Remember when I went out for my first pilot audition (ever!!) a few months ago? For a series regular? I found out who they cast, and one of the starring roles went to Michael Urie from Ugly Betty.
So I've decided, in order to relieve the immense pressure I put on myself (need to impress the CD, my agents, my manager, my acting coach, my family, my alma mater, myself!!!) and now that I've got two pilots under my belt, you know what?
I'm probably not going to book anything this pilot season.
Before I freak you all out that being a Negative Nancy sends the wrong message to the Universe, seriously, thinking this way takes away all the stress. If I'm not hoping that I'm going to book, I don't have to worry! I'm just going to go into every casting and know that this audition for the pilot isn't really an audition for the pilot. It's an audition for down the road. It's to make sure I'm on the short list to go in again for guest star stuff.
Because most pilots you audition for already have offers out to people who've been doing this for years, and because this way I have nothing to fear. I can banter with casting. I can be myself.
I got feedback from the second pilot audition I did and in the room, the casting director had told me, "Very Nice, Lira. You're a great actress." My manager told me that they thought I was great, but wasn't "the girl." I'll take it! I'll take great!
The industry has a term called "booking the room." You don't go in to book the role you're auditioning for. You go in to impress casting and get them to like you so that they know who they are and they know that you're good and they know that they like you.
I half jokingly asked my manager if I would have to fear losing him if I didn't get anything major in a year.
"I know you're gonna book." He was matter of fact, very East-Coast-no-bullshit, "Do I know if you're gonna book in three months? No. Do I know if you're gonna book in five months? No. Do I know if you're going to book in seven months? No. But I know you're gonna book."
Of course I am.
I am gonna book the rooms!
Yes you will. I don't doubt it for a second.
ReplyDeleteHappy holidays!
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Love the positive approach!!
ReplyDeleteIt is like spinning the telescope or something. Most people don't book the lead first. They book successive guest spots until they becomes seasoned. Then they land the lead. Yeah, you are going out for the leads technically, but you want them to remember you for the guest spots. Because you want to book like crazy after those shows launch. So, you don't need to be "that girl," you need to be a girl who can act her butt off. Any girl they need you to be. The chameleon. Garth Brooks once said, "People say that I am a country singer and I like country. But I can sing anything." Hell yeah.
ReplyDeleteThe right stuff w/the right attitude. You are a winner!
ReplyDeleteKeep doing what you're doing, you inspire us all :)
ReplyDeletetake that pressure off of yourself. enjoy the journey and the process. you can control what you can control: the work and the joy you have while doing it. everything else beyond that is not in your control. just knowing that should free you up to have fun in the room. more times than not, you won't be "the girl" so have fun and enjoy the journey.
ReplyDeleteYou probably know this already, but what the heck....The less you look for something, the more likely you are to get it. I know I know, how zen. But the less I look for a part, or to get cast, the more that projects fall into my lap.
ReplyDeleteI guess it's like that saying, "a watched pot never boils." When you take that step back, that's when things start rolling in.
either way, keep up the good work. Being a "great acctress" is a win in my book.