, the adoption gatekeeper/Jacobite is a Lost fan..
It’s on Funny or Die here and YouTube here.   Or it’s here on Huffington Post.  If you’re into that sort of thing.
Posted in Acting Projects, Funny Like Ha-Ha, In Person (or, like, Live), Los Angeles, Stage, Video (Online & Home)

UCB Sketch Cram

Posted on: July 5th, 2010 by wmapother 3 Comments

So apparently I just can’t get enough of the UCB Theatre.  I was there a couple months ago for the ‘Lost’ skits, then last month for Assscat!, and I’m returning this Saturday night at midnight.

This time I’ll be performing in Sketch Cram, in which a sketch is written, directed, memorized and rehearsed, all within 12 hours.  If it’s like the other shows at UCB, it’ll be a fantastic time.  Hope to see all of you there — especially those of you from overseas.

Posted in Acting Projects, Funny Like Ha-Ha, In Person (or, like, Live), Los Angeles, Stage, TV