I have a partial update from the auditions on Monday:
I’ve heard nothing from the second call. However, not surprisingly, the first call, where they really made me feel unwelcome, is going nowhere.
I talked with my manager about it, and he got some feedback from them: they found people they really liked on Friday, and I guess lots of actors left that room on Monday feeling shitty, like they didn’t even want them to be there. Well, duh. If they found people they really liked on Friday, why even bother to bring us in on Monday?! And why bother to bring in actors if they’re going to make us feel like they don’t even want us there?!
Now, I know I probably shouldn’t say this, because in the entertainment industry, nobody is supposed to say obvious and truthful things, like Tom Cruise sucks, or James Cameron is an epic A-hole and Michael Bay is a complete hack, but here’s some information from The Inside(tm):
This happens all the %$@!^ing time. Actors prepare their guts out for an audition, only to get there, wait an hour or longer (SAG says they’re supposed to pay us like 30 bucks or something if we’re there longer than an hour, but if an actor actually asks for that he will be blacklisted by that casting director, so nobody ever does), and go into a room where producers are on the phone, or looking through paperwork, or doing just about everything in the world except paying attention to the actor who is auditioning for them.
Most of the time, the person who is reading with you is so overworked, he or she doesn’t take the time to learn what the scene is about, and reads the other lines in the scene with a flat, monotone disinterest that throws off the best of us. I guess what most of them fail to realize is that the best acting is reacting, and it’s tough to react to complete and utter disinterest.
A notable exception to this rule is Tony Sepulveda, who casts at Warner Brothers. He is one of my absolute favorite casting directors to read for, because he ALWAYS makes me feel welcome and comfortable, and he ALWAYS knows the material he’s reading. The last time I read for him, he was totally off the script, and even improvised with me. Tony is an incredibly busy man, yet he still manages to find the time to make actors feel welcome. It’s a shame that there’s only one of him.
You know, if I were a producer or director, I would want every actor who comes into my room to feel extremely comfortable. I would want to create an atmosphere where actors are free to feel vulnerable and take chances, and where they are able to do their absolute best work. I would want actors to come before me, and not worry about anything, at all, except showing me their take on the character.
Oh, I’m so living in a dreamworld. That is just not how it is. 4 out of 5 times, I go into an audition, and the people I’m reading for don’t even stand up and thank me for coming in. Most of the time, I’m lucky if anyone other than the casting director even says hello, or shows a remote interest in my being there. I have experienced people taking calls on their cell phones and talking during my audition, taking calls on their cell phones and leaving the room while I’m doing my audition, reading the newspaper, reading their schedule for the rest of the day, talking to another person in the room…it goes on and on.
Good acting comes from an actor who is not afraid to stand there naked in front of a room, and bear their soul to the camera. You’d think that the non-creative philistines who run this bullshit industry would give a shit about that, and try to create an atmosphere where actors can relax and do their best work.
But here’s the truth: these days, most of the people sitting in that room know that their show is going to maybe make it three episodes before the equally-insecure and un-talented people at the network cancel it before it can find an audience, and put re-runs of some shitty reality show in it’s place. And because they know this, they are scared to death, and they don’t trust their instincts, and they project all their insecurities onto the actors who are in front of them.
You know, the audition process for Win Ben Stein’s Money was the most fun I have had in YEARS, and that was entirely because Andrew Golder and the entire group over there told me, from the very beginning, “We want you to feel comfortable and relaxed. We want you to feel free to make mistakes, and not worry about looking bad, because when you can do your best work, it makes us look good.” It made me feel likeI was playing before the home crowd in The Big Game(tm).
So the challenge for me is to somehow get over this terrible enviroment that pervades auditions these days. I have to be able to walk into a room, and not give a shit about them, because they certainly don’t give a shit about me. But that’s extremely hard! I do care about them. I have put time, energy and effort into creating this character for them, and I want to please them! It’s really tough to do my best, when I feel like the people in the room don’t care whether I’m there or not.
Now, maybe I’m insane, but wouldn’t it be better, and easier, and more cost-effective for the studios to put actors at ease, and make us feel like they do, in fact, give a shit about us being there? If they’d do that, actors would be able to do much better work, because they wouldn’t feel nervous and overly scrutinized. Shows would be cast much more quickly, and everyone would go home happy.
But, as I said, I am so living in a dreamworld.
Thought for today:
“If imagination is not set to the task of building a creative life, it busies itself with weaving a web of inner fears and doubts, blame and excuse.”
-Laurence G. Boldt
Nice subject title, I liked that PeeWee Herman movie. (At least I hope that’s what you were quoting). 🙂
You part will come. Karma is building for you, and this site only adds to that karma.
Hee hee hee. Comment number 103, which means no one will ever even see it. My big audition nightmare: They didn’t give us the script until it was our turn to audition. I am then told to read for the part of the DUCK! I was supposed to dance. No hints about what sort of dancing either, just a dancing duck. So I impulsively toss out this tango-like scene. Later they said they wanted sort of a waddling conga-type thing. I got the part of the LAKE! (Do NOT ask.)
It was much easier that time I played Banquo, in Macbeth. And (in case you didn’t glance at the name) I’m a woman! We took that one to a Shakespeare festival. The judges took off points because they could see my white bra through my white shirt. But I still got “best supporting actor” for my death scene. *sigh* I miss acting. Even that time my entire body was covered in purple make-up. That was fun.
You were skinny when you were on Star Trek originally, but when you returned you were fat. What gives? Did you take a couple years off to eat donuts?
….mmmm krispy kremes
Hey Wil — I am sorry that your auditions didn’t go as well as you had hoped, and that you had to miss a weekend with your family because of preparation. You are a good person. Know that you have many (family, friends, and fans) in your corner.
Okay, can I be a total geek for more-than-half-a-second and say that it absolutely made my day to discover that you and Sean Astin are buddies? I know that the two of you starred in TOY SOLDIERS together, and it’s always nice to discover that the actors got along offscreen as well. 🙂 Oooh, plus the fact that Sean was my first
“celebrity crush” when I was seven years old. Woo! (But, hey, you are a cool guy too! ;))
C’mon now…it’s much more fun to be an arrogant asshole to everyone…
And Wil..hate to tell ya this but at least you haven’t tried to become a tech yet *sniffle* That’s not fun… tech or fast food employee…
believe me.. i haven’t gotten a difference in treatment *shrug* the world will continue till someone fixes it…
now we just have to find someone to fix it
Wil, I’m sorry things didn’t go well for you, and I’m not an actor, but interviewing is interviewing…and perhaps your approach is wrong. Perhaps you should take charge of the situation, instead of allowing people to take charge of you – improvise, develop and rehearse a few improvised lines and fit them in somehow, to illustrate anger and determination – for example, something along the lines of “pay attention while I’m talking to you” or “I don’t have time for this…if you don’t care, I certainly don’t either” – I am sure your vivid imagination could come up with some good improvised lines, that perhaps would startle those who don’t pay you the attention that you deserve while auditioning, and make them realize they have a man in front of them who wants the job, and will take charge of whatever situation confronts him, instead of merely being a pawn. I don’t mean to sound disrespectful in any way here, cause I always thought you were great as Wesley, only pointing out the absurdity of entering an audition and conducting business as usual, when those who should be paying you respect do not. Take them by surprise! Chew their asses off with polished improvisation! You just might get past first base for a change, instead of coming back home like all the other times! I honestly wish you the best – I want to see you in something good one of these days!!!!
Sluggo (foxjdmulder)
I know this really bummed you out and I’m really sorry but at least you can find solace in knowing that it wasn’t your fault. It was the big guys sitting behind the desks and acting like a**holes that spoiled everything. Just forget about it and keep trying your hardest!
I know this really bummed you out and I’m really sorry but at least you can find solace in knowing that it wasn’t your fault. It was the big guys sitting behind the desks and acting like a**holes that spoiled everything. Just forget about it and keep trying your hardest!
I know this really bummed you out and I’m really sorry but at least you can find solace in knowing that it wasn’t your fault. It was the big guys sitting behind the desks and acting like a**holes that spoiled everything. Just forget about it and keep trying your hardest!
Here’s something to be happy about Wil.
You’ll be on the cover of TV Guide next week.
nifty
Here’s one off the wall, Wil:
When you walk into another audition (maybe not your dream one, but one!), if they start doing that stop your acting and tell them how you feel. More philosophically (I’ll try this on even if I sound stupid – I probably am!!), if they won’t relate to you on a basic human level what chance is there of actually hiring you as an actor? Being yourself and making clear how you feel in front of them (without getting angry) you might actually get their respect. Worth trying once anyway? Maybe this is all rubbish, but maybe it resounds with you as a good idea? I dunno, just a suggestion.
Well, the comments by the 2 assholes directly above are worth about as much as the TP they flush after use…actually, THEY are worth about as much. I’m sure “johnnie two times”‘s biggest claim to fame is something along the lines of riding a bike once for 5 seconds before falling off. As for “Jeff”, BOCK BOCK BOCK comes to mind, since the bozo isn’t brave enough to leave a real email address. Don’t put up with their shit Wil, and don’t put up with anymore during auditions either!!!
Sluggo aka FoxJD
I log on here for the same reason as I log on to other people’s sites – because it’s interesting to see what other people are up to. I don’t think the “2 comments” are very fair. For instance, I have talked to musicians who trained with me (I don’t play anymore), and, even though they like music, they are put off by the buddy-network that seems to prevail in the London music world (“it’s not what you know, it’s who you know”). So it’s possible to be put off certain aspects of a profession without hating what that profession is about!
It may sometimes be a hindrance to retaining a sense of present reality if you’re being applauded for what you did 10 years ago (and there must be celebrity infatuation elements occasionally too, as is human nature) – that crossed my mind a few times. But there’s no reason to believe that a) this is affecting Wil in any meaningful way, or that b) it’s an excuse to try to ‘cut him down’. There may be no ‘up’ to cut him ‘down’ from!
Also, if anyone was serious about Hollywood being a good barometer of acting ability, they need to seriously look again!!! It’s all about various appeal factors, it seems to me. You fit into the right boxes and you get the job. That’s as far as ability is concerned. However, ultimately, even that doesn’t matter. You choose something to do and you do it. And you hope that, if people have anything to say about this, it will be supportive of your efforts.
okay… i realize that this is an old post… and there is very little point in this… but for fuck’s sake man…
have you ever had to work in McDonald’s drive through???