Best seat in the house

Late night with Marla
Originally uploaded by jo.mei.

Marla's keeping me company again. Smart cat...

Late night snack

Kitchen time
Originally uploaded by jo.mei.

This month, my day starts at 7:30am and ususally ends around 1am... I like being busy, I love it actually. But sometimes... I really need to remind myself to sit down for a meal or even part of a meal. Emm... peach before bed is good though.

Happy Accident

Lincoln Center: take 2
Originally uploaded by jo.mei.

This picture was the result of an accidental flash... kinda cool actually.

Napping not permitted

Lincoln Center: take 1
Originally uploaded by jo.mei.

Finally had a couple hours of downtime between rehearsal and work. After returning my much overdue library books I decided to take a nap on one of the benches around the Lincoln Center pool. Little did I know, lying down was not permitted on those benches. I was horizontal for about 5 minutes when one of New York's finest approached me to request I change my position. So this picture was taken after my napus-interruptus.

"I-95 South" din din

Michael and his groupies
Originally uploaded by jo.mei.

Weekend in RI

Bristol Beach
Originally uploaded by jo.mei.

Finally got home for a few days. I'm so used to running around in the city, from one appointment to the next and the next that I could not relax. Kept feeling antsy, like I should be doing something. But when I finally made it to the beach... reading in the afternoon sun... breathing in the sea salt air... my parents chilling in the shade... I let out a long sigh of relief. I didn't even know I was holding my breath.

Is it Planet of the Apes? 2046?....

Beam me up Scottie
Originally uploaded by jo.mei.

NO!.... it's the lobby of the 3LD. if you come to my next show, you would be standing where I'm standing. Entrance to the theatre would be to your left, bathrooms on the right.

Dedication at work

Street Theatre
Originally uploaded by jo.mei.

So... our show at HERE opens on Wednesday. Today was to be our first and only dress rehearsal in the new and awesome theatre space 3JD (3 Legged Dog). But as it often happens in off-off theatre, there was miscommunication and no one showed up to let us in. So, we rehearsed on the street for 2 hours; sets, props and all. Tourists loved it.

Rehearsal break

Looking out
Originally uploaded by jo.mei.

It's great being in a show. It's great rehearsing in an air-conditioned room. But I can't help feeling like I'm sitting in a cage sometimes while the rest of the world is out and about, enjoying the summer sun.

Dusk after the rain

Sky over Flatbush
Originally uploaded by jo.mei.

Last week was pure crap, in many many ways including the weather. But, something beautiful emerged in the end. I just had to look up.

Across the platform

me, train & him
Originally uploaded by jo.mei.

"Who is that person? What are they looking at?"... you decide who's thinking that in this picture.

And so it ends...

Sun going down on me
Originally uploaded by jo.mei.

Another day. Another...

A mess before my eyes

Lincoln Center Plaza Art
Originally uploaded by jo.mei.

That kinda looks like my life... only it's more colorful and someone wanted it this way.

NYC Fireworks

July 4, 2006
Originally uploaded by jo.mei.

Silly Happy People

Classmates
Originally uploaded by jo.mei.

Today is the final open presentation for my 2 year Meisner training program. I'm doing a scene from Oscar Wilde's "The Importance of Being Ernest." Not sure how I feel about my preparedness. But The others in my class, some featured here in this photo, will be doing some great work.

Yum yum ribs... yum yum

Virgil's BBQ
Originally uploaded by jo.mei.

BBQ ribs is one dish I constantly get a craving for. Vigil's near Time Square has some mighty nice dry rub.

Why men like tall buildings

New Hearst Building
Originally uploaded by jo.mei.

What can I say about the new Hearst Building? It's tall, smooth and shiny. This building rose up before my eyes... It features hard lines and rigid surfaces ... please note the two upright statues... I can't wait to get a closer look.

Pidgeons aka rats of the sky

Bird Landing
Originally uploaded by jo.mei.

I've been doing a lot of sitting on park benches lately. Hence, I've come dangerously close to falling pidgeon poop on several occasions. I think birds use their poop to mark their territory. For some reason, they want to lay claim to my head.

Walking in Chinatown

Streets of NYC
Originally uploaded by jo.mei.

Waiting for Brunch

Sunday in the park
Originally uploaded by jo.mei.

I look a bit glum here because I was very hungry. My roomie was running late, again, and making me wait for brunch. Sheesh... and the park's resdent pidgeons (off-camera) were feasting on crumbs all around me.

Auditioning aka...

Waiting
Originally uploaded by jo.mei.

...waiting, failing, being rejected, being open, being tested, performing, competing... one can look at the process of auditioning in so many ways, but in the end ya just gotta do it.

Closer to what?

Getting closer on the F
Originally uploaded by jo.mei.

Riding home after an audition. I like how my image is all distorted and yet the advert says "get closer." There's a metaphore in this, and it's trying to hit me over the head, but I'd rather not think about it. Just a cool photo op is all...

Scaring away the matinee customers

Applejack Diner
Originally uploaded by jo.mei.

Saturday afternoon, just me, and a few of the wonderfully silly men from my acting class.

Caught in the downpour

Rain on the West Side
Originally uploaded by jo.mei.

The past three days have been awful in NYC. The rain has been pounding on and off. And somehow, I've found myself out and about every single one of those days just as the deluge came down the hardest.

People watching

Union Square Afternoon
Originally uploaded by jo.mei.

I love watching people and I'm not the only one. One can never be bored in NYC because in addition to the multitude of possible activities, there are also plenty of places to sit, observe and evesdrop.

A Night with the Demon Barber

Eugene O'Neill Theatre
Originally uploaded by jo.mei.

Finally went to see Sweeny Todd the other night. No photos were allowed, so I placed my camera on my lap and got this shot of the theatre ceiling. I enjoyed the show immensely. This must be one of the hardest shows to cast since all the cast members had to not only sing well, act well but also play at least one instrument. Such talented people, I was amazed.

Photo-op at the Century Club

jojo & guapple
Originally uploaded by jo.mei.

I never turn down a free meal, thus Friday night I accompanied the roomie to her company's annual dinner at the members-only Century Club. There was some very nice art around the place and this very cozy reading room. Although, in this picture we look rather ghostly, like in that movie "The Others." We could be Chinese maids from 200 years ago, they used to keep us in the attic and now our restless spirits haunt the place... boo!

Furry House Guest

Miss Marla Singer
Originally uploaded by jo.mei.

This is Marla the cat. She has been making an extended stay at our apartment. The roomie is totally spoiling her. As for myself, i've come to realize it is nice to have a cuddly furry purring thing around the house. I've never had a single pet in my life (maybe there was a fish at some point, because I do recall the image of a belly-up gold fish being flushed down the toilet, but that's about it.)

Back into the pit

9th floor of the Kimmel Center
Originally uploaded by jo.mei.

Taken after my latest NYU thesis film audition. It's so difficult getting back to auditioning after completing a project, no matter how small or how brief. Auditioning for something when you're not in anything somehow always feel a bit different.

"PR" - Day 7, The "Dirty Martini"

10m - The all seeing eye
Originally uploaded by jo.mei.

We wrapped today. I really will miss this project. There was a ton of hard work and lack of sleep but I really enjoyed working on this. The above lense is worth about 80Gs and takes something like 2 years to make. We used it on the final shot of the day, but hopefully those 30 feet of film won't make it into the final cut.

"PR" - Day 6

View of the green screen from the green room
Originally uploaded by jo.mei.

I only had 2 shots to do this day but some how one was planned for first thing in hte morning 10:30am and the other was the middle of the afternoon, which actually ended up being 8:30pm at night. So, there was lots of waiting, but was generally a easy day. Oh catering got a lot better since we moved into the soundstage, so that was cool. Despite the later than planned finish, I still was able to meet Marg and Mag Egbula for dinner.

"PR" - Day 5

The NYU Soundstage
Originally uploaded by jo.mei.

We have moved into our final location for the production stage of "Paradise Regained." All green screen and nothing else.

"PR" - Day 4

Field Day in space
Originally uploaded by jo.mei.

Finally we moved out of the warehouse set. This is our one dday of exterior shooting. Tomorrow we're back inside again. It was a beautiful day in Warren, New Jersey. Spending a day in the sun almost made me forget I only had 7 hours of turnover time and 4 hours of sleep.

"PR" - Day 3

Down time on set
Originally uploaded by jo.mei.

In the process of movie making, there's a ton of waiting involved. On the set of a student film, the waiting time tends to increase exponentially. To keep myself occupied I sometime read, make phone calls, chat with the crew and in this case I play with the art department's leftover fixtures and pretend I'm in a whole other movie, probably a comedy.

"PR" - Day 2

Jersey "Emerald" City
Originally uploaded by jo.mei.

Another long day in the warehouse/movie set/outer space. Part of the what drew me to this project was that, 50% of it will be shot in front of "green screen." Today we did only four shots, but three of those shots involved something green and therefore non-existent.

"PR" - Day 1

"Paradise Regained," the pod
Originally uploaded by jo.mei.

This was taken around midnight on our first day of shooting. At that point we were a day and 3 hours behind schedule but spirits were high and speed was definitly picking up. No matter how difficult the project or how many obstacles one faces, the most important thing is heart. I know it sounds cheesy but it's true. This project is a labor of love for so many people, I only hope I can help them achieve their collective vision.

On the way to rehearsal

Jersey streets
Originally uploaded by jo.mei.

Despite the PATH trains, heading to New Jersey always seems like such a chore. But being an actor you often have to suck it up and do things you don't want to do. Thus, I've been heading out to Jersey, where the first portion of my next short film is being shot. At least the weather has been nice and the streets I pass are lined with blossoming trees.

Side Walk Mayhem

guapple, jojo, FCK
Originally uploaded by jo.mei.

Kim came up from DC. This photo is the result of a MSG packed lunch. It depicts 3 seriously bored Asians giving the rest of our kind a bad name. Represent yo!

"Doubt" in the Park

Central Park Sky
Originally uploaded by jo.mei.

Working on a scene from "Doubt" in my acting class. We were too cheap to book a practice room so... we took over a bench in Central Park. I took this picture just as the first rain drop fell.

Space pod in progress

Paradise Regained set
Originally uploaded by jo.mei.

Getting ready to shoot another student film. "Paradise Regained" will be my first SciFi flick. This may not look like much now, but it's going to be the space pod that whisks me to the International Space Station as earth explodes.

The Final Tumble

Laundry duty
Originally uploaded by jo.mei.

Two views of a bridge - "away..."

On the way to Brooklyn
Originally uploaded by jo.mei.

Two Views of a Bridge - "toward..."

On the way to Brooklyn
Originally uploaded by jo.mei.

stuff...

moi
Originally uploaded by jo.mei.

TV time with Marla

marla & moi
Originally uploaded by jo.mei.

Don't know who's having more fun here...

marla & guapple
Originally uploaded by jo.mei.

Shaky night/train/bridge shot

Going over the bridge, at night
Originally uploaded by jo.mei.

Smoke gets in your eyes

Steamy Columbus Circle
Originally uploaded by jo.mei.

Waiting for the 6 on the set of "Alien"

Tunnel work
Originally uploaded by jo.mei.

I want to be on vacation again!

Cloudy sky over San Francisco
Originally uploaded by jo.mei.