I remember many, many moons ago (it was in the 1990s! gasp!), I was interning at a casting director/producer's office with an acting studio associated with it. As such, I had remarkable access to those casting directors who would come in and hold casting workshops -- essentially a pay-to-be-seen type of situation, but at the time, i wasn't getting a lot of auditions, and this helped. I remember being called in by the casting directors for Friends, MAD TV, Just Shoot Me, and more. And, while I didn't land any of the roles I went out on, I was grateful for the opportunities.
The scenes we got to read in the workshops were sides from the shows they worked on. I remember, for example, reading a scene from Friends (I read Ross' part) where he and Rachel were arguing -- I still remember one of the lines: "First of all, it was Professor Pitain, and second, he was able to prove that dinosaur had wings, but could not fly!"
One of the workshops involved a casting director for a show that was currently on (I will name neither the CD nor the show), where I had just seen the episode the sides were from just a week prior. I happened to mention it as I was given the sides. Now, for the record, I would never have been called in for this particular role -- he was very much a leading man type and, more so then, I was definitely more like Ross -- not the romantic lead, but more of the quirky, sidekick character.
At that time in my training (and I still believe it now), you should always put your own spin on the character. When I first auditioned for the acting studio, I was given a scene from L.A. Law (I was reading the Harry Hamlin role). It was a courtroom scene, and I made it my own, changing the Michael Kuzak character from Hamlin's portrayal to one that has a bit more of a sarcastic, smart-ass bent. I made it my own. So...I did the same thing with the role I was reading for in this particular casting director session.
After my scene partner and I performed our scene, the CD kind of berated me (in front of the rest of the workshop participants), essentially saying that my performance was "wrong", and that I should have known better since I just saw the episode! Needless to say, I have never been called in by this CD to read for them since.
Did I do the wrong thing? Should I have basically given a carbon-copy performance of the guy who had already gotten the role? My gut still tells me no, that I gave the performance I would have given if I was in the role...and I didn't fit that demographic. I still insist (and clearly it still baffles me) that I made the right call, and that the CD was wrong. Now, I also recognize that it was in the 1990s, and there are wider portrayals of lead characters than the stereotypical type the CD wanted me to be (which I'm still not!).
What are your thoughts? Am I right or (equally possible) horribly misguided?
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I don't think you auditioned wrong Doug Kayne I try to stay away from doing movies and TV shows as casting will only see the known version of the role. I don't want to emulate what someone else does and I am surprised that the CD was upset with you for not doing that. Also, CDs are not actors or directors or acting teachers and really have no business conducting workshops and critiquing performances. You made the right call and why does this person still live in your head?
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It's weird...because we're always told that if you do something different, putting your own spin on it, you'll stand out. But, at least I feel justified that I made the right choice. Won't stop me from pursuing TV and movie roles (though I am also writing for myself). I agree that the CD's feedback was baffling -- and they're apparently viewed favorably by many peers and performers (yet another reason why I'm not naming names).
As to why they're still living in my head...one feature of ADHD (which I was just diagnosed with less than two years ago) is holding onto certain memories, especially if they don't make sense. Still navigating it, but I'll forget the idea I just had five second earlier...yet remember details from 1987 with perfect accuracy.