Brendan Bald

Category: Blog

  • I’M BACK!! And Dabbling in Screenwriting

    I’M BACK!! And Dabbling in Screenwriting

    This is my first blog post in freakin FOREVER. I’m talkin months – like many many months. Not sure why exactly I stopped in the first place. Probably a time thing if I’m being honest. That’s such a lame excuse though. Whatever I’m making it anyways.  

    I really want to start blogging more and I have a free half hour so here we go…

    I’ll start with a brief little update about what my life has been like the past five or six months. Here’s a tidy list that you can feel free to skip past if you want – I won’t be offended…

    • Acted in two short films and one commercial.
    • Recorded several new podcast episodes for The Millennial Lawyer podcast.
    • Was on a dating show which I lost (sheds tear)
    • Discovered that I live down the street from the best taco stands in Nash, and have been taking full advantage.
    • Directed a short film. 
    • Started giving ghost tours in downtown Nash. 
    • Still working at the lemon
    • Went on a two-month hiatus from Planet Fitness (SMH).
    • Am now back on my Planet Fitness game (#HealthIsWealth).
    • Went to Destin, FL for literally 24 hours (it was well worth it)

    Yup – that about sums it up. 

    Anyways, I recently went on an Amazon Prime book buying binge and started reading all about writing screenplays. I’ve written a few short screenplays in the past but if I’m being honest, they all kinda sucked. I’d give them a solid C+ and that’s being generous. I originally wanted to write a short screenplay that I could produce myself and act in so that I could add the footage to my acting reel. But once I realized that my stories were lacking, the lawyer in me went into research mode and I started combing the web for information. 

    Don’t worry – this won’t be a long boring post about how to write a good screenplay. I wouldn’t even know how to do that.  I’m only two books into the ten I purchased from Amazon.   So yeah basically an expert. 

    This post, on the other hand, is mainly about PREMISE – and how having a solid one is critical to writing a good story. 

    After reading The Art of Dramatic Writing by Lajos Egri, I realized how important it is that every story have a solid premise. None of my screenplays had a good premise. Are you surprised? I already told you they were pretty JV squad. They had cool stories and characters and scenes but no concrete premise.

    The premise of a screenplay is essentially the central idea or theme of the story. AKA what is the point?? Some examples given by Egri are..

    • Foolish generosity leads to false gaiety
    • Ill-temper leads to isolation
    • Dishonesty leads to exposure
    • Egotism leads to loss of friends

    After reading Egri’s book and fully understanding the importance of starting with a premise, I started writing with purpose and towards a goal. I basically just automatically became the next Aaron Sorkin. Just kidding. Sorkin is a legend – mad respect.  Plus, I’ve still got eight books to read. I’ll probably post additional writing epiphanies as I learn more about the craft so be forewarned.

    To sum up this post, I found the brief but important nugget about premise extremely helpful. It was on my mind this morning so I thought I’d share my thoughts. Cheers to my next screenplay being better than my last! Well – hopefully. 

    Have an AMAZING DAY!!

    ~Brendan

  • THIS IS MY STORY…

    THIS IS MY STORY…

    My name is Brendan Bald and I’m an Actor currently living in Nashville, TN. I grew up in a small suburban town right outside of Annapolis, MD. As a kid, I always knew I wanted to be an actor but never had the guts to actually make my ambitions known. I always though that there was something magical about movies and I always dreamt of being an actor. But working as an Actor seemed impossible to me – basically a pipe dream. So I never pursued acting or theatre in my early years. 

    I was an athletic kid so I played sports instead. As I got older, I focused mainly on playing basketball – and I was pretty damn good. I received over 20 Division I full scholarship offers to play college basketball. I ultimately decided to play for the University of Vermont. While in college, I continued to dream of becoming an actor. I remember joking around with my friends telling everyone that I was moving to LA after I graduate to become a movie star. We would all laugh but deep down I knew that’s what I actually wanted to do. 

    During my sophomore year in college I took an acting course. It was an intensive class that combined monologue training, script analysis, and scene study. I absolutely loved it. And I was good at it! I remember my teacher and classmates telling me to consider pursuing theater. But even though this course confirmed my love for acting, I was still grounded in practicality. I just didn’t think that being an actor was possible for me. So I graduated college and immediately went on to law school. I come from a family of lawyers so law school seemed like the most practical thing for me to do. I was never happy in law school and knew that it wasn’t what I wanted to do – but I did it anyways. I was so grounded in practicality that I was suffocating my passions. 

    It wasn’t until I graduated law school and practiced law for a few years that I finally built up the guts to give acting a legitimate shot. I remember spending hours in my office googling “how to be an actor,” “is 27 too old to start acting,” and “should I quit my job to become an actor.” I reached a point in my life where I had saved up a little bit of money, I was single, and I was completely unhappy with what I was doing. I knew that if I was ever going to make a dramatic career change, it had to be now. So – that’s what I did. I moved to Nashville, picked up several part time jobs, and am pursuing a career in acting full time. It is never too late to follow your dreams!! Life is too short to do something you don’t love!

  • My First Improv Class!

    My First Improv Class!

    Improv

    Is

    So

    Weird

    YET

    So

    Awesome!

    For those that don’t know, I’m pursuing the dream here in Nashville, Tennessee. I am consistently producing written, audio, and video content with the goal of breaking into the entertainment industry.

    Ever since moving here in October, joining an Improv class has been near the top of my to-do list.

    Last week I finally went to my first class.

    I was a little unsure of what to expect. I took some acting classes in college so I figured it would likely be similar to that.

    It was weird – but in the most amazing way possible!

    Watch me break it down for you…

  • Influencer Marketing 101

    Influencer Marketing 101

    If you’re active on social media, you’ve likely noticed that a lot of well-known personalities have started “selling” or “endorsing” products on their social media channels.

    They aren’t doing this for free.

    Companies are paying these “influencers” for advertising.

    So what makes a person an “influencer” and what exactly is “influencer marketing?”

    Let me break it down for you…

    What Makes a Person an Influencer?

    Influencers are Internet celebrities.

    They have large followings on social media and naturally carry influence over their followers – hence the name influencer.

    Most influencers have a niche personal brand.

    They could be fashion bloggers, photographers, movie critics, fitness coaches, cooks, or video gamers – literally anything.

    As long as they have a large following, they’re influencers.

    The Basics of Influencer Marketing

    Influencer marketing isn’t a new concept. In fact, it’s almost identical to celebrity marketing.

    In both influencer marketing and celebrity marketing, marketers take a well-known person who carries influence over their target market, and they pay them to advertise their product.

    The only difference between traditional celebrities and influencers is that influencers have niche “followers” and wield their influence on social media platforms.

    Side note- many traditional celebrities now carry influence on social media as well, further blurring the line between influencer marketing and celebrity marketing.

    While traditional celebrities tend to have a broad audience (everyone loves Brad Pitt), influencers have a more tailored audience (mainly gamers love Ninja). This is what makes influencers so attractive to marketers.

    Companies can now reach their target demographic through a trusted influencer on platforms that aren’t yet oversaturated with advertisements.

    Influencer marketing sounds great in theory. But does it work?

    Let’s Look at the Data…

    According to Social Media Today…

    • 67% of marketers believe that influencer marking campaigns help them reach a more targeted audience.
    • 61% of consumers rely on social media as the most important source of information when shopping.
    • Influencer marketing can generate up to 11x the ROI of traditional advertising.

    In addition, the Digital Marketing Institute reports …

    • 70% of teens trust influencers more than traditional celebrities.
    • 86% of women use social media for purchasing advice.
    • 49% of consumers depend on influencer recommendations
    • Influencer Marketing Campaigns earn $6.50 for every dollar spent.

    The numbers speak for themselves. Influencer marketing is here to stay.

    The next question you probably have is, “how do I get in on this sweet action?”

    How to Get in the Game

    You can either approach influencers yourself or pay a marketing company to do it for you.

    Hiring a marketing company will make your life a lot easier. Marketers know the best way to contact influencers, how much to pay, what sort of campaigns are successful with your market, etc…

    But most small businesses don’t have the resources to hire a big marketing firm.

    The good news is that you can get started on your own.

    Here’s an example…

    Say you’re a barbershop owner who’s looking to increase business with influencer marketing. What’s your first move?

    You need to slide into a few DMs!!

    Find local influencers on Instagram and send them Direct Messages.

    Ask if you can pay them to come to your barbershop, get a haircut, and then post about their experience. You may have to do some negotiating with price but that’s all it takes.

    Conclusion

    The Internet has turned millions of people into influencers. Social media is the new Hollywood and marketers have taken notice.

    The marketing opportunities are there and the numbers speak for themselves.

    Time for you to slide into the DMs and get in on the action!

  • Why I’m Obsessed With Touring Gettysburg

    Why I’m Obsessed With Touring Gettysburg

    If you know me, you know that I’m a huge history buff. I was a history major in college and now spend a lot of my free time reading history books.

    I’m a nerd through and through – and damn proud of it.

    Out of all the historical sites in the country, Gettysburg is my all time favorite to visit. I’ve been a total of seven times.

    No, this isn’t an advertisement for Gettysburg Tourism. I just wanted to rap about why Gettysburg is such an awesome place to visit.

    Gettysburg 101

    So if you know your civil war history, go ahead and skip this section.

    I’m going to break down the battle of Gettysburg into its simplest terms…

    On July 1st 1863, Union troops faced off against Confederate troops in the small town of Gettysburg, PA.

    The battle lasted three days and was the deadliest of the civil war – over 51,000 casualties.

    In the summer of 1863, the Confederates were winning the war. They had a lot of momentum and were in the midst of an offensive campaign.

    A Confederate victory on Northern soil would have been a major blow to the Union.

    SPOILER ALERT. Union troops defeated the Confederates and sent them back into Virginia. This was a major turning point in the war.

    Okay, so flash-forward to Gettysburg in 2018.

    Touring the Battlefield

    The Gettysburg battlefields are beautiful and well preserved. You can tour them on your own or with a tour guide – both I recommend.

    Observational towers are placed throughout the park and offer a bird’s-eye view of the landscape. They are worth the cardio workout to climb up – trust me.

    You’ll enjoy touring the Gettysburg battlefields even if you aren’t a history nerd like myself. The views are that good.

    But the more you learn about the battle, the more you’ll appreciate it.

    Gettysburg Museums

    The Gettysburg National Military Park Museum and Visitor Center is great place to kick off your trip.

    You can watch a short educational video about the battle. This is perfect for those who aren’t up on their history before visiting. It’ll give you a good baseline before you tour the battlefields.

    If you’re into museums, you need to check out the Gettysburg National Military Park Museum. It’s not free but it’s well worth the money.

    You can also tour a massive Cyclorama at the visitor center that depicts Pickett’s Charge. This thing is awesome and should be near the top of your to-do list.

    The Food is Damn Good Too

    The Food in Gettysburg is out of this world!

    Hunt’s Battlefield Fries & Cafe is probably my favorite. They have the BEST cheesesteaks and fries. My mouth is watering just thinking about it.

    There are also a lot of civil war era restaurants. They go all-in too. I’m talkin lanterns, full 19th century costumes, and civil war memorabilia on deck. I recommend Dobbin House Tavern if you’re looking for this kind of vibe.

    No trip to Gettysburg is complete without hitting up Mr. G’s Ice Cream. Two scoops of chocolate chip cookie dough will do the trick.

    You can always just do what I do – hit Hunt’s Battlefield Fries for lunch then walk right over to Mr. G’s for dessert.

    You may get hit with a massive food coma but it’s well worth it.

    Ghost Tours

    Full disclosure – the ghost tours are a bit cheesy. BUT that doesn’t mean they aren’t fun. Given the massive death toll from the battle, it’s no surprise that the town is haunted as hell.

    Just make sure you go when it’s dark out. There is nothing scary about hauntings in broad daylight.

    Ghost tours also make for a great date night!

    In Summary

    With the breathtaking battlefields, amazing museums, and delicious food, Gettysburg is a remarkable place to visit.

    You will never run out of things to do in Gettysburg. Spend a weekend and take full advantage of everything this city has to offer.

    Hopefully you now see why I’m so obsessed with visiting this place.

    If you need any more tips for when you make your visit, feel free to reach out! I could basically be a tour guide at this point.