Demo Reel Selection

A few years ago, I went to an audition for a small part in a TV Pilot called "The Olympians." It is a gritty, visceral western adventure series. A tad MORE gritty than expected. More about that later.

I was only going for the part of a sailor: a bit part. I gave an emotional audition about a tough guy from, a famous movie, who was reminiscing about a tragic accident that happened between him and his friend while sparing with him in the boxing ring. Tough on the outside; tears on command.

I wound up getting offered the lead role.

Unfortunately, the part called for smoking and, apparently, graphic violence and sex scenes which I will not, for various reasons, do. (Not being murdered in my sleep by my wife being one of them.)

I would have loved to have done the show, but the fake smoke effects would have been cost prohibitive, so we decided that I would not fit into the role. It's too bad.

They seemed to think I was there to audition for the main part or something to that effect. They must have assumed that I had been given the synopsis and sides (pages) for the audition.

Of course, because I was trying for the smaller part, I was not privy to the details of the main character's requirements. Thusly, the confusion about my qualifications to play the part.

For things like smoking, sexual content, drug use, etc it is common to make sure that the auditionees are informed because, even many famous actors would not play certain things.

This was a simple miscommunication, but that happens sometimes when dealing with auditions.

It was an honor to be asked to take the role.

The video above is the audition piece that made them offer me the part.

You know, I wrote this years ago and I have done a lot of stuff since. Maybe I'll share some of those things with you at a future date and we can all have a few laughs or, at least, a little entertainment of some kind.

All the best to you!

--RG