the casting call

Costs are rising and times are tough.
Please consider a donation to keep this
place going.

Welcome to one of the most active flamenco sites on the Internet. Guests can read most posts but if you want to participate click here to register.

This site is dedicated to the memory of Paco de Lucía, Ron Mitchell, Guy Williams, Linda Elvira, Philip John Lee, Craig Eros, Ben Woods, David Serva and Tom Blackshear who went ahead of us.

We receive 12,200 visitors a month from 200 countries and 1.7 million page impressions a year. To advertise on this site please contact us.

the casting call

You are logged in as Guest

Users viewing this topic: none

Printable Version

All Forums >>Discussions >>General >>

Page: [1]

Message

<< Newer Topic Older Topic >>

Miguel de Maria

Posts: 3532
Joined: Oct. 20 2003
From: Phoenix, AZ

the casting call

A few weeks ago, my wife got an email from a casting company looking for people of Korean descent. Apparently, they are shooting a movie about Korean immigrants here in Phoenix ( I have no idea why), and my wife and I are both part-Korean, so we sent them our pix and they set us up an audition date. They sent us a script to learn and we came in today to read them. I have never been part of acting in any real capacity, except in high school where I did a small part very poorly in a play.

We got to a real ritzy executive office suite, where we signed in and filled out a form. The casting room had about seven people sitting around (but no casting couch). I did the audition with my wife--it was a domestic argument. Well, I felt really silly and know I did a bad job. It only took about a minute!

When we had finished, the casting director said "you guys both have a good look, we should get you in here for some modeling!"

I guess that answers the question about our abilities as actors :)

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 20 2004 20:33:44

TANúñez

Posts: 2559
Joined: Jul. 10 2003
From: TEXAS

RE: the casting call (in reply to Miguel de Maria)

quote:

When we had finished, the casting director said "you guys both have a good look, we should get you in here for some modeling!"

And with that, Miguel de Maria layed down his Vicente Carrillo, put on a pair of Prada loafers and a Georgio Armani suit and hit the runaway! Talk about a career change

I guess now instead of seeing you in an issue of Acoustic Guitar Magazine, we'll be seeing you in GQ!

Whatever happens, I wish you and your wife luck and success.

_____________________________

Tom Núñez
www.instagram.com/tanunezguitars

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 21 2004 0:35:24

Jamey

Posts: 187
Joined: Jul. 7 2004
From: Winnipeg, Canada

RE: the casting call (in reply to Miguel de Maria)

I've been in a few movies, it can really suck, especially if they use you as an extra.
Sometimes it can be fun but the hours can be insane. One time my wife and I were dancing extras in a movie shot for some specialty cable channel (I think). We were in wardrobe and makeup at 5:30am and did jive and east coast swing until 11:30 at night (the movie was supposed to take place in '53). Much of that was in sock feet because the boom mics were picking up the shoes from all of the people dancing. That whole episode was my definition of exhaustion, but then of course my colicy baby came

now I have a new one.

My parents were dancing extras in that terrible American remake of Shall We Dance (my wife and I declined since she was pregnant and showing at the time of shooting). I warned them but they wouldn't listen. They put in the same hours. In fact, most of the dancers in that lousy flick are acquaintances and friends.
(in a previous life and 20 pounds ago, my wife and I were amateur competitive ballroom dancers.......I have no idea why, it just sort of happened).

Mike, often the production assistants treat you like dirt if you are not the main feature, but the gophers etc. will wait on you hand and foot. It's a real caste system (haha, get it?

). Also, up here we have ACTRA which is the actors' union, I think it's akin to the screen actors guild. If you get into the film industry as an extra and/or small bit parts, get into your local equivalent because they will have to pay you the rates (which are better than if you don't).

Your first go at it is fun, your second is still fun but less so, third starts to be more of a chore, fourth you question what the hell you're doing there, fifth you know the drill and the casting director knows you by name (and you start to see a lot of familliar production faces), sixth you know the "secret handshake" and things don't seem to suck so much but it isn't exciting like the first one, after that, it's whatever you want to make of it.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 21 2004 3:59:42

Miguel de Maria

Posts: 3532
Joined: Oct. 20 2003
From: Phoenix, AZ

RE: the casting call (in reply to Jamey)

Well, guys, it's just for fun--I don't think I have it to be an actor or a model. I'm short and not that good looking, and I can't act. Thanks for the insights, Jamey, if I get the chance I would like to get on the set once or twice, just for the experience. I figure the more people I come in contact with, the better for my career. I told them I wouldn't do the extra thing though (I understand it doesn't pay very well, but even minor roles do...). I wonder what they thought about a Korean person named Miguel de Maria.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 21 2004 4:18:03

Ron.M

Posts: 7051
Joined: Jul. 7 2003
From: Scotland

RE: the casting call (in reply to Miguel de Maria)

Mike, I've come up with an image for you that will even beat Estaban.
Playing guitar stripped to the waist a la Joaquin Cortez, wearing only Armani pants and Gucci boots, using some cool dance moves, with a Boa Constrictor dancing at your feet.
You'd knock 'em dead, man...

Ron

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 21 2004 8:18:00

Escribano

Posts: 6415
Joined: Jul. 6 2003
From: England, living in Italy

RE: the casting call (in reply to Ron.M)

quote:

Playing guitar stripped to the waist a la Joaquin Cortez, wearing only Armani pants and Gucci boots, using some cool dance moves, with a Boa Constrictor dancing at your feet.

You jealous, Ron?

_____________________________

Foro Flamenco founder and Admin

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 21 2004 9:25:18

Ron.M

Posts: 7051
Joined: Jul. 7 2003
From: Scotland

RE: the casting call (in reply to Escribano)

Nah...I practise like that all the time..

(Minus the Boa though...I'm scared it eats the cat)

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 21 2004 9:59:36

Miguel de Maria

Posts: 3532
Joined: Oct. 20 2003
From: Phoenix, AZ

RE: the casting call (in reply to Ron.M)

Ron,
although I live in Phoenix, I probably have the color of a Scotchman, because I don't go out in the sun very much! And I don't look like Cortez--I don't dance that much! Although I am trying to get in shape nowdays.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 21 2004 15:35:27

Jamey

Posts: 187
Joined: Jul. 7 2004
From: Winnipeg, Canada

RE: the casting call (in reply to Miguel de Maria)

No problem Mike, I'll book ya in for a dance lesson with my mom. Although, I don't know if you want to learn Cha-cha, Samba, Rumba, Mambo, Paso Doble, Tango, Argentine Tango, Waltz, Fox Trot, Quick Step, Jive, Salsa, Cumbia......?

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 21 2004 15:43:36