If you are trying to figure out what the f*ck is going on in this picture, you're just gonna have to come see the show.

Honestly... it is so worth it.

I first met Roz Coleman at Directing Actors' Gym (DAG), a Miles Maker event, where actors would meet every three weeks at a New York City performance venue to present scenes on-camera, scenes they received a week prior, with partners they were paired with on performance day. On many occasions, this would be the first time the actors ever met with or worked with one another. The scenes would be performed in front of a house full of actors, writers, producers, and...well... directors! For the performing actors, it was an opportunity to show the world their work.

At my first DAG performance, Roz was guest director. I was "prepared" and felt my scene went well. (No one ran out the room screaming “what the f*ck was that?”)

Some months later, I had the opportunity to once again perform at DAG. Roz was guest director this time as well, and after my performance this time around... I did want to run out the room screaming. (I will not rehash the day’s events here, sorry.)
 

Some time later, I logged into Facebook and saw a post promoting In-Studio Class W/Roz. A picture of the two of us from our second DAG meet was part of the post:

 
(I’ve always like the pink shirt/red tie combination, but that’s neither here nor there.)

Every once in awhile, I would receive a communication from an actor-friend asking “how’s Roz class?” And my response would always be the same: “I don’t know. I’ve only worked with her at Directing Actors Gym.” The last time I responded to this question, I added the comment “taking class with Roz is definitely one of my 2012 goals.”

Well, Roz’s hubby and Red Wall Productions partner, Craig T. Williams, immediately jumped on this and posted “well, you better come on and make it happen!” (or something to that effect.)

I enrolled.

Fast forward to now, after four consecutive three-hour sessions in March 2012, where actors Lenore Coer, Lisha McKoy, Eddie Wardel and I met with Roz to work.

And work, we did.

I learned so much about myself over the four weeks. Equally important, if not more so, I learned a lot about PREPARATION -- what it is, what it is not. Let's just say I had quite a number of a-ha! moments (as Oprah would put it). What were those moments? Nunya business. I do believe many of these revelations might not have ever occurred (or if they did, they would have been later in my career), had it not been for Roz’s coaching/teaching style and her desire for actors to strectch and grow.

The way I will prepare for a role is forever changed.

Here’s is what Roz Tweeted about my work in our final session:

Big macho strong powerful work today. @RussJordan very exciting.

— Rosalyn C Williams (@iRozapp) March 27, 2012

Below, scenes from that session.

Thanks, Roz.

Valerie -

It seems that just yesterday I was marking the start of a new year, and now the first quarter of 2012 is already coming to a close. Before I blink my eyes and find myself at a July 4th barbeque, I thought it a good idea to write this letter now!

As you may recall, I learned about your annual scholarship auditions from a post in Casting Actors of Color, a Facebook Group of which I’m a member. The Saturday prior I called to schedule my audition, secured a 6:05pm December 15, 2011 appointment, and hung up the phone, not knowing what to expect next, but having a sense in my gut that this was an important first step in attaining commercial representation.

At the audition, I read commercial copy with On-Camera Commercial Instructor, Tod Engle, and went on to perform a film side with you. I was appreciative of the positive feedback that you both provided on my respective performances, and I left the audition feeling really good. A little more than twelve hours later, you telephoned me asking, “would you like some good news?” and continued on to inform me that I had been awarded a full scholarship to your On-Camera Commercial course.

Over the next six weeks I would attend classes under the leadership of Mr. Engle, Jerry Coyle and Batt Johnson, where I would learn the skills necessary for success in commercials. I enjoyed class a lot and was so thankful that Weist-Barron has a policy where week-to-week I could attend the class section that worked best with my schedule, and not be locked into a specific section.

Fast-forward to Evaluation/Audition, where I participated in a practice talent agent audition with you and a casting director. It was an opportunity for me to showcase my skills and a chance for you to determine if I was ready to participate in Commercial Showcase Evening, (where I would audition for a casting director and four commercial talent agents). Once again, you telephoned the next day with good news.

The Commercial Showcase Evening was quite a success: the majority of the industry guests in attendance advised that they would contact me.

Over the following weeks, I would meet with select agents a second time, but in the context of two entities seeking to determine if there was sufficient grounds to enter into a mutually-beneficial business relationship.  And as of the writing of this letter, I am pleased to say that I am now freelancing commercially with two of these talent agencies.

I am a proud Weist-Barron alumnus. I’ll keep you informed of my future successes.

Best.

-- 

Russell Jordan

Exactly.

It's interesting to see how a project evolves from paper to screen.

Here's the storyboard:

(download)

Click here to download:

pbs-sprout-kindness-counts-with-barney-and-russell-nxfrarnnplvoFCwfyIzk.zip (1.38 MB)

 And here is the finished product:

September 11, 2001

September 11, 2011

I remember. I'll never forget.

>>>>

September 11, 2011 UPDATE

On Friday, September 9, 2011, I spoke on-air to stations across the country as part of author Damon DiMarco's radio tour for his book, Tower Stories: An Oral History of 9/11.

Below are links to some of the interviews:

Radio Interview 9/9/11 on KTCL-FM Denver – Josh “Goodman” – Damon and Russell Jordan, survivor of North Tower WTC

Radio Interview 9/9/11 on WBBB Foster’s Afternoon Drive Show, Raleigh, NC

Radio Interview 9/9/11 on WEGE Lima, OH – “The Wrecker”

Radio Interview 9/9/11 on WZRR Birmingham, AL – The Morning Mojo Show

Radio Interview 9/9/11 on WCQM Wisconsin/Minnesota – Joel Karnick

Radio Interview 9/9/11 on KQRS Minneapolis/St. Paul – Tom Barnard

On, Friday, September 2, 2011, New York morning news program GOOD DAY NEW YORK named me their "Facebook Fan of the Day." 

I have the distinct honor of being their first male Facebook Fan of the Day. (Yay!)

I open my front door every so often expecting the anchors be there to present me with an oversized check and balloons.

Nothing yet.....

Last month, I performed the role of a homeless person in Jackob G, Hofmann's TOWER OF TOYS as part of the 2011 Samuel French Off Off Broadway Short Play Festival.  The role required that I wear a beard (gulp!) and let the hair on my head grow back in (double gulp!). 

(Above: Me, and cast mates Victoria Vance (l.) and Jacqueline van Biene, in a tech rehearsal of TOWER OF TOYS.)

A few days before TOYS was to perform (it was a one-day performance and I had vowed to go back to my clean-shaven self immediately afterward), I had an audition for a Public Service Announcement. I went in... with "the hair." And I got a callback. The callback was a few days after the TOYS performance. All my folks in the business basically said that I must attend the callback with... "the hair." I did. And I was hired for the job.

(Above: Me and my "family" in holding on set of Sprout's KINDNESS COUNTS Public Service Announcement shoot.)

In the transportation vehicle that carried my "family" back to New York (our shoot was in New Jersey), I showed them an electronic version of my headshot stored on my iPhone, proudly stating, "I am going back to this look tomorrow!!!"

So, a few days pass... and I have yet to shave "the hair."

Actor-friend, Robin Madel, maybe a day or two later suggests that I take some character photos with "the hair," so I would have these optional "looks" as part of my portfolio. 

(Above: The "looks" with..."the hair.")

Time goes on. And I've since shaved and am back to my clean-shaven "office-friendly" self.

And now, this...

A few days ago, actor-friend Michael Valentine reaches out to me to advise that he's working on a "multi-ethnic version of Popeye" and that he was thinking that I would be great playing the role of Popeye's father, Pappy. He goes on to ask if I would be OK with his "comp-ing" a photo of me so I could see how I might look. Well, lo and behold...

(Above: Me as "Pappy.")

Aside from the fact that Michael is just amazing and his vision to even "see" me as this character is beyond awesome, it begs this question: Has the time come for me to change my brand to include a beard and/or hair on my head? I must say, I'm finding myself nowadays being considered for more opportunities with "the hair" than without it.

Hmm. A hairy situation, indeed.

On July 18, 2011, I attended the Samuel French Off Off Broadway Short Play Festival Meet & Greet. With playwright Jackob G. Hofmann and actor Victoria Vance. Victoria and I will perform in Jackob's play TOWER OF TOYS on Saturday, July 23, 2011.

The OOB Festival logo, official poster, and placard displaying all of this year's plays.

(download)

Click here to download:

let-the-samuel-french-oob-festival-games-begin-feozljhuDfyjaoiDtsyy.zip (2.58 MB)

Me, Victoria, and Jackob. (Jacqueline van Biene, our third cast member, had a prior engagment and could not attend this event... we missed you, Jax!)

>>>>>>>>>>

7/20/2011 UPDATE: Additional pictures, courtesy of the Samuel French Off Off Broadway Short Play Festival. Photographer: Glenn Boozan [ http://www.GlennBoozan.com ] 

(download)

Click here to download:

let-the-samuel-french-oob-festival-games-begin-vfyeIggxpDFEptrEuhtv.zip (204 KB)

>>>>>>>>>>

Shot of me before the start of the evening's events.

And me... clowning.

Click here for additional TOWER OF TOYS info (including ticket ordering info). Hope to see you there!