By:
Tabitha Garnica
“So many faces all around, and
here we go…” ~ A Chorus Line
 |
| Can we just pick roles out of a hat? |
Everyone goes into an audition praying
to get a callback. A callback is a
second round of auditions that only a select number of people are asked to
attend. Initially, if you auditioned for
a specific role and get a callback, this means you are one of the final people
being considered. Callbacks get much more specific than auditions. It is more focused on mastering one particular
role, rather than simply showing talent.
I personally have come to the
conclusion that callbacks are probably one the most wretched aspects of theatre. Through the years, I have found myself to
have horribly bad luck with them.
The feeling after a good first
audition can be one of the best feelings in the world. I have had several experiences in which I go
into an audition targeting a role and am able to do my absolute best and nail
it. It is such a great thing to be able
to go home after an audition and be able to say, “I might actually get this!”
Once you get the callback it almost
lures you into a false sense of security.
A callback tells you that you were one of the best. Whenever I get a callback, I cannot help
having delusions of grandeur. I start
imagining how amazing it would be if I actually got it, and I even go as far as
picturing myself in the costume and thinking who I would invite to my night of
fame. All I have to do is nail that one
callback, and it can be mine.
Now, I finally go to the callback,
and all these people that I did not even know existed are running up against
me. Of course, they all look the part
more and just give this aura of talent. Usually,
there are multiple dates for an initial audition, so even if you are the best
on Thursday, there could have been ten people better than you on Friday. My confidence level goes through a 360 degree
turn as soon as I look at the competition.
“She is wearing the perfect outfit for this role.” “She looks more age appropriate.”
“She looks exactly like the girl in the movie!”
There is always that one person who you wish would just disappear.
If all that were not enough, I always
overthink every single thing the director does and says during a callback. “He asked her to sing 16 bars and I only sang
8!”,“He made her read that scene twice and I only read it once!”, “He knows her
mother!!”
It can be so annoying how all the
success I achieved during the first audition, can completely be erased during a
callback. I almost want to grab the
director and scream, “Don’t you remember how good I was! You smiled at me the
first audition! Why aren’t you smiling now?”
In conclusion, callbacks make me
lose my mind. I admit it. The
difficulties of casting can get to us so much that it can almost lead us to insanity. The important thing is to never let yourself
lose hope, and never let any director or actor make you feel unworthy. When going into a callback, remind yourself
that you are there for a reason, and instead of focusing on what others have,
focus on what makes you unique.
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Copyright (c) Tabitha Garnica 2013 All Rights Reserved
Photo Credits
- Raspberry Face
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