First Audition

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.