You thought that the "______" was horse, right? Wrong, it's "the client who employs the casting director". A few days ago I mentioned that I had a commercial audition for Guinness beer, and I even gave my loyal reader(s) a dramatic reenactment.
Today I received a call from the on-camera faction of my commercial agency notifying me of a call-back for said Guinness commercial. It was a call-back for a national spot PLUS internet. This could be a 6 figure job. HOLY POTATOES! I thought. I breathed a sigh of relief because at that time my career was on the right track. Day player role on Comedy Central last week, call back for national spot tomorrow.
5 minutes later my phone rang again. My call-back had been cancelled. The air left the room and I took a seat. The rest of the conversation I can't really recall, but I am sure I was cordial and understanding. After all, my agency didn't fubar on the call-back, the client, Guinness, did. Clients often don't know what they want or what they are looking for and change their minds all the time. When I auditioned, the hero was to be a celebrity, now it's a basketball player.
What was the specific reason for my call-back cancellation? I am too tall. The Guinness drinking heroes of the spot will be professional basketball players, and they want the bland beer drinkers to be shorter. I am six foot three.
Everyone is short compared to Patrick fucking Ewing. I am now drinking whiskey.
Sad? Yes. Broken? No. Half in the bag? Hell yeah.
But I can now rejoice in the fact that two casting directors in NYC would hire me based on my acting skills. Now it's just a question of intangibles falling into place.
Showing posts with label callback. Show all posts
Showing posts with label callback. Show all posts
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Monday, September 13, 2010
Callback for The Onion Sports Network
"Are you a Cleveland Browns fan?" asked the Casting Director
"No," I answered "but I am a Mets fan; I can relate."
"Ha" grunted both casting associates.
"Would you like this read with a Cleveland accent? A hard 'a' perhaps.?" I mused
"Yeah.....we're trying to avoid that." The CD said "Just slate your name."
That's how the callback started today at The Onion's corporate offices in SoHo. I went there to read for a role called "Clevelander #1" and "Clevelander #2". The idea was that Cleveland decided to move all of their professional athletes out of town and shut down their beloved and scrappy teams, the Cavaliers, Browns and Indians.
Each time I read they would say "Great! Now do it like (additional direction)." This happened a few times. I like when that happens because it accomplishes two things. One: they tell you EXACTLY what they want and two: you show them that you are able to take direction. For those who don't know, a lot of actors can not take direction. You tell them what to do, and they repeat exactly what they did before. I can not imagine how frustrating that is.
The Onion is very funny, loyal readers will know that I read it every day. Like I have mentioned before, The Onion is launching two television shows at the moment. Onion Sports Network is slated for Comedy Cental and The Onion News Network will get its air on IFC. I am really excited about those shows.
Another thing happened during the call back that got me thinking. On my initial read, I decided to play an opposite. The line was inherently sad and depressing, so I played it with a bit of a chuckle. I arbitrarily made a decision. I was told to try the line again, without doing the chuckle. "It looks like you are in on the joke." he told me. Obviously, I do understand that joke, but I was not indeed, playing it like I was "in on the joke". Understand the difference? To me there is a difference, but the CD's perception is the reality, and that is that.
Actors, have you ever made a decision when auditioning and it was misunderstood? If so, how did you bounce back? I didn't argue with the guy or be like "Oh, actually.....I was playing an opposite there." Ha! Could you imagine? Of couse that line would be delivered as snootlily as possible. I'd be out that door so fast, ha. I bounced back by following the direction and applying the best technique I possibly could.
Now, I have to show apartments to hyper privileged people in NYC and I have to work on an audition for Thursday for the "39 Steps". Fun!!!!
"No," I answered "but I am a Mets fan; I can relate."
"Ha" grunted both casting associates.
"Would you like this read with a Cleveland accent? A hard 'a' perhaps.?" I mused
"Yeah.....we're trying to avoid that." The CD said "Just slate your name."
That's how the callback started today at The Onion's corporate offices in SoHo. I went there to read for a role called "Clevelander #1" and "Clevelander #2". The idea was that Cleveland decided to move all of their professional athletes out of town and shut down their beloved and scrappy teams, the Cavaliers, Browns and Indians.
Each time I read they would say "Great! Now do it like (additional direction)." This happened a few times. I like when that happens because it accomplishes two things. One: they tell you EXACTLY what they want and two: you show them that you are able to take direction. For those who don't know, a lot of actors can not take direction. You tell them what to do, and they repeat exactly what they did before. I can not imagine how frustrating that is.
The Onion is very funny, loyal readers will know that I read it every day. Like I have mentioned before, The Onion is launching two television shows at the moment. Onion Sports Network is slated for Comedy Cental and The Onion News Network will get its air on IFC. I am really excited about those shows.
Another thing happened during the call back that got me thinking. On my initial read, I decided to play an opposite. The line was inherently sad and depressing, so I played it with a bit of a chuckle. I arbitrarily made a decision. I was told to try the line again, without doing the chuckle. "It looks like you are in on the joke." he told me. Obviously, I do understand that joke, but I was not indeed, playing it like I was "in on the joke". Understand the difference? To me there is a difference, but the CD's perception is the reality, and that is that.
Actors, have you ever made a decision when auditioning and it was misunderstood? If so, how did you bounce back? I didn't argue with the guy or be like "Oh, actually.....I was playing an opposite there." Ha! Could you imagine? Of couse that line would be delivered as snootlily as possible. I'd be out that door so fast, ha. I bounced back by following the direction and applying the best technique I possibly could.
Now, I have to show apartments to hyper privileged people in NYC and I have to work on an audition for Thursday for the "39 Steps". Fun!!!!
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