"The Men From The Boys"

Yesterday didn't all go according to plan, but it wasn't a complete disaster, either.

I woke-up and got all "Hipstered-up" for my "Samurai Girl" pre-screen. I didn't allot a lot of time to get there, having to take two SkyTrains, but I lucked-out and by the time I got to the studio I was ten minutes early which is a little later than I'd want to be, but not late enough to be considered late.

My agent called me, en route.
"Well isn't that nice," he boasts in his usual non-greetular manner, "A call back."
"For ... what?" For a brief moment, I blanked. I knew about the "Caprica" call back, but I didn't have time to search my mind in the 0.08 seconds for anything I've auditioned for recently for which I could have been called back.
"For 'Caprica' ... don't tell me you forgot, you're not sleeping are you?" I guess he forgot I got a new job that let me sleep at night.

I do the routine check-in with the security guard at the gate of the studio, and - he's surprised to see me there.
"News to me," he said after I told him my pre-screen time. He scooted his wheelie chair to check the names and times of the talent.
"What time did you say again?"
"Uh, 11:20."
"What I got here says 4:50."
Oh, God.
"Really? That's odd ... I'm gonna call my agent" (I've always wanted to say that, but not like this, never like this.)

I called him up, and wouldn't-cha-know-it, I WAS supposed to be there at 4:50.
"Yeah, for some reason that went to my deleted box," the agent explains, "they got you in for 4:50."

Hoo, boy. I'm not happy. Now I have to boot it from the 3:25 audition in North Vancouver, to this 4:50 audition in Burnaby. Not to mention I came out at 11:20 for nothing. Well, it wasn't for nothing, because I had to drop-off a void cheque to Paladin because my bank account information had changed, and they were just one more SkyTrain Station over. But still, I'd have to pre-screen in my "Caprica" costume, and although my Hipster get-up wasn't all that, the "Caprica" costume wasn't close to what they were looking for.

I was further thrown after meeting the "Caprica" Director. When I showed-up to the casting office I found it just as I like it: empty. The assistant asked if I wanted to go in early (I was there at 3:00), but then the other actor showed-up, and I went in the room at my scheduled time.

The room set-up had the two Casting Directors to my immediate right, then on the couch where I saw Diablo Cody three months prior sat the Director, and some woman I didn't recognize, likely an exec. of some sort. It was a few tense seconds before one of the Casting Directors said "Hi."
"Hey, how you doin', man?" asked the director who looked like a combination of George Lucas, Francis Ford Coppola and those hippies from that "Simpsons" episode.
"Uh, it's going good, goin' good," I said, which was kind of a lie given what happened that morning.
"Why?" He asked.
"Uh, wha'?" I wasn't really expecting that.
"Why is it good, man?"
I made-up some stuff about it being good because I was going out for things during this "very dry period", and hoped that would be a sufficient answer. It turned out to be sufficient, and he proceeded to give me the low-down on the character, and after that, I went to work. I did the two scenes, and the Director gave the requisite "good, man."
"You think so?" Don't know why I asked it.
"Yeah, I enjoyed that, man," which was about all I could ask for.

I called my agent after, and told him I was a tad thrown by the Director.
"They try any little ploy to throw you, it's how they separate the men from the boys." Not sure if the Director saw me as the former or the latter.

I hopped the two buses from North Van. to Burnaby, arriving for my new 4:50 pre-screen with plenty of time to spare. These pre-screens took place at a big studio, so they were casting in a trailer. Trailers: is there anything they can't do? The trailer waiting room was full of Hipsters, none of them drunk yet, but that would change as soon walk into the casting room. This one went as well as I hoped: short, sweet and no major screw-ups.

So that was the day: 70% in transit, 17% waiting, 10% playing Pokemon Puzzle League, 2% acting and 1% getting thrown off my game by a hippie.

Double-Header

The first is a pre-screen, which my agent doesn't understand, because I've auditioned for these Casting Directors before. In fact, they were my FIRST real audition (my first EVER was "Altitude", but that too was a pre-screen) for Startgate: Atlantis back in February. I guess two-line auditions are pretty forgettable.

This pre-screen is for a show called "Samurai Girl". It's about the adopted daughter of a powerful Japanese millionaire, who reluctantly agrees to an arranged marriage. However, there is no happily ever after, as armed assassins invade her sacred ceremony, killing her brother and making her their next target. To avenge her brother's death, she has her good friend instruct her in the martial arts, and lo and behold, she catches-on quick. It's a wholesome, family-friendly series for ABC Family.

The role is a short one, a drunk Hipster who hits on the title character, only to have her training run wild on his arm joints. A classmate of mine went for the same role on Friday, making this the fourth (I think) role I've gone out for in direct competition with a fellow VFS alum. In life I'm not a "Hipster" at all, and the type of clothes their looking for I: a) don't have, and b) can't get before tomorrow. Oh well, I can come-up with something, though I doubt I could lose the requisite 40 pounds in one night.

I've been called back for "Caprica", that Battlestar Gallactica prequel series that I auditioned for last Thursday. Looks like that "fair interpretation" was a good choice. This will be for the Director, and I'm pretty pumped.

My canceled-day check for "I Love You, Beth Cooper" is at my agent's office, ready for me to pick it up and drop it down to the bank. Free money's nothing to sneeze at; unless there's something in the ink that you're allergic to.

A pre-screen, an audition, and a check all in one day. I just need a home-run, and I'll be hitting for the cycle.

I need to stop watching MLB highlights at the gym.

Play The Game

I earned my "Serving It Right" certificate yesterday, which means I can now serve booze in BC to anyone ... provided they're of age and not already wasted. The exam was open-book, which I thought was kind of unnecessary; in fact, I kind of found the whole program unnecessary. Just tell your servers not to serve anyone underage and make sure intoxicated people have a safe way home, and that's it. But, I guess the program makes people more aware of legalities, so whatever. Gotta play by the rules if you wanna play the game.

I went to "Watermania" in Richmond yesterday, which was pretty fun. I has a wave pool, which was kind of small, and I almost fell out the water slide, but that just added to the excitement.

I woke-up today at seven to slam a Xyience and hit the gym before my coaching at ten. After the coaching I went to the UBCP office to receive my Apprentice Number and learn all the fun benefits involved with joining the Union. I just hope they'll be worth the $450.00 Full Membership fee I'll have to pay when I get four more credits. Again, gotta play by the rules to play the game.

After stuffing myself with delicious sushi (I ate all that I could) I headed to hallowed North Shore Studios for my "Caprica" audition. I know I don't describe these auditions in great detail like I used to, and that's for two reasons: first, I really need to be careful what I say. I've been surprised before by who reads this, and I need to watch what I say about whom. Second, really, if you've done one, you've done 'em all to varying degrees. It's largely the same thing every time, with the occasional thing worth mentioning, which I had tonight:

There was a way I read a certain line that caused the Casting Director to ask why I read it the way I read it. I just backed myself up with what was happening in the script in that scene, and she understood. She said it was a "reasonable interpretation," which could mean I was way off the mark of what they were looking for, or she really never thought of that choice before. Either way, it got noticed, and that can't be all bad.

My agent sent an e-mail yesterday saying that things are slow because of the impending acting strike in the US. Some people up here think it may benefit us up-and-comers, but I don't think it will at all. They'll simply halt productions without the stars. No one wants to see a bunch of scabs starring in the big features (however, that scenario has given me an idea for a movie, but I've got the feeling that it's been done already.)

I enjoyed an alright banana protein smoothie on the bus and Seabus on the way home and made my Costco shopping list. Back home, Costco (first known to me as "Price Club") used to be such an event, but now that I live within walking distance, it's just a good place to go to get 4L of Helmann's for a good price. My inherent thriftiness puts the idea in my head that I can carry my two 50lb bags of goods, instead of pay for the cheap cab ride home. The guy in the elevator agreed: there's no better workout than the "Costco Carry".

In the odd ironies department, I can't help but be amused by the fact that Mario Kart Wii introduces motorcycles to the series; motorcycles that you control with the new "Wii Wheel". It's still fun, with a bit more of a learning curve due to the new control option, and the online play is a blast. Some people complain about Wii's online play, but the first time I tried it with MKW, I was racing with 11 other people around North America in about two minutes. That's good enough for me.

"You Want Another Audition?"

Along my trek from the bus stop to my apartment, what should I come across but $20 on the sidewalk. What one does with found money speaks volumes about a person's current situation; both in life, and the immediate situation in which that person is in upon first coming into contact with the discovered currency.

In life: How's your money situation? Do you need this badly? Is $20 a lot for you, or is it simply some bar cash? Is it considered "lowly" of you to stoop and pick-up a damp bill from the sidewalk?

Immediate situation: Is there anyone watching? Does this particular bill look "suspicious" in any way? Are there any bodily-fluid/bodily-solid-coloured streaks upon the visage of The Queen? Are there any homeless/less-fortunate people along the path from the site-of-discovery to your residence?

After asking all of the above questions in my head, I ended-up being $20 richer. Cash-money is untraceable, so it's finders-keepers, losers-shoulda-been-more-carefuls. I can't wait to spend this newly-found bar cash.

I have a meeting Thursday with UBCP (Union of British Columbia Performers) to get an apprenticeship number. I called my agent today, because I still need the contract from ILYBC as proof of my credits, or something. He had it faxed to him, but he's thinking they'll need the original to process everything, so he asked to have the original mailed to him, which he'll have by tomorrow or Wednesday. Great, my only agent interaction of the day.

But as the late Jack Palance said in his portrayal of the rough-and-tumble Curly Washburn "Day ain't over yet."

I got a call at work, of all places.
"You want another audition?"
It was like asking one of those kids on the "World Vision" commercials if they want just 15 cents per day.
"Yes please," said I.
"How about you book this one, God Dammit."
Avec plaisir.
He went on to explain how things in this business are cyclical, which is what I've always been told. It's feast or famine, and I've been starving for a while, so this will be good to break the fast.

This one is for Pilot for a new show called "Caprica" which is a Battlestar Gallactica prequel. Looks like fun, and has a bunch of big words which make me feel all smart and stuff when I talk them with my mouth. It's on Wednesday night with my favourite peeps in North Vancouver, so I'm expecting a hero's welcome.

Hopefully not the 'Nam type of hero's welcome.