They say that when you have an audition, you have to walk in there like you don’t give a shit. You walk in there like you don’t give a shit, and you walk out with the part, because if you don’t give a shit, that’s when they want you.
But you’ve read the script, and it is good. So good, in fact, you fall in love with it. You fall madly, passionately, crazy in love with the script, and you’ll do anything to be one of the people chosen to bring the script to life.
You think about it all the time. You wake up in the middle of the night, imagining what it would be like to spend ten weeks on location or four seasons on the set. You get lost on your way to the post office, because you’re wondering who your competition is. You can’t eat, you can’t sleep, you can’t focus on anything else . . . you are in love, after all.
In the days before your audition, you do everything you can to be ready. First, you get to know your character. If you’re lucky, he’s a guy you know. Maybe he’s even you. Not the current you, usually, but still You. A younger you, a more passionate you, a more idealistic you; the You who you were before you fell in love with too many scripts and had your heart broken too many times to count . . . the you who was incapable of walking in there like you didn’t give a shit, because it felt so good to be in love. Then you learn your lines. You spend hours in your house or your apartment reading them out loud, scaring your dogs, worrying your neighbors, annoying your roommates who are sick to death of hearing about The Script. They’ve heard it all before, and you’ve made an unspoken pact among you: you don’t tell them how crushed you are when you don’t get the job, and they pretend not to notice how you wear the same clothes and drink heavily for five days after you get The Call.
The day of the audition finally comes. Your first date. Your big date. Your only date. You spend too much time putting yourself together. You carefully choose your clothes and style your hair a minimum of three different times. Maybe you spray on some cologne, because it makes you feel attractive. Maybe.
You drive to the studio, and hope your voice doesn’t break when you tell the guard that you’re going to Bungalow 15. You park, walk across the lot, and your palms sweat when you sign in. You wait for what seems like an eternity, surrounded by actors who are younger, taller, better looking than you. Actors who clearly don’t give a shit because they don’t have to. You know that they don’t love The Script like you do, haven’t put in the time that you have . . . but it doesn’t matter. You’ve been here before and you’ll be here again, long after they’ve left for location.
Your heart throbs in your chest when they call your name. You smile, take a deep breath, and stand up.
And then you walk into the room, and you’re supposed to act like you don’t give a shit.
Yeah. Right.
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*crossing my fingers for you*
wow..
don’t sugar coat it for me wil…
how do you REALLY feel about auditions..
😉
jez kiddin man..
i get the same way before i show a client my designs
(im in advertising, graphics etc)
it’s nerver wracking as hell…
i’m sending mega mojo in your direction dude..
one of these days soon, ‘the call’ will be ‘THE CALL!’
(all caps indicating a good call, of course)
cheers man
tyson
So um like… I don’t know… I could really care less… but um… yeah… WHAT HAPPENS NEXT. I’m about to fall off my chair. Nice work on that entry! I like it.
I’m glad you do give a shit wil, because the world needs more people like you! Thanks!
I wish I could write as well too!
john
You just made us all know what it’s like to give a shit. Put this into the next book. For reals, yo.
*fingers crossed, now with the power of Typekey* Hope I”m not posting this twice…Anyway good luck!
You just made me understand what it’s like to give a shit. Put this in the next book.
*fingers crossed, now with the power of Typekey* Hope I”m not posting this twice…Anyway good luck!
I’m glad you do give a shit Wil. The world needs more people like you! Thanks.
I wish I could write as well as you do too.
john
Good luck, Wil!
Good luck, Wil!
Ahh to be an actor 😉 This will be the one!
It sucks having your heart ripped out of your chest so many times. Why can’t they ever fall in love with the one who loves them? I only hope the best things for you.
I’ve never read your blog before tonight, but I certainly will read it again. Beautifully written.
so…. the audition went good or bad? and I’m not talking about end results, just whether or not you blew them out of the water like you’re so good at doing and we know you can do!
It just doesn’t get any easier does it Wil?
I missed you Wil.. just back from 3 wks
vacation!
I’ll have to hunt through the history find up what
been up w/you…
Hrm… comments probably not working.
But hey, all my good thoughts your way wether you get this or not.
If there’s one thing that keeps alot of WWdN readers enthralled, it’s your descriptions of the audition process; how you feel before, during and after. The rest of us (except for Keith, who knows first hand himself) rarely ever hear about this side of Hollywood. Wil’s version of “The Trenches,” as it were.
Hope the audition went well. You seem to have quite a few of these lately…
Wow. That’s the sound of my heart breaking, right there.
-hedge
I think you captured the essence perfectly Wil.
Wow. That’s the sound of my heart breaking, right there.
-hedge
Wil, that just completely rocked my world. You are an amazing person. I … just, wow. Thank you.
So.. Is this a good post about good things to come, or a good post about bad things to come?
Not giving a shit when you really do reminds me an awful bit like being broken up with.
Bad audition Wil? 🙁
Hang in there Wil you should have no problem getting the part. Have Faith
Are we to assume the audition didn’t go so well? Chin up hun.
Good luck Wil.
Blog later on and let us know how it turns out.
Beautifully written. I’m sorry you sound somewhat upset though. =/ I don’t know what I can say or do to help, so… here: *good vibes*
God damn you! Get me going only to leave me revving to high that i might blow my engine. Bastard! I haven’t done that many auditions, unfortunately, but those feeling that I know all so well came rushing back as I read this. Amazing piece as usual!
So.. did you get the part? 😛
Good luck Wil! I think I felt that way when I had my first interview for my first faculty job.
I very much hope you get this part! I remember your post about auditioning for Alias and was disappointed to hear that didn’t work out. Actors should have the same passion for the script that you describe.
I’ve been in love like this… I know this feeling all too well. I once wanted a job so much that I had an anxiety attack waiting to hear back from the interviewer. FWIW: I got the job.
I think this is the first time you’ve gotten more comments in LiveJournal (here) than in your actual blog.
good luck wil, hope you get the part, they might want to guy who cares.
That was beautiful.
Mad mojo coming your way Wil.
I haven’t commented in a while. But that one really touched me. So well written and from the heart. Wonderful. I hope, hope, hope you get it!
Btw, I wrote you an email that VH1 is doing a show in my town of Cottage Grove,OR about Stand By Me and other movies filmed here. They want people involved with the film, and our local paper said “contact anyone you know who worked on these films”. You should get involved, it would be fun.
I really felt like I knew for a second what it was like to be you auditioning for a part… then I woke up to my geeky little existence. Thanks for taking me away for a bit.
Good luck BTW, I hope you get it.
PS, where is the howto information on the site to learn how to write and be an actor like you? And once you learn how do you break into the bizz? 🙂
Woah. Those are some ugly styles. I need to work that out.
In other news, TypeKey users should be able to comment without any difficulties now. Yay!
Good luck! Sounds like you are really into the part, and *that* makes for a good show!
I can’t wait to hear how this one ends. Best of luck Wil
Greg
Wil…
I read your site often, but never really comment. I just wanted to say I happened to read your latest entry a half hour before I have to leave for rehearsal for Chekov’s “Three Sisters”. Anyway, I understand the passion, and I understand the heartbreak…the loss of opportunity for those that need it.
You take the chance in order to have one. It’s obvious that similar to most cases, the love may not work out, but it’s always there. That’s what’s important. I was glad to see that.
In my own way, I understand the love. It may sound odd, but similar to most cases, the heartbreak makes the love stronger.
Keep up.
You just know how to write so wonderfully.
Though I have never been in that position I felt short of breath and tense when the post came to an end…
The anticipation is intense!!!
You are a good looking guy and will land a part perfect for you soon!!!
Lots of Mojo coming your way!!
Well best of luck to you. It sounds like you fell in love with the character and story, and *that* is what really makes a show worth seeing!!!
Wow. I was there with you. I had a miraculous first date last week, and it reminded me of that day.
I heard the AUDIOBLOG, and I am BELIEVING and SEEING this for you after the table read/2nd audition.
I have been so inspired by reading your blog, that I started my own . . . mostly motivated by my desire to motivate people to keep giving what they can to Tsunami Aid. Your UNICEF link rocks. (See http://www.ohblahdah.blogspot.com)
Here’s hoping for a miraculous 2005 for all of us — Wil and wilheads alike.
Wil-
Wow. Exactly.
(Everything except the cologne.)
🙂
Screw them Wil
Your an amazing writer.
I think you should write your own T.V. show or movie.
Then you’ll win a bunch of awards.
People will start kissing your ass,
then you can say”I gave a shit about my genius work and look were I am now bitch.”
Go get them, tiger.
Small consolation, but you have achieved here, in 7 paragraphs, what most actors seem to only dream about with a lifetime of work. You’ve transported your audience into the world you’ve created, held us there spellbound, and then left us aching for more.
You are an amazing writer. Good mojo being wafted your way, indeed.
Wow. That was awesome.