I was blessed with the opportunity to audition for the lead in a Disney Channel Pilot called "Smart Alec". For those who don't know what a pilot is or how it works let me explain...when an idea for a TV Show is pitched to a network (in this case Disney Channel), the network then decides if they will green-light a pilot. If so, then casting begins on the pilot. A pilot is one episode. Once the pilot is shot, then the network decides if they will pick it up for a full season. If not, then the pilot dies and nothing is done about it. But if they do decide to pick it up, then a full season is shot and it becomes an actual TV Show on the network.
My audition was for the lead character in the pilot, a girl by the name of Alecia "Alec" Michaels. I was given the script (which contained 3 scenes) and began working on it and memorizing it. My audition took place on October 8, 2009 at the casting directors office at Hollywood Center Studios in LA. Once I found parking and walked in, I was about 30mins early for my audition.
Hollywood Center Studios is a bunch of studios where they shoot shows/movies. They film "Wizards of Waverly Place" and "The Suite Life on Deck" there. It was so cool because walking through to get to the building where my audition was held there were signs for parking for Wizards cast and extras changing areas for Suite Life. The casting directors that were casting for my audition are the same people who cast "The Suite Life of Zack & Cody" and "The Suite Life on Deck".
When I got inside the casting office there was only about 4 other people there auditioning besides me. I signed in and sat down practicing my lines. I was the only person there who didn't have an agent and I was also the only person in the waiting room who was not accompanied my a parent, which made me feel a little old lol. A couple people were called in before me and were only in the room for a minute or so then they came out and left. I didn't know if that was a good thing or bad. After only a couple minutes, they called me in.
I went in and had brief introduction with the lady I auditioned for named Liz. I gave her my resume/headshot. She asked how old I was, I told her. Then she said she was only going to have me read the first scene. There was no camera at this audition, she told me to pick somewhere on the back wall to pretend was the camera and audition my scene. I said ok and began. I messed up the first line. Quickly in my head I debated whether to ask if I could begin again or continue on, I decided to continue. But right before I started, Liz asked me if I would like to begin again. Since she had offered I said yes, if you don't mind. She said that was fine and gave me a minute before I began again.
When I stared again, I went all the way from the first line to the last perfectly, just how I had practiced. Liz reacted by laughing to the funny ending line, which I took as a good sign. Since I've heard that casting directors don't usually show any emotion with your performance at all. She said "that's good" and started writing something down. I wasn't sure what to do next but Liz looked up and told me I could go. I was in and out of the casting office in about 10 mins. I was really surprised it went by so fast.
Normally your agent is your go-between with the casting director. Since I don't have one yet I didn't know what to expect. After about a week I did get in touch with Liz about if I was going to get a callback or not. She said I did a good job at my audition but wasn't right for the part. She did say they'll keep me in mind for future projects that they cast. I was a little disappointed but overall just thankful that I was able to audition in the first place without an agent that like never happens.
My acting teacher said that I probably just didn't look like what they wanted the character to look like. Which is ok, I'm not going to fit everything I go out for and I don't want to change myself. She also said that casting directors have no problem telling you when you had a bad audition. They don't care, they'll tell you they didn't like it. So she said that if Liz told me I had a good audition then that means I did. So that was encouraging to hear. You never know if they may be casting for another show in the future, I may fit and they'll think of me. So I don't have anything to complain about. It was a great experience and I am very thankful to have had it.
Friday, October 30, 2009
Monday, October 5, 2009
3 Days on a Disney Set
When I was driving home from my Long Beach from shooting the Nickelodeon Pilot - I hit horrible traffic. Being a Friday and 3pm...not good. Instead of the without traffic time of 45mins to get home it took me 2 hours. Welcome to LA baby! haha
Since tragic was so bad I called the Central Casting line to give me something to do. They had something on there casting for girls, looking 18 and younger, with modest swimsuits, for a movie of the week. It would be working Monday and possibly Tuesday and Wednesday. I was so excited and wrote the number down to call. As soon as I got home I called and was surprised when they answered right away. I gave them my info, they asked about my car, which I wasn't sure why. Then asked about my swimsuit - they told me its a Disney movie which is why they need modest swimsuits. Then she booked me for the job. I was completely freaking out in my head when she told me it was a Disney movie. For those of you who don't know I LOVE Disney! Disney everything - no lie! My biggest dream is working with Disney. So you can imagine how ecstatic I was for it being a Disney movie.
After finding out all the info I needed to work, I googled the movie to see what I could find out. The only info I could find about it was that it's called "Starstruck" and is going to be a Disney Channel Original Movie. I found out that Cody Linley (Jake Ryan on "Hannah Montana") was going to be the main guy and couldn't believe it. I called home right away to tell my sister who is a BIG Cody Linley fan. My role is a Beach-goer. I had to take some outfits for wardrobe to look through as well. My call time was 6:00am - which would mean getting up insanely early to get there, but I didn't care. I was just happy to be working on a Disney movie.
When signing in on location, I found out I was also booked with my car. Which was totally ok with me. I got paid extra for it. They used my car to park at the beach parking lot - to make it look like its full. I actually got to have my hair done on this set which was cool - they didn't do much. Just touched it up with a straightener. When reporting to wardrobe, they told me what I had on was perfect. So I am the very pink girl in the movie :). There were many more extras on this set than the pilot. It was still just as fun, if not more. We shot in Palos Verdes at a private beach.
I noticed differences between TV (the Nick pilot) and movie (this one) filming. The Nick pilot I did was a lot faster paced. We only did a few takes and them moved on, most times. On this set however there was a lot more that went into getting each scene ready and actually filming it. One scene they must have shot at least 20 takes. There was a lot of the same scene over and over, but shooting from different angles. On Monday I was there for 12 hours and they shot 4 scenes. I also noticed that the main guy was NOT Cody Linley. When I got a good look at him I realized it was Sterling Knight (Chad Dylan Cooper on "Sonny With a Chance"). I didn't mind though. I was totally psyched that I knew who this person was! The fact that I had seen him on TV and now he was standing in front of me was so weird, but cool at the same time. When they wrapped us for the day they called me back for the next day of work with a call time of 6:30am.
On Tuesday it was pretty much a repeat of Monday. I was booked with my car and was on set for about 12 hours. This day was a lot more relaxed for me. I didn't do much. They shot a lot with just the main actors. But I was used for a couple scenes. Then I was blessed with getting a SAG voucher for the day. I was SO excited! For those who don't know - SAG (Screen Actors Guild) is the biggest actors guild. Mostly all of the actors you see on TV and in movies are members of this guild. Eventually getting in is my goal too. However, getting into the guild is hard. You have to have 3 SAG vouchers to even be eligible to become a member. Basically this means that you have worked on 3 different days on SAG projects and were paid SAG wage. This Disney movie I shot is a SAG movie. For SAG productions they have to have a certain number of SAG people working (I'm not sure exactly what the number is) otherwise they get penalized. So what happens is whenever SAG people don't show up for work then they have to give SAG vouchers to non-union people. Basically, the non-union person/people get paid SAG wage and then the production doesn't get penalized.
So anyway I was one of the two people who was blessed with receiving a SAG voucher for working on Tuesday. As we neared the end of the day, we found out that they were cutting about half of the people for Wednesday. I prayed I wouldn't get cut. But was told that since I was receiving a SAG voucher I was going to be one of the ones cut. Even though I didn't want to be cut, I understood and it seemed only fair. Although after finding out that they were going to shoot parking lot scenes on Wednesday I asked the guy in charge of the extras, if I needed to come back because of my car. He said he would check. Later I found out that I would indeed be called back again for Wednesday because they needed my car for the scenes. I was so happy! I got a SAG voucher for the day and then was saved from being cut by my car!
On Wednesday, I had a call time of 6:00am. I arrived early and checked in only to find out I had been booked as SAG again for the day. I couldn't believe it - I was so excited! We had some weather issues this day. But eventually it cleared up and we were able to progress. I worked for about 12 hours yet again, but didn't mind at all. I got to shoot a scene beside Sterling Knight that day as well. I was so excited! I know I will be in the movie for sure now because I was right beside him for one scene. He is a really nice guy and let me just say he's very good looking in person too :) ...
I loved being on this set. I was blessed with being there for 3 days and had a blast! I was sad when Wednesday came to an end. I had gotten to know some of the other extras and crew workers. I was finally familiar with everything and everyone. I was having so much fun but I knew my time was up. It was a very good experience I will never forget. I can't wait until I am the main actor on a set :)
"Starstuck" is a Disney Channel Original Movie. It won't be out until 2010 sometime. I don't know when yet, they are still filming it. But I will definitely be watching for it and will let you all know when it comes out so you can watch it and try to find me!
Since tragic was so bad I called the Central Casting line to give me something to do. They had something on there casting for girls, looking 18 and younger, with modest swimsuits, for a movie of the week. It would be working Monday and possibly Tuesday and Wednesday. I was so excited and wrote the number down to call. As soon as I got home I called and was surprised when they answered right away. I gave them my info, they asked about my car, which I wasn't sure why. Then asked about my swimsuit - they told me its a Disney movie which is why they need modest swimsuits. Then she booked me for the job. I was completely freaking out in my head when she told me it was a Disney movie. For those of you who don't know I LOVE Disney! Disney everything - no lie! My biggest dream is working with Disney. So you can imagine how ecstatic I was for it being a Disney movie.
After finding out all the info I needed to work, I googled the movie to see what I could find out. The only info I could find about it was that it's called "Starstruck" and is going to be a Disney Channel Original Movie. I found out that Cody Linley (Jake Ryan on "Hannah Montana") was going to be the main guy and couldn't believe it. I called home right away to tell my sister who is a BIG Cody Linley fan. My role is a Beach-goer. I had to take some outfits for wardrobe to look through as well. My call time was 6:00am - which would mean getting up insanely early to get there, but I didn't care. I was just happy to be working on a Disney movie.
When signing in on location, I found out I was also booked with my car. Which was totally ok with me. I got paid extra for it. They used my car to park at the beach parking lot - to make it look like its full. I actually got to have my hair done on this set which was cool - they didn't do much. Just touched it up with a straightener. When reporting to wardrobe, they told me what I had on was perfect. So I am the very pink girl in the movie :). There were many more extras on this set than the pilot. It was still just as fun, if not more. We shot in Palos Verdes at a private beach.
I noticed differences between TV (the Nick pilot) and movie (this one) filming. The Nick pilot I did was a lot faster paced. We only did a few takes and them moved on, most times. On this set however there was a lot more that went into getting each scene ready and actually filming it. One scene they must have shot at least 20 takes. There was a lot of the same scene over and over, but shooting from different angles. On Monday I was there for 12 hours and they shot 4 scenes. I also noticed that the main guy was NOT Cody Linley. When I got a good look at him I realized it was Sterling Knight (Chad Dylan Cooper on "Sonny With a Chance"). I didn't mind though. I was totally psyched that I knew who this person was! The fact that I had seen him on TV and now he was standing in front of me was so weird, but cool at the same time. When they wrapped us for the day they called me back for the next day of work with a call time of 6:30am.
On Tuesday it was pretty much a repeat of Monday. I was booked with my car and was on set for about 12 hours. This day was a lot more relaxed for me. I didn't do much. They shot a lot with just the main actors. But I was used for a couple scenes. Then I was blessed with getting a SAG voucher for the day. I was SO excited! For those who don't know - SAG (Screen Actors Guild) is the biggest actors guild. Mostly all of the actors you see on TV and in movies are members of this guild. Eventually getting in is my goal too. However, getting into the guild is hard. You have to have 3 SAG vouchers to even be eligible to become a member. Basically this means that you have worked on 3 different days on SAG projects and were paid SAG wage. This Disney movie I shot is a SAG movie. For SAG productions they have to have a certain number of SAG people working (I'm not sure exactly what the number is) otherwise they get penalized. So what happens is whenever SAG people don't show up for work then they have to give SAG vouchers to non-union people. Basically, the non-union person/people get paid SAG wage and then the production doesn't get penalized.
So anyway I was one of the two people who was blessed with receiving a SAG voucher for working on Tuesday. As we neared the end of the day, we found out that they were cutting about half of the people for Wednesday. I prayed I wouldn't get cut. But was told that since I was receiving a SAG voucher I was going to be one of the ones cut. Even though I didn't want to be cut, I understood and it seemed only fair. Although after finding out that they were going to shoot parking lot scenes on Wednesday I asked the guy in charge of the extras, if I needed to come back because of my car. He said he would check. Later I found out that I would indeed be called back again for Wednesday because they needed my car for the scenes. I was so happy! I got a SAG voucher for the day and then was saved from being cut by my car!
On Wednesday, I had a call time of 6:00am. I arrived early and checked in only to find out I had been booked as SAG again for the day. I couldn't believe it - I was so excited! We had some weather issues this day. But eventually it cleared up and we were able to progress. I worked for about 12 hours yet again, but didn't mind at all. I got to shoot a scene beside Sterling Knight that day as well. I was so excited! I know I will be in the movie for sure now because I was right beside him for one scene. He is a really nice guy and let me just say he's very good looking in person too :) ...
I loved being on this set. I was blessed with being there for 3 days and had a blast! I was sad when Wednesday came to an end. I had gotten to know some of the other extras and crew workers. I was finally familiar with everything and everyone. I was having so much fun but I knew my time was up. It was a very good experience I will never forget. I can't wait until I am the main actor on a set :)
"Starstuck" is a Disney Channel Original Movie. It won't be out until 2010 sometime. I don't know when yet, they are still filming it. But I will definitely be watching for it and will let you all know when it comes out so you can watch it and try to find me!
1st Time on a Real Set
About a week after I arrived in CA, I drove into Burbank and registered with an extra (or background actors - as most of the people prefer to be called) company called, Central Casting. Basically through them you get jobs to be an extra for movies and shows. You have to call into a recorded line that lists all of the jobs that extras are being hired for - but you have to fit all of the things they are looking for. Sometimes its very specific things. When you fit what they are looking for then you call in and try to book yourself for the job.
Anyways, its hard for me to get work through them because they only register people 18 and older. So for most jobs they are looking for people in their late twenties - which I don't fit at all. My age range (the range of ages an actor can play accurately based on looks, etc) is 14-20. Which means I can only play high school and early college age. Any younger or older I can't play because I don't look it.
I went without luck on finding any jobs I could fit for about a month. Then on September 12th I received a message from Central Casting asking if I could work on the coming Friday, September 18th. I called them back and got a voice mail, but I left them a message saying that yes I could and wanted to work. I was excited about this for a few reasons. (1) I would finally be working and getting some money. I hadn't had any source of income at all since I moved to CA, (2) I would be on a real set, (3) I finally fit the part for something. I knew I had to have fit it otherwise they wouldn't have called me, and (4) They had called me for it! In the info pack they give everyone when you register it stats that only 5% of jobs come from them contacting you - 95% of the jobs come from you calling in and booking yourself for it. So I was excited.
The next few days came and went without me hearing back from the lady about the job. I tried calling a couple more times but always got voice mail. Come Thursday, I was disappointed and figured they must have already booked someone else for the job. But on my way to my acting class, my phone rang. I didn't recognize the number but picked it up anyway. It was the lady from Central asking if I was still available to work the next day. I said yes! I was so excited that they still needed me. And I got my information for the job.
My job was for a Nickelodeon Pilot. It was currently not named, going by "Untitled Surf Show". My role was Girl in Classroom. I was told to bring 4 outfits, because being a pilot they don't have the budget to supply clothes. I picked and packed 4 outfits that I thought would fit for a school near the beach (like its supposed to be in the show). Then I picked out one to wear.
The next day I woke up early - unsure how long it would take me to arrive on location. My call time (the time I needed to show up at set) was at 9:00am. I arrived at 7:30, found the place, and then went to a park near by and read. Around 8:30 I drove back to the set. Being my first job I didn't know where to go or what to do. I was really excited but nervous too. The first person (who was also an extra hired) I met was another girl who it was her first time too. Then I met all the other extras. Most of them had done other jobs before so they helped us out and answered any questions we had. We all then met up with the guy who would be our "boss" so to speak for the day, signed in with him, and ate breakfast.
We filmed in Long Beach at an actual high school. Being a Friday, there were actual students around us and in the school. We got some funny looks from students obviously trying to figure out if they should know us from anything. It was kind of a cool feeling. During the students lunch break, some of them came up to us. We could tell they were nervous and unsure it they were aloud to talk to us. They were just curious and asked us questions and stuff. It was cool. This one guy was asking our ages - all of us were out of high school. He couldn't believe it. He asked me what grade I was in. I told him I'm 19 and he was like "No way!". Then he asked what we were doing in the show and we told him "Oh, we're playing high school students" -- He was just like "Really?". It was funny.
On of the first things we did when arriving on set was report to wardrobe - to figure out what to wear. The wardrobe people checked us all over - they told me my outfit I had worn there was good. So I never had to show them my other outfits, that was pretty cool. There were only 10 of us extras hired. We all played high school students. The scenes I shot were all scenes in a classroom. The two main actors for the show - I have no idea who they are. I assume their kind of new. Their names were Taylor and Dylan but that was all I really caught about them and I hadn't ever seen them before. I was cut (wrapped for the day and could go home) at 3:00pm, right after lunch.
Over all I had so much fun. I loved being on a real set. It was so cool seeing how everything runs and works on set. I just loved the whole atmosphere of it. I did get a couple close ups for a couple different shots which was so cool. I hope the pilot gets picked up and airs on TV so that I can watch it! I'm keeping my eyes open for it. I will let you know if it does so you can all watch it too.
Anyways, its hard for me to get work through them because they only register people 18 and older. So for most jobs they are looking for people in their late twenties - which I don't fit at all. My age range (the range of ages an actor can play accurately based on looks, etc) is 14-20. Which means I can only play high school and early college age. Any younger or older I can't play because I don't look it.
I went without luck on finding any jobs I could fit for about a month. Then on September 12th I received a message from Central Casting asking if I could work on the coming Friday, September 18th. I called them back and got a voice mail, but I left them a message saying that yes I could and wanted to work. I was excited about this for a few reasons. (1) I would finally be working and getting some money. I hadn't had any source of income at all since I moved to CA, (2) I would be on a real set, (3) I finally fit the part for something. I knew I had to have fit it otherwise they wouldn't have called me, and (4) They had called me for it! In the info pack they give everyone when you register it stats that only 5% of jobs come from them contacting you - 95% of the jobs come from you calling in and booking yourself for it. So I was excited.
The next few days came and went without me hearing back from the lady about the job. I tried calling a couple more times but always got voice mail. Come Thursday, I was disappointed and figured they must have already booked someone else for the job. But on my way to my acting class, my phone rang. I didn't recognize the number but picked it up anyway. It was the lady from Central asking if I was still available to work the next day. I said yes! I was so excited that they still needed me. And I got my information for the job.
My job was for a Nickelodeon Pilot. It was currently not named, going by "Untitled Surf Show". My role was Girl in Classroom. I was told to bring 4 outfits, because being a pilot they don't have the budget to supply clothes. I picked and packed 4 outfits that I thought would fit for a school near the beach (like its supposed to be in the show). Then I picked out one to wear.
The next day I woke up early - unsure how long it would take me to arrive on location. My call time (the time I needed to show up at set) was at 9:00am. I arrived at 7:30, found the place, and then went to a park near by and read. Around 8:30 I drove back to the set. Being my first job I didn't know where to go or what to do. I was really excited but nervous too. The first person (who was also an extra hired) I met was another girl who it was her first time too. Then I met all the other extras. Most of them had done other jobs before so they helped us out and answered any questions we had. We all then met up with the guy who would be our "boss" so to speak for the day, signed in with him, and ate breakfast.
We filmed in Long Beach at an actual high school. Being a Friday, there were actual students around us and in the school. We got some funny looks from students obviously trying to figure out if they should know us from anything. It was kind of a cool feeling. During the students lunch break, some of them came up to us. We could tell they were nervous and unsure it they were aloud to talk to us. They were just curious and asked us questions and stuff. It was cool. This one guy was asking our ages - all of us were out of high school. He couldn't believe it. He asked me what grade I was in. I told him I'm 19 and he was like "No way!". Then he asked what we were doing in the show and we told him "Oh, we're playing high school students" -- He was just like "Really?". It was funny.
On of the first things we did when arriving on set was report to wardrobe - to figure out what to wear. The wardrobe people checked us all over - they told me my outfit I had worn there was good. So I never had to show them my other outfits, that was pretty cool. There were only 10 of us extras hired. We all played high school students. The scenes I shot were all scenes in a classroom. The two main actors for the show - I have no idea who they are. I assume their kind of new. Their names were Taylor and Dylan but that was all I really caught about them and I hadn't ever seen them before. I was cut (wrapped for the day and could go home) at 3:00pm, right after lunch.
Over all I had so much fun. I loved being on a real set. It was so cool seeing how everything runs and works on set. I just loved the whole atmosphere of it. I did get a couple close ups for a couple different shots which was so cool. I hope the pilot gets picked up and airs on TV so that I can watch it! I'm keeping my eyes open for it. I will let you know if it does so you can all watch it too.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
