My E! Hollywood Story

E!I had a big interview with an independent casting director for the E! Network who was casting for this new reality series called, “LA Actresses”.  This reality series is actually very similar to one that I had already done a pilot for in Seattle called, “Hollywood Dreams” which was shopped around Los Angeles last pilot season, but never picked up.  They were told that HD (for short) was too nice, not enough drama.  HD focuses on 8 actors (who all happened to be living in Seattle the first season).  These 8 actors would all live in a house in Los Angeles and work with acting coaches, dance coaches, dialect coaches, etc each week to perfect their skill.  The goal was for each actor to learn how to act, write, direct and produce their own films and to eventually get picked up on a television show with the help of that show.  The networks all turned it down because no one was voted off each week and no one was against the other, it was all positive and helpful. 

“LA Actresses” is a very similar show to “Hollywood Dreams”, but instead of men and women, it’s just about 6-8 girls living in Los Angeles who are trying to make a name for themselves.  As of now, the show would follow each girl on a daily basis, including seeing where they are living, how they go about their day, auditions, friendships, relationships, etc. E! has only issued them one episode and if it does well, then they will do a full season.  Before our interview we had to fill out about a 7 page questionnaire about ourselves and then once we got there have a 30 minute interview with the casting director.  We were told to dress cute, but no solid black or white or crazy patterns. 

Once I arrived (which was probably a little too early, but I didn’t realize that once you park there, you can’t really sit in your car like I was planning until it was a reasonable time to go in, so I just had to go in way early) I made my way to the E! studio.  The casting director Scott took me and another female upstairs to wait for our interview.  I guess I didn’t get the “wear slutty clothes” memo, because I wore nice jeans and a cute top (yes cleavage was showing, but more conservative than the others).  The casting director made comments about all the famous people in the building that we passed (like he has never worked with them before?! I mean, be professional) and commented on all of our outfits.  He also scolded a few girls for not noticing the famous people that we passed. 

When it was finally my turn to interview I had just been bit by the sleepy bug, GREAT.  I go in and try to be as energetic as possible, but sitting on the couch in a quiet, warm room for an hour before my audition made me sleepy.  The casting director made a comment about me being more laid back and asked if I like to party… oh, it’s one of those interviews.  “No, I do not party”, I told him, “if I had to choose between going out to a club or going to see a movie, I’d pick the movie.”  Apparently in this show they want the girls to go out and party on the town, hang out like they are all best friends, tell each other about auditions, etc.  First of all… most of my girl friends, if they think they are competition with me (as in same look, type) they will NOT tell me about an audition, so why would these girls that I barely know do that, and if you really want to take a look in the day of my life then use my real friends, not some girls I do not even know and all of a sudden make them my best friend. 

He then went on to ask me other questions and some how my production company came up.  I told him that I own a production company and he laughed at me, “you can’t call you sitting on your couch in your apartment a production company.” FUCK YOU! I quickly told him that it was way more than that, how we shot our first feature, what we used, our budget, crew, cast, paid for hotel, etc.  Who is this douche bag to tell me that I do not have a production company?! We even looked him up later (me and my casting directors that I intern for) – he hasn’t even cast for anything huge, so get over yourself!

He then went on to ask me about my relationship with my boyfriend and almost made me cry… I am not sure if he wanted this much emotion from me or what, but he was for sure pulling it all out!  He kept talking about the war and what if my boyfriend died, etc.

I will find out within two weeks if I made it to the final round of casting for the show, I am not so sure that I am what E! wants… I’m not a crazy party girl, I don’t dress horribly slutty – I am real, very real.   I don’t sleep on the casting couch and I never will…   Did I mention that this show supposedly does not want drama… it is also supposed to be positive… Putting 6-8 girls together as “best friends” going out and auditioning…. How can you not have drama with that?!  How can that all be a positive experience?  This seems like a show better fit for MTV if you ask me.