Gee, I don't know Wally

I went on a commercial audition today for a GPS type product which tracks your teen's car.  It sounded more like an SNL skit than a real commercial but I enjoyed the audition anyway.

I left my tie on even though the call was for "casual."  The tie happens to be the same color as my shirt, so I thought it was still looking "casual."

Well the casting director asked me, "Did they tell you to wear a tie?"  I promptly took it off and said that I had forgotten it was on.

He:  "It's not the 1950s here."  (AHAHAHAH, too funny. )

Anyway, this casting director's office is a biggie for commercials.  I noticed a sign outside the room which advertised for an on-camera class.  This somehow tainted the office in my eyes.   I don't mean any disrespect to them, but it somehow taints them, taints the relationship with us as we go in to audition.

Imagine if I had handed them a business card which had info where they could take a class, "How to Effectively Cast a Television Commercial."  They wouldn't like that, would they?

Oh June, what are we going to do about this?  And I apologize for being so rough on the Beaver last night.

--Jim Todd

Comments

[Stephon Fuller]

Hey Jim,

Congratulations on getting in for the commercial!

I'm curious as to why the casting office having a sign saying they offer on-camera classes tainted them in your eyes.

You see it as the same as you handing them a business card which had info where they could take a class, "How to Effectively Cast a Television Commercial." They wouldn't like that, would they?

No disrespect, but my question would be 'Are you an expert in the field of casting commercials?' If not, then what would be your intentions for handing them your card?

I would assume they have a tremendous amount of first hand, current knowlegde in commercial casting. Wouldn't that be a great place for an actor learn from?

Just curious as to what your thoughts are on that.

Stephon

[JimTodd]

Well I have respected them as a busy casting office. I usually run into regular cast members from HBO shows like OZ or The Sopranos there.

But seeing them advertise for classes now makes me see them as a school. I'd rather that schools be separate from casting.

My suggestion of handing them a biz card to take classes in how to cast wasn't a perfect analogy. I didn't mean I would teach them, just someone, some expert in the field would be doing that. I'm sure they would not like it if I suggested they could use a casting class. So they should understand how an actor may feel when they suggest we could use a class.

I suppose everybody could always use classes and self-improvement, though. So I'm not going to let it taint my view of them anymore.

[Stephon Fuller]

I see where you are coming from and I wasn't trying to change your mind.

I was coming from the POV of the notion of them possibly being a great place to learn about how commercials work.

Actually, I think some actors would appreciate being told that they are totally NOT where they need to be skill-wise to book jobs. In the last 3 days I have been in the room and seen close to 200 actors audition for different commercials. Most of them good; some were really, really good and a few were in desparate need of training in commercials. I'd think, in that case, them taking a class there would be a great thing for all involved. I don't know - just wanted to know what you thought.

Stephon