August 30, 1993
After over a year absence from the hallowed halls of One-on-One, I made my way into the Valley this afternoon. After the obligatory Pamela Neill big-hug, I took a look at the most recent casting director schedule. I scanned down to today's date and there it was: Tom McSweeney.
Now, the short history of Tom McSweeney is that I joined Theater Rapport, did a show with Frank Doyno Chapa, who introduced me to his agent, who signed me, who got me an audition for a play with Brian Keith, which I got, which was being produced by a man named Ellis, who got me a non-union audition for Danette McSween, who knows Tom McSweeney, and was going to bring him to see Five Card Stud but his wife got sick and he could not make it. Now, a few postcards later, I had the chance to meet Tom McSweeney.
So I signed up. One little aside here is that because of the interviews I once did for the never-published One-on-One newsletter, I am the proud owner of $393 worth of credit for showcases, $25 of which I spent tonight.
The showcase went fine. He did recognize my headshot once he saw it. He said he had been meaning to call me in, but the producers of the show he is casting keep bringing in their own ringers. But he did say Cathy (his partner) will be glad to know that he finally met me. So cool.
The scene was tricky -- elaborate, lots of lines -- but it went fine. Four pairs of actors did the scene. (Ours was the best.) Tom was very into the movie that the scene was taken from and expected a lot from us actors in only 10 minutes. it was illuminating, though, because it reinforced the need to fully explore each audition piece, and he stressed bits. He stressed making moments work. He stressed creating a beginning, middle, and end. All important stuff.
So it was good. Hopefully, he will keep me in mind as he continues to cast Against the Grain.
STUFF:
Scene partner: Jill