In my first post I mentioned that I was going through my blank books for fodder. After some thought I have decided to post the following entry from my book devoted to acting things. These events were exceptions to the way normal callbacks would be managed, but now that time has gone by I find it funny and worth sharing for those who wonder about what it might be like to always have to put yourself out there. By the way, I did get a part in this film, though not the one they called me back for - but the film was never made. Still, I leave out any specifics.
1 May 2005
Yesterday was crazy - and by crazy I mean clinically insane. We all discovered what the casting director was really like. We knew she was bold and brash... but she's so much worse than that. She is one of the most UNprofessional people I've ever met. She seemed to be running the show - which should be up to the creative team by now - talking about actors in front of other actors, saying to her assistant, "get that actor, you know - the one that I want." Tearing actors apart in front of everyone else (we had to do our group auditions in front of the competition).They were very impressed with me, and she praised me highly after my scene (I went last), then she turned to the other two and said, "See her naturalness," asking them to be more like me - wanting to get copies of my audition tape for them to watch and study for the night so they could try again the next day! And when she realised they could not get copies quickly enough, suggested we all work together, "I think you all could benefit from each other." All of which is tantamount to saying 'This girl was the best, but can one of you just do what she did so we don't have to hire her?'
And this is only the tip of what would be a very LONG list if I had the energy or the memory to record it all.
Ah, yes. Good times.
[I suppose I should note, though, that the other two actresses called back for the same role as I were about 7-10 years older, perhaps they wanted an older actress for the role, even at the expense of talent. But this was also a three day affair in which we all flew into town and were all staying in the same hotel, which was within walking distance of NOTHING. So we couldn't escape it.]