KT Dodge

Auditions are a peculiar thing. Unlike most interviews they mostly matter on ‘what you look like’ .. or ‘what you can look like’ and whether you fit in with other members of the cast they have already employed (i’m taking that you can act for granted). An actor has to learn early on not to be ‘bitter’ about rejection and cope with it … to get rejected on a regular basis even though you know sometimes you just wasn’t ‘right’ for the part is very undermining.

For me I always find the worst type of audition to do is for ‘adverts’ as 9 times out of 10 you are askd to jump through hoops, on camera for instance .. I was once asked to ‘act like a jelly!! … apart from the numerous times I’ve been asked to kiss a stranger. I once got a commercial for Yellow Pages because the director liked the way I fell back in the audition (I had to fall back onto a bed)!!! It’s just bizarre.

My brother also an actor was asked to audition for a new film this week. It’s always exciting when you get the opportunity to maybe get a part in a new film. However all he was told was it’s about ‘bank robbers’ and to date they do not have a script!! Well having no script is always an actor’s nightmare because it often means they want you to come up with ideas and improvise … and sometimes your ideas creep into their script!! Which is okay if you get the part … but really annoying if you don’t. Where else would you get a whole bunch of people readily offering ideas for no money?????? Hey ho, but as an actor they know and you know that you are still going to go for that audition because that could just be your BIG BREAK. So being the ‘method’ actor that my brother Perry is he decided to go in looking like an armed robber wearing a balaclava … assisted by his dog Beattie also in an eye mask which she readily whipped off as soon as he got there - he being the consummate professional “says .. put it back on they’ll recognise you’ …. (I must add this film was comedy) … he said most of the panel laughed … so who knows watch this space … we may get to Hollywood yet.