PianoFighter Nina Harada chronicles her journey of pursuing a career as an actor in Los Angeles. Follow her journey on her blog The Scene Partner.

Saturday I had the privilege of seeing Tracy Letts’ latest play, Superior Donuts. I saw his pulitzer prize-winning August: Osage County about two years ago and it was the one of, if not the best plays I’ve ever seen. It made me laugh hard, cry hard, think a lot. I can’t say enough good things about it. So, needless to say, I had high hopes for Donuts! It was showing at the Geffen, which believe it or not I’ve never been to (those tickets don’t come cheap!). As I’m an actor and theater-lover I’m of course going to have my nitpicky opinions, but all those aside, this was a great show with great actors. And of course, as an actor and theater-lover, I cannot help but imagine myself–dream of myself–on that same stage doing work of that same caliber working with actors of that same level of talent. It’s something to strive for. Ten years ago, or even five years ago for that matter, this may have seemed like a pretty far off dream but what I realize now is that I’m getting closer:

- I remember when I first entertained the thought of moving back to LA from SF to do the acting thing once and for all. I started to seek out good theater. I went to many different theaters around town, one of which was Theater of NOTE. I was lucky I even got in because I was on the waitlist. The play was Erik Patterson’s He Asked For It (Patterson has since gone on to gain some noteriety around town). I was impressed from the line out the door to the professional set to the top notch acting (and hefty credits) and I sat in that audience dreaming of being on the other side. Well, two years later I was.

Read more »

Das Haus Band – That’s How Strong My Love Is

In 1964 a 25 year old gospel singer, O.V. Wright, recorded “That’s How Strong My Love Is,” a song written by his manager, which would become his first of a handful of hits. In 1965 Otis Redding released what would become the most widely known rendition of the song. Later that same year, the Rolling Stones recorded the song for their album, Out of Our Heads.

About one week ago, our resident house band, the neo-minimalist post-experimental avant-surf/soul/party band, Das Haus Band, recorded this cover of “That’s How Strong My Love Is.” Vocals on this track are provided by PF Artistic Director, Robert Ready (a.k.a. Bob Owen).

-Duncan

It’s no secret: PianoFight has a LOT of fans.  People enjoy our comedy, our music, our swag, our musk. And we enjoy them right back. We’re always looking for new recruits, in fact. I know; how could WE, who enjoy so much admiration and respect already, possibly have want for more followers? Well, consider the depth of the well that is a PianoFighter’s inner need for attention and idolatry. Indeed, that well is bottomless, and no matter how voluminous the validation we leech from our well-wishers  — via applause, candies, bank notes, elaborate sacrifices, etc. — it never quite seems to fill that insatiable gap in our souls.

To be honest, we thirst for this human appreciation, our life nectar, and are unscrupulous in our search for potential providers. Whether it be close friends, barbers, MUNI patrons, laughter dealers with their high fees and sinfully pure, uncut laughs, or even our own families, we’re always looking for a new drop in the bucket.

Could you be that next drop? Since some of you wound up on this site through nothing more than an ill-fated search for instrument snuff porn (try ‘guitar smash’ next time), we thought it’d be prudent to capitalize on a potential validation donor (you!) and provide some examples of what a Future Fan of PianoFight might look like. In doing so, we hope to help you see more clearly that you already are one.

Enter Pony Girl.

Read more »

PianoFight is executive-producing a short narrative film called Low Shoulders. Find out more at www.lowshoulders.com.

The other day, my roommate and I decided to write a surf rock song about this car. It’s the Dodge Dart Swinger, and thanks to a friend of a friend, we were able to rent one for a weekend and shoot several key scenes for Low Shoulders.

Maybe these should be some lyrics? [to a surf rock beat]: “Dodge Dart Swinger – It’s mustard yellow! / If it were a person it’d be a real swell fellow!”…

Read more »

Hi, I’m Devin: producer, founding member, and director of Mission Control. Sometimes, a joke goes too far. And then other times, it goes so far that it becomes funny again. Such is the bitter and happy pill I swallowed in directing this little gem.

Pulling a Devin? Oh, you mean: ‘You slaved over a 30 second video that none of your friends would edit?’ Or what about: ‘You threw down 40 dollars for Chinese food so all your friends wouldn’t go hungry during their comedy writing session?’ Added irony: I also shot this video. That’s me, Devin, behind the camera. Dicks…

- Devin (a.k.a Ray)

PianoFighter Nina Harada chronicles her journey of pursuing a career as an actor in Los Angeles. Follow her journey on her blog The Scene Partner.

It’s inevitable. I’m in it. The Dry Spell…………..!

I feel stagnant, bored, doubtful… scared. It was a busy first couple of months of the year and then bam, nothing, nada, zilch.

When there is a long period of time with few auditions and even fewer (read: none) bookings it’s pretty hard to hold on to my confidence, and my dream. What’s wrong with me? Am I not talented enough? Skilled enough? Have the right look? Is a career in acting not meant to be?

This, of course, is the irrational freak-out actor side of me. Well, I’m not going to say it’s entirely irrational because it makes perfect sense that after a run of little auditions and no acting you’d be questioning a few things. But, I do have this one piece I hold deep inside of me that knows, just knows, it is simply a “dry spell” and nothing more. It doesn’t mean anything. I have everything I need to carve my path. In fact, I should take this as a blessing- when I’m busy as hell with acting and auditioning I actually wish I had more time to do all the other projects and things I no longer have the time to do. Well, here ya go… now is that time! And I have been using it wisely, I believe. I revamped my website, had some much needed hang out time with good friends. Much, much needed beach and pool-side relaxing time. Reading A LOT. And writing even more.

Read more »

This little gem is another absurd product of the PianoFight creative retreat, which happened a little over a month ago, courtesy of Mission Control’s new artistic partner, Kersey Barrett-Tormey.

Read more »