Casting Lines

Fishing and auditioning for a role have so much in common. Sending that audition voiceover tape, application or reel to someone is a chance, just like casting a line into a lake. One never knows what may or may not strike.

Often, there is a feeling about certain lines that you get a nibble on. You have to wait patiently for the fish to take the whole bite before you can pull it in. Other times, you need to toy around with the line to tempt that fish to bite.

Sending out an audition application can feel much the same. You send it out and hope that the producer, etc. bites and chooses you. Other times, there are lines you cast that you have forgotten about. And then, there is the time that you didn't even apply for something, and it just jumps in the boat. Jumps right into your lap.

My short life in acting has had each of these things happen. I was sure that I was up for a part. Everything sounded very positive. I heard good things from the casting director and even the producer only to have the part given to someone else. Usually, it's given without notice to you. The part just disappears.

One time, my wife and I auditioned via a self-taped audition and then totally forgot about it. When we got the call from the casting director saying that the company wanted us, we had to think for a while to remember what the audition was for. We had almost forgotten about it. As a result, we had a great time and went out of town to play our part in the commercial.

And today, I board a plane to fly across three states to return home after shooting what could be an international commercial and photo shoot. It just jumped into the boat without me casting a line. I was contacted through a casting website that they were interested; I sent a self-taped audition and got the part. I am very blessed to have had the opportunity to do this.

Keep casting lines, keep checking the bait. One never knows what may happen! Good luck.