My Life As A Blogger

Today I did a scene with Matthew Rhys. And if I held my own, I have you to thank.

All this blogging I've been doing on our site, you see, turned out to be research for the acting role of my life... the only acting I've done since I had a public access show in high school. The role was a one-off -- a celebrity blogger whose snooping ways draw the ire of our dear Kevin Walker. The venue was a cast read-through. Now, for those of you who've never been to a cast read-through, this is hardly uncommon: Non-cast members jump in and read lines for actors in absentium all the time... but those impromptu thespians are generally producers or casting agents and rarely humble assistants like myself. Sneer all you want. I thought I did an okay job. I mean no one was pushing me to join SAG, but no one walked out either.

But I should also mention that I'd already been researching another dimension to this role all my life, in that the character is named Dan Silk, which just happens to be the name my parents gave me 28 years ago, the same one Robbie yells down the hall when I've snuck down to Monica, Alison and Brian's quadrangle to verbally obsess over The Wire on Touchstone's dime, or popped in on Cliff Olin and his seemingly limitless supply of grotesque YouTube videos. Dan Silk. Immortalized in episode 118. My name. Hence my chance to read.

Dan Silk, actor, in a moment of near-athleticism.

As we began, I folded back page 29, the page on which my first line appears. I wanted to have plenty of warning before my moment in the sun arrived. But as we approached my big scene, I noticed David Marshall Grant was reading my script over my shoulder. I guess he forgot his own and didn't want to get another, as his ailing back has made the act of rising from a chair so totally unbearable that he won't do anything it unless it's absolutely necessary. Fearing that he'd see my nervous little bookmark and mock me -- David's a fine actor in his own right, no Dan Silk but no slouch either -- I folded page 29 back the other way and sat tight. When my first line finally came, I played it cool enough. By the second one, I was hardly even listening anymore, so taken was I with the dislocated sound of my own voice. I really don't know how these people do it. It seems easy. Just listen to the lines and respond like you're having a real conversation. Have fun with it. PERFORM. Except all I could think about was a) how nervous I sounded, b) how many lines I had left, and c) ways to get this Dan Silk character into another script so I could prepare better next time. Except they'd probably bring the "real" Dan Silk, i.e., the actor, to the read through next time. I'd be on the sidelines once more.

You're probably thinking, "So what? So your name's in the script. So there's a character with your name who has a bunch of lines. No one will read the script! And it's not like the name is plastered across the screen." You're partially right. It's not plastered across anything. But it's uttered quite a few times, and always in the most memorable of contexts: "We could call this 'Dan Silk' and threaten him!" "This Silk dude..." "...that son of a bitch..." "...this asswipe..." Ha! Take that, Mom and Dad!

So I don't know what the protocol is for celebrating this mini-coup. Doesn't quite seem like viewing party material, but I think I should at least TELL a few people. You know, get the word out that I'm going to be maligned on network television, that references to Dan Silk will push the broadcast standards envelope in their virulent obscenity.

On an unrelated note -- thank you on behalf of the writers' floor for cooling the personal attacks on our website. I know there have been a lot of strong opinions expressed -- some rather eloquently, some with the articulative grace of Captain Caveman -- and we're proud to be part of a show that inspires debate. But it serves no one if the debate is disrespectful, hysterical or just plain mean. If you've posted phrases like "I hate you" and wonder why they're not up... now you know.

Anyway... I should go. I need to go take out a hit on the actor that's playing me.

Your pal,
Dan

Comments

[will]

Dan, LOVE that baseball pic you posted!!
You look totally, sublimely bored. In fact, you look like an out-take from Greg Berlanti's "Broken Heart's Club". I have no idea if you're gay or not, but that POSE! - with your weight thrown lazily onto one heel, seems to only perpetuate the myth that gay men don't do sports.

I'm afraid the anti-gay bloggers aren't "cooling" any "personal attacks". They are simply on a 2-week hiatus & will re-appear when the next B&S airs. What you're saying is the attacks have been far stronger & numerous than reach our screens. I kinda guessed that.
This SO depresses me. On good days I think we're making "progress"...& maybe we are....but there's no way this hateful vitriol will go away in my lifetime. It's just so part of the tapestry of american culture. People have been so thoroughly, RIGHTEOUSLY brainwashed. THANK YOU all for fighting the good fight. Don't forget that: We all love you for doing the right thing.

[BK]

Dan,

I once imagined what it might look like if a pumpkin vomited a weasel onto a baseball field. The image in my head was a very close approximation to the image on your blog.

Thanks!

[Lauren]

Hey, I'm not sure if this is the place to say it, but I am so appreciative of the recent episodes dealing with LGBTQ love/relationships/sex. It's very refreshing for a primetime drama to confront real issues instead of denying or ignoring them. I'm sure you're getting a lot of hate mail these days, but just remember that for each letter in opposition there are 1000 lazy supporters who enjoy all you're doing. Thanks from the Midwest aka The Heartland.

[ilovemylife]

I SO liked reading your post.

And I will humbly and willingly take ANY little bit of the "thanks" meant in your statement:
"Today I did a scene with Matthew Rhys. And if I held my own, I have you to thank." :)

So cool to have your name immortalized in one of our favorite TV show's episodes. AND for you to get to work together in a scene with Matthew Rhys just makes my heart go pound-Pound-POUND! Ah-a-a. Dan Silk is a STAR in my book, now.

Shiver me timbers
!

Dan,
I guess you didn't read Will's blogs too closely, he metioned the word hate quite a few times and said some really mean things, and yet you published them. I expressed my opinion in a couple of blogs, never saying the word hate and yet they weren't on here. Maybe you should give Will a job, he needs something to do. TL

[stevenscollege]

It was me who said "it", so sorry it was beneath us all, I was just taken aback by the comments the haters posted. But Will is right the next time Kevin does the most natural thing in the world, the posts will start up again and I intend to do what everyone should do, dont respond to them at all.

[Betty-Jean]

Does someone know who plays Tyler, Justin's girlfriend???It is driving my crazy...is it Tiffani-Amber Theissen???HELP!!

[danielle]

Is Kevin raelly Gay??????

[Mel Rojas]

Dan, the question is, why do *you* hate *me*?