Audition: "Bud Light" @ Alyson Horn Casting. This one was fun and I think I'm right for it. I’m going through an interesting transition for commercial auditioning and it’s going to take some getting used to. Nevertheless, I think this one went well.
Not that I think it really matters, but I remembered to cross out the last line on my resume that says "I've never had alcohol in my life". Why give them a reason to not call me back for the “Budweiser” commercial?
In the second part of the audition I was to sit at a bar with a beer in hand. That always feel so weird to me because I feel that it’s obvious I’ve never drank a beer before. I try to hold it like “one of the boys”, but it feels so foreign to me. Sometimes I wish I drank alcohol ‘cause it looks so damn cool. Ya know, yell to your roommate “bring back some cold Bud Light!”…maybe not since I don’t have a roommate. Drinking beer might be one of those things that I never experience...
After leaving the audition I figure I'd call my commercial agency to see if I can go straight to callbacks for the audition I missed yesterday. I figured it was a long shot, but worth a try - what do I have to lose? The assistant at the agency said he’ll call me right back and 7 minutes later he delivered the good news. Cool, I got an appointment for the callbacks this afternoon.
Callback: “Texas Lottery” @ Craig Colvin Casting. It went great! At least I think it went great. The spot is pretty funny too. I have never booked for this office, but I have a decent callback/avail ratio. We’ll see what happens.
Great! A couple of hours later I get the call that I’m on avail for the “Texas Lottery” spot. Then, shortly after that I get word that I have a callback for the “WaMu” spot tomorrow morning.
This could get interesting – an avail for “Texas Lottery” and a callback for “WaMu” with possible travel and conflicting dates. I’ve already accepted the avail, but an avail is a courtesy and not a legal, binding contract. My availability can change at any time. I’m really just thinking out loud because I haven’t even gone to the “WaMu” callback yet, but being a veteran of sticky situations I know how quickly things can get - sticky.
I bring this up because often times I hear actors say “I’m on hold for a commercial” which is almost never the case. More correctly, they are on avail. A “hold” and “an avail” are two totally different things. Truly being “on hold” is akin to being on the payroll – an “avail” is not.
I explained this to my “Perfect Storm” client who recently booked two weeks on a pilot. The first week she was only scheduled to work one day, but I told her she is in “first position” to that production company for the entire week unless other stipulations have been made in her contract. Basically, they own her, lol!
I went over what SW (Start Work), W (Work), H (Hold), WF (Work Finish) and SWF (Start Work Finish) mean on the call sheet. Sure enough, after working the first day they ended up needed her the next day as well. I said, “Did they ask you if you can work tomorrow?” or “Did they tell you that you’re working tomorrow?” She said, they "told her she’s working tomorrow”. These differences in terminology aren’t usually a big deal, but when they matter, they matter a lot. I used to say “things usually work out for me” quite often, but that doesn’t seem so much lately. I think the tide is turning for me and ’08 is going to be incredible.
Not that I think it really matters, but I remembered to cross out the last line on my resume that says "I've never had alcohol in my life". Why give them a reason to not call me back for the “Budweiser” commercial?
In the second part of the audition I was to sit at a bar with a beer in hand. That always feel so weird to me because I feel that it’s obvious I’ve never drank a beer before. I try to hold it like “one of the boys”, but it feels so foreign to me. Sometimes I wish I drank alcohol ‘cause it looks so damn cool. Ya know, yell to your roommate “bring back some cold Bud Light!”…maybe not since I don’t have a roommate. Drinking beer might be one of those things that I never experience...
After leaving the audition I figure I'd call my commercial agency to see if I can go straight to callbacks for the audition I missed yesterday. I figured it was a long shot, but worth a try - what do I have to lose? The assistant at the agency said he’ll call me right back and 7 minutes later he delivered the good news. Cool, I got an appointment for the callbacks this afternoon.
Callback: “Texas Lottery” @ Craig Colvin Casting. It went great! At least I think it went great. The spot is pretty funny too. I have never booked for this office, but I have a decent callback/avail ratio. We’ll see what happens.
Great! A couple of hours later I get the call that I’m on avail for the “Texas Lottery” spot. Then, shortly after that I get word that I have a callback for the “WaMu” spot tomorrow morning.
This could get interesting – an avail for “Texas Lottery” and a callback for “WaMu” with possible travel and conflicting dates. I’ve already accepted the avail, but an avail is a courtesy and not a legal, binding contract. My availability can change at any time. I’m really just thinking out loud because I haven’t even gone to the “WaMu” callback yet, but being a veteran of sticky situations I know how quickly things can get - sticky.
I bring this up because often times I hear actors say “I’m on hold for a commercial” which is almost never the case. More correctly, they are on avail. A “hold” and “an avail” are two totally different things. Truly being “on hold” is akin to being on the payroll – an “avail” is not.
I explained this to my “Perfect Storm” client who recently booked two weeks on a pilot. The first week she was only scheduled to work one day, but I told her she is in “first position” to that production company for the entire week unless other stipulations have been made in her contract. Basically, they own her, lol!
I went over what SW (Start Work), W (Work), H (Hold), WF (Work Finish) and SWF (Start Work Finish) mean on the call sheet. Sure enough, after working the first day they ended up needed her the next day as well. I said, “Did they ask you if you can work tomorrow?” or “Did they tell you that you’re working tomorrow?” She said, they "told her she’s working tomorrow”. These differences in terminology aren’t usually a big deal, but when they matter, they matter a lot. I used to say “things usually work out for me” quite often, but that doesn’t seem so much lately. I think the tide is turning for me and ’08 is going to be incredible.
http://www.stephonfuller.com/consultations.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hRX79E75yA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vMXinr1N9w
2 comments:
OMG! Thank you so much for that Call Sheet explanation Stephon. I have always wondered what that meant, but felt too foolish to ask anyone.
I might have to contact you in the '08 about some consulting!...:)...
- Shenita.
Cool, I'm glad that cleared it up for you!
Stephon
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