Well, we're hitting the road again!!

This time we're heading all the way down to Austin, TX for SXSW. It's supposedly a rockin' time that includes a Film, Music and Interactive Festival. This is our first trip to not only SXSW, but also my first trip to Austin. I'm eager to learn as much as I can about it, meet musicians, filmmakers, and fellow podcasters. There has been promise of many a party and, let me tell you, I am looking forward to the beer and bbq.

We get into Austin Friday night and head back to LA on Monday. So, if you'll be there give me a holler. Texas here we come!

This past weekend was the Beverly Hills Shorts Festival. I attended the Sunday night showing of films titled Crazy Little Thing Called Hollywood. The seven films screened during this time had themes revolving around movie making. It was perfect for Nontourage!

I was there to support two friends who starred in Over the Wall. Over the Wall is an adorable little film with a modern Hollywood twist on the classic notion “the grass is always greener on the other side.” It is written by Phil Abatecola and Scott Bridges, directed by Anthony J. Gonzales and stars Scott Bridges, Michael Maury and Brian Groh. I am proud to say that it is well written, skillfully shot, cleverly cut and perfectly performed. You can see it next at the Other Venice Film Festival and the Newport Beach Film Festival.

I am also pleased to report that I was impressed with the event as a whole. It was one of the more intimate festivals I have been to. There was no promise of fame or fortune attached to its title, but the quality of participants was exceptional. Each short film had an interestingly crafted story and high production values. Most notable were Script Cops, written and directed by Scott Rice, which spoofed the TV show Cops by arresting those guilty of bad screenwriting; and IAS: A Search for Hope, written and directed by Paul Bartholomew, a mockumentary showing what happens to true artists who become affected by Hollywood. These two films had the audience in an uproar.

I know how much work and effort goes into making even the shortest film. It is such a joy to see the final product come together. Congratulations to all the filmmakers who were in the Beverly Hills Shorts Festival. Nontourage wishes them the best of luck on their journey upward!

A big shout out and congratulations to fellow video podcaster, Brian Hogg!!!

He's the Canadian mastermind behind dotBoom, a web-based puppet series that is currently featured front and center on the podcast page of iTunes. Check out dotBoom for hillarious puppets that swear and hate themselves.

In Brian's own words "Watch dotBoom: Apple thinks it's great!"

Want to hear more from Brian? Check out Boat to the Moon, an audiocast featuring Brian Hogg, Caution Zero Network's Stephen McCandless, and Nontourage's very own Brunette discussing their theories and experiences producing online video content.

As exciting as it is to see those oversized golden Oscars wheeled out on to Hollywood Boulevard every year, I'm equally happy to see them wheeled back into storage as traffic routes return to normal and road rage returns to its acceptably elevated level. But, just as I was getting comfortable cruising around Hollywood without any detours, I caught a glimpse of a sign warning of the LA Marathon. Yes, the LA Marathon. It's the one time of year a mass of Angelenos get out of their cars and take to the road on foot.

The LA Marathon website boasts that the best marathons reflect the character of a city. This year marked a significant change in the LA Marathon route. No longer circular, it spanned from the Valley to Downtown. Beginning near Universal Studios, runners got to travel across the historic Cahuenga Pass, through Hollywood, and down Vine as they made their way along the 26.2 mile path to Downtown. The LA Times reports that this new route blocked 350 major intersections (over a hundred more major intersections than last year) and 22 freeway offramps. To make matters worse, because of the new route, even runners were forced to commute (preferably via public transportation) from the end of the race to the starting point. I am still trying to decide what all this says about the character of Los Angeles.

As I made my way to the office, a little later than usual, traffic seemed quiet. Perhaps people had heard the warnings of snarled traffic headaches and opted to stay home or sleep in on this unusually overcast Sunday. Or, perhaps due to offramp closures, they were all simply still trapped on the 101. Either way, congrats to all who participated! I hope you made it home without too much traffic trouble. Now, is it finally safe to drive through Hollywood again?

(Catch our Oscar Wrap Up podcast tomorrow!!)

I'm Chris Michelle from RPM Talent Agency in Los Angeles. I work as an agent and also head up RPM’s children's department. We are a SAG franchised talent agency that handles commercial, theatrical, and print clients. But enough about that...

I'm here to share info and opinions on the industry. I will cover the basics from headshots to personal pet peeves over the next few weeks.

There is a lot that I love about actors. I love their bravery and creativity, their willingness to put themselves out there, their passion and drive, and their ability to take criticism and bounce back after difficult times. I love when actors are polite, prepared, and take direction well. I love actors who are low maintenance and fun to be around. I love when actors listen. I love actors who appreciate those working with them such as agents, CDs, directors, DPs, gaffers, craft services, etc..

Thank you notes from actors are great and usually full of warm fuzzies. I love actors who don't give up because times are tough. I love actors who make acting their job and not their hobby. (I also love actors who making acting their hobby, not their job, but I don't want them as clients.)