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I also need to start auditioning for more movies. I have to force Randy to get me auditions. He’s been dragging his feet too much lately, which worries me. Has Randy given up on me like pretty much everyone else in the industry?
I shoot him another text asking for any updates on Candy’s dad’s movie. They have to be casting soon. It’s getting close to the target start date for filming. I really want this movie. Or anything bigger than what I’ve been doing.
Randy doesn’t respond. He rarely does. I get he’s a busy guy, and I’m not his only client, but I wish he would be more responsive.
Leila is at work, and she’s starting the new managerial duties bestowed upon her yesterday afternoon, but I still send her a text asking how she’s doing.
She doesn’t respond either, but that was expected. I tuck my phone away and turn on the TV. I have to leave in about an hour, but for now, I’m relaxing. I was up at two this morning to film some night scenes and wanted to nap, but that’s never in the cards for me.
Instead, I’ll stay awake for like twenty-four hours straight, sleep for four or five hours, and then go back to the set for more reshoots. It’s my worst and best quality: I’m good at functioning on little to no sleep, but my poor body never gets enough rest.
My phone buzzes, and I expect a message from Leila, but instead, I see one from Randy with another audition he set up for me for next week. It’s another small movie, but I guess I should be grateful for anything I can get these days. There’s a lot of competition for roles, and I’m at the bottom of the heap.
I’m trying to dig myself out, but so far, that seems impossible.
The hour passes, and it’s time for me to go to one of the positive auditions Randy has gotten me. It’s for a short-arc character in a TV show meant for young adults. I’d be playing a guy who ends up being evil. I’m pretty sure there are supernatural elements involved. I watched a couple of episodes when Randy first told me about it, and I didn’t fully grasp the concept, but I think I can still do well with the character.
With the script in hand, I drive to the studio where the audition is taking place. A couple of other guys are waiting in the makeshift lounge when I show up. I don’t recognize either of them, but they both have longish brown hair like I do and similar builds. They’re clearly looking for a specific type for this role.
The other two guys are called in first, and then it’s my turn.
“Spencer James?” the production assistant asks, reading my name off a clipboard. “We’re ready for you.”
“Thanks,” I say, grabbing my script, though I don’t need it. I picked out my monologue yesterday and made sure I had it memorized. I’m good at reading right off the page, but I like being able to wow the panel with my great memory.
I walk into the small, white room and find three people sitting behind an equally white, fold-up table. They already have copies of my headshot in front of them, courtesy of Randy.
He does his job most of the time.
“Hi, I’m Spencer James, reading for the part of Mr. Harold Bloom.”
“Go ahead, sir,” the woman sitting on the far right of the table says.
I read out my chosen monologue about vampires being found in a school. It’s a fun one where it’s revealed that the teacher might not be as good as he made himself out to be. I think I nail it, and all three of the viewers are nodding their heads when I finish.
“That was really great, Mr. James,” the woman says. “Which makes this much harder.”
My stomach sinks. I’m not even the last audition we’re seeing today. How could they have already made a decision?
“The thing is, we were hoping you’d suck to make it easier,” she says with a light laugh. “We received word this morning that you were involved in an altercation at a club last weekend.”
I sigh. “It’s not what it looked like. There was a guy bothering my girlfriend, and I needed to get him away from her.”
“That’s noble of you, but it still goes against the code of conduct we have in place at this studio. I’m very sorry, but we won’t be able to give you this part.”
“Can I never work with this studio?”
She shakes her head. “Six months without any publicity involving violence, illegal drug use, or an arrest, and you’d be eligible for a part in one of our TV shows. I’m very sorry, Mr. James. You were our top choice for this part.”
