That’s a wrap - Go fish filming is long done

I have been almost entirely MIA for the month of August. This is partially due to the fact of filming and also putting in extra hours at the bar.  After just under a month of work, all the filming has come to a rest. I would like to share a big thanks to all the crew and cast for the experience and adventure that is creating a television show.  

Behind the scenes teaser 

My previous experiences in television have all been in the commercial side of things. This was much more fun for me in a sense.  Although I didn’t get to drive a convertible through the Thai mountains or hang from the side of a building, I found the joy of taking on a character and developing my own background rather satisfying. While filming I was no longer Zach, but I was the handsome neighbour. With several character overlaps between myself and my character it made it that much easier to be him during shooting.

Other than the information I have already shared about the show Go Fish, there isn’t much more I can tell you without spoiling.  Although I can lock it down a little further as to when you can set those PVRs and grab the popcorn.  

First week of October Go Fish will be airing on ShawTV (that’s channel 10 in Calgary). When I find out the exact date and time I will be sure to update you further.  

With no current destination or plans to model overseas I have decided to adjust my gym goals. Rather than remaining lean and relatively small (current weight 167 lbs), I will continue to stay lean but try and bulk back up again. There isn’t a plan to be 220 lbs anytime soon, but I would like to crush some steal on the trip back up to 180-185. In the past I have hung out around that weight and been quite satisfied, which also holds a bonus of muscle memory. This of course is your body’s ability to adapt and return to a previous musculature. Other than doing my Superman Star complex, I will also be piling on the calories.  Jumping from about 3000 per day to 4500.  

This workout involves a principle of overload as well as the dynamics of plyometrics. Here is an exert taken from the chest portion; the full workout is here on TNation. 

	Exercises	Load Types	Reps
1	Top-half bench press	Overload	3 - 5
	This is a very effective activation movement for the rest of the complex, but it's also one of the most effective triceps exercises you can do!
2	Bench press	Strength	3 - 5
	Focus on keeping the traps shrugged up when doing this movement (for added safety, stability and raw performance).
3	Speed bench press, as fast as possible with 60% of max	Strength-Speed	5
	Focus on two things here: 1) move as fast as possible (accelerating throughout the movement) with 60% 1RM, and 2) perform a quick turnaround between the lowering and lifting phase.
4	Medicine ball chest throw	Speed-Strength	8 - 10
	You can either perform this one standing and throw it in front of you, or lying on your back and throw it straight up. If you do the latter, make sure to throw it straight up or have a partner catch it for you!
5	Plyo push-up	Explosive	5 - 10
	No need to drop your chest all the way down. Just as in jumping, we want a short and rapid dip and minimal transition time before the projection upward. Stop when you lose your "pop."

Go Fishing with a reel of course

Handsome Neighbour?

In spirit of doing some more acting, I thought I would share with you my reel I just put together. It contains clips from some of my commercials and a bit from a photoshoot as well. All to the tune of a song that will easily get stuck in your head.  Kick back and enjoy!

Fishing is exactly what I am doing on Go Fish. I am working my magic on the ladies of the show to try and get myself a date. Keep an eye out for when things get released.

Big Announcement! A game of cards – Go Fish (Guess who's gonna be on a National TV Series)

About 3 weeks ago I made an announcement on my Facebook. I have had these plans to write about it, but really wanted to tell you about the joys of my siblings wedding. 

So here it is, we have started production on a new TV series based and filmed here in Calgary.  A few weeks ago, I was chosen to be a supporting cast member on a comedy series called Go Fish. It’s a very fitting title especially with some of my Singapore friends whom I taught to play the game. Here is the synopsis taken from iperformarts (production company):

"This TV comedy series follows five roommates as they try to make their way through the world. Each of them is following a dream, however, in the pursuit of their goals they often find themselves in hilarious predicaments which sabotage any progress that they may be making.

Each of the roommates have different goals, one wants to be a Lawyer, one is trying to become a fitness instructor, another is a model, and one is an actress. The fifth roommate is the very rich owner of the house that they all live in, and wants to get married….

Each episode follows the girls through one day in a series of short chronological skits."

A lonely little goldfish is the physical manifestation of each roommates failures, this fish seems to suffer an untimely demise in each episode, and is promptly replaced by whoever caused the fishes end. No one seems to even notice that the fish is different each time.

So where do I come in? One of the lasts pieces to the puzzle, I ended up casting for the show a few short days after getting back from my last Asia trip. As I mentioned my role is as support so I won’t be appearing in every episode, but will be a reoccurring character, the handsome neighbour.  My character lives next door to the girls, and is constantly trying to get a date or phone number at least. Without giving too much away, let's just say that I am a bit of eye candy on screen with my wardrobe. 

My experiences overseas filming television commercials have led to an interest in acting. I constantly talk about challenges and adventure is this is exactly how I see it. Excited to work on this production would be an understatement.  

I would like to share more, and I may share bit by bit as production goes along, but for the most part you are just going to have to stay tuned for when the show airs here in Canada (and for those overseas I will be certain to share online links).

My nutrition consultant said get plenty of vitamins (FIRST TVC OF THE SEASON RELEASED)

For my followers that know me, you know my previous profession as a nutritional consultant. With a background in nutrition I spent close to 3 years coaching individuals and couples along their way to better health. Through diet and exercise a key can be found to unlock your potential.

A big aspect of this key is vitamins and minerals. Essentially these are the keys to your car (body being the car of course). With food being fuel you can continually fill that tank as much as you would like (fat in some cases). Without those keys your car is rendered virtually useless. Well technically you could push your car down the block but that sucks and would make you quite exhausted. 

For the few of you that have talked to me about this you know I am rather against supplementation. The name itself implies you supplement your diet and not supply it. There are a few minerals that a normal diet just plainly cannot get enough of Iron for women is an example (especially with the ever growing vegan/vegetarian movement). From my present location in the tropics Vitamin D isn’t really necessary to supplement either, however in the snowy days of May in Canada it can be very useful for keeping your immune system up to par and ensuring your body utilizes its Calcium.  

Anyway that was my rant on vitamins a bit. Basically eat your veggies and fruit, along with a balanced diet and you should be fine. Most multi’s you end up just having expensive fluorescent pee. 

Oh yeah, here is the TVC I made for a Vitamin in Vietnam. This was what i filmed in the middle of March in Bangkok. 

I am going slightly crazy 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,6 switch

“How”. I learned a few weeks ago that that’s roughly the Anglicized way of saying yawn in Thai. As 5 am rolled around the clock I picked my tired ass out of bed to get ready. With a 6 am call time I couldn’t take public transit so I had to rely on the pink little buggies with guys that look at you funny. Either way, off into a cab I jumped and ventured to Cyberworld. With a name reminiscent of an ominous skynet takeover, I had some skepticism going in.

Met with big smiles I could only have been in Thailand or surrounded by people drinking too much red bull. Off to the 44^th floor, I started to feel a little different. I was cast as a feature for the role in the commercial, which quickly became evident by my treatment.  While all the extras (15 of them) were told to stay in one corner, I roamed freely and was provided with fresh ground espresso (extras were given that shitty instant mixed stuff), and provided with fresh fruit. A hairstylist was brought in specifically for me and I had 2 people waiting on my every need. For me this was a very odd feeling. I truly felt like some sort of big shot.

Conversely I could feel animosity from the extras towards me. To start the day it was very difficult for me to get a conversation going with one of the 15 english speaking extras, like I was an outcast or something. Eventually they warmed up and I chatted about UFC with one of them.  

My first TVC of the season (took long enough eh?) was a wild one. Slowly going crazy am I 6,5,4,3,2,1 switch. Starting with papers flying around me like a tornado, then seeing double triple and quadruple vision of my boss yelling at me and capped off with my computer mouse turning into a frenzy of mice. It would be a rough day int he office for anyone. Unless of course you had these wonderful vitamins.  

As I was portraying this young businessman slowly going crazy I couldn't help but sing a song in my head, most of you won't know this if you aren't from Canada, or if you were born much after me.

My Thai My Pride

 Look back, way back, okay maybe that far how about May. Do you remember that fateful day where I shared my love with a beautiful woman on a boat amongst an incredible backdrop? No? This may refresh your memory then Wedding in Phuket

Now a little controversy was created as my cousin and some family members thought I actually got married all of the sudden.  While I am all for “taking those shots”, I shy away from jumping into a relationship let alone marriage thoughts. That blog was all written with regards to a Thai Airways commercial I was filming. Well, it’s here!

In Calgary, the leaves are falling, frost is etching the windows of cars in the morning. Yikes every day that is gets colder becomes the coldest day I have seen since I packed away my winter jacket and headed for the tropical environment known as Singapore. Freezing cold and wearing gloves I willingly traded for sweating bullets and flip flops. I will be leaving Calgary one month earlier this time around, although Korea isn’t exactly the 40 plus degree environment in October that Singapore treated me too, I am equally excited if not more.