Tell Me, “What is a Webisode?"

Was the first question I asked when I walked into the audition room in Dallas. When I entered, I was greeted by two young talented movie makers, M. and B., who were making a series that was to be shown on the web. Essentially, much like a television series, but shown on the internet.


Posted on the website, Actors Access, was a notice that a production company was looking for a wealthy business executive in his 50’s with a kind heart. My wife would dispute the former and I am sure some of my employees would dispute the latter. And, everyone I know could dispute the 50 year label. But, what the heck, in this business there are times when you play against type, so I applied for an audition.

I received a very nice note from a young lady, B., (can’t use names unless I get permission) inviting me to come to an audition between 9 and 12 on Friday. That was pretty exciting. Parts for seniors are in short supply, so I went for it. Through this website, I have applied for a few other parts, but this young lady is the first one that has replied with a positive note. I was like, so there! Someone actually wanted to see me. I replied I would be interested and to send me the scenes that she wanted me to prepare. Through an internet snafu, we missed communications, but I finally received the sides (scenes to learn for the audition) to memorize. She had graciously sent me her email address in the first letter and I sent my info to her there.

Old man winter was to make a visit to Oklahoma City, and anticipating ice delays, I made my Dallas audition for 11:30. That way I would have plenty of time to get to Dallas if I left early enough in the morning. I contacted my acting coach to help me with this and unfortunately never heard back. So, my wife Joy, and I worked out the two scenes I needed to learn. She had some good ideas as to how my character might react.

I had recorded the scenes on my portable tape machine and knew them cold. Listened to them on the way down and practiced them out loud in the manner that Joy and I discussed. I had given Joy a GPS system for Christmas and this was the first time it had been used since then. Once I got close to the building, I inadvertently made a wrong turn and then another. All I kept hearing Samantha (my GPS voice) saying was “recalculating, recalculating, recalculating”. I wanted to shoot it. So I turned her off. Probably made her mad as she’s been cranky for two days.

I arrived at the audition room and signed in to await my turn to give my stunning performance. All the while, I was going over the lines in my head. To me this audition was just as important as the one I gave in front of Famke Janssen (Golden Eye, all the X-Men movies – see my blog July 1, 2010). And, the people I was to be acting with were just as important as Mila Jovovich (The Fifth Element and the Resident Evil movies – see my blog August 12, 2010). I really wanted to do my best. My wait was short and I was invited in. I met my email pal B and her cameraman M. Two extremely bright and cheerful young people. They explained webisode, and I later found it under web series by googling those two words.

B. explained the plot to me. I had made up my own story to fit the two sides I was given, and I wasn’t far off. The nice me was the first scene, and then I became a jerk. Perky B. took the roles of the other people talking in the scene when I gave my audition. I thought my nice guy persona went well. I knew both scenes quite well, but in the second scene, a brain freeze occurred. This actor missed a few lines. Not many, but enough to show. Plus I don't think I did all that well in the acting part. I guess my psyche will never understand acting and auditions. I owned a company with almost 200 employees for 40 years. I used to give talks to large groups and have even given a commencement address at OSU Tech in front of 1800. Never bothered me to be in front of people. Yet when giving an audition in front of a few people, many one third to one half my age, something happens. When I finished, B. asked M. if I should do it again and M. said, “No, I have what I need”. This, to me, was a sign that I was not going to be doing a web series. Earlier when I was outside of the audition room, I could hear the man who auditioned ahead of me gave the jerk part two times. When I wasn’t given the same opportunity, I knew I was going home.

You learn a lot from auditions. Should I have the opportunity for a webisode again, I will be more prepared. Not that I was not prepared this time. For some reason, after I met the two young people in charge, I decided to change what I was going to do. I think doing that messed with my head and timing. Why, for God's sake, did I change? I don't know. I had planned, as I said, how I wanted to do the part, but after the introductions I took a different path. I will not next time and I will give a good performance.

So a three hour drive down, fifteen minutes or less of work, and a three hour drive home was my day. But, I am really enjoying this and I would do it again. That elusive speaking part will land in my lap some time. I’m finding you gotta’ have self-esteem and a positive attitude in this field.

Be sure to keep an eye out for this web series. It will be called “A Real Family” and I am guessing it will show up on the internet in several months. They will need to film it and then do the editing. M. and B. are nice young people and I wish them great success in this business.