Day 3 -- Monday, April 23
Over the weekend, I would be driving in my car or doing something in my apartment and it would hit me: I don't have to get a job next week. For one week, I can stop going crazy trying to break the curse, reading scripts, preparing auditions, running around town. For one week, I can actually just go to work and be content doing that.
Day 3. Though I was happy to eschew auditioning for a week, there was almost no period of time when I felt content. The honeymoon period had ended. I was happy to break the curse, yes. I was happy to be making some money, yes. I was happy to be on a show and around friendly, familiar faces, yes. But at the end of the day, I'm not really doing anything on this show. Two scenes, six lines, but part.
"Every role is important or it wouldn't be there."
"There are no small parts, only small actors."
Whatever the cliche might be, it still doesn't feel fabulous to do virtually nothing. And it's especially frustrating on a pilot. These people are making a brand-new television show. The future potential of this venture is staggering. They could be laying the foundation for a ten-year run, multiple Emmys, millions of dollars. The odds of against it, but the possibility is there. And it's the possibility that makes you tingle with excitement when you're in rehearsal.
Me? Not so much tingling. Rehearsing the scenes is fun. That takes about 15% of my "workday." The other 85% is spent remembering that I used to do this. I made a pilot or two in my day. But today I'm just trying to create an interesting lunch from the craft-service table.
Go on to Day 4