MEDIACOMM COMMERCIAL (0:31 run time)

This was my first major role in a T.V. commercial.  Road trip to Iowa, destroying things and getting paid for it..... Does it get any better?

SAINT PAUL PIONEER PRESS COMMERCIAL (0:41 run time)

This one was fun.  We shot it at one of my favorite places in the universe, I got paid to eat pancakes and my voice is the only one you hear on the commercial. 

SANTAJOE  AT THE METRODOME (0:02 run time)

Acting is great fun.  Being Santa is a gift I cannot give enough thanks for in my time on Earth.  It's the greatest gig around.  This was as the Minnesota Vikings Official Santa on Christmas Eve, 2004.  ON the sidelines, getting paid to watch them play the Packers. 

DENNIS KIRK COMMERCIAL (0:29 run time)

I still cannot figure how I got typecast as a biker!  (All the clothes are mine except the skull cap.  Dennis Kirk provided that, and it's a darned fine hat.

LIFE WITHOUT BAIL (20:23 run time)

Actors tend to be snobs.  This is the first film in which I was ever lucky enough to be cast.  The director was a high-school student at the time.  Lots of actors would have passed on that, given his age.  Boy, what a mistake that would have been.  The director's name is Steven Rupp.  He's a genius.  I'm very proud of my work in this, and when Steven is as big as Spielberg and Lucas I hope he remembers me.  I put the whole film up here, as it's good enough to justify the bandwidth.

ANTHILL (4:32 run time)

Chris Beers shot this very dark movie.  I've edited it down to my scenes and the events in between.  He's going to be doing nice things in the future.

DICHOTOMOUS MAN (4:54 run time)

Every now and then you should really head outside when it's -10 Fahrenheit and work without a hat.  It's even more fun when your head is shaved.  This spoof on documentaries is pretty funny.  I kind of botched my lines in a few spots, but.. well, I'm still learning.

YUMMY GIRL (8:05 run time)

When I signed up for the 48 Hour Film Project, I really didn't know what to expect, but my hopes were high as Kristin Johnson was involved, and she's treated me well in the past.  Man, did I luck out.  The cast was great, my part was great, the director and producers were great, the camera guys were great, the sound guys... you get the point.  This was the most elegant film in the contest by far.  I'm honored to have been a part of Yummy Girl.

DEALERSHIP (2:17 run time)

Eddy Nelson does a film every now and again, and he does it right.  He pays his talent, he hires a professional crew, and he let us improv most of the lines.  The only thing he asked of me was that I keep saying "I'm not getting angry, I've got to look good."

Well, I think it turned out ok.  I've just included my bit from the film, the whole enchilada is a bit too big to post until I get flash conversion software. 

And, Eddy.... I forgive you for leaving me out of the credits.  It was fun being included in the movie.

PIPE DREAM (9:09 run time)

Every character actor looks to expand their range when they get a chance.  My range has traditionally been Santa-Biker.... well, add Rabbi David Oded to the mix. 

The other characters are well worth the view on this, and I had great fun doing it.  I'm looking forward to the next film by the creators, Uriah and Jumana.

DEALERSHIP, complete  (26:48 run time)

(Please download sparingly, it's a bandwidth killer. Thanks!)

BEST BUY, TAG T.V. Fall 2006 (3:30 run time)

Best Buy has been very good to me.  Father Holiday is another view on my favorite character.  Please note the horrified look I have at different times in this piece.  The fine people at Tag T.V. are all professional, fun and completely insane.  Except for my neighbor Brian, who is only professional and fun (He knows where I live.)

MIDCONTINENT August 2006 (run time 0:31)

Another day, another road trip, another biker. (Not complaining, that thug has paid lots of bills the last few years.)  But this time I got to go to South Dakota, ride a brand-new Harley and make a fool of myself.  Yes, in the first take of the riding scene, I had failed to properly trim my brand-new chaps... they caught on the shifter and I popped into neutral.  Everyone was kind enough not to laugh.

And, might I add, this was one of the best organized sets I've ever been on.  They knew exactly what they were going to do, when they were going to do it and how to get it done quickly.  Pro's of the best kind!

Nice people all around, and a fine dinner the night before.  MMMM, Bombay Saphire.

BEST BUY TAG T.V. September 2003 (run time 1:25)

Once upon a time, an agent at N.U.T.S. and a wonderful lady at Yellow Tag (Kristin Johnson) took a chance on a new actor.  And, I even got my lines right.  This was my first time out for a talent agency, and I was introduced to the concept of craft services and.... Adam.  He's the star of Tag T.V. ... and nuttier than a Snickers Bar.  But He's always fun to work with, as are all of the fine people here.  I met a whole bunch of superior folks who have done me every kindness they can in the past few years, and this remains one of my favorite bits. 

I framed the check.

FATBOYS September 2006 (runtime 0:35)

He (this biker fellow) not only pays lots of bills, but now he's eating well.  This was a fun commercial to shoot for a lot of reasons.  First, I got to work with Mr. Snapko from Comcast Spotlight.  He's just plain great (Peter, you're O.K. as well) and the commercial was smoothly done.

I also got to eat some great food.  I would heartily recommend the Chipotle Ribs.

But, best of all, I got to work with a legend.  Yes, it's the woman playing "Grandma" in the commercial.  She's a pro who's been doing this for more years than I've been consuming oxygen.  I now have a commercial with a great actress I've only seen from afar.

So, head up to Fatboys and get some lunch.  Worth the trip.

TUESDAY MORNING October 2006 (runtime 0:16 each)

I put these two together as they're both small.  There's some funny stories about the filming that day, and if you ask me I'll tell you all about it.

I did learn what "non-recognizable character" means in television, and how it impacts your pay-rate for a national commercial... Hey, still a good time was had by all.  And, now I can say I've been in a commercial with Lauren Bacall.... mind you she cut her part over 1000 miles away on a different day, but none-the-less, it's as close to Bogart as I'll ever get.  (Doesn't she have a great voice!)

Morraine Builders March 2007 (runtime 0:35)

Hmmm, he's familiar but not an actual biker this time.  And, contrary to popular opinion, this guy can really dance.  The outtakes were priceless - that ought to scare you.  Again, my thanks to the guys at Comcast Spotlight, Tom Breviu was great to work with on this one, and improv was lots of fun.

Thomson West 2006 (runtime 2:09/good stuff at 1:40)

I guess you could say that he's gone upscale, he's now working on his social skills in the office place.  I have to say that the actors in this piece were really fun to work with, and very talented.  Once again, my dialogue is limited to grunts.... well, hard to flub a line that way.

Comcast Spotlight Santa Joe Giftcards 2007 (runtime 2:18)

This was one of the best experiences an actor could hope for when working for a cable company.  Peter Giebink and Michelle Nielsen at Comcast Spotlight were very good to work with, flexible, and clever.  After taping the scripted bits, Peter and I just did some improvisation, and wound up throwing out the scripted material.  Michelle then wrote the voice-overs once the green-screen had been worked in, and sent me the scripts to do from home.  These spots have shown all over the Midwest, including Minneapolis,  Detroit, Indiana, and,  in 2008,  Chicago.  I love these spots, and these are just a sampling.  There are over 6 variations of the commercial, and lots of different customers bought them, so lots of V.O. scripts as well.  Thanks again, Peter & Michelle, you made me look good.  (And, yes I do watch too much Bravo...see if you can spot the commercial where I channel Tim Gunn.)

Comcast Spotlight "The Bodyguard" 2008 (runtime 0:35)

Jim Tade and Michelle Nielsen at Comcast asked me to come and play with them at a car dealership.  Fortunately, they wanted the biker, not the Rabbi.  I say fortunately, because I'd just come off of 2 weeks of Laryngitis and the voice in the commercial is pretty much all I've got left after working all night.  It fit the character and so all worked out.  I really enjoyed the campy nature of this one.  The actress in this piece was a delight, as she was the straight one to our silliness on the other side of the hood.  The "salesman" really is one... but for Comcast.  He probably had a bruised shoulder after I'd grabbed him a dozen or so times in rehearsal.  But he's got facial expressions like nobody else I've met in sales profession.  And, how often do I get to play a character named "Maurice".....say, isn't that the name of the "Space Cowboy"?

Minneapolis Star Tribune Cars.com 2008 (runtime 0:29)

No, Mom, I don't really have that many tattoos.  Makeup is a wonderful thing.  Once again, my ...unique.. looks landed a spot for me to shine.  I like the smile at the end.  I apologize for the sound quality, this is a capture from broadcast, and it's a bit quiet.  As soon as I get the dvd from the producers I will upgrade it to the better quality sound.  This is my biggest exposure ad to date, it's running like crazy on the entire spectrum of cable and broadcast stations.

Yes, there are some modeling jobs out there as well, and this one is one of my favorites.  The mall scattered it all over the place, and freaked out many of my friends who had no ideal that I'd done this work.

Photoshop is a wonderful thing.  You can always add a tattoo, but it's mighty hard to blank one out.  Good thing the beard makes up into a braid!