Friday, September 14, 2007

Audition: “Cold Case” @ Shaner/Testa Casting. This is a great role I’m reading for today; 13 pages of sides. I think I’m really right for it too and my agent is excited to have gotten me an appointment.

The first time I read it for the CD I was doing a little too much “stuff” and I was giving the note. The character is doing “stuff” in the scene, but I guess I went a little too far. I did it again and was much more grounded and real. The second scene went pretty well; not great, but good.

After I was finished he took a close look at me and then my credits and then said he felt I looked too old for the character and requested that I read for another character. So I took time with those and went back in. I felt a bit too young for the character, but I think the read was good. My goal is to be someone he’ll bring back in future if not for this role. He shook my hand and I was on my way. I think callbacks are Monday and I don’t think I’m getting one for some reason.

When I think about how many drop-offs, postcards, workshops, classes and miles I’ve driven around this town I just shake my head. It’s been an overwhelming amount of work and I wouldn’t want to have to do it over again from scratch. The great thing is that I’m seeing direct results from the effort and creative approached I’ve developed. I must admit that it makes me feel great to have made some headway in such a difficult field.

The other day when I was at FOX Studios waiting to audition for “Bones” I was going over my lines and I saw a golf cart coming my way with two women in it. As they got closer I waved and smiled, not because I knew them, because I just like to greet others with a warm, open smile.

Truthfully, I wasn’t paying that much attention to them because I was working on my material and then I hear “Hey Stephon!” As they got closer I see that it’s a very important TV CD and her associate driving the cart. It caught me by surprise, because even though I have met and auditioned for them in the past I just rarely expect people to remember me.

I also recall when I was at the table read after booking “Criminal Minds” and CD Scott David made it seem like a no brainer that I would eventually get on the show. I was surprised by that for some reason. No brainer? I didn’t think he really remembered me specifically they way he made it seem. Maybe he remembers that at the workshop I attended of his that my scene partner slapped the heck out of me during the scene. I won’t call that scene partner “crazy”, but I will say she was “crazy adjacent” at least. The story……

Obviously, I know that all the work I’ve put in is paying off, but for some reason I’m still surprise that I get appointments. It’s still surreal to me for some reason.

Audition: “XXXXXX” @ Xxxxx Xxxxxx Casting. I hate doing that but they had me sign a confidentiality agreement to audition for this project and I don’t want any trouble! I remember dropping off for this film November 20th 2006 way out in Malibu. I got kinda frustrated because I couldn’t find the correct building and almost gave up, but I kept at it and finally found the right office. I never expect to hear anything from a drop-off I just wanna get my photo in the mix and see what happens…looks like something is happening.

I’m not positive it came from that drop-off way back when, but I think it might have have. I don’t think my agent submitted me for a role of just a couple of lines because they are trying to get me in for bigger stuff. When she called she wasn’t sure if I even wanted to read for it or not. I love that! I remember when a similar sized role came up for “Spiderman III” and she had the same reaction. “Stephon, I’m sorry it’s just a couple of lines, but it’s a big project…are you interested?”

For the record, my answer in these situations is almost always a cool “yes” on the outside, but on the inside it’s “YES!!!” It just shows how much my reps believe in me and want more for me, but I can work it from the other side, because everything gets run by me before decisions are made. It’s a really big project, with a really big director and I’m really right for this small role.

The casting office was not releasing any sides for the project so I was instructed to arrive early to go over the material. So I arrive early, park, get buzzed into the building, sign-in, get escorted into the elevator, go to the 3rd floor, sign the confidentiality agreement. Then and only did I get the on page of sides. Then I had to go back to the 2nd floor to audition.

I saw 3 other actors there that I knew and had worked with in the past. That always makes me feel good; it gives me the feeling that I’m on the right path. So after all of that the read went really. I did 3 different takes that were put on tape and that’s that. Oh yeah, when it was over the casting associate kept the sides.

http://www.stephonfuller.com/consultations.html

1 comment:

Unknown said...

This is a great blog! Your perspective and your day-to-day dealings are very encouraging! Especially to a fellow actor, although, I've only been out here for four years now... I wish you continued success! All the best!