BEHIND THE SCENES DURING AUDITIONS

So, I wake up very early in the morning at around 6 a.m. on a Friday having made sure that the previous night I had cancelled all my plans for I was looking forward to the day’s auditions. I made sure I was all fresh and clean and I was at my personal best. I got out of the house at around 7 a.m. and according to my watch I was actually on time, in fact on the money because the auditions were at 9 a.m. and I managed to be there at around 8.30 a.m. beating traffic.

To my surprise, the place was packed with aspiring thespians which reminds me that I was number 357 on the audition list, yeah; it was a full house indeed.

So as usual, I got a script, internalized the character, looked for a partner, went through the lines over and over again and I was good to go. I lined up and it was a long queue but I had to be patient. Usually when I am on line waiting, I play a lot with the character at hand in my head or start making air burgers or even fly to my twisted crazy fantasizes just to pass time. This time I did that and it was now around 12 in the afternoon and still, the line hadn’t moved even a bit. I started getting impatient and very uneasy but eventually I calmed myself. Later on during the day, A-list celebrities from various TV series and movies started pouring in one by one and I could see how people’s faces started glowing with excitement after seeing probably their favorite celebrities but suddenly, the mood changed within a split second as they were escorted directly to the audition room as they passed this whole queue and I could see disappointment written all over people’s face.

There was so much tension that one could literally cut it with a sharp knife and for some of the people, they were there since 7 a.m. and they hadn’t even auditioned yet. I am usually vocal when it comes to such things and I always give a piece of my mind when I see such injustice being practiced but this time round I decided just to be more observant and one by one the A-list celebrities got “V.I.P.” treatment and got a free gateway pass to the audition room.

I kept my cool, and so I decided just to play music from my play list via my headset phone and unfortunately my play list was completely over to my surprise and when I looked at my watch it was 2 p.m. I was so exhausted and dehydrated from standing because of the scorching sun was at its peak. The cutting of the line went on and on and people around were not happy at all, but something came to my attention as to one very humble from the local TV series Mother-in-law was the only Celebrity who queued and I was amazed and startled by this, that showed how humble he was, As for others, I really don’t know what to say but pure disappointment as rage completes the recipe for what the rest felt. Big up to him and we want celebrities like him in our industry.

I was closer to getting into the audition room and this was around 5.15 p.m. mind you but one public figure on a highly rated show on TV came merely and pushed the person in front of me and she squeezed herself. I asked her politely why she did that and told her that was disrespectful and she responded to me and ask me “Don’t you know who I am? Have you never heard of me?” and then she giggled. As much as this might sound fictional, it is nothing but the truth fellows and I will keep her identity a secret for various reasons. I played dumb and told her that I didn’t recognized her and told her it wasn’t fair what she was doing and if she wanted to audition she should have queued or even came early for auditions. She answered me in a very snobbish manner and told me she had other important things to do, so she wouldn’t want to waste her time coming early. So does that mean we didn’t have important things to do? I bet some people there had to call in sick or even come up with good excuses from work or school so that they get the opportunity to audition.

With all due respect, probably some of the people there had even way better things to do than her. But anyway I just ignored her and when I was getting closer and closer to auditioning, one of the casting directors came out and said that they were only looking for people who were above 25 years old. You can imagine how much that statement crushed people’s heart and I was like really? After queuing for over 7 hours, being exhausted and dehydrated it came down to that. I was filled with confusion and anger at the same time. Do you really think that was fair? As much as you might have already got your ideal character, and we understand that casting is hard work and you’re exhausted, wouldn’t you give that person who has been standing through the scorching sun for hours a chance? You never know, he/she might blow your mind. I did not care what that guy said but however I don’t know how, but I found myself in front of the Directors. I said to myself that I have to achieve my goal which is to audition despite the situation; I auditioned as much as it was “not worth the cause” to them. What does that tell you?

Also going to an audition, finding the script that has the characters you are about to audition for along side them are A-list celebrity’s name written in bold on that same character you are going to audition for, meaning that celebrities has scoped the role already. What does that tell you?

Going to an audition and the casting director tells you he/she doesn’t see the need or the point of you to audition because it seems they’ve already have a cast but then tells you to carry on and do what you have to do. So what are you suppose to do?

A person not queuing and going directly to the audition room and getting out of the room with the script of the production you are going to audition for, meaning he/she has already gotten the role automatically.

Casting directors holding auditions just to show that they held auditions yet they already have a cast ready.

If this is how the system works, then I’ll be damned.

This is nothing but the truth my dear friends. It’s a fact not fiction. If you think I am lying ask around, ask people who have had similar encounters.

This is what happens behind the scenes on auditions and before you start pointing fingers at me or even criticizing, this does not happen at all auditions but happens at some auditions. Not all. Ask me and I will tell you.

Written by Mark Kaiyare, Dedicated Thespian.