A Beacon in a Hurricane

Dear Lisa:

I went to the AMTC auditions on Saturday, the 13th of February in Portland, Oregon, to reflect on how far I’ve come since last year’s audition. A year ago I didn’t receive a callback at the winter audition. I cried, and in doing so realized I’d found my calling and true passion! Since then, I have seen His Hand on my life guiding me through choices and decisions leading me to where I am today. I am the ‘Liaison to the Homeless’ for the City of Tualatin (Oregon), and serve in many areas, such as performing the recent homeless count in Tualatin and Sherwood, Oregon. I spent about a month helping Jeff Lorton, founder of the Portland-Haiti Relief Organization… When I am not able to work to earn a living, I find ways to be that proverbial light shining brightly on top of the hill.

In August 2009, I auditioned for AMTC again- this time, I received a callback!! I was so thrilled! My head was spinning, and I knew that I was on the Right Path…

…there have been some recent developments that I need to share with you… As you may already know, TNT’s “Leverage” is filmed in the Portland-area, and they are casting for the third season as we speak. I have been an ‘extra’ on two episodes last season. This year, Lana Veenker Casting offered “Leverage” Thug Boot Camp to Portland-area out-of-work construction workers, etc.

For two days, 200 men and women gathered to learn Basic Stuntman 101, dialects, auditioning tips and pointers-all taped so we could receive feedback and pointers, I could go on for another page of this. Point is, I attended, and now have an agent… We spent a couple hours in his office going over our contract, and he feels that I am not cut out for falling out of a window onto the hood of a ’73 Nova; rather, I’m to be promoted as co-star/ villain/ other supporting roles. He has suggested I audit Jesse Vint’s acting class here in Portland, which I have. (www.jessevint.com). Mr. Vint is a classy guy, and we’ve hit it off…

Lisa, I feel in my heart that my humble beginning started with you and Adam, and I want to thank you hundreds of times for being my beacon in a hurricane. A year ago, I was living in a tent down by the river. I wanted to flush the toilet, and change the channel- neither of which were possible in that tent! I fell on my face before Him, and next thing you know, I’m in City Team Ministries (PDX Homeless shelter) listening to a commercial for AMTC. Y’all were the megaphone the Holy Spirit used to wake me up to where I’m being Led!

None of this would not have happened so quickly were it not for your visit to Oregon, and I want to thank you somehow. If you think this testimony would promote AMTC at the next Portland audtion, I would be more than happy to share how God is able to work over/ around/ through ANY situation we may find ourselves in. Happy? I’D BE HONORED. My story is one that truly shows God’s mercy, grace, Executive Power- what He wants, He gets! I would love to tell Portland if a homeless bum living in a tent can wind up with an agent when the bum follows Jesus Christ, and I would then suggest they be prepared to lace up their cleats real tight, for He just might make you play on the varsity team in more ways than you can ever imagine!

Lisa, I apologize for the length of this… I shall continue to update you with the big stuff as it happens, and I will surely set aside the AMTC auditions regardless, as I intend to be in the crowd just for moral support and to aplaud the talent!

My Best,
Shawn Dean Turpen