Published on Thursday March 2, 2006 .
I asked my theatrical agent today if there was any feedback from my audition a few days ago. She called the casting office and they said they had already thrown out all the notes because the role had been cast. Bummer. No call-back either. I guess I wasn’t right for the part. Well, all I can do is send a “Thank You” postcard to make sure they don’t forget me.
I started going through Now Casting and LA Casting casting notices and submitting to TV, Film and student projects. Nothing yet.
I really need to produce my own movie…
Published on Wednesday February 22, 2006 .
I think the turning point for me was the moment I realized that I didn’t have to “act”. I just had to be comfortable being me.
I had been waiting for at least an hour sitting in front of the elevator outside of the casting office. I was surrounded by other asian guys who were similar to me. Tall and skinny with deep voices. They all seemed to know each other and every time the elevator opened another asian guy would enter the mix heartily welcomed by the group. I felt like the outsider. Their names sounded familiar, but I didn’t really know anyone. They all talked about other auditions they had had or what projects they were working on. It was hard for me not to be a little envious, but I just sat silently barely studying my script. One by one they were called into the casting office and I just sat outside reviewing my actions line-by-line and going over the script breakdown I had done earlier. I noticed a couple of guys strutting around in leather coats trying to act “hard”. That’s probably the same approach that I would have used in the past, but now I know better. Instead I reminded myself that I just need to rely on my training. I just need to engage the casting director and take my time.
So that’s what I did. I was surprisingly relaxed in the casting office and I took my time and created moments. I listened and responded and reacted. All very natural. I didn’t try to “act” anything. In the end it worked! The casting director said “very nice work”. I’m confident that I left a very good impression. That’s the best you can hope for really. That the casting director sees your talent and keeps you in mind for future projects.
That was the best audition ever.
Published on Tuesday February 21, 2006 .
Another apropos project title for my life at this moment.
I just received notice of a last minute theatrical audition for TONIGHT. It’s a recurring guest spot on the show - which I think is a new action/drama pilot. This is the kind of opportunity I’ve been waiting for. No pressure of course. There’s 5 pages of sides for the audition and this is just a pre-read with the casting director. This is where the training kicks in. I need to break down the sides, make some choices and plan out my actions. At the very least I need to show the casting director what I have to offer as an actor - even if it might not be right for the part. This is a pretty big casting agency so if I can impress them they will remember me for future projects.
I feel pretty good momentum with my acting this week. On Sunday, since my scene partner was not in class, I performed Vin Diesel’s monologue from Boiler Room. I received a very positive critique from my acting coach who was impressed that I was able to memorize that amount of text within two days. One of his few criticisms was that, as a person, I have an essence of culture and refine-ness and no matter how tough or how harsh I act, even though I’m able to pull it off, you can still see that essence of culture and refine-ness. He said that after working with me for a year, he sees me more as an Asian Pierce Brosnan than some street-tough guy I’m always trying to portray. Personally I never would have thought that. But after telling H, she agreed. I guess I’ve been really fighting against my “true self” trying to be something I’m not as a result of my insecurities. In the past I found strength in trying to be “hard”, cold and indifferent. Now I’m finding out that I will find true strength in letting go of and just being myself.
I just find it so ironic that for months I’ve been working on a play called “Doubt” and now that I have been working on my own personal feelings of doubt I now have an audition for a show called “Daybreak”.