Birthdays, Movies, and Hanging Out: The Weekend Wrap-Up

Friday:

I got off work and went to see some wrestling. Shout out to my partner Clint for inviting me. It was at Capleville Gym on Malone off East Shelby Drive in Memphis, Tennessee. The main event involved Sid Vicious, a local wrestler who has wrestled for the big organizations. He murdered a few local wrestlers and really got the crowd into it. These local guys were doing all kinds of high-risk moves. I had to move away from ringside a few times. Shout out to Jason Turgeon and his broadcasting partner. Turgeon and I were at the University of Memphis around the same time. Turgeon and his broadcast partner host a wrestling show called "Off the Ropes" that comes on ESPN Radio AM 730 on Thursday nights at 6 PM in Memphis, Tennessee. It was cool.

Saturday:

I got off work, dropped off my good buddy "Uncle" Marvin Skinner, then I had an audition at the Media Co-op. Two-time Indie Memphis winner Geoff Shrewsbury had auditions for his feature "A Bird in the Hand". It is being produced as part of his BFA Thesis for NYU film school. I read, he liked what he heard. I told him that since I have the record for most film appearances at a single Indie Memphis (8 in 2006), that we should work together. Yeah, I talked noise, but after the audition. Hopefully, he can find a spot for "King Indie". Shout out to Dana Terle (Heart + Strings) and Monette Mclin (Last of the Red Hot Lovers (stage)), who I ran into at the audition. I told Monette that I loved her in that play (Last), but I had never seen it before, so I thought that her character would give in to the man who was trying to seduce her.
After that, I went to Perkins, then Bookstar, where I ran into an old friend of mine named Melissa. She's dabbled in acting and singing. She was whispering "Superstar!" and startled me. We chit-chatted for a minute.

After that, I made it to The Spaghetti Warehouse for three of my friends' birthday celebration. Denna Greer (What Goes Around), "Angry" Nick Jones, and his friend Courtney Wright all turned a year older. I bought Denna a Barbie that was dressed like Dorothy (she's a collector), and I bought Nick a wrestling action figure (we're fans). Of course, I made sure it was in a Spider-Man gift bag just to mess with him because he hates that character (I ain't right).
We had a good dinner, me and my boys Terrence, Donovan, and Paul West talked about Power Rangers, breakdance movies, and 80s cartoons. It was great!!!
Later, about seven of us went to the Muvico Theatre to see Wild Hogs. I liked it. Some of them wanted to see Reno 911 and had other things to do, and so they left. They missed out. It was a cool film. Tim Allen, John Travolta, Martin Lawrence, and William H. Macy played some middle-aged bikers that went on a cross-country trip. Nice, funny movie, and it was great to see Oscar winner Marisa Tomei (My Cousing Vinny) in a movie again.

Sunday:

Okay, I accidentally left my interior light in my car on. Thank God for roadside assistance. Once I was "on the road again", I met up with my good buddy Steven, aka Furious Styles (www.myspace.com/furiousstyles1). He gave me a free t-shirt with his record label, M-I Rec (Mentalee Ill Records) on the front. We also chatted about hip-hop and life and dreams. It's always good to talk to that brother. If you like hip-hop where the lyrics mean something, check him out.

Later, I saw Black Snake Moan. Shout out to Samuel Jackson, Christina Ricci, and Justin Timberlake, and a host of locals. I saw Bevan Bell, Christin Ackerman, and others as extras. Shout out to local muscian Amy Lavere (she had a speaking role) and Jeff Pope (he got to speak, too) as the guy who sells pills to Christina Ricci. I am in a crowd shot in the middle of the film. Samuel Jackson is performing at a juke joint. You can see my face in the crowd while he is singing his first song ("Annie Mae"). It's cool, I am grateful for the money and the opportunity. I am more proud of my "no-budget" indie film roles because I actually talk. I am saddened that the movie only made 4 million its first week and finished 8th. It's a decent film, and I wish the film community would support it. I just want Craig to continue being able to film in Tennessee.
Oh, well, maybe the next one'll be a blockbuster hit. Be easy, readers.