We held our first screen test last week. It's funny, being on the other side of the camera, to see the whole audition process. Actors live their lives hearing what they're not--not tall enough, not short enough, not old enough, not young enough...it's a life of rejection. And yet, we keep coming back. I heard that, at any time, 90% or more of the actors in the SAG union are unemployed.
But getting back to the audition process. We had some great people come out and audition for us. We're looking to cast the role of "Melissa", the late 20-early 30-something lifelong server. Sitting there, directing the talent, I thought, "I sure hope she knocks it out of the park." We want the talent to succeed. No one who sits through auditions (that I know), who are looking to cast a project, wants the actors to fail. No one. When you go into the audition, they are really hoping you succeed so they don't have to watch bad auditions.
One thing to take a look at is the shooting dates. When will you be needed? We auditioned someone who we offered the part to, after much internal debate, but it turns out she's going to be out of town for 75% of the shooting dates. Considering we only have 8 days scheduled, we obviously couldn't use her.
We found some great talent that weren't right for the role of Melissa but were right for other roles. Even one person who auditioned created a new role for herself based on the strength of her audition. We felt like we just had to use her in our film. Plus, she had wide open availability and said "absolutely, that role sounds fun" when we offered her the part of the sous Chef. She's going to get plenty of screen time and will really round out the cast nicely. We couldn't be happier.
It just reinforces a great piece of advice we got from a known film maker: surround yourself with people who say "yes, and." Just like in improv.
Speaking of saying yes, we are also super excited, ecstatic in fact, to have James Beard award-winning chef Mike Sheerin signed on to play the mentor of our film's Chef Antonio Reynolds. We have a FREAKIN' JAMES BEARD AWARD WINNER IN OUR FILM!!!!!
What did he say when we met with him about the film? "You just don't pass up an opportunity like this." Those are the people we want to and get to work with.
Life rocks.
Shooting starts October 31st. We're still waiting for a firm commitment from our restaurant locale, but we've given them a deadline to give us an answer yea or nea. It's just one of the many little things that, as independent filmmakers, Berka and I have come to expect with the territory. But thank God for the first film. We're at least ahead of the game in that respect.
It's still very, very exciting and it's coming together.
Next up: finding a host stand and a POS machine. OK universe, I'm asking...
Boy, I really loved using commas this posting.
31 days and counting.
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