I'm making more bold decisions than I used to.

#2: AUDITIONING FOR A CASTING AGENT

In December I auditioned for a casting agent/director who directs plays and also gathers local talent for Hollywood movies being filmed in Cincinnati. 

To my west coast friends, auditioning may be par for the course. But for a Midwesterner who has old dreams of stardom and current habits of stalking celebrities who come to town to make movies—this was a big deal!

Background: The director was having open auditions for anyone—previous experience or not, those signed with agents or not—as part of an effort to collect donations for a local food bank. So I sent an email on a whim and got an appointment.  

Practice: Since I was now committed, I read the requirements & then went to Google tips on auditions. Ha. I'm a total newbie!

• First, I needed a monologue. They said the agent likes modern. Because I didn't love the pieces I found online, I figured I could memorize my own words better. So, against some people's online advice, I wrote my own monologue. It's what I love to do anyway. I ended up liking the dramatic 2-minute piece I crafted, with the bit of snark I was able to incorporate. So I could go in with confidence.

• Second, I needed a head shot, and thankfully Steve has the skills. (The result is posted now on my About page.) 

• Third, I had to create an acting resume. With limited experience, mine was filled with all the dramas I've done onstage—mostly in churches throughout my adult life. Plus I added in some storytelling, speaking gigs, and online interviews. I tried to depict any kind of stage presence I've had.

Results: I decided to just be myself—own up to my no paid experience yet be confident in my ability to communicate. I did my piece, noting out of the corner of my eye that the director and two others at the table reacted nicely to my bit of humor and my surprise ending.

The director said, "Powerful. Sad." (I never told her that I wrote it, but she seemed to like the content.) We discussed how my dramatic experience had been in the nonprofit world, striving to tell stories to kids and adults alike. She didn't seem deterred by that fact and was all smiles and encouraging words. She asked if I'd like to do background work. (Being an extra is what I'd hoped to snag!) She said there was an upcoming period piece that was filming in Cincinnati, and they'd likely call me.

So we will see. That was just before the holidays, maybe something happens this year. I hope to at least remain on her potential list.

Thoughts: Most encouraging to me was having such a positive reaction to what I wrote, what I performed. I've always enjoyed writing and performing. Yet I've never had the guts to put myself out there. Unknown to many, I remain a closet dreamer, on stage in my mind, in some alternative time line. So this moment was huge. I needed to try. It was validating that a professional person reacted well and thought I had some skills. It may not lead to anything, but the process was important.

God has ways I can continue using these skills to lift up others and Him. (I did a little storytelling for an entire elementary school just the other day!)

In the meantime, this felt good.  

Find out my other three bold moves: my tattoo, my writing, my project.