“We went with someone older.” WHAT???

Imagine my total delight upon receiving a message on Facebook asking me to audition for a part in a television pilot that the director hopes to turn into a series! I was pretty impressed that someone actually contacted me. Normally, in this business (at my level) you are actually seeking places where you can talk them into letting you audition. Someone had seen my headshot on a website and decided that I had a face that might fit into their film project. (and no, it is not a horror film or a Lassie remake). I don’t even remember signing up for this website.

The Facebook message came from Jeremy Branecky asking me to contact his wife, Sara. She is the casting director for the pilot, "The Hounds", which is to be filmed in Oklahoma City and Moore. "The Hounds" is a movie about a rock band that goes on the road. After several calls back and forth, I still had not actually talked with Sara, but Jeremy did answer the phone and told me about the plot. Sounded great to me and I asked him to send me the sides. The conversation covered in the sides were two long pages. At least, they seemed long to me. The sides were a dialogue consisting of an old man talking to the fellow he hoped would be his future son-in-law who was one of the band members.

Jeremy sent me the sides on Thursday evening and we scheduled an audition for Saturday morning. Stayed up late learning dialogue. The audition was to be the morning the same day of the showcase that I covered in my last blog. I am somewhat proud of myself through this acting road I have taken. My memorization skills seemed to be getting better for by 11:30 Saturday morning, I knew the lines. Wish I had these memorizing techniques in high school and college.

My character, “Judge”, was an older man who was dying and needed oxygen to help him breathe. I assumed that from the gravity of this man’s health that if I was picked for the part, I would not last long in the series – death was hovering on his shoulder. The props would be an oxygen tank and nasal cannula, and the old man (me) would be gasping for breath. Of course, for an audition I would not have that equipment. I practiced in front of Joy taking labored breaths and coughing some to simulate what I thought was the correct response when someone is using one of these. I talked slowly and deliberately when I delivered my lines, and I make one mighty fine sick old guy.

So I headed off on Saturday morning to my audition which was being held at Oklahoma City Community College. I met Oz Davidson who was to direct the movie and he also played one of the “Hounds” in the movie. He told me he has had experience in Hollywood and had come back here to shoot this television pilot. The plan was to present this show to a cable company. Oz acted the answering part of my dialogue.

I gave what I thought was a good audition, but you never know. He told me that they would make a decision by Thursday and shooting would start on March 25th. As I left, Sara mentioned something about my looking younger than she’d envisioned, and perhaps she’d sent the dialogue for the bartender. But, that was not sent. Thursday came and went with no notice, as did Friday. In this business, you know that when you do not hear from the casting director you’re toast on a project.

Because I thought I had auditioned well, I asked Michelle De Long about contacting the auditioners (how do you like that word? – not sure if is an "o" or an "e" but it sounds good) to see if the role had been booked. She said, “It is appropriate to do so, but not to ask for feedback.” So I did. Sunday afternoon I received an email from Oz and he apologized for not getting back to me, but they had cast someone else for the part of “Judge” just the day before. However, he sure knows how to make you feel better even though he turns you down. He gave feedback which I had not expected. He wrote, and I quote, “Your audition was phenomenal though. The determining factor was age. I needed someone older”. WHAT??? OLDER??? HELLO!!! - I turn 70 in May.

But, I must say that Oz certainly knows how to make friends. Wow!! - That word phenomenal sure takes the sting out. How to accept that? I did not get the part, but I did a phenomenal audition. You all did understand that word didn’t you? You ask WHAT word. Well, duhhh - Phenomenal - don’t want you all to miss it. I did write back and offered using Grecian Formula 44 on my hair. Joy told me that product darkens hair. Again, I wrote back and mentioned using baby powder to gray my hair. But, the part had been cast, so I accepted the inevitable and went in search of another role. Which came about pretty quickly and I will write about it later. Stay tuned to read about the evil me who strings up a 10 year old boy by his feet and shoots him with a water pistol.

You can see a trailer for Oz’s television pilot at http://www.thehounds.tv/. These seem to be some very talented young people, so keep an eye out for the series. I wish to thank Oz for having someone find me and giving me the opportunity to audition. These are always learning experiences. Now don’t forget the word – phenomenal. I won’t, as it is now a new tattoo on my forearm.

Also, my first film, “Touching the Sun” directed by talented Bryan Cook, premieres on April 5 at Oklahoma City University in the Meinder’s School of Business auditorium. You need to be there early as folks will be fighting for seats to see my Oscar winning performance. See my blog for September 7, 2010.