Yay to my 4th commercial audition of the year because it's only February and things will only get better!!! My theory is the more commercial auditions you get to do, the more in the flow you get to be and the more shots you get to finally booking. Once a year is a hard place to connect in, but if it's constant and consistent, it becomes a numbers game, more so here than in television/film because for the most part, it's the feeling you give them with what you look like that matters. This one was for a martial arts instructor at the same casting office I was at recently but of course I was the only POC while at this audition as I saw plenty of the regulars flow in and out. Although I'm always happy to be called in, I'm always at a pause as to why not more of my types are at these auditions because I know we're here especially in the martial arts community. I do know when I see this, I'm more or less of the option, not the focus however, I am thankful for being such and will keep representing until I can see more of "us" in the running as well, especially for big campaigns like these. I was slightly worried I wouldn't have anything quick but martial arts is my blood and as soon as I got in, told the scenario, I went in like the instructor I had been without a shred of doubt. This is when the craft that you've worked so diligently on, lives within you and NOTHING, NOT A DAMN THING can take that away. It may be frustrating to feel like you've given so much to your art and it hasn't quite given what you want back but understand, this is your passion that you get to do every day you wake up and that is where the goodness lies. When you've got an extra talent for something and it seems like no one is paying attention, YOU pay attention...nurture that part of your art because there is nothing wrong with having a bag full of tricks up your sleeve when it's your turn to step into your shine. Think of how many gifts you're going to be able to offer this industry at maximum speed because you already have it sitting in your back pocket so don't look at the situation as it not paying off right now, it's going to do all that and more in the near future, just keep giving yourself options by becoming the best version of yourself. This way, it'll give you random opportunities to perfect your gifts while you create, so hang in and do things to get even better...all around!
It's been interesting as I learn more sides of the voice over business and one of the "different" things that happen are sample submissions. It's were they give you a scenerio and you basically come up with some stuff in the vein of their ask...all in your words, your insight. I'm sure ideas have been taken and used so this may very well make you shy away from this aspect of the business however, it's also a time to truly create for oneself from the ground up. This could help you decide that you are good enough to write, to do, to be in all aspects of this business and get your creative juices flowing as you practice on other not so used skills that you may have hidden. Doing this part of the work as an exercise into my art has already shown me to be quick and a better writer than I imagined. Even got a skit/sketch written out and because of timing will have to wait until I get back from celebrating my Appa to get it done...but these are the gems that come, don't block 'em!!! Get to work arties, I'm right there with you.
I love the unexpected auditions that come in because you know what they may be looking for but you go in to disrupt their ideas regardless. This came in as a one day job for a video game with another half day for rehearsal, "all ethnicities - even though I saw only one other category as me" playing an unassuming badass by being a mom ( yeah, I still look young...but take a look around at all the wonderful signs to tell ya to keep on keeping on ) without telling you any tidbits. What I did appreciate was the fact that it wasn't a cattle call, with only 2 ladies ahead of me when I arrived, both had a different look and varying heights so I felt it wasn't a waste of time. Check in was smooth and I was in the room after stretching my heart out as quickly as possible coming up with improv'd kicks at specific times to go along with the scene. Got to get my vocals pushed with yells as I remembered my drills of doing so as a warm up with barely any time in between my 3 takes I received from a female director. So super cool to just get to do that, practice that and be that for that moment because you gotta enjoy this to truly enjoy all that comes after! Cheers to fighting that fight each and every time...YOU ARE SEEN, YOU ARE TRUE, YOU ARE THE ARTIST THEY ARE LOOKING FOR - go grab your shine time - 👄
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