WAIT: Red Carpets and Handshakes at HRIFF

This has been the most insane month of my life. Getting to screen Wait at the Hollywood Reel Independent Film Festival (HRIFF) feels like a dream. My participation in the festival resulted in three wondrously surreal days that I will never forget. Words simply cannot do those days justice. Or the days I’ve lived since.

Oscar Night: Always Holding Out For a Brody

The Oscars are mere hours away, and I find myself particularly excited for the show this year. One reason is because the two films vying for the biggest awards – Boyhood and Birdman – were two of my favorite films from 2014. But moreover, I’m thrilled for the Oscars because we have a few legitimate chances for an Adrien Brody-type upset.

In 2002, the Best Actor race was a two-way dead heat. Jack Nicholson was either going to become the first man to win three Best Actor Oscars for his against-type work in About Schmidt, or Daniel Day-Lewis was going to take home his second Best Actor trophy for his ferocious turn in Gangs of New York. But when Halle Berry opened the envelope and took a long, stunned pause before saying Adrien Brody’s name, we witnessed one of the best, most unexpected Oscar shocks in awards history.

In Character: David Paymer

David Paymer is one of film’s most recognizable character actors. And while few may know him by name, Paymer has consistently delivered stellar performances for more than two decades. He’s played dumb and down, smooth and hip, wise and eccentric, always to excellent results. All told, he’s one of my favorite actors in the business. A guy who makes everything he’s in that much better.

Top 10 Performances by James Bond Actors (in non-Bond roles)

Since making my way through the James Bond catalogue, I’ve been thinking about the six actors who have played 007. Some of them peaked with Bond, while others went on to have illustrious careers. Below are my favorite non-Bond performances by actors who have played Bond. Note: I only considered performances that were played during or after the respective actors’ tenure as Bond.

James Bond Franchise Breakdown

It’s hard not to love the James Bond franchise. Running for more than 50 years, it remains the most iconic franchise in cinema history. It’s had its ups and downs, sure, but there’s a comfort in knowing no matter how bad a Bond film may be, he’ll always be back for more.

A few weeks ago, I decided to watch every Bond film in a row. I crushed them all out in 10 days, and I thought it be fun to share my thoughts on each film here. I hope you enjoy the post, and feel free to comment on which Bond films you love, hate, and love to hate. There’s never a bad time to talk Bond.

Watch Micah Parker on THE FLASH Tomorrow Night!

Hey everyone, I wanted to post a reminder that my great friend, Micah Parker, will be starring in tomorrow night’s episode of The Flash on The CW. Details about the episode have been on the hush, but I know that Micah plays a villain named Clay Parker (love the name) who is on the run with his girlfriend. Having worked with Micah pretty much non-stop over the past year and a half, I know that he’s an actor capable of great intensity, and I’m so pumped to see what he does with Clay.

Micah walked into his audition for a lead role in my feature film, Wait, in October 2013, and since then, we’ve established one of the most fulfilling creative collaborations and friendships that I’ve ever had. In addition to Wait, we’ve made short films together, shot music videos, and have been talking ceaselessly about our next feature. He’s one of my best friends, and I’m so proud to see his career taking off.