My most recent audition was the most unlikely role of an elderly Jewish man.When I received the phone call on Thursday evening, July 23rd, I asked the caller (Chloe), the casting director, to repeat what she had just told me (either my phone was breaking up or my brain was). She said the producers of "Sodom: The Prophecy Armageddon" had a headshot of me on file and wanted me to come in on Friday, July 24th, at 11:10 am to audition for the part of "Pop" Rosenberg, a sixty-eight year-old Holocaust survivor. "Huh, me?"
"Pop" is the father of a lead character, Galen, in the feature-length film, "Sodom: The Prophecy Armageddon." The film is a pilot for a possible future HBO movie or series.
I arrived at the Homestead Suites on S. 1st St in Austin at 10:45 am and was handed one page of the script. On this page the Role of "Pop" had one line, two sentences, 19 words.
As I read those words I kept wondering how I could possible create the character of "Pop" Rosenberg. Obviously, I was in waaay over my head. I was confident I could learn those two sentences in a few minutes, but there was no way to master a Jewish accent. I could do a better Donald Duck than "Pop" Rosenberg.
I was sitting in the hallway just outside the meeting room where the audition would take place. The front desk of the hotel was withing eyesight -- and earshot. Plus, vacationing families were constantly scurrying by. There was no way I would consider any audible attempts at speaking the lines with the required accent.
In a strange way I was relieved when the door opened and a young woman invited me in. I was introduced to a gentleman whose name and title I can't recall. If only I'd had the chance to repeat them fifty or so times I could recall them now, so under the circumstances I'll just refer to him as the director.
The director briefed me on the context of my line: Galen knocks on the door and says, "Hey, Pop, it's me, Galen." "Pop," who is angry, hurt, and sad that his son is an alcoholic and a homosexual, opens the door and speaks his line.
My first reading was a little over-the-top, stressing words hard, lots of volume and gestures: "I have NO son by THAT name! MY son, the GOOD Jew, would NEVER live the lifestyle YOU chose."
The director then told me to do it again and this time as if "Pop" doesn't want the neighbors to hear him. Also, I'm supposed to make it more sad than angry (but still hurt).
Remember, I'm doing these readings in my natural voice to get the role of a Jewish man. It didn't sound very convincing from inside my own head.
After the audition I told the director that if I didn't get the part I would like to be an extra in the film (I'm showing lots of confidence here, right?)
He said, "You are in a strong position because you look like you could be the father of the actor playing Galen." When I asked about my lack of an accent he said it wouldn't be a problem as they would work with me on that.
We stood up, shook hands, and as I turned to leave he said that he would be narrowing the choices down withing a week and have callbacks next Friday, July 31st.
I'm not sure if I'm scared I'll won't get the part or that I WILL get the part.
"Oy vey!"
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