Can't they see I'm just right for Romeo? |
Another commercial audition today. I was “Wizened old man in
petrol station.” I wizened about as best I could while refraining from whizzing.
These days I sometimes feel my entire acting range is shuffling before the
camera, sniffling, grunting and scratching my head.
This is what old men are supposed to do, you see. I’ve been
up for “Weatherbeaten old boy”, “Grizzled old storekeeper”, “Eccentric
bushy-eyebrowed old guy”, “Wispy-haired old professor”. I can be eccentric, I
can feel that weather on my face, I can really capture the essence of
bushy-eyebrowedness. Inside. Yep. I
can stoop. I can shuffle. I can even snuffle. My tut-tutting has won awards.
Except it’s not what I am.
Up to about four years ago I was still doing quirky dads,
neurotic vicars and mad academics. There was variety. I was once up for a
“loveable and knowledgeable Cheese Judge”. I’m not sure how loveable I am, I
don’t know that much, but I am a great judge of cheese. As Stanislavsky said,
“It’s all to do with Truth, especially when it comes to Camembert.”
The trouble is all these commercials are written by guys
about 32 years old. Faced with anyone over 50 their eyes glaze over and all they
see is a blurry mass of wrinkles and a stoop. I don’t live in a Home (Mrs K
might disagree), I don’t wave my stick at teenagers and I don’t mutter to
myself (except when “Downton Abbey” is on).
You see, the real me is a fresh-faced, boyish, nubile young
Adonis. It’s just a matter of persuading these casting directors….
This is a very interest post, especially the bushy eyebrows - inside.
ReplyDeleteI agree. I find many new casting directors of today have no clue how to manage an audition process. They don't have the interpersonal skills and sensitivity to bring an actor to give their best at an audition. They haven't an eye for who's good for a role. They know little about acting skills. They will simply sit on a chair and say: "Hi. Slate. Act. Stop. We'll let you know.", 'thank you' and 'bye' are never included.
I totally understand your point here.
Thanks, Jay. One of the tricky things about being an actor is the disconnect between how you see yourself and how others do. Especially in commercials & a lot of film work, it's the immediate impression you make. Old = grey hair & wrinkles, middle-aged mum = woolly cardigan and sensible shoes. I guess we have to live with it to carry on working! Have as much fun as you can....
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