Recently, I made my NBC debut on a show called Grimm, which is filmed in Portland, Oregon.

You won’t know it from my two scenes in this episode but I am a beaver.

The episode leaves our antics pretty open-ended which could mean that us three beavers will be back again. So far, no contract on the table so no promises. Still, I’ve got my fingers crossed!

In the meantime, here’s a link to the full episode on Hulu.

Let me preempt two obvious questions about this video with two easy answers: yes, those are real pigeons and yes, the fat guy driving the Malibu (that looks to the untrained eye like an El Camino) is me, Shawn Telford.

At the end of 2010, I was cast in a Washington State Lottery commercial that was filmed on the Olympic peninsula in a small town called Sequim, pronounced ‘Squim.’ Here I would like to point out that ‘Squim’ is not the the best named city in Washington state, that award goes to Tillicum, pronounced ‘Till I cum.”

Seriously.

We began shooting this lottery commercial super early in the morning, which meant I had to take the first ferry out of downtown Seattle at something like 5 in the morning… yeah, I know, that’s like the butt-crack of dawn and I’m heading deep into teen-vampire territory… Needless to say, I had an advanced copy of the Cave Singers’ album “No Witch” to keep me company. As I drove off the ferry, I turned up my car stereo and let the album fill my ears as I drifted through the dark morning following a trail of commuter tail-lights deeper into rural Washington, which, as it turned out, happened to be the perfect introduction to the Cave Singers’ new album. In fact, my preview/ interview of the album/ band can be seen here. 

During the day we filmed, I must have parked that car 20 or 30 times. At one point early on in the day, the 1st AD turned to me and said, wow, you’re a good parker. Not only did he look relieved but he also looked grateful. As if it hadn’t occurred to him or anyone else how important parking ability would be to not only this role but for this whole commercial. In fact, not once throughout the entire audition process did anyone ask me if I could parallel park let alone drive a car. Well, the truth is, I can do both. And I did. All day long. That and put a tarp over the car, which I must have done 50 times.

But, don’t believe me, see for yourself. And buy a lottery ticket.

Shawn Telford is now a brand. The video really says it all. And more. A whole lot more.

Chillaxing in my Trailer

This SUNDAY, SUNDAY, SUNDAY!!!

Yours truly will be making a special appearance on the show “Leverage.” It’s the one that stars Academy Award Winning Actor Timothy Hutton. (Best Supporting Actor for the 1980 film “Ordinary People.”)

I’ve got a great little comic scene with another of the show’s stars Gina Bellman who some may remember from the British sitcom “Coupling,” which was based on “Friends” except that the Brit version was much more funny. And much more raunchy. Which I like.

Needless to say, Gina and I have a very sexy scene together that, one would hope, will live in infamy. Or at least be as memorable as that death scene in TV’s short lived “the Fugitive” wherein I played the logger… the logger that died. Remember?

A funny tangent, or two… when my dad saw ”the Fugitive” episode, he called to tell me that I should have known better than to be standing so close to those logs as they skidded by. It was dangerous and that I should have known better. After all, a few summers before, we had logged the property, cut, bucked and skidded the logs ourselves. I should have known what I was doing… Well, dad, I explained, those were good times, weren’t they?

(In his defense, while we were logging, he was always very concerned about my safety)

My friend Dale Smith was a long-haul trucker at the time. Apparently, he was in some Podunk bar in some Podunk town that had a TV tuned to that station. Dale had just saddled up the bar and ordered a beer when he looked up at the TV and saw his old buddy Shawn Telford acting alongside Tim Daly, the show’s star. Dale got very excited and began to tell everyone in the relative vicinity, “Hey, I know that guy! I really know that guy.” But before he could buy a round for everyone in the place, I was dead.

I still like hearing that story… despite the anti-climax. And the sad fact that Dale’s brother also died in a logging accident.

Needless to say, to hear the dirt on Gina or more about our long conversation regarding the ins and outs of working with director Mike Leigh, simply send a note or take me to lunch. By the way, if anyone ever wants to have lunch with me, all they got to do is buy me lunch. It’s that simple.

The nitty gritty: Sunday August 1st 8 or 9PM (check your local listing) on the TNT Network. The show is called “Leverage.” and this is episode 3.8, “the Boost Job,”… or as I call it “The Boob Job,” and I play the boob.

Yours in longing,
Shawn

In August of 2009, I helped my friends Tim and Charlie produce a short film called “Dishonesty,” the script for which was a finalist for the 2008 IFP Spotlight Award. Although they didn’t ultimately win the award, they decided to make the movie regardless. Good for them. No one likes a quitter. Except for the quitter’s mom… and even she’s not too happy about it.

The film follows a young married couple as they struggle to be perfectly honest with one another, even over the little stuff. Some call it a comedy, some call it a sad, melancholic commentary on married life. I play the husband. My friend Ty Migota was the Director of Photography; the wonderful actress Esra Chelen played the lead.

The film makes its world premier on Sunday May 23 4PM at the SIFF Cinema.

More information and a link to tickets by clicking these blue letters right here.

Although I won’t be signing autographs, I will be kissing babies and bearing skin for photo ops.

It would be lovely to see you there.

Well, suffice it to say, I know people.

We shot all five spots over a crowded weekend with a host of talented actors, including Agastya Kohli, Apeksha Godiyal, Ed Murphy, Laurel Minter, Brandon Petty, Curtis Eastwood, Khanh Doan, Dartanion London, Jane May, Ken Smith, Matt Smith, Darlene Sellers, Marissa Price, Craig Packard, Carl Kennedy, E-Ray Anderson, Talena Bennett and the infamous Rob Burgess, who some may remember as the Bodybuilder in the Bakon Vodka spots I made last summer.

I’m very pleased with how they turned out and look forward to working with all of these talented and fun individuals again in (hopefully) the very near future. In the meantime, here they are:

Visqueen’s “Ward” from Shawn Telford on Vimeo.

One night last year, Ty, Nick and I filmed the Seattle band Visqueen at the Crocodile Cafe. Amy put it together and voila! Music video culled from concert footage!

Some friends and I made a video for an AT&T commercial competition. Though we didn’t win the contest’s grand prize, we know in our hearts that we are, in fact, winners!

a link to The Smartest Man in the World

Khanh Doan and Francile Albright star in Safe Passage.

Lakedance, the Sundance of Idaho.

On Halloween night, “Safe Passage” will play just before a special screening of George A. Romero’s 1968 horror classic “Night of the Living Dead.” They’re calling it “Horrors on the Lake” and they’re absolutely right!

How’s that for a trick-r-treat?

So, come on all you Spokanites, all you Post Fallsters, you Coeur d’ Alenians, show your civic pride for one of your own, getting out and getting it up.

7PM Halloween Night at the Panida Theater. That’s in Sandpoint, Idaho right off the shores of the deep and chilling Pend Oriellle Lake.

More info on Lakedance and the “Horrors on the Lake” screening here.

PS
I’d love to see you in the dark!

Ever heard of Pahrump, Nevada?

Nevermind the fine dining and the quiet country atmosphere less than an hour outside of Vegas, this little town with a funny name is a spectacular mix of deserts and mountains with a wealth of outdoor recreational activities including hiking, biking, camping, exploring, golfing, hunting, skiing and horseback riding. Considered Nevada’s scenic gateway to Death Valley, it’s also home to the state’s first winery, Pahrump Valley.

And, more importantly, the High Desert Shorts International Film Festival, now in its fourth year.

But I know what you’re thinking… wine from Nevada? Yes. Apparently. Probably tastes like Vegas, your hickey and a hangover in a bottle.

The point is, on November 6th and 7th, “Safe Passage” will screen in the Horror/Sci-Fi category vying for the coveted Lulu prize. Yes, the Lulu, distant cousin to the Oscar.

The final winner in each category (Animation; Drama; Comedy; Science-Fiction/Horror; Documentary and Music Video), selected by a jury, will receive a cash prize of $100; a custom award and a signed, numbered, limited edition, commemorative poster as will the people’s choice winner, selected by popular audience vote. By the way, the decisions of the Judges are final! FINAL!

This year’s films will be showcased in the Events Center of the Pahrump Nugget–which I’m guessing is a casino–whose management has generously donated the space. Thank you Nugget Management! You’re the best.

Keep your fingers crossed folks, ’cause everyone knows, I want a fucking Lulu sitting on my mantle come Christmas time! Not just so I can say “Keep your hands off of my Lulu!” but because I’ve never won anything with any of my films. YET!

Lulu, I want you to be my first!

Come on, baby, come home to daddy!

Amore
Shawn