Viennese Big Cheese

I had another big-wig meeting today. The third of my career. I somehow manage to wangle an appointment with a very (read VERY) high-ranking industry professional and then....? Well, either I take high-ranking abuse, or I have an interesting meeting that took at least three weeks and hundreds of phone calls to set up, and when it's over, it's over. The people I see are too high up in the hierarchy to be involved with actors and casting - they have whole departments that do it for them! When you (in this case, me) get sent off to the casting people, you (in this case, I) can't get a decent meeting with them cos they're always casting and cancelling all my-boss-sent-a-random-person-I-don't-have-time-for meetings! And somewhere after the 96th cancelled appointment, you (in this case, me) give up.

For now, all I can say is that today's big cheese was a very kind, intently-listening cheese and I didn't take any abuse or ridicule. But I haven't had to deal with the production department yet...

You can overshoot your mark and come in way too high sometimes. Ask me, I know.

Religious pornography casting

...is how I would describe the last casting I went to. It was an open call for an independent feature film. I went along, with a vegetarian colleague of mine (why the veggie bit is significant you will earn upon further reading!) We were given sides* and asked to put our names on the waiting list.

Upon scanning the sides for a moment, I thought it was fishy, as in VERY. Overtly religious and fervent. When I asked what market the film was for, Utah and Colorado were mentioned and I had a lightbulb moment. "Mormons?" "Yes" came the reply. "Uh, okay, thanks. I can't stay for the audition, unfortunately - bye!" My co-thespian asked me why I was dashing off and mentioned that it may be religious, but they are paying $150 a day, so it would be worth it.

In an admittedly low blow I retorted, "Would you eat meat, if someone promised you $150? A religious movie that aims to convert people to the Church of the Latter Day Saints, just like a porno photo-shoot, will re-surface and come back to haunt you at a very inconvenient point in your career, I am quite sure of that."
And with that, we both hopped on our bikes and cycled off, as fast as our little pedalling legs could propel us.

*sides = excerpts of the script to audition from