The Archive · 2011–2014
In March 2011 Ray Diaz was twenty-five, broke, living in New York, and had never been properly taught to read. He started a blog and wrote down exactly what he intended to become.
He kept it for three years. Twenty-four posts survive, complete and uncorrected. In 2011 the title was a promise. Fifteen years later it is a receipt.
The first post · March 8, 2011
I am a star, I am a star, I am a star.
My goal are 5 sag commercials, 24 modeling jobs, get a role on TV or Film...
Published publicly, with a timestamp, by a man who had done none of it. The spelling is his and has not been corrected anywhere on this page. That is the point of an archive.
Wrote in 2011
5 SAG commercials
What happened
Eighteen national commercials
Macy's, Ford, Lexus, Subway, Applebee's, Michelob Ultra, Xbox, Amazon, Corona, Time Warner Cable, Harley-Davidson, U.S. Army.
Wrote in 2011
24 modeling jobs
What happened
Signed to Wilhelmina
Polo Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein, L'Oreal, Reebok. Covers for AVANTE, VULKAN, GLANCE and BELLO.
Wrote in 2011
A role on TV or Film
What happened
24 episodes of East Los High
Nicolas Reyes on Hulu. Hector opposite George Lopez on Lopez. Real Husbands of Hollywood on BET. Close Range, Paint It Red, South32.
He wrote “24 modeling jobs” and ended up with 24 episodes of a network series. Nobody could have planned that.
The Book
Everything on this page is the raw version: a broke twenty-five-year-old writing down what he intended to become, in real time, badly spelled, before any of it had happened.
The book is the method underneath it. How the affirmations actually worked, why the goal list was written the way it was, what changed when the first one came true, and the approach Ray later used to build other people who went on to become far more famous than he was.
It is being written now. Leave your email and you will hear the day it exists, before anyone else.
All twenty-four posts, March 2011 to June 2014, in the order they were written. Nearly every one closes with the same line, which became the running joke and the thesis at the same time.
Nothing here has been edited, corrected, or tidied. The typos are the evidence.
March 8, 2011
I am a star, I am a star, I am a star.
My goal are 5 sag commercials, 24 modeling jobs, get a role on TV or Film...
I radiate health to the world by exercising, eating healthy, keeping a clear skin...
I live moment to moment...
As these peaceful thoughts emerge my mind, I feel hope through out my body...
I am a star, I will bring peace to my love ones and all...
My mind is filled with wishful thinking and no worries...
March 8, 2011
Whenever I get a chance I try to go to to Target and shop for grocery's. There's one tiny problem, I can never get any shopping done, Why? Because cheap food gets me excited lol...
One of the many struggles in becoming a star: MONEY
March 8, 2011
In New York city its pretty impossible to find a safe zone to practice acting outside. People are everywhere like roaches in a kitchen. Anthony Boike and myself will spend countless hours looking for the right spot in Central Park. This was our very first acting practice search.
Unfortunately the video I had up some how got lost:( Hope fully I find it. For now enjoy the spot we found.
One of the many struggles in becoming a star: PRACTICE
March 8, 2011
There's something in me that stops me from using my time as useful as I need to. I go around wishing that I would of managed my time better. I love to blame it on Facebook. I love to blame it on my girlfriend/family. I love to blame it on me sleeping over 8 hrs. If you think about it; it's very important to increase your social network, speak/hang out with your love ones, and sleep enough when you get the chance.
One of the many struggles in becoming a star: LEISURE TIME
March 10, 2011
You ever work on something really long and then your boss tells you "Hey! Not good enough. You should do this and that" Well every time I go into my William Esper Studio class, that's what I hear. I do something one way, and they tell me to do it another way. Then, I do it another way, and they'll tell me to do it another way. And so on and so fourth...At first I was like, "what the hack man" then I realized something. See where I'm getting at? Don't be cliche in anything you do. Be creative, open minded, and free.
Learning to be free
One of the many struggles in becoming a star: FREEDOM
March 13, 2011
So It's safe to say that a lot of things annoy the heck out of me and probably 92% of the world, okay check that. But, there's nothing more then people you respect that don't take into account how you feel. You want a small example, find! I'm sleeping and my loud roommates come in and sing, laugh, talk really loud and say I say to then "shhh please" and still their extremely loud. I know it's small and their enjoying themselves but, what about me? It's one of the many small thing's that drives me really up the wall. Who's felt is it? We will never know right? One could say "well you shouldn't take it personal," and the other could say "if they just took you into consideration sometimes," on and on in circles. See I think we as human/people/mankind, whatever we like to call ourselves have a huge problem. We want everything to go our way or at least be handed to us on a silver platter. As an actor it's part of the business for things to not go your way. What I do to coop with these small issues in my life is to PAUSE, take one huge deep breath and say "Ray your getting upset for no reason.
One of the many struggles in becoming a star: SHIT NOT GOING YOUR WAY
March 13, 2011
I'm a good looking guy they say, I'm smart, I work really hard for everything I do. Then, I have this wonderful women I've been with for over 4 years. She's open my minded, creatively, artistically, and taught me to try to enjoy life and try to understand other peoples feeling from their point of view, beautiful life lesson. Well now things are different with her. She's not the same and I'm not the same. According to my prospective at atleast. As an actor, you learn to appreciate people more, understand where their coming from. You try to take in every moment in life and really live. So acting has really made me a cool guy out in the real world. Now lets not for get I'm Cuban so, I can be really aggressive and my instincts can take over sometimes. Meaning I get loud for no reason. Thanks mom:) Never in my wildest dream would I though that it would've rubbed off on to my amazing girlfriend. I always disliked two thing about myself. Always coming up with excuse on why I can't do something and talking loud. I can ernestly say that I have really improved in that area in my life and its not such an issue anymore. Wish I could say the same for my girlfriend now. She learned my bad habits. Now what do I do? I'm lost for words and hope someone can help me because I really love this girl and would love for us to be together...I could say Fuck it and let her learn that's not the best form of communication but when it comes to her, I can't seem to not to care.
One of the many struggles in becoming a star: YOUR RELATIONSHIP
March 14, 2011
We all have to make changes in are life. I think I transformed hahaha.. This could be my key to getting in!!!
One of the many struggles in becoming a star: CHANGING
March 16, 2011
This scene is from the ABC show Brothers and Sisters. I shot this around January 4th 2011. I wish I had a partner to really bring out the emotions that are in this. This was my first practice recording by myself. I've practice with my friend Anthony before but not scenes.
One of the many struggles in becoming a star: IMPROVISING
March 26, 2011
Here's my second practice from "Brothers and Sisters" Again it's a two person scene so I just Improvised. I shot this video around January 17th, 2011.
March 30, 2011
The month of March was great for me in my career. I got to work with a real huge fun client, XBOX. Hopefully I'll be on the XBOX next time you go buy or see a XBOX box.
I also went on to Auditions. One was for a Student Film for the remake of Donnie Brasco. The scene where Al Pacino and Johnny Depp are in the restaurant bar. I got the part and we are going to shoot that on April 4th, 2011. I'm so excited because it will be my first time working with a crew, well small crew but still a good way to learn. The second audition I went to was for "One Life to Live" Now today which is March 30th, 2011 I'm going to the call back for that. It was huge for me to get a call back because I feel that they really see talent in me. I feel extremely confident about getting the part. Wish me luck, wait. Imagine me in it...Current time 2:00pm
Okay I'm back from my audition. Current time 4:40pm I did as good as I could've done at the present moment. The casting Director Julie Madison give me some great feedback. She told me that I was doing great and look great BUT, that there's still a little bit of acting going on. She wants me to turn it down, slow down, and just talk. Great advise for someone who just jumped into the industry.
One of the many struggles in becoming a star: ADJUSTMENTS
March 30, 2011
This is from the movie Dear John with Channing Tatum and Amanda Seyfried: Shot this around February 15, 2011. When I don't have anyone to read with I talk to myself or the wall. Fuck it!! Work is work.
April 5, 2011
I just discovered meditation. Its been only a day and I feel as though I'm so much aware of my thoughts. The reason why a picked up meditation is so that I can FUCUS. My mind is constantly wondering and observing everything. I want to learn how to channel my thoughts and choose what to think or not to think. Imagine that, I tell myself "Hey Ray! nothing today is going to bother you" and BOOM, nothing bothers me. Or "Hey Ray, I want you to cry because your so happy about what you have in your life" BOOM, I'm balling on the floor crying because I'm so thankful for everything. I truly believe if you can master yourself, you will be very successful and whatever you want.
One of the many struggles in becoming a star: SELF DISCOVERY
April 13, 2011
Two magazine tearsheets from Exercise for Men, May 2011. The images have not yet been recovered from the original blog.
April 13, 2011
This is from the Movie Brothers with Tobey Maguire and Jake Gyllenhaal. I shot this around March 15, 2011. Again my favorite acting coach is with me. Myself:)
April 23, 2011
Its been a crazy week for me. Woke up and had class on Thursday. Then out of know where my friend writes me and ask me to shoot for a Music/Short Film for a Band called "Step Brothers" It was great. The worst part was that I had to shoot a Student Film the next day at 10am, and the production team for the band shoot wanted me to shoot till 6am. I decided to do it and stayed up all night and went straight to shoot the student film.
One of the many struggles in becoming a star: GETTING NO SLEEP AND STILL PERFORM WELL
April 27, 2011
No body text recovered. Likely a video post.
May 6, 2011
4am I hear my alarm. Up nice and early to get ready to shoot an editorial for Social Life Magazine that comes out in the Hamptons in late May 2011.
One of the many struggles in becoming a star: EARLY CALL TIMES
May 21, 2011
This was a great learning experience for me. I had a great team to work with...Thanks guys.
June 5, 2011
Okay this is a huge lesson for anyone who thinks acting is about line reading. No, sorry, Wrong!! I was suppose to play the other charter but the guy who was going playing the part decided not to show up, so the director asked me to learn it and had me learn it in 30 mins. Talk about cold reading.
One of the many struggles in becoming a star: COLD READING SKILLS
July 19, 2011
I've been waiting months to shoot this short film called the "Wrath" and now its time:)
One of the many struggles in becoming a star: WAITTING
July 29, 2011
I had the opportunity to shoot an editorial with an amazing photographer.
June 7, 2014
Ahhh, man! Its been so longgg! You know when you have that "tip of the tongue" thought or word and you can't seem to find it until its to late. Well thats what happened with my blog. I couldn't remember for the life of me the name "WordPress" hahaha.
Heres what I do daily to work on my working memory. I PROMISE IT WORKS. as you can tell I finally found this blog again
One of the many struggles in becoming a star: MEMORY
June 14, 2014
Wonderful LA! Took me almost 2 and a half years to figure this place out. People here tend to be a lot different than us East Coasters thats fur-sure. Its the Jungle for Actors. Its about survival, who you know, what you've done, and being ready when opportunities arise. Best Advice I can give is stay humble, work hard on the craft, and enjoy the vicious journey that lays ahead.
One of the many struggles in becoming a star: LA JUNGLE
The blog ends there.
June 14, 2014. Two and a half years into Los Angeles, calling it the jungle for actors, telling whoever was reading to stay humble and work hard on the craft. He did not post again.