I booked a commercial last week! It was unexpected, and I was super nervous, but as filming approaches, I'm getting more and more excited. It started 2 weeks ago with a call from my agent that I had an audition for a "women's fitness club". I got the information and the casting director was one that I hadn't seen in years. That in itself was pretty cool, because he used to call me in quite often in the past. The audition required me to use sign language. I do know basic sign language (and I even booked a job in the past based on it), but by no means am I fluent, and there were no sides provided before the audition, so I was feeling quite nervous about going in without being able to prepare anything (to research word signs I didn't know, etc). But I went in, sucked it up, and signed away.
A week after that I got a call from my agent that I got a callback. Yay! Again, there was nothing to prep, so I just had to go down to the studio and see what was in store. Once in the audition room, Blair (the CD) said to just do what I had done at the original callback, which was to "teach some sort of fitness using sign language". I started out and very quickly the producer (I assume he was the producer) said to Blair, "What is she doing?" to which Blair replied, "She's teaching a fitness class." It was all very humourous (thank goodness) and lighthearted so I didn't feel like I was being attacked or anything. Then the producer guy asked if I could just tell a story or something, and to pretend I was speaking/signing to children. So off I went with that, and they seemed to like it. After I was done and leaving, we spoke a little more and shared a little laugh. Even Blair got in on it and we were cracking up as he walked with me out the door.
Then about 10 minutes after that Blair called to say that production wanted to know if I could tell a story using sign language. I didn't get the message until about 45 mins after that, because I was off to a different audition right away. I called back and spoke with his assistant and told her I know pretty basic signs, but that if I was given something to work on, then I could look up any word signs I didn't know.
A day after the callback I was on the shortlist, and the day after that, I got the good news! They still didn't provide any sides, so I decided to learn a story over the weekend (I got cast on a Friday), just in case. Today was wardrobe, and while I was showing off various outfits to the production people, they asked if I could sign them a story. Thank goodness I did some research and learning over the weekend, so I confidently said, "Why, yes I can!" One of them asked, "Can you tell us the story of the 3 bears?" Which was perfect, because that was the story I had chosen to learn! I went through a little of it, and they all loved it and commented on how it was perfect for the role, as I will be playing the role of a schoolteacher, signing a story to children. Man, I am SO glad I took the initiative.
So now I'm not worried about what they'll want me to do, and am now just super excited about filming, which will be on Thursday and Friday. Oh, the commercial is for Curves (a women's fitness club) and will start airing Dec 31st, 2007. :)
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