Callback

On November 13th, 2007, exactly ten years ago today, I had a callback that would prove to be the most important of my career, though I did not know that as I stepped though the door of CP Casting in Boston's South End.  The next two and a half months became the absolute highlight of my time as an actor and, even as I was in the midst of it, I realized that I might never have such an experience again, so I decided that I would savor every moment of it and imprint it on my memory.

As the tenth anniversary of that time began approaching, I felt the need to make a record of it and, since my Beatles blog has been such a satisfying outlet for me, a blog recounting my one and only sizable role in a feature film made the most sense.  If anybody else happens to read it, so be it, but I will admit at the outset that this one is purely for my own amusement.

When motion pictures shoot in the Boston area (and this is still pretty much the same ten years later) whichever local casting company is involved will often hold an open casting call for background performers.  This was the case for the Warner Brothers production The Box on October 27th, 2007, at the Boston Teachers' Union in South Boston.  A line of hundreds typically forms at the chosen venue, with separate lines for non-union hopefuls and Screen Actors' Guild members.  I hopped into the SAG line, got inside quickly, filled out the appropriate form and dropped off my head shot and resume.

A few days later, I was pleased to learn that I had been chosen to actually come in and read.  While the leads and other significant roles are always already cast out of LA or NY, there are usually a few small roles available for local actors.  On this occasion, I arrived at CP Casting on Halloween, October 31st, armed with a few lines that they had sent me to read for NASA Executive #1.  All that anyone knew at this point was that the film seemed to be a science fiction piece set in the 1970's and that we were allowed to attempt a Southern accent if we so desired.  I believe I either declined to do so or made a lukewarm attempt at best.

I was naturally even more excited when I got word that I was called back to read for the role of a character named Teague.  The scene I received had a nice chunk of dialogue with another character by the name of Steward, who seemed to be rather important.  This excitement tempered a bit as I descended the stairs into the waiting area at CP Casting and saw quite a few other actors present.  As I was signing in, the door to the main room opened and a very agitated fellow emerged muttering, "She keeps telling me smaller, smaller!"

Lonnie Farmer, a well-respected local actor, took the agitated fellow in hand and said in a calm, soothing voice something along the line of, "We're not the stars.  All they want us to do is hit the mark and say the lines."  Like everyone else in the room, I overheard this wise advice and kept it in mind.  It did not hurt that I was also feeling a bit under the weather and was somewhat lacking in energy, despite the importance of the callback.  When Carolyn Pickman called me in to read, I gave a simple, well-modulated performance, without my usual nervousness and tendency to do too much.

Before the week was out, she called me with the good news of an offer, further informing me that I had gotten myself a nice little role which would involve three days of filming - one each in November, December and January.  I would soon be receiving a copy of the script and my first day of filming was set for November 26th.  I could barely contain myself as I relayed the news to my wife Jane.  We knew we had something extra to be thankful for that Thanksgiving.