Cerebral Flotsam and Jetsam

Today I saw a casting notice that piqued my interest:

The Discovery Channel is looking for talented hosts (Men, women, actors, hosts, comedians!) to star in its next, long running hit series.
We are searching for charismatic individuals à la Mike Rowe of “Dirty Jobs” or the team from “Mythbusters.” We don’t, however, want CLONES of those hosts. The most important elements of our search are that:
1. The talent MUST feel authentic and relatable to middle America. They should be the type of fun and engaging host that you want to be your friend!
2. The talent MUST be able to host a show that is visceral, challenging and exciting. They have to be willing to try anything!

I’m sure it’s a big lottery but never the less I sent an email. I was just going to send some links to some of my stuff online but then I decided that wasn’t good enough so I edited together a demo of my best “hosting” moments from “Movie Musketeers” since that seemed relevant, as well as a link to my rough acting demo (damn, I need to update that) and a link to our whole youtube catalog just in case they want to browse or view some things in their entirety.
I’m sure the chances are slim to none, but it can’t hurt to try! That would just be too cool.

I had two auditions recently that I didn’t necessarily feel very good about. One of them was a film that had auditions two days in a row. I couldn’t make it the first day but I heard there were a lot of people who showed up. I was there first thing on the second day and the director was finishing up his lunch. His casting director wasn’t there but he went ahead and auditioned me anyway. He didn’t have a camera there which was unusual since people usually record auditions. In addition he read all the other parts opposite me so most of the time he was looking at the paper, I thought, and so I was worried that he couldn’t really watch my performance. I figured if I was going to be cast it would have be from his memory since there would be no footage and his casting director wasn’t there to give her input. I wasn’t sure how that would work. I could see the director talking to his casting director, “I want to cast this guy as Mike. You’ve never seen him. He came in while you weren’t there. There’s no camera footage of him, but trust me, he’ll be a great Mike.” I at least felt generally good about my performance though. I got the email yesterday that I got the part.
My second audition was more unsettling. Initially the director had sent me the first 20 pages and asked if it sounded like something I would be interested in. I said it was and then never heard anything else other than the open audition dates. I showed up figuring they would have some audition sides there for people to read. When I went in it became apparent that he expected me to have something prepared from the script. I think another general notice had gone out with links to audition sides, but the link had been problematic for a lot of people and I had never seen the sides. I had seen the first 20 pages but since it was just to see if I would be interested in the script so I didn’t think I’d be expected to just memorize the first 20 pages. It was kind of an awkward exchange and I felt really uncomfortable because I like to be very professional and prepared and I felt like I looked really unprofessional and unprepared.
The director was very gracious and fished out some bits for me to read. After the audition he told me he’d like me to send him some additional pictures mainly because he envisioned the character differently (possibly obese, maybe with glasses) so he wanted to see some other looks on me since he said he likes to go with the best actor more than a particular look. Though he was very gracious, I didn’t leave feeling very hopeful about that role.
I got the email today offering me the role. I guess you just never know!

…for one scene in the short film I’m filming tonight. I’d rather not but I think it was inevitable that at some point in my career I would have to smoke in a scene. I’m just hoping that I can make it look believable and no cough my guts out. They liked my current facial hair configuration (leftover from my Victorian shoot, sideburns and mustache but not chin hair, whatever that’s called)so I’m keeping it at least until Monday. I play a car thief mentoring a younger thief.