My Husband In the Movies

      I get e-mails on a regular basis from "Explore Talent."  I was hoping I might get a gig playing guitar from them, but they mostly send me info. about electric guitar gigs and movie auditions, neither of which have interested me.  However, one day I was reading through their e-mail and saw there was an audition for a movie role for a man about 60 years old who could play the part of an announcer in a movie about boxing. I immediately thought of my husband, who as many people know, has a wonderful speaking voice. Everyone loves to hear John do the readings at church. The surprising thing was that when I clicked on the link about the audition, all the info. was there- day, time, and address of a gym in Fort Pierce where the auditions would be held. Usually you have to give your credit card number to get that much information. I convinced John that it wouldn't hurt to check it out. I still wasn't sure they would even let him audition if he just showed up, but it couldn't hurt to try.
      John got there early, expecting crowds of people, and there was just one other man there. Finally the movie people showed up and the people at the gym told them John was number 2.  Later, a really good looking, tall, young black man showed up. He looked like a movie star and was obviously auditioning for a different part than John was. They asked John if he could go ahead of him, and John said it was no problem. So John had the third audition. More people showed up after him, but mostly women trying out for other roles.
      When they called his name, they took his picture from the front and the side in front of a big boxing punch bag. Then they asked if he had something prepared and he told them he had been thinking about a monologue while he was sitting there.  John had been on the debate team in college and his specialty was extemporaneous speaking. So he began speaking extemporaneously.  The movie people loved his voice and couldn't believe he didn't have anything written down. They asked him if he had any acting experience and he said no, but he worked in sales, which was kind of like acting. One man laughed and said he was right.  Another man said that if the movie becomes a TV show like they hoped, John's voice as an announcer would be great at the beginning of each show. The others agreed. They said they would call him back. 
      It took a couple of weeks to hear back. They were also holding auditions in Miami. John wasn't sure they really would call him back- he had been one of the first to audition. Chances are they would hear another voice they loved. However, he finally got some papers to sign saying he wouldn't tell anyone what is in the script and then he got a script. Everything is moving along very slowly, but it looks like he has a part in the movie! It's called "Heart of a Champion."
      In the meantime, Explore Talent was calling and trying to get John to sign up for their services. After thinking about it for a while, the $100 fee for 6 months didn't seem too bad. John has flexible working hours with his 3 day a week job. The part in "Heart of a Champion" is small and won't require a lot of time.  He has time to go for other auditions and we seem to be in a good location between Miami and Orlando where a number of auditions are held. The first audition went well- why not try again? He will be going to another audition in Orlando today.  It's fun to dream that he might get a big role some day!