Chuck on Detroit 187

A shot of me as a suspected hit man on Detroit 187

So recently, the wifey discovered Detroit 187 at our local video store, and decided to rent the first episode and check it out. I had actually worked on the show a few times during the 3rd Year of the Michigan Film Incentives program, but had only watched one of the two episodes I was in. As such, I was keen to get a chance to see the series the whole way through myself. Now that I have, I wished I had watched and supported the show while it was airing. While it wasn't as emotionally riveting as Battlestar Galactica was, it was quite good. Great characters, and stories, etc. Perhaps that was the problem however. I think had this show aired anywhere else but it the states, it probably would have ran for a good long while, but having to compete with shows like Prison Break, Lost, etc, it just didn't quite have the same impact.

Personally though, after the emotional roller-coaster that was Battlestar Galactica, I was happy to see something that was a bit "lighter". As for the two episodes I was in, in the first, I had the chance to play a boxer sparring, and it was really cool, but unfortunately, the scene I was in never made it past the editing room. As for the second episode, I had no idea when it was actually going to air, and as I was cut out of the first episode, I didn't really have the desire to "chase down" the second one. For the second shoot, I was working under one of my favorite actors, Tommy Flanagen, and just that (and the fact that he was such a cool guy) was super cool in and of itself. Having seen him on the bog screen in Brave Heart and the Boondock Saints, it was really an honor to actually get to act with him, and talk to him about his trade. He was quite easy to talk to, and I wish like hell I could have been a Interesting enough though, we were only shooting stills. Basically the idea was that I was supposed to be one of his henchmen, and I was caught in a few surveillance photographs. After it aired, a few different people had said that they saw my picture on the show, so I figured it must've been a pretty clear shot, but it was cool to see that it was as nice of a shot as it was. The episode that it was in turned out to be the very last one of the series. Although I was happy that it ended with a fair amount of resolution, it would have been nice to see how the individual character stories developed. (I.e if there were any twists or turns, etc). It was really a good series, and I wish it could have lasted longer.

2nd Detroit 187 shoot

Got called back to do another shoot for Detroit 187 this past week. This was for episode 17 (or 18?) which will be airing in March or April or so. Once again, I was actually called in to pose for photos that would be used in the show. This time I was a henchman of an organized crime boss played by Tommy Flanagan, so I had a chance to spend the day working with him. Very very cool guy. Myself and one other actor were posing for what were supposed to be 'surveillance photos', and I had heard that this means there's a fairly good chance that we will be called back for subsequent episodes. If that's the case, I certainly hope I can squeeze it in before I return to Japan two months from now. Was also invited to a staff party this Friday night as well. That should make for good fun...and great networking. Hope I can make it out... even if it's just for a few hours.

Also found out that the last episode I did will be airing on Feb. 1st. I'll be boxing in the background in some black adidas warm-ups and also on a wall as a boxer... somewhere. Will have to wait to see.

First Appearance on an American TV Drama... sort of

I had a job for the new ABC drama Detroit 187 last week. As there is a scene in an upcoming episode that takes place in a boxing gym, they wanted to take photos of fights for the walls of the gym, and with my background, I was one of the people selected for the photos. Anyway, I was happy to be on the show, even if only as a still image ;)

It actually reminded me of a similar job I did for a Japanese TV drama once. There was a scene where the main character reflected on and recalled his time in Africa, and he had to hand a photo from it over to someone else in the scene to look at. Much like this past shoot, the attention to detail was simply insane. In that shoot, the guy was standing in front of a tank to stop the destruction of an orphanage, and they actually brought in 20 little African (or half-African) kids, 10 'soldiers' (of which I was a part) and an ACTUAL TANK. For the orphanage, they seemd to have painted the walls, put up banners, planted flowers, etc. and then they spent the WHOLE day shooting it from different angles simply to get that one image. This one was similar, although not quite that extreme. (Didn't get to ride a moving tank this time).

In the pictures, I was wearing camoflage trunks (which were actually pretty cool- wish I coulda kept them). They got a few really good shots, but as the person I was 'sparring' with didn't have any action experience, (and as such, didn't know how to 'sell a hit') they seemed the most happy with the shots where I was taking it to the face, so that's what will probably be on the show (unfortunately ;)

Another cool thing about the shoot though was the fact that I got a chance to meet IBF World Boxing Champion, Cornelieus 'K-9' Bundrage. (Also there for the shoot). During the downtime, he gave me a few tips on how to improve my boxing technique, and showed me a REDICULOUSLY SICK jumprope routine (which I can't even begin to copy and wished like he-- I coulda got on tape). After the shoot was completely finished, and we were just hanging out and talking I got a picture with him as well. Very very nice guy. Very modest and a family man. (Notice the size of his fists and forearms though- said he's been doing 1000 push-ups a day since he was 11.) Definately not the kind of arm I want to take a punch from.