So i have been writing out some of the true stories that have occured in my life since moving to LA... here is one of these stories.
The BIG audition
Manda Leigh Moore
Written: November 1, 2008
At the beginning of my Hollywood adventure a friend I was hanging out with the entire time "hip pocketed" me with his agency. This was a big deal for me because I was getting sent to these great auditions for Warner Bros shows and a lot of the networks.
This one in particular I was super pumped about, I really thought I had a great chance. They were looking for someone that fit my description and I liked the character but most importantly it was for a newer show and they weren't looking for a name for the part. I knew I had a real chance if I just went in and killed it. I got to the audition early and took my time, went in and nailed it. The casting director called and wanted me to come to the producer casting session the next day. The second audition was in a different building and I had never been there. Everything went wrong from the start. I spilt my drink on my shirt on my way out the door, I tried to get the stain out for twenty minutes before I came to the conclusion that I had to change my entire outfit. I was getting frustrated and started to panic a little. Then it takes me what seems like an eternity to change. By the time that I leave my house the second time I am in such a hurry that I accidentally leave my headshots, directions and brain in the house. So I get a few blocks before I realize this. Then I have to go back and get the missing items required to make it to this audition.
By now I am going to be five minutes late, this in my world is a disaster. I hate being late, if I have to be there an hour early to not be late and then sit in my car for 45 minutes I would do it. There I am barreling down the road, with the directions in one hand and a cigarette in the other, trying to figure out where in the hell I am supposed to park without paying $20 bucks. I make a lap around the building and realize I am screwed, I check to see how much cash I have and its only $11.48. I cruise by the parking garage under the building and see that there is a sign that says cash only, credit out of order. I am $8.52 short. Great, it is my lucky day!
I see a loading zone spot and take my chances and park my used but brand new to me 2003 Jaguar X-Type in the spot. As I am half running toward the building I glance back at my car and say a silent prayer that it doesn't get towed. I then rationalize that if I get this part I won't care, that is my way of looking on the bright side of things.
I approach the office and sign in. Get handed new sides. Now this really freaks me out. I had no idea that we were going to have new sides. I am completely un-prepared for this. The other girls in the room have their own copies and they are highlighted, some have notes written on them, most of them look like they had been faxed to them. The girl sitting next to me makes a snide comment that my agent must not care that much about me to not get the sides to me yesterday. I smile and tell her that I am not worried about it. Inside I am screaming, I want to cry, I want to have a re-do on this day. I ask where the restroom is and strut my best "I don't give a shit about the rest of you bitches strut" to the door of the ladies room. Once inside I allow myself ten seconds of panic then I take a deep breath and start reading the lines in my head. I develop the same character analysis that had worked for me the day before and then I head back to the waiting room where the other four or five girls they are auditioning for the part are sitting. I end up going next to last, which I was at the time annoyed about because I like to go right after I have it set in my head, but in retrospect it was probably for the best.
The casting assistant comes into the tiny room and calls my name, takes my headshots and leads me to the room. We walk through the opened doors and there sits the casting director and three of the producers for the show at a long table. I walk to the mark on the floor in front of everyone and smile while saying hello. My headshots are given to everyone and then they look at the picture and flip it over to see my not so great resume. The camera is off to the right side of me so I angle my body towards the camera lens. The casting assistant states for me to say my name, agency, and character name to the camera (known as slating) and then that I will be reading with her. That I am to direct my acting towards her. Standard bullshit that happens at every audition.
Right before I begin reading I get this amazing confidence and all nerves fall away. I am in the zone and I do really well. After saying thank you I began walking out super happy about my audition I am looking down at the time. When I glance up I walk right into the glass doors with a loud, "WHACK!" Apparently when the casting assistant had come into the room she had shut the glass doors. My face print is left on the glass and I fall backwards landing on my ass at the feet of the producer closest to the door. I quickly stand up and say, "Well that was probably the most interesting exit you guys have seen thus far." Laughter trickles through the room. I walk out of the room, run through the waiting area, run to the elevator and push the button about a million times. The elevator finally gets there and I get in as quick as I can. There is a guy in a suit standing on the right hand side, I stand on the left and tears starts rolling down my cheeks. The guy looks over at me and asks if I am okay. He grabs an actual handkerchief out his pocket and hands it to me. He asked if I got hit by someone, because my nose is bleeding. Excellent, so not only did I make an ass of myself and walk into a glass door in front of people I am trying to impress but I also busted my nose and I am crying in front of a complete stranger in a damn elevator. I tell him thank you and sorry about the handkerchief which is now full of tears and blood. He shrugs it off and says, "Have a nice day" as I am getting off at the street level of the building.
I walk out to where I left my car and luckily it is still there but I have not one but two parking tickets on it. I don't even take them off my windshield I just get in and drive straight home. I parked in the garage, went straight to my door, in the house, up the stairs, into my room and threw myself on the bed and cried for about an hour then laughed for 30 minutes. I called my best friend in Seattle and re-lived the entire story with her. She got a good laugh and in the end I did too. I did get a second call back but I didn't get the part. I hope the second call back wasn't for pity because I walked face first into a glass door but was because they actually liked my acting.
A few years later I was at a casting workshop and the casting director told a story that an associate had told him of this girl that they liked for this part who walked into a glass door and knocked herself out right after auditioning. I don't know if that story was actually about me or not, however how often does that truly happen? Who knows?
From now on at any audition I have, I always check the exit before I head towards it!