Always thinking

Microsoft Ad Casting

I almost told everyone that I got this opporotunity to cast for a big budget Microsoft ad campaign which takes place at San Francisco down town. But I did not. That feels good when I finally managed the cover the news. Last night I even had a dream almost the whole night about casting for it, so much I woke up very tired like sitting up for the whole night without shutting my eyes. I knew it would be a good opportunity this time, not like casting for Mr. Phil of PG&E almost a year ago: they call upon me for 2nd time casting and eventually gave up.

It's been a crazy day at work and couldn't get out of work as planned around 4:10pm. The driving to SF from SJ at peak time can be tricking: it is supposed to be 54 minutes by taking 101 without traffic. So my plan of taking 101 detouring 280 with final destination of SF down town has a big questions mark on it. It's like driving for a destiny: there can not be any higup along the way otherwise...I was lucky in that matter, I was able to maintain average 65 yo 75 miles per hour the whole trip while trying to figure out which exit to take. My score: 5:45 I arrived at parking lot which isn't too bad and my strategy certainly worked.

I've been to this casting office down on 1st for a few times now and I left a msg to casting director about my being late. The worst thing is I couldn't almost hold to pee. On the contrary though, it's been proven many times that while you are under pressure, human can hold as long as they want: at least it's true to me.

I walked to third floor: Kristen is not a pretty woman but she is very nice. "Oh, here you are" she made me feel at home all of a sudden. There came this indian boy who asked me to sign up and explained a little bit about what I need to do, it's quite simple: I need to choose five adjectives from a list and say them in manderin while director says "start something new": I chose 5 words obviously reflecting my interst: loving, active, healthy, ambitious and delicious. They almost cover my entire character and personality. With that under my belt, it's a piece of cake, at least I thought so.

Here open the doors: I am no longer nervous this time. Casting director seems to be geniuely interested in my background, and she is cute, kinda. We started once and proceed normally to the point I was ready to speak Chinese: all of a sudden I realized the rule is not what I thought: it's more like speaking in Chinese begining with "start something new" + adjectives. I got a bit nervous and quickly went over 5 adjectives I chose in my head if they are easy or good to put in such context. They are NOT. I didn't understand what casting director tried to find out from this. Am I supposed to? If so, I would have come in earlier and digest the whole script and found out how to deal with it. I started all over again, given a second chance by her.
"Now tell me your name"
"Grant", "English name"
"Tell me what is your Chinese name"
"Jian"
"Great, how many years you have been in States"
"8 years now, mainly in school"
"wow, you don't seem to have much accent, must be working on it a lot"
"yeh, school, you know", "but I have been working after graduating from school"
"what do you do""
"project manager"
"Ok, show me your profile"
By profile, casting director means you side image, if you don't know.
"Now, are you ready to get started?"
I stared at her for 10 seconds"I think so"
"You think so or you are sure"
Damn, I am not sure but what can I do "yes, I am sure"
this time I know I lied.

"Ok, start"
"Start something (involving) active (lifestyle)" I was not sure whether I am supposed to be add context, but I was not comfortable.
"Start something healthy activity", it's getting worse, I felt it. Now I felt the pressure in real life TV show such "apprentice" or "project runway". It's definetely not healthy the way it was getting.
"now, tell me what you just said"
I lost my tongue, I didn't know what to explain since I didn't what I was trying to say. I was surprised it's actually difficult to speak up in this situation, given I am native Chinese speaker, it felt that cat caught my tongue.
"ok, speak one adjective in three different ways" she instructed.
I didn't know what to say although I did pop up something, but it was nonsense.

Kristen was looking at the TV screen hanged on the ceiling, which made me a bit nervous while watching her worrisome expression. Finally Director gestured me to stop, "We had a little communication breakdown" Kristen said, when I heard that, game is over. That is it.

I stepped out, didn't know what I should do. There was another tall girl who was waiting outside, to whom they started explaining the rules again. It's inbearable to me to re-hear the whole thing.

I kept repeating "start something" but couldn't find the right adjectives in right contexts, what happened? Is that really so that my Chinese is receding after all these years? Or it's just a question to giving a little more time for practicing the script? I am puzzled, of course, frustrated.

posted by Road less travelled @ 10:33 PM