My French Audition

A couple of months ago I auditioned for a French feature film. The producers provided the script and I hired my local director, Dan Carlson, to shoot at my East Bay home. My friend Jeanne suggested an actor from France who has a Bay Area theater company, David Valayre, to play the character Martin to whom I address my dialogue. I was so grateful to him for taking the time and lending me his car for the shoot.

It was a very hectic time. On weekends I was helping my mother move into a retirement residence. That same week in November 2010 I was in rehearsals for the debut play, "The Little Nebbish," by Eliza Gale, where as the second lead, I had the demanding comedic role of Heather, whom I played, wearing a wig, as a valley girl. Rehearsals for "Nebbish" were in Los Angeles and Long Beach, and performances were set to begin about a week later. I was spending a lot of time driving up and down the coast, not willing to splurge on airfare more than twice, so it's appropriate that this French shoot took place in a car.

During this time I had also signed with my first LA agent, hoping to maximize my ability to audition in LA while I had the play commitment. I did get sent to a couple of cattle calls for Latina commercial roles, but nothing came of it. No wonder - over half of LA is Hispanic, and I was merely an imposter! I learned all about the casting neighborhoods and where to park and get a cappuccino, though.

I never heard a word from the audition film producers in Europe, so I think enough time has elapsed now for me to share what we shot that day. Click the title above to see the clip. The set-up is this: I am an LA-based French woman devastated by the recent death of my best friend, and I am sharing my agony with this woman's son, whom I have just picked up at the airport. We are stuck in traffic, which I find extra annoying. In real life, I did my best to learn the dialogue while driving on I-5 the day before! But, as you'll no doubt notice, I had a cheat sheet behind the steering wheel.