A Working Actor's Lament (Chapter 78)
You Never Know Who You're Talking To
The actor was excited. He was finally enjoying the chaotic life of being in the "Industry". After coming off the final days of a film shoot, he had to get home and look over his lines for an audition the next day. He could not remember the last time he had been this busy and he hoped it would only continue.
Arriving at the audition location the following day, lines 90% memorized (although they didn't have to be, it was just something the actor did to feel more comfortable with the scene), he walked up to the front door only to see it was locked. He had been here before, but it was always later in the day. He looked at the time on his phone; 12:40 PM. He was 20 minutes early. Was he the first one? He heard a voice from behind ask "Are you here to audition?"
"Yes", the actor responded with a smile. "I am here to audition for..." The actor blanked. What was he auditioning for? The only word he could think of was Betsy, but was that the CD's name? Was that the name of the character in the scene? Was that the name in the title? Who knows, so he went for it. "...Betsy", he heard come out of his mouth as he thought to himself "please be right please be right please be right..."
"Yeah, I'm here for that, too." YES!!! The actor felt a cool breeze come across the perspiration on the nape of his neck. "I guess they don't open until one" the stranger said.
"No worries, I'm a little early anyway." As the actor walked over, the stranger asked him what character he was auditioning for. He told the man he was here for the part of "Lenny" and asked the man if he was auditioning for the same role.
"Oh, no. I am the casting director."
The breeze stopped and the coolness on his neck seemed to have vanished. "Well, nice to meet you..." The actor stopped, hoping to get a name. "Michael", the man said with a smile.
The actor proceeded to have a pleasant conversation with Michael, the casting director, while they both waited for someone to unlock the doors. They were the only ones there, so the actor took advantage of the situation. He asked how the auditions were going. Michael, the casting director, told him he was an actor, too, and that he was learning so much being on the other side of the table. Michael, the casting director, told the actor how amazed he was by the attitudes of the actresses reading for "Bitsy" the other day.
"BITSY!!! That's the name!!! I was 'this' close", thought the actor.
At that time, the doors opened to the audition space and two men walked to the door, finishing their conversation. Michael (did I mention he was the casting director) walked over to the door where the auditions for his particular production was being held, but there were other doors with other productions that would fill this building with actors via for the role...any role.
Michael apologized that the producer and director were not there yet. If there is one that the actor has learned from years and years and years of auditioning is never give attitude and role with the punches. "There's nothing to apologize for, just let me know when you guys are ready," he said. This seemed to have thrown Michael off as he replied "Wow, you are so much nicer than some of the people who auditioned yesterday."
As the actor waited in the lobby while Michael entered the audition room, he thought of how fellow actors sabotage their own careers and was thankful that they do. If the competition is willing to not take this Industry as serious as he has been, let the cards fall where they may.
He realized he was the first one to audition for the day and, when they called him he went in with confidence and self-assurance. He did what he wanted to do with the character, took the direction that was given, thanked everyone in the room for this opportunity and exited the room. Would he get a callback, only time would tell. He was just hoping more saboteurs were waiting in the lobby making Michael's job much easier.
The actor was excited. He was finally enjoying the chaotic life of being in the "Industry". After coming off the final days of a film shoot, he had to get home and look over his lines for an audition the next day. He could not remember the last time he had been this busy and he hoped it would only continue.Arriving at the audition location the following day, lines 90% memorized (although they didn't have to be, it was just something the actor did to feel more comfortable with the scene), he walked up to the front door only to see it was locked. He had been here before, but it was always later in the day. He looked at the time on his phone; 12:40 PM. He was 20 minutes early. Was he the first one? He heard a voice from behind ask "Are you here to audition?"
"Yes", the actor responded with a smile. "I am here to audition for..." The actor blanked. What was he auditioning for? The only word he could think of was Betsy, but was that the CD's name? Was that the name of the character in the scene? Was that the name in the title? Who knows, so he went for it. "...Betsy", he heard come out of his mouth as he thought to himself "please be right please be right please be right..."
"Yeah, I'm here for that, too." YES!!! The actor felt a cool breeze come across the perspiration on the nape of his neck. "I guess they don't open until one" the stranger said.
"No worries, I'm a little early anyway." As the actor walked over, the stranger asked him what character he was auditioning for. He told the man he was here for the part of "Lenny" and asked the man if he was auditioning for the same role.
"Oh, no. I am the casting director."
The breeze stopped and the coolness on his neck seemed to have vanished. "Well, nice to meet you..." The actor stopped, hoping to get a name. "Michael", the man said with a smile.
The actor proceeded to have a pleasant conversation with Michael, the casting director, while they both waited for someone to unlock the doors. They were the only ones there, so the actor took advantage of the situation. He asked how the auditions were going. Michael, the casting director, told him he was an actor, too, and that he was learning so much being on the other side of the table. Michael, the casting director, told the actor how amazed he was by the attitudes of the actresses reading for "Bitsy" the other day.
"BITSY!!! That's the name!!! I was 'this' close", thought the actor.
At that time, the doors opened to the audition space and two men walked to the door, finishing their conversation. Michael (did I mention he was the casting director) walked over to the door where the auditions for his particular production was being held, but there were other doors with other productions that would fill this building with actors via for the role...any role.
Michael apologized that the producer and director were not there yet. If there is one that the actor has learned from years and years and years of auditioning is never give attitude and role with the punches. "There's nothing to apologize for, just let me know when you guys are ready," he said. This seemed to have thrown Michael off as he replied "Wow, you are so much nicer than some of the people who auditioned yesterday."
As the actor waited in the lobby while Michael entered the audition room, he thought of how fellow actors sabotage their own careers and was thankful that they do. If the competition is willing to not take this Industry as serious as he has been, let the cards fall where they may.
He realized he was the first one to audition for the day and, when they called him he went in with confidence and self-assurance. He did what he wanted to do with the character, took the direction that was given, thanked everyone in the room for this opportunity and exited the room. Would he get a callback, only time would tell. He was just hoping more saboteurs were waiting in the lobby making Michael's job much easier.
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