Gold, Dick…in the army they put his last name first on his uniform.

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And that’s how I got here! Ba-dum-bump!

My father, the comedian, passed away peacefully this week and I just wanted to share a bit with you, my community, who he was for me.

First, I want to express my AWE at the outpouring of love, condolences and just plain support I have received since letting you know of what is happening in my world. It’s very unusual that a person gets to share this experience with so many, and the lessons I have learned both about death, and about human kindness, have given me a perspective I didn’t have before.

Dad and I are a lot alike. More so than I want to admit. We both have a desire to make an impact by bringing humor to the world, but at the same time have been a little less “open” about how we feel when sharing ourselves personally. Seems easier to be authentic with a group of people than one-on-one.

We didn’t get along at times and teetered between loving adoration and stubborn righteousness. That being said, we both had feelings we could express to other people (like how proud he was of me and how much I admired him), just not each other.

Out of the experience of being with him and my family surrounding his bedside at the time he drew his last breath, I have vowed to be a little bit more vulnerable, to let people in and to serve as many people as I can by example instead of just words.

I look forward to seeing as many of you as possible in person at my seminars and events and when we do meet, just look me in the eye so we can connect in that moment in time.  I truly love having you in my life and I hope that I can continue to make a difference in yours.

 

Lisa Gold

Ashton vs. Charlie

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I’m really excited about Ashton Kutcher taking over the reigns at Two and a Half Men. Why? It’s not because I’m a huge fan, it’s because I’m a huge fan of the show itself and wanted it to continue more than anything. I would have actually boycotted it had CBS and the execs rewarded Charlie’s bad boy behavior and brought him back with his “requested” raise to the show.

There are too many deserving actors out there, you included, who are to be rewarded for their efforts and good behavior AND for what they contribute in the way of entertainment and pleasure in this crazy world. Ashton Kutcher is one of the good guys who has never been in the news for anything other than his fabulousness and the love of a good (slightly older, yippee!) woman!  Lisa Gold

Box Office Friday

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The MechanicOK folks, this isn’t the biggest weekend for movies, but hey, The Mechanic is finally here!  I’ve been hearing about this movie and it’s stars for the past few months but wasn’t really EAGERLY awaiting it’s release.  Why not?  I’ll explain.

Its got amazing star power (Jason Statham, Donald Sutherland, Tony Goldwyn), a neat plot line (an elite assassin with a strict code and unique talent for cleanly eliminating targets with detachment gets personal when his close friend is murdered) and has had some wonderful marketing and now is opening with wide distribution.  So how come I’m not going to see it? Read more

Box Office Friday

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Wonder why I’m calling this “Box Office Fridays”?  Well its because movies The Dilemmausually premier (with some exceptions) on a Friday AND my  company is call Act Outside the BOX.  Seemed a natural fit and I love to do things with alliteration, number sequences, colors…you know marketing CAN be creative!

One of the movies opening today is called The Dilemma, starring Kevin James, Vince Vaughn, Jennifer Connolly, Winona Ryder and Queen Latifah.  This is a comedy directed by Ron Howard and here’s my dilemma – with this cast and director how can this possibly be anything other than a great movie, right?  We’ll see.  My theory being if it’s not written well, who cares?  A GOOD or even GREAT film begins and ends with the script.  I’m gonna check it out and see if writer Allan Loeb can pull it off. Read more

No More New Years Resolutions

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2011So here it is, another year. Funny how we make such a big deal out of the turn of the calendar page. Really, what’s different? Today followed yesterday and precedes tomorrow…just like usual. I guess it’s just the global agreement that this is a chance for us to start over, begin something new or improve the things that could be enhanced a bit.

Lots of actors make resolutions to do the things they didn’t the year before so that THIS year they can really get out there and work! Well I’ve noticed that the actors that have this attitude on March 7th, August 21st and October 16th are the ones that really get it. EVERY day is a chance to start again, take on new practices and get in or stay in action. Read more

5 Minute Overview Answering Many Questions

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Hi all you fabulous ACT-ion oriented actors. Take a peek at this wonderful interview I did several years ago with ForTalent.com on the Business of Show.  It stands the test of time and I look exactly the same today, LOL. Though the events mentioned at the end of the interview are no longer running, so many new things have been created since the interview first premiered and even more amazing things are ahead.

Actors have all kinds of questions and several of them are answered in this quick 5 minute overview of what the industry is REALLY looking for when seeking talent for their projects.

Get the insider scoop and return to this blog often for many tips, hints, beneficial info and how to further your BUSINESS as an actor.

If you have questions, particularly about getting an agent or manager, I’d love to have you put them in the comments below.  I’ll do my best to answer as I’m always wondering if I’m covering the bases of what you want to learn most.  Thanks!

Let’s Start at the Very Beginning

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A very good place to start.  OK, so I have frequent flashbacks to a time when I was about 8 or 9 years old, riding along in the passenger side of the family car while my mom is driving.  It′s raining and I′m looking out the window with all of these wonderful thoughts, my head pressed against the window thinking to myself,  “I′m gonna be a famous writer one day and everyone will read my stuff and they′ll laugh and be inspired and really get to know me and I′ll make a difference in someone′s life”.  Then I never did it.  Hmmmmm.

Before I FINALLY got this website off the ground, my thought was that this could be a super forum to get OUT of my head and on to paper (so to speak) the many things I’ve learned from others, the things that I’ve discovered that work in my life, and most of all, to communicate to a community of souls who I’m so deeply inspired by, but at the same time deeply interested in helping because it’s needed.   So many actors are, forgive me, clueless as to how to get what they say they want and my new blogging platform-based website is going to be my conduit to communicate what it’s gonna take, at least in my opinion.

Though I′ve written some amazing papers/reports for school, my diary, letters to the editor, letters of complaint to the airlines, templates for my seminars on How to Get and Keep an Agent and others, “morning pages” ala Julia Cameron and her book The Artist’s Way, this is my first attempt at public outing of my inner thoughts.  I intend to now show the world, almost 40 years after my flashback scenario, what′s going on inside this crazy head (and heart) of mine.

I hope you’ll continue to check in from time to time, scan the different categories of subjects that will contain the musings of a person who absolutely loves her life, what she’s doing, and has had several…make that a lot of, hard knocks.  I haven’t gotten to where I am, and I’m not going to get to where I’m headed, without obstacles.  But I’ve come to find it’s not getting rid of obstacles that’s the point…it’s how you handle them that is the true measure of a person.   Lisa Gold