Second Round Win

About a week after my initial audition for that feature film, I received a call from my agent with an audition for a different role in the same film!  I should've been ecstatic.  However...

My manager had locked down the first audition with a super savvy phone pitch after securing an audition for a different client.  I also knew that she had pitched me for the role my agent had just called about and had lost out to the smaller role that I eventually prepared and did.  My first thought?  Uh oh.  Did my manager and agent forget to collaborate as they usually do?  Did the casting director not realize that I had already been into his office because there was an overlap in submissions?  Would the casting director be annoyed if I showed up to audition and he remembered that they'd already seen me and had previously passed on me for that role?  Crap.  What's the professional thing to do here?  Call attention to the audition and clarify with casting?  Or just show up, hope they don't recognize me and hit it out of the park?  Or do I hope that they do recognize me?  *head explodes*

I talked it over with my manager who was very much on the same page with me:  always, always go to an audition when given the opportunity.  She had many of the same question marks that I did and we attempted to clarify with my agent beforehand.  I can't say that my agent didn't care about our questions because I have no idea what her day was like, but I do know that we never received clarification.  So, onward.  I prepare.  I dress in a completely different get-up and style my hair in a new way.  And I decide that I won't say anything to the casting director along the lines of "Nice to see you again!" or "Thanks for having me back to your office!" so as not to draw attention to any possible awkwardness...or mistakes.

Why do I worry so much?

The casting director immediately knew who I was (memories of steel, those guys!) and clarified that he loved my previous audition but that I was too cute for the role (usually it works the other way around with me--hey, I'm not vain) and that he thought this other character might be a better fit!  Oh, too cute, you say?  Keep talking, I like you!  Second round for a studio feature film?  Bigger role?  More lines?  OMG!  What a wonderful "first" to celebrate.  You all know how I love to celebrate...

Okay, so I got excited (and therefore weak) and found myself sharing this "first" with a few non-actor friends.  That's always a bad idea.  I know better!  Since then, one particular friend has emailed or talked about the audition almost daily.  He'll say things like, "So when are you shooing?"  and "You've got the part."  Well, I might have the part, but it's not likely, and if he didn't bring it up all of the time I probably wouldn't think about it at all.  And while I love his enthusiasm and encouragement, I just keep reminding him (and myself) that the second audition was the real "win."  The role would just be the icing on the cake.  And honestly, guys, that's how you have to look at all of your "wins," unless you want to drive yourself crazy.  And why would you want to do that?  Life is too short.  And I hear the meals in mental institutions really suck.

--Stacey Jackson

Comments

[Mariana]

Congratulations!! I'll keep my fingers crossed for you.

[delfina]

Wow! Head explodes LOL...but i had to reread it like three times to get the whole confusing mix up..hehe. I just love your writing darling :)

And, a hiking we will go...soon I hope, very soon, right? Want to do the whole...fun, relaxing nature "one-ness" followed by even more fun talk fest at chic cafe you raved about at the show. :)

[Marilyn]

The auditions just keep getting better! I think that is a sign of achievement. I am in the achievement business and hope the best for you all of the time and then there's the film!

[Justine]

"The casting director immediately knew who I was (memories of steel, those guys!) and clarified that he loved my previous audition but that I was too cute for the role (usually it works the other way around with me--hey, I'm not vain) and that he thought this other character might be a better fit!"

Yeah!!! Being called too cute is always great to hear, of course, but also, just to *hear* a reason why you get passed up for a role is so refreshing sometimes. So many times we're too tall, too short, too young, too old, don't match the people already cast (if it's a family thing), but we don't alwasy get to hear those reasons from the source, so we have to just try not to think about why they didn't want us.

Anyway great news and I'm glad you got to audition for two different roles!!

and yeah - I know what you mean about the non-actors, "Did you get it, did you get it??" They mean well, of course. It's just hard sometimes because we do want to, um, not obsess about this stuff sometimes! ;-)