Today I got to go into a casting director’s office in Hollywood and help out.  As Dan (the head casting director) had mentioned, I came dressed as I would be cast as (he suggests dressing like your specific LA pigeon holed character type everyday).  I also baked some cookies the night before to bring into the casting session – who doesn’t love freshly baked cookies (right Jenny)? 

I left my apartment early, and I am glad I did, the 101 was full of traffic.  Luckily I am only on the 101 for a few miles before taking the Hollywood/Highland exit.  I left an hour early so that I could purposely stop at my PMB to pick up my mail; swimsuits for bikini football came in!  I then made a quick stop at my old Starbucks to see if Jordan was working, since he supposedly opens now… guess what – he closes tonight, go figure.  Every time I have stopped in, I have either just missed him or I came in on the day he wasn’t working.  Maybe I will see him Sunday, who knows?  I grab a water and head out the door.

After looking for parking on the casting building side of Highland, I realize it is all two hour parking, so I drive back over to the opposite side of highland so I do not have to worry or bother the casting directors, interrupt a session, or whatever by having to move my car.  I want these casting directors to keep bringing me back in, so I must show that I am professional and responsible and that I got it going on (hence the wardrobe, cookies and professionalism). 

I arrive at their office before Sherrie is even there (the other head casting director).  Dan is just finishing setting up and his intern is there to take phone calls, etc.  I walk in like I own the place, drop off the cookies, set my stuff down in their “kitchen” and find out what my role will be today for helping in the casting session.  I was originally told I would be a reader, but Dan told me that today’s session would be slightly different – it was for a commercial.  So instead of me actually reading with the actors, I just guided them thru the audition.

I have cast before, but nothing major.  I remember back when I went to Dan and Sherrie’s workshop how they had mentioned actors come in unprepared and with no headshots/resume (who does that? It’s an audition for crying out loud).  The first guy to audition – no headshot (wtf, do you really want to be here?  Bad day? What?).  He then goes on with the audition to stop it half way through and walk out saying he wasn’t quite prepared for this (I mean who knows, maybe he had a bad day, maybe his girlfriend just broke up with him, who knows).  The audition was for a commercial, and the character was a Roadie for a band, so I expected these men to really have fun with it, go all out, take bold choices.  Most of them went for the easy, small choice of being quiet and semi stoned, OR no character choice at all (BAD IDEA).  I would say about 90% of the actors did not even personalize the script.  The script mentioned “their grandpa being a roadie” and “wishing he was still alive to exchange stories”.  Most read it off like they were just reading it, no pizzazz, no nada – BOOORRRIIINNNGGG!  Some guys, after I had even gave the directions didn’t follow them, so I know they weren’t listening, they were just stuck in their own little world (which sometimes happens to actors when they get nervous for an audition).   Several started improving right away, when I didn’t ask for that… hello?  Where you listening to what I just said? We would start with the dialogue and I will guide you the rest of the way with a conversation and questions.  LISTEN people, it’s not difficult.  A good actor listens and reacts.  Out of all 50 actors, I would say only 1 actor fed off of my actions and movements.  Maybe only 5 (at the VERY most) deserved a callback. 

The cool thing about today’s casting session was that Dan and Sherrie trusted me so much that they left and didn’t even bother sitting in on the session, which they normally do.  Me and Heather ran the whole thing.  We got backed up for a half hour (we were trying to help the actors give the best performance they could, but it was taking WAAAAYYY too long).  I felt bad, because we were running late (although everyone should know that happens at auditions often), one guy had to cancel his audition, and the bummer part was he was only two guys away from going in.  Such is life.

After the casting session, I had to run out before Dan and Sherrie came back, but I emailed Dan letting him know my thoughts and opinions on the session.  I am covering for one of their interns tomorrow, so back at it.  Hopefully these people will be much better!  The good thing about doing these sessions is I learn what to do and not to do as an actor. 

All I can say – I see why casting directors are sometimes rude, harsh, and blunt.  They do not have time to waste, they hear the same reading over and over again, when all they want is an actor to come in prepared and make bold choices (even if they are the wrong ones… being bold is the best way to go).