A Bit of Madness

Waiting for the producer to see us, another actor and I flipped through magazines then started chatting about the business, SAG vs. AFTRA, where the work is, our acting backgrounds, etc. I gleaned this: Of the SAG membership, perhaps 35 percent are not actors, but instead, people who joined SAG to participate in some aspect of a shoot and may never work as actors again. These are folks who might have been, for example, the big rig driver in a short scene – maybe they had a line or two. The average SAG member only earns about $5,000 a year from working as an actor, according to my co-auditioner.

S. has been acting since age 8, he said, and now appears to be in his early 30's. He has a fabulous headshot that shows character and facial hair. He said he has studied acting in London and knows all the tricks for doing accents and he's great at memorization. He told me he was recently cast in 2 features. After memorizing 50 pages worth of lines for his character for one flick, production was cancelled when the needed funds did not come through. What to do with all those working dendrites?

S. was called in first, and he did his monologue. Then I was brought in, and I had to do mine – in front of both men. There was a big leather couch in the room. I had to make a comment about the casting couch… Suddenly I got a surge of adrenaline going, but I pulled off the monologue. I think I was a lot better this time than last – I've got more passion behind my lines now that I've lived with them for a couple of weeks. This was for the video camera and I took a mini-bow afterwards. Relieved it was over. I must never forget a monologue. Soon I ought to have a couple more under my belt.

We next read about a page and a half from the 20-minute film script, with me as Eline, the mad sister of the mad filmmaker, and S. as a visitor to the mansion. I added an inappropriate laugh in the first read...after all, she's supposed to be mad, right? Then we did it again a different way, and this time I was asked to use an accent. I used the French one, of course. Plaudits for the accent. The producer said he goes downstairs for coffee daily and the owner is French, and I sounded just like her.

Next he told us a bit about the movie, the director (a woman), the mansion where it's to be shot, and the financing, which is still a bit in the air. If it happens, it will happen fast.

I was exhilarated afterwards. Had to walk around Walnut Creek for about an hour before getting back in the car. It's really hard to wind down from these exciting auditions!

Tomorrow I go in to SF to audition for a voiceover. Thanks to Brian, "the Greek gardener," for recommending me to the producer. I could have also done this one by phone, but I feel it's so important to meet people whenever one can.