EVERYBODY HAS A STORY, RIGHT?

YOU tell me yours, I'll tell you mine!

So... this kid (20-years old) comes in.

Gives me a GREAT read; even though he can in no way, relate to the character he's reading for (a kid, his age, serving in a grunt unit in Vietnam).

His voice needs some work, but he'll do well!

I tell him he has the part, tell him what the pay is, and am clear in explaining that since this takes place in the Vietnam war, he's going to have to cut his hair G.I. style.

He has no problem cutting his hair... we're excited, he's excited, right?

3 HOURS LATER... I get a text from him... "I've changed my mind. I don't want to cut my hair. Can I wear a hat or something to cover my hair?"

Obviously he thinks this casting stuff is a negotiation.

I clarify it for him, "No... won't work."

Even though this kid has already given me MORE than enough reason to thank him for his time and send him on his way; he did do a great read. So...I politely remind him, "You know your hair will grow back, right?"

We text back and forth some more... come to find out, his girlfriend doesn't want him to cut his hair - she likes it the way it is.

This is a 20-year old, so called actor, right?

The upshot of the conversation?

I tell him, "You think about what you want to do. In the mean time, I have a few other guys reading for the same role. If one of them impresses me more than you did, you don't need to worry about the haircut."

PARTING NOTE: The overall result of the auditions that day?

A kid in the 8th grade read with more understanding of the same character that 20-year old read for.

I KNOW you have some "interesting" ADVENTURE IN CASTING... tell me about it!

Thanks for reading my blog

Loren