First Deleted Post!

Even I was appalled by the woe factor in that last entry and so have deleted it (now that I have got it off my chest). Never fear dear readers - more crap will emerge...

Sandy Point & Dress Ups

Russell Gilbert was a great guest on last week's TGYH but so nervous that when he came through the door he hugged the entire cast before the scene had started - a lovely gesture to be sure - but notice how I'm fumbling in the background? After Russell hugged me my lapel mic got caught on his space suit and popped off after he let go. I love tech stuff ups but I had two lines to deliver which is why I appeared a little more voluble/emotional than usual...heh heh. Tonight I get to play dress ups again as the sergeant at the scene of a siege. Angus "Wild Thing" Sampson was hilarious during this shoot. I hope the Working Dog guys leave these scenes uncut for a DVD in the future - so much good material hits the cutting room floor.

Went to Sandy Point with the kids for a holiday (apart from a few days commuting for a location shoot and an audition). A beautiful spot nestled between Walkerville and Wilsons Prom – tea trees, gravely roads bushy scrublands, sandy beach tracks, mini golf, one general store and a take away shop. Unfortunately it also happens to be the windiest spot on the face of this planet. Good god and I thought I was bad.

Oi that’s got to be the first time I finished a blog entry with a fart gag. Hurrah!

Photo Tuesday

Jud just got a new Mac to play with and we fooled around with the in-built camera features...soooo much fun....not like stoopid windows. Bah.

This could be my new web comic "Middle Aged Comic Character"
(note: technically I am only 35 - but I'm taking artistic license)

This has a nice pencil feel that reminds me of a Plympton animation or an early A-Ha video clip

Come on - who hasn't at one time or another wanted to be a one eyed freak?

He’s just a little bitty thing, he’s just a little guy
But women go crazy for the big blue eye
How does he dream, how does he think
When he can’t even speak and he can’t even blink

I said: Hail, hail
The Eyeball Kid
Hail, hail
The Eyeball Kid
Hail, hail
Eyeball Kid

Excerpt from the lyrics of Tom Waits "The Eyeball Kid"

Written by: Tom Waits and Kathleen Brennan-Waits
Published by: Jalma Music (ASCAP), © 1999
Official release: Mule Variations, Anti Inc., 1999
Arrangements and lyrics published in "Tom Waits - Mule Variations" (Amsco Publications, 2000)

My son Rafferty and I at the Impro Melbourne Riknik (like a picnic but named after Rik who thought of it). Does Ham run in the Family? I have a mouth full of hotdog in case you're wondering.

Thanks to Leah for her snap happy ways.

Rick Amor

New show opening tonight at 6pm - see you there.

Thank God It's On Again

Secret no more - I have been working on TGYH and it starts on Wednesday (7.30pm Channel 10). It's been fantastic to be on and I have been lucky enough to reunite with a few mates during the process. Shaun and I have a very brief scene together - what they cut out though was his surprised, honest reaction when I drove into shot "Oh hello Lliam..." "Hi Shaun...", "....they'll cut that bit out...".
The ensemble crew are great actors and improvisers and it's always a privilege to watch them work. As the shows go to air I'll see if I can dredge up any Extras-style commentary to go with it.

The first episode features Cal Wilson, Anh Do, Hamish Blake and Tony Martin. At one point during our scene I burst out laughing at one of Anh's responses – he was so bloody disarmingly honest.

After so many years improvising (big head alert) I'd forgotten just how scary it can be for some people to step up to the plate with nothing. Some performers fly and others end up with spontaneous stammering and sweaty upper brows. I guess that's what makes this show so popular.

And just in case you want to get into semantics - I'm approaching the work as an "actor who improvises" not the other way around. It's tough to only have half a script but it keeps you on your toes.