William Mapother

Blog Archives

Blog Categories

Blog Archives

Archive for the ‘Places’ Category

Agony and Ecstasy and Agony..

Posted on: September 20th, 2010 by wmapother 4 Comments

Please note the photo to your right.  It shows only several of the many TV screens at a local sports bar, and even more specifically, it shows several college football games in progress.  If you recognize what this was right off the bat (or ball), please consult your doctor.  You may have a serious case of masochism.

Treatments are uncertain and not promising, especially if you’re a fan of Notre Dame.  In this case, each passing year seems to bring only less wisdom, not more.  Only less hope, not more.  Only more pain, not less.  And yet one seems unable to stop hoping.  This is a s-i-c-k-n-e-s-s.

Case in point:  Last evening the Irish lost in overtime to Michigan State, which pulled a gutsy fake field goal to win the game.  Hooray for them.  So excited.  Couldn’t be happier for the Sparkies.  Go green.  Yay yay yeah yeah whatever.

Only problem:  Please note the :00 in the red at the bottom.  That’s correct.  Time had expired.  The clock had run out/down/off before the play even started.  The Big East’s explanation?  Basically, “we’re only human.”  Sigh.

Posted in Notre Dame, 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)

All Actors, One Union

Posted on: August 3rd, 2010 by wmapother 4 Comments

Almost all actors know this, but most non-actors don’t:  There are two unions for on-screen actors:  SAG and AFTRA.  This is unique among in Hollywood.  All screenwriters–one union; all directors–one union; all drivers-one union; etc., etc.

The reason why actors are split between two unions is not, unfortunately, as simple (or as fun) as cracking jokes about our not being able to govern ourselves.  The solution, however, is a heckuva lot simpler:  We must gather all actors into one union to maximize our power and independence.
A union increases its members’ strength through their solidarity.  Without that, there’s little point in gathering under the same roof (except for the parties).  To cite the motto of the great state of Kentucky:  United We Stand, Divided We Fall.
Posted in Acting Projects, Acting Tips & Info, Louisville & KY

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

WARNING: WEATHER AHEAD

Posted on: June 13th, 2010 by wmapother 2 Comments

We’re holding the Flyover Film Festival at the Kentucky Center for the Arts, and it’s working out beautifully.
However, I was walking down the staircase Friday and saw this sign.  Hmmm.

Walked down a flight of stairs and saw another one just like it.  Wha?

I mean, I know people think things are slow in Kentucky, but lordy — is weather-watching now a group activity?  Kept going (because I missed my floor–that sign I missed) and finally saw this at the bottom:

Ahhh.  Just the Center helping keep heads cool during a Kentucky twister — like the one I survived on April 3, 1974, during the worst outbreak of tornadoes in American history.
But that’s another story.

Posted in Louisville & KY, Random