September 25, 1991
This "FREE audition class" was basically the equivalent of the first meeting of a class during shopping period at Harvard. The two instructors each took an hour to describe their four-week sessions (4 hours a night).
The people I met (or heard their names spoken) were: Brian, the
co-ordinator of the programs it seemed, Monique (I think) was the
receptionist. The two instructors were:
Allen Fawcett - an overbearing, cocky guy who's done some impressive
things, but who I would not enjoy studying with.
Laura Gardner - a friendly, pleasant woman who seemed very
interesting and full of information. Her four weeks of the course
would have been about the interview, but I couldn't stand Allen to
get to Laura.
Two other names thrown out were: "Sam," who runs the place,
and "Katherine," his associate.
What I got out of the two-hour session from Laura was to be yourself, either you're right or you're not. Don't try to fit what you think they want. They don't even really know what they want until you walk through that door. Be true and honest.
Allen gave us the low-down on his personal approach to cold-reading auditions: Each scene has the four "C"s: Conflict, Crisis, Climax, Conclusion. And more. I took notes. They should be somewhere accessible if I have taken the time to set up some files.
It took place at 12229 Ventura Blvd, about four minutes from this house.