Last week I went to four auditions in three days, all held by WSSI, a water-stunt show company. Three of the auditions were for shows at Universal Studios Hollywood, which I've auditioned for and worked at several times, but these auditions were completely different. These were the stunt shows! I've always wanted to learn how to do stunts, stage combat, and pretty much anything in the entertainment world that's active. I've been trying to figure out how to audition for these Universal shows for years. And now, finally, I was auditioning.
The first was for Terminator 2, 3-D! I thought this was my best chance into getting my foot in the door with these stunt shows. The role I wanted involved physicality in movement, a small fall, and I think some combat. It was pretty basic. But it was also the most type-specific role I was auditioning for. Still, being angular and lean, I though I might have a shot at it. The audition consisted only of stepping forward out of a line of nine other actors and telling the casting table about your experience toward the show. I told them how I've been acting for more than ten years, doing improv for eight, working at theme parks for six, including Universal Orlando and Walt Disney World. I added how I've got experience in stage combat, basic tumbling, and fall training through stilts. I felt good having a nice, broad understanding of the stunt work they needed, supported by all the acting experience.
Two guys later, someone was talking about their stunt experience, most recently on the new Spider-Man movie. Two guys after that, he was talking about all his experience acting in theme parks in Orlando, especially in the stunt shows. So... I wasn't feeling too special after that.
The next day was the audition for Waterworld, the big stunt show. This time I was aware that I was auditioning with heavy hitters. And since there was no specific type for this one, I was up against all of them, not just the angular, lean ones. The role also was the least stunt-involved, though it still involved stuff I've never come close to. I had no idea how I was going to stand out against everyone who had experience. This time I was the tenth person in a line of people with actual stunt resumes. When it was finally my go, I told the same group of people about my long acting experience and familiarity with comedy, which was important. I also told them about my foundations in stage combat, tumbling, fall training and everything I had mentioned last time, but in better detail. I also mentioned that the first gun I had ever fired was a black powder rifle when I was 10, and how I passed the hunter's safety course shortly afterward, since firing a gun was involved. And since it's Waterworld, I told them I was raised in Florida and could handle myself in the water. Then I hoped for the best.
Amazingly, I got called back, and was now up for a role in the Waterworld Stunt Show. This was epic for me.
The third and final day of auditioning was for the Zorro & Elena show and meet and greet. I wasn't gonna go, since I look nothing like Antonio Banderas and don't speak Spanish. But the woman running the auditions for WSSI told me to show up, so I did. I told them what I could offer, and didn't even try to kid them about knowing Spanish or anything. I can swordfight, and I look good in black, but I know my limits and I'm not gonna lie to get a job I can't handle. So I didn't get selected for that.
I stuck around afterward to support friends of mine who were auditioning for Elena. And while I was standing around waiting for them, I decided to audition for the fourth show, which was about to audition soon. It was a pirate show. But it was in South Carolina. But it was a
pirate show. I had to audition. I knew I was gonna want to be a part of it sooner or later anyway. I signed up and went in. I was given three sides to chose from, which I would come back and perform for the new casting table. Also, I was told to prepare a song if I wanted to sing.
I chose the role I was less suited for, but thought I'd get to play with more. I went over it until I had all of what I wanted to do with it down. Then I spent the remaining time trying to remember sixty seconds worth of lyrics to "The Mariner's Revenge." I didn't want to sing an audition song, I was gonna sing a pirate song! When we went in, I was with five others, most of which had a long list of stunt experience, having done everything I had ever heard of and maybe more. I however was one of the few with acting experience. So I at least had a strength, but still, this was a stunt show. I stepped up to the casting table when prompted and first apologized for not having a headshot and resume for them. But thankfully, the group of people were wonderful and happy people. Even more so than the other group I had auditioned for the last three days with. They weren't bothered since I had to tell them about my experience. I told pretty much reiterated what I said the last few days, and expressed my willingness and drive to learn anything that I would need to learn to be involved. Then they asked me to read my sides, which I did. I was big and loud, trying to be colorful and mean as I could make the character, and also trying to say the lines smoothly, which I failed at. They spoke among themselves for a brief moment and asked me to read the character I knew I was more suited for. So I did, and somehow that went more smoothly, and was a better read than I thought I would give it. They seemed pleased. I then sang the disturbing verse of "Mariner's Revenge" that I could remember, and then was done.
I made it past the first round, and moved onto the physical portion of the audition. This portion began with pairing up to throw stage punches at each other, and of course, the opposite side reacting, then swapping. This isn't something I've perfected, but I was pleased that I knew enough to stay grounded and use my whole body in hitting. I also mixed it up, since we threw three punches before switching, which, I'm also pleased to say, was noticed. I saw that most of the people were up on their toes when they threw punches, so I was confident I stood out in a positive light. But in the second part I knew they would catch up and surpass me completely. This was the tumbling portion. I was the last in line, and as I waited, I watched people with obvious gymnastics backgrounds execute perfectly formed rolls down the mat. We started small and worked our way up to more complicated things. Which for me meant, I showed off that I could leap forward and go into rolls, and then continue rolling speedily down the mats, and then after would be pretty boring. We then moved to cartwheels, which I did my best to perform technically well. Then backward rolls, which I tried to make up for my hurried forward rolling by doing slow and smoothly. And then we moved onto handsprings and backward walk-overs. When I stepped up, being the last, I looked at the man prompting us and sincerely told him I did not know these moves well enough to demonstrate them. Without hesitation he thanked me, and I caught the rest of the table nodding approvingly. It went over better than I thought it would. Though it was still awkward when I walked to the end of the line with the rest of the auditionees applauding and congratulating me for.. being brave I guess. Anyway... it ended with each one of us being asked to demonstrate any other tricks or moves we wanted to show them. This is when the group got to really show off and show how impressive they really were. Most people were doing hand springs, flips, and really executing some awesome stuff that I have been dying to learn for years. One guy even showed us a move he created himself, and which I can only describe as this awesome, gyroscopic flip-turn thing. And he did it off the mats. It was pretty badass. I on the other hand decide to be funny and show 'I can do this,' (high kick), and 'I can do this,' (bent over backwards till my head touched the floor). And when I went to step off, one of the guys asked me if I had said I had a background in comedy (yes), and could I do some prat falls (yes)? I winged some prat falls on the front, side, and butt, and that was pretty much it.
From what I was told by one of the guys who was a little more in the know about this group of people, I had made a good really impression. I, however, was just happy that I had kept up and made it so far with people who had worlds of stunt training and experience more than I had. To even be considered was a huge thrill for me.
I came back two days later for the Waterworld callback, which I am sad to say I did not make. Mostly because I tanked on the acting part of the callback. I'm not gonna get into why that happened, but I'm just super bummed I didn't continue on and get cast, cuz I was really,
really looking forward to finally getting involved with real stunt work and training.
Still, there's always the pirate show, next year, and who knows what else I'll find in the meantime.
I should probably hit the gym though.
