Carmax Commerical Audition

[thehefner]

So I drove to Baltimore, all the way to within five miles of the Senator Theater where I was a year and a half ago for Trilogy Tuesday, to a casting agent's office to attend non-union auditions for a Carmax commerical. The agency contacted me and hey, it's paid, so of course I went for it.

Ok. At this point, let me say that I know I should take any work I can get. Hell, I was actually very positive and optimistic about this, even when I saw the three dozen other people of various races and ages sitting cramped around the waiting room area. I was still ready to go in there and knock 'em dead. A kid asked me what role I was up for, and I said, "any one they want me for." And hey, I figured the chances were in my favor. I'm a young and attractive white guy. I was sure there'd be a place for me.

So they called me in, and there was just one guy in the room with a camcorder. He said, "ok, we'll have you read for the Jeep Driver. It's very simple. You're a young guy, full of life, and you're hip. You're driving around in your Jeep, just cruising. You're relaxed and you're listening to music. Okay?"

"What, that's it? No lines or anything?"

"That's it. Aaaaand... go."

So I sat down in the chair, catching myself projected on the huge TV screen out of the corner of my eye. I mime steering with my right hand, and because I'm such a cool, hip, laid-back Jeep Driver, I mime resting my shoulder on the rolled out window. I look around side to side at the imaginary scenery. And to indicate that I'm listening to music, I bop my head ever so slightly. Bop. Bop. Bop.

And that... was the whole audition. All 30 humiliating, ridiculous, surreal seconds of it. Now, again, work is work and so if I get more audition notices for commercials, sure, I'll do them, but now with a great added reluctance. I'd just kinda like to do acting work where I have just a little more to do and where I can feel just a little less like a capitalist whore. I may be a capitalist tool, but a whore? Never!

Comments

[777666.livejournal.com]

That's just what commercial auditions are like...I hate them personal, because they just rattle off informantion and then give you no time to let it all sink in. But your right work is work

[cavenessity.livejournal.com]

Taylor Royall, right? They are *infamous* for their improv auditions :) I'm sure you did just fine!

[thehefner.livejournal.com]

Are they? What have you heard?

[cavenessity.livejournal.com]

I've auditioned there several times, and Brenna McDonough/John Wolfe in their on-camera classes often mention it and work to prepare you for them.

One time I had to pretend I was waiting at the airport along with a bunch of other people and we had to group improv how we reacted to the flights being delayed, without speaking of course. You feel silly, but it makes sense why they do it.

[dame-ratcliffe.livejournal.com]

I saw that email too, but given that I leave tomorrow for Cali, it wasn't happening. Fingers crossed for you...

[winterist.livejournal.com]

goddamn. i totally would have hammed it up. rocked out to the car stereo a bit. busted out the big sunglasses. ran from the cops. pedal to the metal, man. hell yeah.

[thirdbase.livejournal.com]

http://www.livejournal.com/users/thirdbase/161922.html

Did you not see this? ;)

Pimp my fries! In a less captialistic society, you would be provided free housing and get no/shit pay for acting, if you paid your party dues. Or you might get shot as a social deviant. It is because you live in a capitalistic society that you may someday be paid $3M for your 30 seconds driving a Jeep.

[myoffenceisrank.livejournal.com]

yeah, you should have been the guy with the dog, getting out of his old car and into the new van with the dog. that was my brilliant improv! Ah, art by any other name, would be humiliation...

[fishymcb.livejournal.com]

Oh man, I LOVE Without You. Fantastic, cheesy, weepy song. My dad tells me that Harry Nilsson is dead. Sad news.