Tuesday: Better Than Monday

Today. Has. Been. Awesome.

Last evening I am informed of an audition this morning at 10:20am (an unheard of time for me to be awake) at House Productions for something I might not be able to talk about yet and based on my experience with the Sci Fi Network, I'm going to err on the side of not getting yelled at by a major name in the industry.

Suffice to say that I was supposed to look as attractive and model-y as possible based on the name of the company.

So, I walk out the door, as hot as lava in summer (thanks 90% to my little nouf and 10% to my Super Fuckability) and stroll into my audition.

I soon noticed something was amiss.

At the sign in sheet for an on screen audition there is usually a script and maybe a breakdown of the project or storyboards or something else.

Today, there was a sheet that read:

PREPARATION

Do not talk to anyone in the waiting area.

Please take this as serious as possible.

You are in the underground and have been for a long time.

You have been out of the modern world for some time.

You only exist as you appear on the screen.

Always be as sincere as possible.

You often refer to yourself as "WE".

To understate: I was intrigued.

After filling out my info and getting my snap, one of the awesome chicks at House says that we're taking a trip to wardrobe.

In there, I meet Andreas who puts a cloak and mask on me.

Yes, a cloak and a mask.

I then sit, silently, out in the waiting area, not talking to anyone, getting into this character as much as I can.

I am having fun despite the heavy cloak, black satin mask and the stares I am getting...or maybe because of it?

From the audition space, I hear a blaring, discordant siren go off, once, twice.

Soon after, I hear someone playing a tambourine, badly.

And after that, the small of burning toast.

To understate: I was excited.

Then,. after about 20 minutes hunched on a bench, not talking, not looking at anyone, my name is called.

I walk into the room and it's set up like most on screen audition spaces, flat screen monitor, lights, camera, prompt boards, bounce boards etc.

There are a few people that are having a mumbled discussion about me.

They remove my mask, ask to see me without my glasses and them decide they like them.

As do I.

I go to my mark and am told to answer as seriously and sincerely as possible.

I am then "interviewed" by a distorted voice over a bullhorn.

"What is your name?"

"How long have you been here?"

"What is your favorite color?"

""Tell us about your mother."

"Tell us about your childhood."

"What is your star sign?"

"What is your lucky number?"

"Have you been treated well here?"

"Are you efficient?"

"Do you like children?"

"Have you ever been on television?"

"Take off your shoes."

"What else have you done?"

"What is your favorite?"

I'm missing some, but you get the gist.

Or most likely you don't.

It was weird, but exhilarating.

Especially when I'm usually talking about HOW GREAT OPTIMUM ONLINE IS.

Anyhoo, then they have me read from the board some phrases that seem to tie in with the project.

I won't go into them verbatim, but they were ominous.

Then they blindfolded me and gave me some objects to hold.

One was a telephone, the other was glass, that's all I know.

Finally, they said thank you, but before I could go, the director asked me to tell a joke, in the fashion I had been instructed to deliver everything thus far.

So I told the one about the man who was not enjoying sex with a prostitute until she...did something.

If you don't know it, then you aren't as close to me as you think.

I warned them it was a doozy.

So, I tell the joke, pause a moment after the punch line and then grin.

"Pretty foul, huh?"

They laugh and then thank me and applaud.

I returned my cloak to Andreas and left.

I'll let you know if anything comes from this when I'm able, but just know that this has been one of the most fun acting experiences of my life.

THIS is why I'm an actor.