SID August 30 Will Burton Quit

When GH's multi-talented Steve Burton thinks of his future, acting isn't in it. His goal is to step behind the camera as an all around filmmaker. Will he say buh- buy to GH to pursue his dream?

"I'm trying not to act anymore and, actually, direct and write. The sooner I can get out of acting, the better for all of us," Burton jokes. Although he assures his fans that he is happy at GH and would gladly stay another 10 years if he was wanted there, the itch to stretch is without a doubt heavy on his mind.

"I do love it here at GH," Burton affirms. "But I'm going to try to get some other stuff going on the outside with production and writing and direction. I'm trying, but being at GH every day is a full load."

It's not unusual for front burner stories to shoot 40 scenes a day, which can take a toll on their leads. "That's why I want to stop acting, because I get so tired, mentally." admits the Emmy winner. "You go home, and you have to memorize 30 or 40 pages for the next day. That's why you get burnt out. When it's great story, it doesn't matter because we love it. But when the story's not good, it's the worst in the world."

Burton got his first taste of the agony and ecstasy of creating a film after recently directing and co-writing a short film called 'The Laws of Gambling', about a guy who goes deep into gambling and goes to desperate measures in order to dig himself out. Its cast is a plethora of familiar faces, including Burrton's GH pals, Scott Egan, Jay Bontatibus, M'Fundo Morrison and Ian Buchanan.

"We're trying to finish it but we're having a hard time licensing the music," says Burton. "We're trying to get John Cougar and all these other people, but it's so much money to use their music." The actor is still looking into how the film can be marketed, and, in usual Burton form, is seeing humor in the process. "I don't even know if I can sell it because then I have to pay all the actors," he grins. "Now I'm in the other position where I don't want to pay the actors."

Guests: Who need guests when you've got Steve Burton?!

Funniest moment: Every moment was a riot with Burton, who shouted back to overzealous fans, 'Okay, settle down!'

Burton on whether Kelly Monaco will be utilizing her samba skills around Jason: "Not if I can help it. There will be no dancing around me...anywhere...ever"

Burton on Jason's future: "Jason is having way too much fun. And that's done. Too many smiley, little jokey games. It's going down now. I'm going back to serious Jason."

Burton disappointed fans when they asked if Jason and Sam would be tying the knot anytime soon. "I don't really think Jason should be married. I married Courtney, and I became Mr. Mom ," said Burton. "Once you're happy on a show, you're dead! It's over"