In acting, as with everything in life, sometimes you just want a do-over. Today was one of those days for me. Now I'm a great actor, if I didn't believe that I wouldn't keep torturing myself with this profession. However, I am only an average auditioner. I would rather be a great actor than a great auditioner. We are called actors, not auditioners after all... but I do wonder if I'd get more work the other way around. Anyway, to make a long story short, I blew an audition today. Actually, it was a call-back. It was a small part for a small Disney Channel movie, but when you live in SLC and the auditions are few and far between, everything feels like a bigger deal.
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Here's the juice. I had two lines. The audition started with my line. I directed my line to the guy I had read with in the first audition. Unfortunately, since this was a call back, the main casting director had become my reader. I didn't know this till he responded to my line. Now I realized my mistake, got flustered, looked at the camera (which was halfway between the guy I was reading to and the guy I was supposed to read to) and stared for a few seconds while I tried to remember my next line. Did I mention I only had two? Then I finally mumbled out some semblance of my last line DIRECTLY TO THE CAMERA! For those of you who don't know, this is a huge no, no. It is written in film acting doctrine. Thou shalt not look directly at the camera or thou shalt forever be labeled a rookie!
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This incident caused me to reflect on other people that have blown it. Kim Zmeskal's beam routine came to mind, the USA relay team dropping the baton and the hurdler who was killing everyone and then tripped on the last hurdle. Just like me, they had done something a million times and inexplicably something went wrong. I guess we'll all want a re-do at some point. At the end of the day, I just hope everyone who blows it has something sweet to come home to.
I know I do!
6 comments:
You had a call back? Congratulations!!!! That proves you can indeed audition well.
I had a teacher that said you should get a notebook. After an audition, you should write down everything that went well -that you had control over- and everything that you could improve -that you had control over- and then you move on...otherwise you get paralyzed thinking about every little thing.
I know it sucks for you when something like this happens because you're extremely professional and you've always got your lines memorized....you should practice your lines and have Bear hide random places and jump out and yell, "Danger!!!" so you can practice the throw off and the recovery. Haha....I don't think you need to practice it, I just wanted to work in a Friends reference.
I've been in a similar situation before--when you get incredibly flustered in an audition it's almost impossible not to look at that giant stupid camera looming and pointing right at you. The frustrating thing is, this can happen after dozens and dozens of auditions when you feel like you should be a pro by now.
All I can say is, you never know with these things!
Jess I love it. Bear and I just watched that episode on youtube. That is what I need to do... practice the art of Unagi.
Perhaps you should tell them you ONLY audition on the waxing moon. That is the time when thing are put on... not taken away...
As in getting the role.. and not losing your confidence...
Nothing is quite as sweet as coming home to a purring kitty...
I ALWAYS look into the camera! No wonder I never get call backs.
It was great seeing you today at Conference. I am so sorry we did not run up and give you the biggest hug hello!
Candice loves your responses. We shall write Robert Iger a letter and tell him if you don't get the part, he is an idiot and we will see to it that Disney meets its demise! But we will say it nicely, because Candice will get mad at me if I don't.
I was so excited the other day when I realized what Scott was doing on the computer...he was reading your blog. Scott was reading a blog :) I usually find myself catching him up on everyone, but this time he was telling me!! Exciting!!
Sorry to hear about the audition! But how great to have a call back. Good luck in future auditions!!
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