Today, I had what I like to call my Talk Show material. These are
the experiences that will give me great stories to tell when I’ve
finally made it and I’m sitting on Oprah’s or Conan’s sofa. These are
the experiences that will earn me that right. So, I’ve been going
on a steady number of auditions lately. Maybe it’s the new headshots?
Anyway, today I had one that said it was a student film. I’m always wary
of student films, but they sent the script for the short and it was
very funny, stylized and well-written. Kinda rare considering the shear
volume of projects out there. I’ve got my sides and the address, ready
to go. I pass a building that sys ‘1730’ but I think, this can’t be
right. I check the address on my phone again. Yup, that’s what I wrote
down. I check the building again. Yes, that’s what it says on that
building… which is a church… which is a school… which is a HIGH SCHOOL.
That’s ok, I’ve auditioned at a school before. It was an elementary
school in fact that rented their spiffy media building to hold auditions
for a sag ultra low budg short. So, it could happen. Nothing really
surprises me anymore. I do another drive by and see a sign posted for
the project. This is, in fact, the right place. Well, what else do I got
going on a Thursday afternoon? I’m already here. Might as well go in…
I’m greeted by a kid who could not have been older than 10, but
seeing as how this is a high school, I guess he was 14? How old are you
in high school anyway. He very politely and professionally asks me to
sign in and wait in the waiting area…. which just so happened to be the
hallway between classrooms and the gym. I go in, see a couple people
sitting in the only chairs in this area. They were obviously actors,
equally as confused as I was. I look around awkwardly, while a few
15-year olds? in white polos and grey pleated miniskirts rush by, and
notice a bench. I really wanted to sit, so I pushed aside the 20 or so
Jansports that were all carelessly thrown on to the bench and waited my
turn.
I am finally called into the audition, to my relief by an adult, and
like any other audition, hand them my headshot and resume, slate my name
and perform the sides. Only difference is, the person on the other side
of the casting table covered in headshots was none other than a 16 year
old girl with pimples and a uniform.
But you know what? Other than the fact this was a high school,
everything else was pretty normal. In fact, they were more organized,
nicer, more professional and efficient than half of the “real” auditions
I’ve been on lately! Oh the joys of being an actor in LA…
