Meeting Milano
Shortly after I moved to Hollywood, I went on a very important audition. I didn't know it at the time but it would be an audition that changed my perception of Hollywood.
It was the afternoon and I was meeting with the casting director for a straight to cable movie. For this particular audition, I was wearing, what I call, my Masters jacket. It's a green suit jacket that looks great on me, if I do say so myself. The reading went great and I was asked to come back later to audition for the director. As I was leaving, the casting director said to me, "Nice jacket." to which I replied, "Thanks, I just won the Masters." She laughed and I figured that this audition was in the bag. Then came the callback.
I returned to the offices in the afternoon, dressed the same and ready to rock. When I walked in, the casting director introduced me to the producer, the film's director and the star, Alyssa Milano.
I freaked out. As a rule, the cast of the film you are auditioning for are not in the room. Let alone, the star. When I auditioned for one line in Jerry Maguire, Tom Cruise was nowhere to be found. The presence of Ms. Milano definitely affected my audition.
I immediately got flustered and didn't know how to react. I mean, here was Sam Micelli right in front of me. I decided to pour on the charm. "Hi everyone," I said, "I just won the Masters." Even the crickets were silent. As I looked to the director for a response, he said, "Mmm-Hmm. You ready?"
I knew that the audition was over and decided to try and make the best of it. As I left with my head hung in shame, I heard the lyrical voice of Alyssa behind me. "Congratulations."
Could it be? Did I get the part despite my complete freak out? I turned and smiled at Alyssa as she continued, "...on that golf thing."
I left the audition disappointed but a little wiser. I now knew that just 'cause you spend hours downloading pictures of a celebrity, that doesn't mean they will like you when you finally meet them.
More celebrity tales to come.

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