This was for Two If By Sea Pictures who’s last film, Replacing George, won best picture at this year’s Art Within 72hr Film Challenge. Two brothers: Josh and Jeremiah Daws.
I arrived about 15 minutes before my audition at 5 PM at this huge church. The building was very large, huge and after wondering down a few halls I found where the auditions were being held. It was a vastly huge place.
Signed in, received a small packet that had all the male parts and was ushered into a very large room. This room was a multipurpose room. It had a large stage, professional lights, a bar on the opposite side, lots of seating and was very cozy. It was a vision of a rec room that I would not mind having if I ever win the lottery.
The packet I was given had sides for all three male parts, a brief description of who each male person was and what environment the movie would take place in. I read all three parts and was able to do a little who, what, where, when, why and how does that make you feel, before being called in to audition.
Josh, Jeremiah and about a half dozen others were in a small room with a table separating me from everybody else. On the table was a camera which was hooked up to a recorder and a small TV. I could not see the TV screen.
After a brief introduction to Josh and Jeremiah, I was asked to stand on a T shaped tape on the floor and face the camera and for the record state my name. I was asked to read two sides: The first was the lead TOM with his wife. And the Second was GEORGE interacting with TOM. GEORGE was the more dramatic, upset and drunk over the events of the day.
I do not think I did very well with TOM. There were times when it sounded, to me anyway, that I was just reading the lines. GEORGE I felt that I did better on. GEORGE was a challenge. His wife had her illegal pregnancy terminated that morning by TOM and later that day his wife killed herself. GEORGE was angry at TOM, upset over loosing his wife and kid, and drunk. It was, I felt, a good read. 10 minutes total and I was done.
When I was done all I received was a Thank You and I left. No “will call you” or a note about call backs, no appraisals. But that is what you get for most auditions. The auditioners are busy and usually only have time to call people they want. This is nothing new, but always frustrating. Never knowing how you did.
I always want to know how I did. Did I do well but not what they are looking for, or did OK and need lots of work or did they just laugh at me when I left. I won?t know unless they actually call me.
Oh and don’t wear glasses for the camera. Not good. Camera can’t see your face very well. Well it can but with a small obstruction. I did because my contacts were bothering me, but I should not have. If they want glasses on a character, they will provide glasses as part of the costume.