I Coulda Been a Star!

...but then reality set in.

I never went to Hollywood to become a star, but once I was out there, the opportunities were all around.  The cameras and klieg lights, the movie studios, the daily ads calling for actors, game show contestants, extras, well, just about anything in the industry--it was everywhere.  I was young and ready to try my hand at most anything, so I thought, why not?

First, I tried out for Tic Tac Dough.  They didn't bite.  Then, I auditioned for Sale of the Century.  I made it through the first audition, and the second, and on to the show taping at NBC studios in Burbank.  I didn't win, but I do have a memorable story to tell.  You see, the video cameras broke down just as I was wildly buzzing in and shouting out my over-the-top wrong answer "King Kong" when it should have been "Godzilla" to a question I can no longer remember.  We were in front of a live studio audience and after the game concluded, we had to reshoot that particular question, wild animation with wrong answer and all, so it could be spliced into the show that would air a few weeks later.  How fun!  I never experienced dry mouth to the extent I did at that taping.  They could have called me Ol' Cottonmouth!

Anyway, I decided it was fun being in front of the cameras, so I signed up for some commercial acting classes and auditioned for an agent at International Artists.  To my surprise, I was one of three selected to sign on.  I guess it was my charm and good looks that sold her on me.  Seriously though, the actor and producer teaching the workshops I was taking seemed to feel I had a look that could work in a wide variety of roles, from young professional to college student to next door neighbor and more.  So, I decided to jump on in the pool and get a headshot and some photos I would need in order to audition for commercials.

I learned, like probably about 99 percent of all actor wannabees, however, that being selected to join a casting agency and actually getting sent on auditions, much less snagging roles, were two very different things.  It didn't take long for me to put this little lark into the book of fun memories, and go and get a real job earning real income.  Still, fantasies are good for everyone every now and again.  I recommend them as long as they are legal and decent.