So I gathered up my mother and we headed down to the open-call on a Saturday in Akron. We didn't really know what to expect, so when we got there and saw people much younger than me, we were a little taken back. However, I/we got over it quickly.
The meeting room was basically two sets of 3-row-deep chairs which faced each other; a runway-esque aisle split the middle of the room (parents on one side, potential talent/models on the other). Their projection screen was at one end of the room, which made for some physical discomfort - par for the course for any long presentation.
The presentation was about what you'd expect: they blabbed on and on about how great their company is. It was mildly interesting and included lots of testimonials from now-successful talent who got their start with this company. Of course, it could have been streamlined to about 30-40 minutes instead of an hour and a half, but that's beside the point.
One of the points they wanted to get to was about what we should expect for the end of this meeting. After the presentation, everyone would be meeting one-on-one (as I said in the last post) with one of the directors. When meeting with them, one of three results would come of it: the director would either say A) you're exactly what we want, let's set up an interview immediately, B) we're intrigued, call us Monday afternoon for an evaluation and we'll decide between now and then what we want to do with you, or C) you're not a good fit right now, come back in a few months.
They implied that most people would be hit with option B, while some would get C for just being there at the wrong time, and very few would get possibility A.
After they were done with the company presentation, they readied us to split into our private interviews which took place in the corners of this same crowded room. My mom and I met with the same woman I spoke with over the phone (a twist of good luck, we think, but maybe she intentionally did that...not sure) and we, of course, comfortably chatted for a few minutes.
At the end of this brief conversation, she informed me that I was definitely the kind of person they would like to work with, so let's set up an interview for the coming week so we can try to lock this whole thing down and see what happens.
So that meeting couldn't have really gone any better.
We set up an interview for the following Tuesday evening.
Again my mother accompanied me (at the agency's request) and we had what turned out to be about a 75 minute interview spanning all kinds of subjects. She asked why I'd never gotten into theater or anything like that, then thanked me profusely for having never done it because of how it affects the over-dramatization-ness (yes, one word) of those actors - making it hard for them to get into commercial acting.
However, as a result of the same interrogation process - which my mother occasionally chimed in on with something mildly embarrassing - it was revealed that I have next to no training whatsoever in the field of modeling and/or acting. Trying to soften that blow, I mentioned that I'm not too concerned with public speaking or making a fool of myself in front of strangers, so that saved me a little bit.
In the end, though, the course of action seemed to be that I would take part in a 10-week, once-a-week "class," for lack of better words. It's a training program that teaches the ins and outs of how to act properly in front of the camera, in front of potential employers, and in front of other potential models/talent...and above all, it teaches confidence.
Having bought into the company enough to realize that they're for real about what they do, we decided that, yes, this was the thing to do. We have no idea how to make it into this business, but the company does.
At the conclusion of the 10-week program, barring any unforeseen consequences (like me being unbelievably terrible) I will be signed with this company and they will do my first promotional photo-shoot at no charge.
Also, at week 4 of the training program, if the teacher of the class feels that anyone in particular is ready to make the first step, they can recommend certain students to go to a couple of open-calls in an attempt to actually make a little bit of money during the classes.
At this point, everything seems almost too good to be true, which is a slight concern. Typically when something seems too good to be true, it is.
PS, my "director" just so happens to be interested in purchasing a donkey...un-freaking-believable.
The meeting room was basically two sets of 3-row-deep chairs which faced each other; a runway-esque aisle split the middle of the room (parents on one side, potential talent/models on the other). Their projection screen was at one end of the room, which made for some physical discomfort - par for the course for any long presentation.
The presentation was about what you'd expect: they blabbed on and on about how great their company is. It was mildly interesting and included lots of testimonials from now-successful talent who got their start with this company. Of course, it could have been streamlined to about 30-40 minutes instead of an hour and a half, but that's beside the point.
One of the points they wanted to get to was about what we should expect for the end of this meeting. After the presentation, everyone would be meeting one-on-one (as I said in the last post) with one of the directors. When meeting with them, one of three results would come of it: the director would either say A) you're exactly what we want, let's set up an interview immediately, B) we're intrigued, call us Monday afternoon for an evaluation and we'll decide between now and then what we want to do with you, or C) you're not a good fit right now, come back in a few months.
They implied that most people would be hit with option B, while some would get C for just being there at the wrong time, and very few would get possibility A.
After they were done with the company presentation, they readied us to split into our private interviews which took place in the corners of this same crowded room. My mom and I met with the same woman I spoke with over the phone (a twist of good luck, we think, but maybe she intentionally did that...not sure) and we, of course, comfortably chatted for a few minutes.
At the end of this brief conversation, she informed me that I was definitely the kind of person they would like to work with, so let's set up an interview for the coming week so we can try to lock this whole thing down and see what happens.
So that meeting couldn't have really gone any better.
We set up an interview for the following Tuesday evening.
Again my mother accompanied me (at the agency's request) and we had what turned out to be about a 75 minute interview spanning all kinds of subjects. She asked why I'd never gotten into theater or anything like that, then thanked me profusely for having never done it because of how it affects the over-dramatization-ness (yes, one word) of those actors - making it hard for them to get into commercial acting.
However, as a result of the same interrogation process - which my mother occasionally chimed in on with something mildly embarrassing - it was revealed that I have next to no training whatsoever in the field of modeling and/or acting. Trying to soften that blow, I mentioned that I'm not too concerned with public speaking or making a fool of myself in front of strangers, so that saved me a little bit.
In the end, though, the course of action seemed to be that I would take part in a 10-week, once-a-week "class," for lack of better words. It's a training program that teaches the ins and outs of how to act properly in front of the camera, in front of potential employers, and in front of other potential models/talent...and above all, it teaches confidence.
Having bought into the company enough to realize that they're for real about what they do, we decided that, yes, this was the thing to do. We have no idea how to make it into this business, but the company does.
At the conclusion of the 10-week program, barring any unforeseen consequences (like me being unbelievably terrible) I will be signed with this company and they will do my first promotional photo-shoot at no charge.
Also, at week 4 of the training program, if the teacher of the class feels that anyone in particular is ready to make the first step, they can recommend certain students to go to a couple of open-calls in an attempt to actually make a little bit of money during the classes.
At this point, everything seems almost too good to be true, which is a slight concern. Typically when something seems too good to be true, it is.
PS, my "director" just so happens to be interested in purchasing a donkey...un-freaking-believable.
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