New Posibilities Are Like Peanut Butter Cups

Some days are like biting into a peanut butter cup that has gone old before it’s time leaving you with a mouth full of dried chalky peanut butter that’s unpalatable.  Others are like sinking your teeth into the soft rich creaminess of that nutty heaven washing it down with a wave of rich chocolate goodness.  Today was definitely the later but I had doubts when my bedmate woke me an hour after the alarm had gone off.  It was like someone had shot me out of a cannon when he told me it was almost 1 o’clock and I had to leave the house at 2 to make the go-see for a TV series casting I was reading for.  I’m still not quite sure how in an hour I ate breakfast throwing myself together and walked out the door with a mug of coffee in my hand arriving at the Austin Studios three minutes to spare. I had been called in to read for a part of a vampire stripper, two things I can absolutely do, but seeing as it was my first time to read for anything I was nervous as all get out hoping to God that I could pull off exactly what they were needing and not make a fool of myself.  I walked into the waiting room where row after row of empty chairs lined the wall.  There was a fair complexion-unassuming girl sitting behind the multiple clipboards labeled, ‘SAG Affiliated Actors Sign In Sheet’, ‘Non-SAG and Extra Actors Sign In Sheet’, and ‘Entertainers Sign in Sheet’.  I reached for the pen that dangled from the clipboard that read ‘Entertainers Sign in Sheet’.  I signed my name, Ruby Day, time: 2:57 p.m., appointment time: 3:00 and I sat down in the first row; the seat closes to the windows.  As I looked around the room taking in the surroundings of this new experience I began to notice the many crates and boxes lining the table and filing cabinets in the small but spacious room.  Atop of each of them stood a scotch taped sign written in black felt marker that read, ‘Revisions to Character Scripts’, ‘Character Scripts’, ‘Extra Scripts’, ‘Return Extra Scripts Here’, and ‘Revolution Extra Scripts’.  I began wondering if I needed one of these so I walked over to the crate labeled ‘Extra Scripts’ thumbing through the hanging folder tabs until I found the one I was looking for Karina.  I reached in and pulled out what looked as though a grade school child had been grading papers.  The top half was crossed out with an X with lines on the top and bottom.  There was an arrow pointing to the left with ‘Karina’ written horizontally in the margins.  ‘Part One’ was written in large letters directly under the large X.  Each of Karina’s lines were highlighted with chartreuse yellow.  The remainder pages seemed to mimic the first as each part was emphasized the same.  I had seen this before when the casting company had sent over the part late last week.  I relaxed after seeing something familiar as I walked over to the crate labeled ‘Revisions to Character Scripts’ just to make sure I wasn’t missing anything.  The last thing I wanted was to walk into the reading with the wrong script.  I returned to my seat just in time for my name to be called.  Lacey, whom I had spoken to the prior week, greeted me as we walked to the room next door.  We chatted as the door was shut and I began unbuttoned my dress feeling a gust of air as it dropped to the floor.  Dressed in nothing but six-inch stilettos and a bright blue thong string bikini I found my way to the wall where snap shots would be taken.  I’m not sure who was more nervous the assistant who never looked up from her computer screen once my dress hit the floor or Lacey who seemed to be fumbling with the point-n-shoot camera.  I just smiled, ass and all while I stood wearing not much more than a t-back and pasties.  A few shots later and several chuckles more I was dressed walking out the door with Lacey escorting me back to the waiting room for my turn to read.  Up to this point it had been nothing but by now I was really starting to get nervous, then I remembered what my bedmate said, “It’s just a reading like you did the ’11 inches’ video.” and I began to realize I had nothing to be nervous about.  In some ways I’m thankful the camera man, Scott, came out to get who ever was next so I didn’t have any longer to think about things.  I thought another man was in front of me but he insisted I go instead so I followed Scott into the room and introduced myself as a woman was running a bit hurriedly around the room.  I asked to meet the puppy who was gracing us with his presence then introduced myself to Beth.  Relaxed I stepped into position and we began the reading until they liked what they heard.  It was over before I knew it as Beth and I were heading out the door.  I still don’t know exactly what she said to me but all I recall was something about hearing from them or they will be making their decision next week.  Honestly I was in a bit of a daze over the experience.  It was kind of like the scene in Big Fish where he meets his true love and time stands still but when it begins again it’s in fast motion.  I remember Scott and Beth both smiling then everything sped up including Beth’s words.  I know she was speaking to me but I’m not exactly sure what all she said.  I probably should have asked her to repeat it to calm my doubts but by the time it all registered she had already closed the door and I was standing in front of the sign-in/sign-out sheets.  I looked at the fair complexion girl and said, “I guess I’m done” as she pointed to the sheets instructing me to put the sign out time. Still a bit dazed my bedmate and I walked to the car as I spewed what had taken place. Now it’s just waiting to see what final decision was made.

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