Swimming with the fishes

Yesterday's taping went really well. It's this national retailer that's going to start opening up "express" versions of its stores under a different name and brand. The first ones open out on the West Coast and we created a batch of ads to accompany the roll out as it (we hope) goes across the country. Naturally, we were pushing for openings in LA, Manhattan, Chicago and other top ten media markets. Ca-ching, as it were.

It was interesting to learn why they picked us. Again, I was surprised to even be called back, and I got the idea with my end-of-the-day timeslot that I was just filling out the schedule. But they took all three of us that auditioned together that afternoon, saying that we had really good chemistry together. It probably helped that the two other actors knew each other already, and I guess I faked an easy familiarity well enough.

I think having the camera on us in the audition, and having the client there really helped bring it to life for us. We were more "visual" than we otherwise might have been. Looking at each other, instead of into our microphones, even gesturing and touching each other and otherwise interacting like humans. In fact, I seem to remember that that was one of the lessons from classic audition texts -- don't be afraid to touch your scene partner. 

So it was a good day. We had a lot of fun and got to improvise and shape the scripts, even adding our own buttons and punch lines. I can't wait to see the finished product, with my voice coming out of an inanimate object.

The actors I was paired with were pretty first rate, too. One was in Batman and the other was waiting to hear on a role from the Goodman. I think I held my own, but I was definitely swimming a little above my league, to mix metaphors. In deeper waters? Either way, at least I didn't sink ...