My week with [Marilyn] EPAs
My week with Marilyn EPAs (equity principal auditions)...
so I started out pretty nervous, unsure if I was "worthy enough," then it was hot and exciting and now I don't think this affair will end!
For those of you who don't know, this is the order of who is seen at EPAs:
- Equity members
- Equity membership candidates
- non-union <-------- thats me!
being a proud member of THE non-union, every time I had a chance to audition at an EPA, I talked myself out of it, thought that I wouldn't be seen, didn't want to waste my day…excuses, excuses, excuses.
I went to my first EPA last week, with the encouragement of my accountability partner, Dana (a friend who holds me accountable for things like actually going to EPAs). it was PHANTOM TOLLBOOTH! oh yeah. and my friends, I quickly learned that LA is verrrrry different from NY in EPAs. More than likely, you will be seen! I showed up with only a few people there and within and hour and a half I was seen. This was not only an exciting revelation, but it was also a confidence boost because I was no longer that person making excuses. With the nerves from not feeling I was experienced enough, a wonderful mentor, Dallas Travers, said that instead of saying all the things that you're incapable of and imagining that you are not worthy of being at such high places, believe that you are already living at that high place. i.e. Imagine that you are the oscar winner and the end goal will feed your actions, living as though you have that under your belt (no ego though). So I said to myself, "I am an successful equity actor who gets consistent work" It completely shifted my view of being there and helped me stand my ground and feel confidant. try it :)
The next day, with my happy auditioning pants on, I went to another EPA (thinking it would be a breeze). I gave the monitor my headshot and was there for about 15 minutes, only find out that they type casted the non-equity people. It went a little like this:
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EPA #2
standing in a crowded room, nervous, excited, actors wait for their audition. A gentleman, tall, the monitor, walks out with a stack of headshots, there is a hush over the crowd, eagerly waiting to hear his precious words.
MONITOR: Okay, so these are the people we do not need to see, you can come and get your headshot ...Malia Wright?
there is a silence, a shift, people look around to see who it is. A girl against the wall slowly raises her hand.
MALIA: thats me, thank you
she grabs the headshot, wishes her new friend to break a leg and walks out the door, leaving without the joy of auditioning.
END
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so that was a lot more dramatic than it actually was, but somehow, I still walked out with the confidence of knowing that I was prepared, It wasn't because of who I am and they may be looking for something different, a blonde perhaps? It was short and sweet
To do a complete 180, monday, I had an appointment to audition for PCPA theatrefest, while waiting for my audition, in another room, across the studio, I recognized a man. He was the monitor for Phantom Tollbooth the week before. ( we befriended each other and joked over silly waiting for audition nonsense) He asked if I was auditioning for Tuacahn. I said, tuawhat? He said its a equity theatre company in Utah and they were casting for their summer season. He told me that no one was there so I should audition. I told him "be right back", I went to my PCPA audition and rocked it! I go back to the tuacahn auditions, realized I didn't have a resume and I pop in my car drive a mile and print it out (TIP: make a dropbox account and make a folder for HS/R. print when needed, rinse, repeat. easy peasy) I get back, and on a whim I sing a completely different song and probably had the most fun singing that particular audition song! Thank you Wendy Cooper for transforming my voice into a fearless one! The room was dancing (well head bobbing). Very successful day, I might say.
My last EPA of the week was for A Noise Within. I showed up later and actually waited a decent amount of time (but I was able go window shopping across the street!) This week I watched some of Jack Plotnick's lectures called New Thoughts for Actors on youtube. He talked about getting to the audition and throwing everything out the door and simply say "this is actually happening to me" so easy right? why didn't I think of that? Instead of getting caught up with the technique, bring it down to a humane, relatable level. My goal for this audition was to surprise myself. AND I DID! I felt light, quick and spontaneous.
This week I learned, just JUMP INTO IT! no excuses, you wont learn something new unless you try it, in LA you are most likely going to be seen at EPAs, be kind and friendly, act as though you are already the person you strive to be, surprise yourself everyday!
So keep your head high, keep your chin up, and most importantly, keep smiling, because life's a beautiful thing and there's so much to smile about" - Marilyn Monroe