Watching people doing audition for a role was another new film making related experience. One of my fellow wannabe filmmakers is going to shoot a short, and he was kind enough to have me around to watch the process.
The setup was a short piece of a script where 2 people, one a nurse, and the other a mental patient should have a conversation.
Here are a few things I learned:
- I saw 4 pairs of professional actors performing, and it was amazing how differently they did it.
- Professional actors are absolutely willing to do shorts on expenses only basis.
- There are loads of good actors around in London.
- It doesn’t take long to spot if someone has learned their lines or not.
- Some actors travelled all the way from Leeds (they get travel expenses paid) for a 10 minute audition in London.
- Good actors make you forget quickly that you are watching 2 people on 2 plastic chairs in a small room, they pull you straight into the story.
- Watching an audition is interesting and exiting, and I also felt that I had a good sense of picking the right actor for a particular role, which might become handy should I ever make that short myself.
- I want to trade some bags of shyness for some bags of courage.
I have a lot of respect for people who dare to jump out and go make their shorts, as I don’t feel I am ready for that just yet. I have to find some more inspiration for a good story, write a decent script and dare to just do it. It will come if it is meant to be I am sure about that. In the mean time I help other people out with theirs, meet a lot of nice people that way, and get some hands on experience.
This weekend I will meetup with an old travel friend of mine, we were in the same group travelling around in Mexico in December 2003. Can’t believe it has been three years since that trip. I have seen him once after that in Holland, now he is visiting London with a friend of his, so a perfect opportunity to meet up and have a tea.
Apart from that I am going to relax this weekend, go visit my Cafe, and see if I can get some ideas out of my weary head onto paper.
I reckon you’re entirely right on waiting until you have a story to tell. What’s the point of making a film otherwise?
Then again, I know nothing. I’ve also recently been taking photos without looking through the viewfinder. I know roughly what I’m pointing at, but not really. They tend to come out a million times better than my composed shots, at least to my eyes.
So, to sum up, ignore me.
Believe in what you do, that’s the only thing that matters. And I don’t think you lack the courage, you’ve shown more than enough courage last year! So find something you can believe in and ah, well, basically, do it…
I think yak is absolutely right regarding the courage bit :)