January 29, 1992
I'm moving into a new phase in my quest to become an actor, best described as the "Cold Reading Workshop/Showcase" phase.
At Patty's enthusiastic suggestion, I auditioned today for a program which invites agents and casting directors to hold "workshops", at which we little actors do cold scenes or monologues and receive feedback and other industry info from the big guys (and gals). Of course, these workshops cost money, usually 25 bucks each and the agents and casting directors are only there to make a few extra bucks. So, it's not an ideal situation. But what is?
My waiting-time for this might have been the record. Whoops, no. In Arts L.A. 3 days ago, was the record, but this was close - about an hour and 20 minutes. In that time, my scene partner James and I rehearsed our scene to death. We spent time discussing the beats and the "previous moment" and their past relationship, and we ran the scene about 15 times. It got to be pretty good.
In we went. We did the scene well, without any glitches, and then left the room. When we returned, they sat us down and we switched roles, apparently to see if James was a motor-mouth, or if he was just acting. The answer was acting, so he is a good actor then, I guess.
We were both accepted into the program. I was asked, "John, you're not SAG yet?" That was an encouraging way to ask the question. "Not yet," I replied. The gentleman auditioner also said that with my look (and I think my talent) that I should be a "gold mine" for a commercial agent. If I.C.A. only knew.
A secretary gave us our debriefing, session-costs, schedules, payment plans, agent lists - and we met the owner. I was late for something else so I scurried out the door as she seemed to be winding down with her spiel. It seems like it'll be a good thing.
STUFF:
One-On-One Productions