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…
