You get a call from your agent. You have a super last minute audition for ABC Family's new procedural drama STITCHERS at CBS-Radford studios. You will be reading for casting director Michael Testa, whom you've never met, in three hours. You are at another audition waiting to go in and have another one to get to in an hour. Both of these roles call for a "girl next door". But WAIT. This super important last minute audition at CBS-Radford studios calls for a "research assistant." You look down at you're bright red sun dress and wedges and start to panic. You didn't even bring you're "smart person" glasses! "Why me??!" you silently yell to the heavens. "Why now??!". Your robot "actor" self kicks into gear as the assistant calls your name to come read for..."wait what am I reading for??!". You smile politely and walk in the room. It's a blur, who knows what went down. All you know is you look way too cute to be a 28 year old research assistant who's life revolves around work!
CHAOS ENSUES, as if every half hour sitcom pilot happens to you all at once. Sure three things in one day doesn't seem like a lot but matched with traffic and the universes' burning desire to ruin your life, you barely make it you're 5:15pm appointment at CBS-Radford studios in Studio City. The security guard sees you and greets you with a smile. You start to pull out your id (a requirement to get in) and you look up to see that he has already printed your pass out due to recognizing you. You smile gratefully "I'm important!". He then shows you where to go on the map since you've never auditioned for this particular office on the lot before. You exchange a look. "Run" he says. You run, more like skip walk, all the way to the other end of the lot. There are people driving past you on golf carts and several of them call out "break a leg". You thank them while still skip walking awkwardly to your destination.
You've made it! You know this because there's a piece of paper taped to the door that says "STITCHERS CASTING". You take a deep breath and enter. You sign your name after "Alicia Something-or-another" and see that she is auditioning for the same role as you. You see a young brunette woman dressed like a research assistant studying lines. "Alicia." You try really hard not to concentrate on her. Thank god she gets called in right away. You focus on your lines. At this point there are three of you waiting to read. The door opens and everyone turns to see Alicia exit with Michael Testa, the casting director, right behind her. Michael stops in front of the three of you and asks you to give him a minute. He then steps five feet from you to talk to another Casting Director Lisa Ystrom (YOUNG AND HUNGRY) about pilot season. The three of you still waiting exchange looks. "You guys know a reading is still an audition right?". The three of you look up suddenly. "Was he talking to us?". Michael repeats the question and the four of you wind up having a lovely conversation about the film industry for about fifteen minutes. The energy seems to be shifting. You don't feel like you have to go to the bathroom. You feel comfortable with what you're wearing. The lines on the page suddenly don't look so scary. Michael finishes the conversation and goes back to auditioning you as if nothing happened. He calls your name and you enter the room with an easy smile. After all you just had a whole conversation with the guy! You're glad to know that Michael will be reading with you himself while his assistant operates the camera. You don't even have to take a breath before you start reading. It all flows well. Michael gives you a small note on the second scene. You make the adjustment and he compliments you on how well you take direction. He thanks you profusely for coming into read last minute and you thank him for the opportunity. You leave knowing that you'll be back in that office soon.
Every time I'm at CBS-Radford Studios, whether it's auditioning or filming, I have a great experience like this one. I wish every audition could be like the one I had for Michael Testa. Why? Because he simply created a safe environment for us to do great work. He wasn't a casting director and we weren't actors; We were simply artists of different nature. He listened to us. He had a conversation with us! I was able to do my best, and isn't that the purpose of auditions? To show the casting director/director/producers the best of what you have? I think more casting directors should be dedicated to creating a safe environment for us to be vulnerable in, if of course the point is to see great work.
