The Glamorous Life of Auditions - Day 9

The "dreaded" one liner...how to act, what to do??? Would you believe me if I told you it's up to you?!?! I've learned to stop giving them what I think they may want and giving them what I truly believe the character to be. I know how it's to be delivered...I've watched enough shows, I see the assistants, receptionists, the pizza person...but they ain't me nor am I coming in to be forgotten. Look, most roles require that, that's the purpose, to have a line thrown out and it's gone, it's what you do with it that can make it all magical for you and for them, you just gotta be brave enough to show them over and over and over again. You can choose to walk in and read it as you know it should be read, but now I feel you've put yourself into a box only to be judged by what look they may want and that's a 50/50 shot. I'm NOT HERE FOR THAT!!!! Of course I don't go all willy, nilly in the room, I stay within the context of the scene but I always have and always will push for more. I want them all to realize that if they want to make this a bigger role, they can trust me to handle it so no...I won't walk in and say the line expected at first, I will always create a story with that line because regardless of how they may feel in the room because they've had 20 people come in and say that line, I know what my purpose as that character is and it's as real to me as I am...because it is me...saying that line. It's taken me years to understand how my fulfillment as an artist works for me, you must choose your way...if you walking in and just doing it and it is working and you're booking like nobody's business then rock on. However, if you're not or if you feel like you're in a rut artistry wise, try exploring and pushing some boundaries when you walk in. See that line and choose for it to have a double meaning, then let them tell you to play it blasey blah. You just got 2 chances to show them what you got and then the choice is up to them but at least you created with what you were given so you can walk out of there feeling like the artist/mad scientist you are. Yes, you'll be denied and often, but then, there will be those moments when even when you think it's not yours because of the redirect and you get that e-mail saying that the network approved you, you can see the possibilities of more work and so can they. I'm not here to blend into the background, I'll give 'em that if that's what is required but I will never lead with that just to do my "job" and get out. My work is to create, to give reality and validity to this one, itty bitty line and I take that seriously because no one in the real world usually talks for empty reasons...no one, not if you listen. So with that, I finally booked "a liner" on a network show - HA!!!! I did go in a few weeks ago to the same office for a slightly bigger role, but didn't book that, however getting another call for a different role let me know what I did was appreciated so I did it again. I walked in and played the simple line with another meaning, she then redirected me to be more uncaring...easy, peasy - boom done but with 2 choices in case the producers watching can get what I did...and they did. But realize it wasn't for them...it was for me, I got tired of just coming in and walking out of an office feeling like that was that and did I do well, I don't have to ask anymore...I know for the most part I did because I created and gave that character life. Now I feel like I made this one line into something and I have FUN, I enjoy this - I truly love it...one line and all!!! I can't announce this one either until it's all in the clear, but I'll let you know asap so you can realize that what you bring to the table is special and if you keep giving them special, they're gonna make that choice on you - soon, very soon!!!


Started rehearsals for "Archer From Malis" being Odyssea instead of Odysseus - written for a man but because of the insight of this director of Griot Theatre, he cast it as a woman, as well as the role of Zeus and Neoptolemus/Neoptolema. This is our wonderful cast because his mission for his projects is to give actors that are usually passed up, the chance to work on strong characters whether male or female. Gotta love people that think outside the box and I'm loving that I'm meeting more of them, it keeps me in the loop of inspiration! I get to be here at the wondrous Getty Villa for the next 2 weeks until we workshop it out and then it's to the Lounge Theatre for the rest of the run so I'm gonna enjoy this view as much as possible while I keep pushing to do interesting work...now made easier because I see other artists out there making a way!!! All you gotta do, is trust your work and step right on in...go ahead - JUMP!!!