Note To Working Actors: Take It; Don't Leave It!

As Leith Burke told us before, he's got mouths to feed. 

For over 20 years, Mr. Burke has been a "working actor"; he's not an A-lister who can survive on one project's multi-million dollar earnings for years at a time. Therefore, he uses his versatility as an actor his advantage. He acts in front of a camera for TV and film, behind a microphone for video game characters, and live on stage. 

Currently, the youthful Burke is balancing his time as a full-time husband and father with a project dear to his heart: "Citizen: An American Lyric". The new performance --recently extended to September 14 at the Fountain Theatre-- has been gaining rave reviews for being a "provocative mediation on race in America". Written by Claudia Rankine, the show is actually Rankine's poetry/prose project that was adapted for stage by Stephen Sachs. In the age of interactive theater, working actors like Burke must push envelopes further and connect with audiences on a deeper level. 

While Burke's film projects remain in post-production, he has found a way to stay busy. Unlike actors who gave up on Hollywood, Burke keeps knocking until the door of opportunity opens. He is not picky about roles; he challenges himself to try new things for each project. 

Working actors can definitely learn from Burke. In the competitive industry of entertainment, it is important to be versatile, patient, and professional for a long and successful career.
  

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Brian J. White Joins The Cast of "Chicago Fire"

Before the days of Instagram and Facebook, new cast members were typically held "under wraps". Now, fans can get peeks of #SetLife by following their favorite stars on social media.

Actor Brian J. White ("Scandal") is now on the hit NBC show "Chicago Fire". While his IMDB page lacks updates, Deadline Hollywood reports that he will play a recurring character named "Capt. Dallas Patterson".    

Chicago Fire returns on October 13.  

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Straight Outta Compton 's Real MVPs? (The Marketing Team)

After making $60 million in its first weekend, Straight Outta Compton is America's "surprise" summer hit. For me, the most surprising thing is that critics are ignoring what really buoyed the film's success: a spectacular integrated marketing campaign.

I know integrated marketing very well; I have a Master's degree in the field. From what I've learned so far, integration is the only way to promote a brand. If the messages become inconsistent, consumers get confused and disinterested. 

To the benefit of this film, the heads of marketing and publicity worked together. All promotions of this film--from television interviews to the hugely successful Straight Outta Somewhere meme generator-- gave "one voice" to this film. 
In addition to that, the interactive aspect of the meme generator allowed users to engage in "subliminal" marketing. 

Simply put, the film's marketing team consisted of the viewers. While cutting marketing expenses, they boosted revenue. (More money and less expenses equals HUGE profits). 

Let's just hope that fans don't take a page from the Ice Cube playbook and try to seek "lost wages". :)  

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Why #StopSaggin Matters

There's nothing more disgusting than seeing a crunchy pair of boxer shorts exposed on a hot day. That's why I want to start a #StopSaggin movement across the country. As a grown man, I cringe at seeing young men expose their filthy underwear as a fashion statement. The only thing they are expressing is the lack of proper hygiene.

Here are some ways we can #StopSaggin :

1. Suggest Rather Than Correct
Young men are highly defiant already due to underdeveloped frontal lobes and overactive testosterone levels. You have to gently suggest a better way to attract women instead of humiliating them. Correction implies that we are telling them "what to do" rather than suggesting "what works better".

2. Present Better Role Models
Show men who wear their pants properly. For every rapper who shows his boxers, there is a basketball player who can't afford to grab his shorts while running down the court.

3. Show Dangers Of Saggin'
Present research about how multiple layers of clothing protect against dangerous kinds of bacteria. If young "saggers" can see correlation between painful infections and saggin' pants, they might think twice.  

4. Get Women To Sound Off
Almost every woman I know hates to see men who sag their pants. But most men who sag their pants do it to impress women. If we can get women to speak out and rebuke this practice, we might see a decline in this "fashion trend".

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