BY BELINDA BREMNER
The Illinois Film Office reports that all of L.A. is on holiday until after the first week of September. When the moguls, mogulesses and their attendant minions return, we will hear word on the half dozen projects that were scouting here. Here’s hoping October is hopping. For the time being, we had "ER" on a return visit, a check in with "Mind of the Married Man," and "What About Joan."
By the by, there is a woman working the streets claiming to represent a modeling agency and handing out her card to those with "promise." A student of mine was instantly wise to her, even before the woman used the line that Mel Gibson was one of their talents. (Would I make this up?) Be very, very careful. No real agent walks up to folks on the street. That belongs in the same book of fairy tales with getting discovered at Scraft’s. If someone hands you a card under such circumstances, give them NO INFORMATION. Smile, wave bye-bye and fly to the phone to check them out with the Illinois Department of Labor and the unions.
But real actors booking real television work of late included Maia Madison, Rick Peeples, Danny McCarthy and Bryan Kelly. All actors were booked by Jane Alderman and her lovey assistant Kristy Entwhistle for "What About Joan." Next week look for "ER" bookings.
Theatre casting still tops the bill at Chicago Casting Center. They continue in their casting for Beard of Avon for Seattle Rep and Dracula and A Christmas Carol for Actors’ Theatre of Louisville. And should there be any singles out there of your acquaintance that want to audition for the WB’s "Elimadate," have them give the Center a call.
Claire Simon Casting is working on two film projects–Exorcist II for 4:1 and "American Family" for PBS. In theatre, Amy Carle was cast in Morning Star at Missouri Rep (where Simon is also casting for Winter’s Tale and Worksong). Simon is also casting for Sister Carrie at Indiana Rep.
Lots of commercials (with bookings next issue) at Tenner Paskal.
High in our hearts though last alphabetically is Umlaut. Peter Oestreich cast a voice-over spot for Jeep Liberty.
And the ever loyal Lily’s sends word that commercial bookings went to Bradley Gabbert, Heather O’Brien, Robert Guthrie, Pat Martin and Marla Owen. Voice-overs went to Valerie Glowinski and Elizabeth Zoller. The Lucky Seven for September are Bryan Martorano, Marcus Horn, Megan Grano, Eric Jenkins Jr., Alexis Baily, Clover Campbell and David O’Connell.
I heard a terrific interview on NPR. Susan Stamberg has been interviewing actors on Tuesday mornings about auditioning, and Nicole Parker of "Soul Food" had some wonderful comments. "It’s part of the process," Parker said. "So make [auditioning] the most enjoyable you can. It is a chance to perform," albeit for five minutes. It’s your job to audition, the wise ones tell us. "All you have is that moment," she continued, warning actors to enjoy it and not waste time or energy trying to guess what THEY want. That’s where training separates the real actors from the wannabes. She concluded, "I give the performance I would give, if I get the role." Something to chew on, along with the last brat of summer.
Peace.