Today I got an email for an open casting call for extras for "The Internship," a movie with Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn being filmed here in Atlanta. And while I had missed the actual in-person call, since they were taking email submissions, I figured it couldn't hurt to send a few pics, adjust my weight (ahem), and see what happened.
Now they were casting for geeky/nerdy types, which basically means they toss a pair of dark glasses on the people, put a pocket protector in their pocket, and take a couple of pictures. Then if they need a warm body, they call them a few hours before they need them, at which point they stand around for most of the day, hoping to brush shoulders with a famous person and not end up on the cutting room floor, all while getting paid minimum wage.
So basically, I'd be paying to be in the movie since I pay my babysitter triple that.
The life of an extra is not glamorous, y'all.
But hey I would be in a movie for a milisecond "LOOK RIGHT THERE THAT'S MY FINGERNAIL!" and it was enough to make me send a couple of photos: A headshot and a full length shot as instructed.
I almost instantly got this reply:
"I need pics of you that are more cubicle drone nerdy awkward"
Which I totally get. I've done enough castings to know this. But I don't have a photo of myself looking like a cubicle drone nerdy awkward and I don't have dark glasses and pocket protectors laying around my house to put on and be photographed with an iPhone to send.
So I wrote back a funny "Okay cool, no worries, my life will go on. Thanks anyway."
"Ha! Well, I run a tech site, but I don't think I actually dress the part while I do it, sorry!"
But then someone got all snarky on my ass.
"Most people that audition to be whores in film, don't usually look the part in real life. I'm asking for you to send me better pics of what I need to submit you for this movie. Your pics are too pretty to be considered."
Which hey, my pictures are pretty. Thanks! But also, whores? So I wrote back:
Well, too bad you're not casting for whores. I totally dress like THAT every day.
And well, it turns out Casting Director Lowly Intern has a sense of humor.
Bwahahahahahaha.
Alas, I won't be cast in a movie anytime soon but I WIN AT FUNNY ON EMAIL.
Wow, well done for handling the email and finding the humour in the situation. Following your passions whilst looking after the troop is hard but keep on going sister!
I also agree with Amanda too!
Posted by: Claire Challenor | July 24, 2012 at 05:16 AM
Great blog! Nice pot! Thanks!
Posted by: devenir riche | July 07, 2012 at 04:12 AM
You definitely win at funny. How do you get on these email lists? I want to have a nerdy fingernail in a movie and be hassled by an intern via email! Hook me up!
Posted by: Marta | July 01, 2012 at 03:42 PM
This one time I was working as a PA on a movie shooting here in St. Louis and the art director tried to get the director to cast me as an extra in the role of Naked Dead Girl with Tattoo.
I was like, really. Really? I've been filing your papers in color coded order and taking your phone calls and taking careful notes on your rants regarding such important subjects as "Not THAT baby blue the other baby blue" and silently correcting your grammar mistakes on outgoing emails and I even once personally practically saved the whole damn production by averting a script printing crisis, and when you look at me, what you see is Naked Dead Girl?
I DO have a tattoo, though. So there's that.
Anyway I turned them down and they cast a stripper instead. And then the movie never finished filming anyway, because Brad Pitt spooked the German investors.
Posted by: Jaelithe | June 30, 2012 at 12:23 PM
Aw damn, I totally could have done "cubicle drone nerdy awkward" and added "totally bad humidity hair" to boot. But at least you win with too pretty AND funny.
Posted by: Alyssa S. | June 29, 2012 at 03:49 PM
You make me wish I lived near Atlanta. Not for movies, for you.
Brilliant.
Posted by: Amanda | June 29, 2012 at 11:41 AM