13293/The Count of Monte Cristo: Open Casting Call
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| The Count of Monte Cristo: Open Casting Call | |
|---|---|
| Date of Scene: | 16 December 2022 |
| Location: | Gotham Cable Studios |
| Synopsis: | An open casting call leads to an open season of eager actors seeking limited roles and singing odd medleys in the waiting room. Several misunderstandings lead to some interesting results |
| Cast of Characters: | Michael Hannigan, Mary Jane Watson, Ariah Olivie, Noriko Ashida, Megan Gwynn, Martha Johansson |
| Tinyplot: | The Count of Monte Cristo |
- Michael Hannigan has posed:
Beyond the red carpet, the award ceremonies, the late night talk circuit. There are some things about the movie industry that are not glamorous. If one were to make a list of some examples, the Casting Call is likely near the top for any budding actor. The open call for The Count of Monte Cristo is no exception to this observation. The very term 'open' hints to just how many persons have shown up to pursue their dream of making it into their first, possibly second film ever.
Some come in wanting to just snag a role as an extra. Wear a costume, fill the background, get paid and move on to the next job. Others-
Well, others go all out. Some even channeling the 'dress for the job you want' advice as they show up in period costume or the closest they can approximate. The number of scruffy looking men in tattered clothes alone is baffling.
...Just ignore that one. That might be his actual day to day outfit. Just let him enjoy that coffee.
The waiting area lacks windows and seems more like a DMV setting than anything. There's a desk area beside a set of doors and a bunch of plain looking, navy blue hard plastic chairs lined up in rows along the wall area. There's a small drink station that has the vast selection of coffee and water. Although based from the sparse amount of bottles, water may have been the popular option for most attendees. The lighting above gives a bit of a sickly yellow hue to the wall while the the dingy blue carpet looks to be in need of replacement.
After check in, the lady at the front desk gives a brief overview of the audition process.
Those auditioning for speaking or singing roles are handed a sheet with sample lines. Singing roles also be given a song assignment for the audition. (sheet music and a headset with background music provided for those who request it.) As for the Non Speaking roles, they will be instructed at the time of their audition.
Following the prompts from the instructions earlier, a man ends up checking in at the desk. After a low exchange and acquiring a print out, he ends up being directed over to the row of seats that consist of similar looking figures. Each of which are looking through their forms intently.
A trio of men who have apparently befriended each other have moved off to the side and are doing an impromptu performance of A Story Told. Which, is not one of the audition pieces. Risky move. Lets see if it plays out for them.
'We are friends are we not?
And our interests are the same
We collaborate
And trust in fate to parcel out the blame
There are ends we've all got
That can justify the means
We negotiate
Then fabricate the facts behind the scenes
Keeping all the details vague
And secrets hidden
Safe on the balanced sheet of those you trust
Because, history is a story told by the winners of the fight
You imply a little
Lie a little
Testify a little
Try a little
Sailor-'
- Mary Jane Watson has posed:
This is something she doesn't have the time for. It's a fact of life she really wants to keep up. But it's one she doesn't have the time for. Things lost and passeda long.. Now but fond memories that she can't go through again. The shared consciousness, being a full time spy.. And having her own version of Parker luck that's more often met with stabbings than angst can drag a girl down for taking a starring role.
But Mary Jane is there, bobbling her head over to the music and having a small cheat sheet present over with notes and some things over ona ccent.
- Ariah Olivie has posed:
Speaking of dressing for the job you want, a small woman, not even five feet tall, makes her way in. She's looking more dressed up for an elegant night on the town, with her corset dress and long sleeves. She carries with her a violin case that, considering the environment, most likely actually carries a violin and not a firearm. But she seems to have difficulties with instructions, or maybe the environemt itself is a bit on the overwhelming side. The harsh lighting. The throng of people. Whatever mistake she's made, it's not apparent yet.
In fact, when she's handed a sheaf of paper and a headset, she seems to be more focused on the sheet music than the printout of audition lines. Maybe she just thinks that's normal. This was the line for the orchestral pit, right? Was there even a line for musicians? Everyone else is so tall but at least there's coffee. She shrugs, papers in hand, and shuffles over towards the drink area to mix up something sweet.
- Noriko Ashida has posed:
Truth be told, the Japanese speedster has been spurting restlessly around the city ever since she finished off her work upstate. Is she dressed for the chill? Not exactly. Looking more like a drama student showing up for a high school play, Noriko is just sporting some mid tops with some olive green cargo pants and a two toned raglan tee, green and blue quarter sleeves which are pushed up a little by the metal gauntlets she wears. When one has blue hair and gauntlets, dressing the part would be pointless, and Noriko still isn't sure what she's stumbled into, since she slips in late after overhearing some conversation about a gig at a coffee shop.
Noriko ends up behind Ariah, creating a queue so she doesn't have to figure out what she needs to do, just yet. She picks up someone's paper nonchalantly as she waits her turn to get something to drink.
- Megan Gwynn has posed:
Megan Gwynn hasn't really acted before, although she's taken a couple of drama classes in highschool - nothing too serious. She's more interested in singing really, maybe even a fun little musical. And she has been coming to the studio for some singing lessons. Maybe it's enough to get noticed?
As she awaits a piece of sheet music, she begins to warm up her voice with a few scales, checking to make sure she has her water bottle and some practice music on hand in case none is provided. Woow, soo many people here. AT least she's dressed nicely today, in a simple blue knee length skirt and white top with a red sailor scarf. Why she almost looks like she's dressed for a role in a private girls' school. Maybe she is? Or maybe it's part of whatever song she's auditioning for.
Every so often, Megan glances around to see if her friends have arrived with her, since they're supposed to be working on a song with multiple parts..
- Martha Johansson has posed:
Martha Johanssen has also not done acting of real consequence beyond the usual teenage lying and dissembling. However, she has to face some hard facts: Eventually she may need to get a job, and she also isn't going home for Christmas. As such, when someone else is already heading to the studio, Martha joins the group - IT IS NOT TAGGING ALONG.
She is in pretty casual clothing, with a knit sweater and long skirt plus black death-metal boots (which at the moment look like just boots). "I think I should've learned how to do sheet music," Martha says, after she gets near enough to Pixie to see what she has in her hand.
- Michael Hannigan has posed:
As Ariah comes over to the drink station, a rather lanky woman cracking open a bottle of water turns her head to look to the shorter figure. An assessing glance is given to the woman determining the general threat level but upon seeing the violin case, a brow lifts. The expression settles before a calculating smile forms upon the woman's features. "Good luck." She offers to Ariah before stepping around the woman. The aire of superiority the woman sports fades as she reaches her chair, finding it to be missing something. Her jaw drops, "NNNNNnnnnggggh!!!" She storms off towards the front desk seemingly getting in to the check out line again. Oh well. Time to start over. The movement is quick, causing for a little wind to flutter the edge of Mary Jane's cheat sheet.The trio singing more or less off script doesn't sound bad. Starting off. But in a competition for limited parts there's always someone who is trying to outshine the others. As the song progresses through and the parts switch over, they start to get louder and louder, trying to out do the other.
'Who's gonna question what goes on in the middle of the night?
Not a tinker,
not a tailor
Not his father or Mercedes
Or a jailor
So we all are agreed
Let's be vigilant and wise
We must all pretend our naive friend was caught in his own lies
For our plan to succeed we must share but one belief
Edmund Dantes stays and ends his days
Inside the Chateau d'If
Where the softest things he'll touch are stones and darkness
Deep in the craggy isle and dungeon's keep
Because, history's a story told by the men who make the laws
We supply a little lie-'
As one of the singer voices crack at the mention of history, the woman working the front desk tilts her head away from Megan to look over to the group, seemingly just noticing them. In what may be a quiet commentary of the behavior, she reaches over to pick up a bulky looking pair of noise cancelling headphones. Once she gets eye contact with the offending singer, she sets the headphones on her head.
Your move, Pavarotti.
Seeing another approach the desk, she glances over to them to give Martha the sweetest smile. grabbing another clipboard to hand over to her. "Welcome!"
'To help the gullible to buy a little fable
What will become of the righteous men who fashioned Dantes' flaws?
The rich
And well respected
Are no more to be rejected at our table-'
- Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane Watson would go over to her position and start to sing along with it. She's going quietly - for her this is just a warmup and to get more of her voice in gear with things. She glances at the others coming in to audition - no one she recognizes, but she's hardly a regular anymore over in the theatre biz the last couple of years on teh audition circuit. Her face looks melancholy as she works over a note tha tdoesn't come out right. Mary Jane sighs, and stops her singing and goes tos tart on a few breathing exercises to limber up.
- Ariah Olivie has posed:
For all the noise and singing and everything, Ariah is just so. Quiet. In fact, she hasn't said a word except to the desk person to get her sheets, and whatever intent is on the woman who tells her good luck, the small woman's only response is a soft, cold, and thickly accented "Merci," before she finishes setting up her coffee. A tall cup with cream and sugar, and if there happens to be vanilla, she's all over it. The little line forming her doesn't at all escape her notice, though, and she nods to Noriko as she steps out of the way to give the other girl a chance to get her beverage of choice.
"Bonsoir," she greets, just as soft and cool as she had when she thanked the other woman. Her eyes flicker to her own sheet music now and again though, and she's definitely more focused on that than any lines or even singing. Not a peep. No practice. Just a quiet little French girl with a violin--and a cup of vanilla coffee.
- Noriko Ashida has posed:
Noriko stops perusing the scene in some sort of slow motion when she realizes Ariah is stepping out of the way for her. "Hi," and then she immediately steps aside to get her drink.
And people are...what is this? Noriko's never been to an audition. She has no idea how one might be held, and she's already preoccupied with getting whatever free things she can put in her face that she can, looking absolutely nerveless, cool, and totally enjoying her coffee already somehow as she leans back against a wall.
As Nori pretends to read the sheet in front of her, she steals glances to watch the violinist and the others like they are some kind of exhibit at the zoo. Something she should look at, not touch. She pretend-turns a page, which amounts to actually turning the page.
- Michael Hannigan has posed:
If there's one thing to be said about the trio. Despite the silent criticism for the mistep, they continue on, determined to finish the song.
'I'll be comfort in her time of grief and anguish
I'll be Mercedes' ever faithful acolyte
Every night
A part of me wishes Dantes didn't have to languish
But I can see
It's him or me
Let him sit there and rot till he's forgot
Let him rot!
History's a story told by the people who survive
Let me sign and then initial
It's the truth if it's officially the story
What if the cost is just one young man so three more can survive?
He's a price we have to pay
To live and fight another day for love and glory
He was standing in the way of precious justice set on sail
So goes the story
Stick to the story
Here ends the story!'
"It's about time." The woman at the desk mutters, betraying the fact that they weren't even turned on. With a shake of the head, she takes them off and sets them on the table before giving her pleasant face to another newcomer. Briefly. It turns to one of scruitiny."...You already signed in."
The woman who had given Ariah a look earlier grumps. "My paper went missing."
"Oh. How unfortunate for you. You should go track it down. You need that to audition."
"But-"
Too late, the lady at the desk is already helping someone else.
There's a quiet in the room for a few moments as those around the trio simply give them blank stares before looking back to their respective sheets. Those with headphones, listening to the supplied accompaniment recording.
There's a few blissful moments of silence until it starts up again. This time from the other side of the audition spectrum and right next to Mary Jane's ear.
'Can a sky be so indifferent?
Can what once was true be true no more?
Can this life be an illusion?
Just an illusion my broken heart can't ignore?'
The woman at the front desk glances over for a moment before shrugging to get back to work. "At least that's one of the audition pieces..."
Eh. She'll allow it.
- Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane Watson goes to do a few more notes and lets out a sigh from her position. Definitely not carrying her voice. She goes to break away from the auditions line, and moves to head to grab some water. Going to take a quick gulp. This isn't good. If she can't carry a tune.. Oh well,s hould have done some more warmup. She moves a bit further back in the line for pepole filing in. The point is to not holdi t up and hopefully get some time to focus.
- Martha Johansson has posed:
Martha is given a clipboard. "Oh," she says to the logistical lady, "thanks," and she takes it, and she picks up the pen, and she starts to fill it out, feeling a lingering sense of awkwardness at the very prospect. It feels so... pedestrian.
But there's music in the air.
Martha reaches for a classic, blindly, since she is not immune to peer pressure.
What she mutters sounds pretty guttural for, you know, music:
"I march before a martyred world, an army for the fight
"I speak of great heroic days, of victory and might
While keeping a tap-ta-ta-tap rhythm with her foot.
- Ariah Olivie has posed:
Despite herself, Ariah does slowly bob her head from side to side, at least as the other song starts. That one sounds much closer to the sheet music she's got in her hands and she looks it over again. A few nods from the white-haired woman and she can't help but very, very quietly hum along. She's polite, unlike a certain barbershop trio! Humming also allows her to sip her coffee without interruption. At least in the orchestra pit she can be focused on her task.
She gives her violin case a little 'shake' and runs the tuning checklist over in her mind again. Everything was done before she drove out here. Naught to do but wait for her turn.
- Michael Hannigan has posed:
"You're welcome dear." The mistress of the desk responds back to Martha's word of thanks.
'He was gone but not forgotten
In each ocean breeze, he lived again
Can his heart, distant and clever
Be lost forever, be lost fo-'
The singer's voice stops as she she hears a bit of motorhead being sung. Silence once more reigns as the lockstepped auditioners look to the off topic singer.
A door to one of the side rooms opens up granting a rather sullen looking woman easy exit from the premesis aside from a somewhat dramatic display of slapping down a player set on the front desk. "The NERVE." Without expanding upon this commentary, the woman stalks out of the waiting area to venture into the wilds of the city outside.
"Anissa. Another blue, please." A woman's voice calls from the open door.
With a nod, the newly titled Anissa turns to look to one of the clipboards. "Blue 45. Please go to room 2."
"That's my number." The woman who had attempted to sign in a second time states."
Anissa looks to the woman quietly. She then looks around for any others to step forward but makes no additional comment to the complainer.
"OH MY GOD FORGET IT." Huffy the Vampire Naysayer turns, following after the other departing woman.
Anissa watches the departure in silence. Listening to the door slam. "Blue 46 then. Blue 46. Please go to room 2."
Well. This is a very awkward sit-
'Rubber duckie you're the one
You make bath time lots of fun
Rubber duckie I'm awfully fond of you...'
Anissa tilts her head down, hiding the expression on her face. But the shoulders shaking quietly can't be missed.
With the sing-mata no longer an issue, there's a few more voices venturing out to try some notes. But most notably the songs about ducks and lost love making for a bizarre medley
'When all this time
All these years
All those nights
Of looking for the star we shared
Rubber duckie joy of joys
Remembering all of our plans and dreams
When I squeeze you, you make noise
Now it seems
It's me that's been the fool for all this time-
Rubber duckie you're my very best friend it's true'
- Mary Jane Watson has posed:
And as Mary Jane goes to take a few breaths, someone goes along hte line to grab her to take her to another area. Apparently the redhead model has beene valuated as.. Well.. Probably one of those 'extras' they put in the background. Call Girl #17 on standby!
- Noriko Ashida has posed:
Blue 45. Blue 45. Noriko doesn't realize it is her till some girl next to her points it out. "Oh. Oops." What is she doing?! It is not the first time the speedster has been caught unawares, and now no longer in a situation where she can make an escape. Nor does she try.
Noriko sips on her coffee casually as she strolls along to her audition. Well it isn't /her/ audition. That poor woman will just get in line again right? If all goes horribly, they won't even know her name! Well, Nori's name that is. Feeling smug, the young woman allows herself to be led away to slaughter.
- Martha Johansson has posed:
A number is called. Destiny awaits, Martha Johanssen of Earth.
She passes off the clipboard in haste and then moves forwards, glancing towards Pixie and giving her two thumbs-up as she walks forwards.
IN THE AUDITION ROOM:
"uhhh..."
"uh...."
'ahemhrm' "uhhh...."
"This one's for Lemmy," and Martha panic-channels a vaguely melodic throaty growl throughout most of the first verse of the indicated song before running out of steam at the various X's, headshakes, and eagerness to cut the mic.
She briefly considers blasting their minds, but - no, Martha thinks. That one's on me.
"uh, thanks for your... time."
- Michael Hannigan has posed:
Noriko's execution comes soon after Mary Jane's. Once the red head has made her impression and has left. Noriko ends up being pushed into the recently vacated room. Inside she finds two women seated behind a table. A hand is held out voicelessly asking for the slip of paper to be handed to her. Once she has it, she gives a sigh. "Your turn came up a few rounds ago. I'm guessing you were in the bathroom when your number was called?"
In a moment it becomes certain she's not really expecting an answer from Noriko before reaches over to press down upon a recording device to turn it on. Audition of Blue 45. Singing Role. Audition piece of 'All This Time.' " She glances back to Noriko, "When you are ready, 45."
Funny enough the audition room for Martha doesn't really have light up 'X's but there have been times that one feels just compelled to form that shape using the forearms. It is an act of desperation but sometimes it just has to be done. As she breaks into her inner Lemmy, she manages to get that response indeed.
There is an awkward pause for a moment before the short haired blond man sitting in the center smiles to Martha. There's the finality of a recorder being shut off. "Well, as much as I might like Motorhead- That's not quite the sound we're looking for with the singing roles. But-" He pauses glancing over to a rather stern looking woman beside him. Upon seeing a nod, he smiles. "We have different types of roles being looked into today so you haven't struck out yet." The man pulls out a blue slip, copies over the number and hands it back to Martha, taking away her green slip. "Show this to Anissa at the front desk and she'll direct you to the next room to go to."
Anissa glances up once more as a third door opens up. Seeing who it is she nods. "Ticket Red 15. Please report to room 3!"
- Noriko Ashida has posed:
Lucky for Noriko, she can sightread. When she steps into the room, she looks a little confused and nods, "Yeah. The bathroom. Too much coffee." Coffee? Why would she have coffee before a voice audition?! Noriko smirks at her own blundering improv before she is called to begin her audition again.
The young woman's voice is untrained, but good, and Noriko really puts her all into the performance aspect, thinking that she is hamming it up to botch the audition when really she's just getting closer to the mark with her sincerity. She certainly is too rough for any leading part.
One thing that catches her attention is how fast her heart is beating, even as she is dismissed. At the end, she offers a respectful eastern half bow from the waist and walks out.
- Ariah Olivie has posed:
Ariah blinks, she's snapped out of her little moment of internal music when she hears her number come up. She looks at her ticket and then to the third door. Without a word, she downs her drink and shuffles off into the room. "Bonsoir," she states quietly, looking between the men there at the table. The sheet music is placed on the music stand before her, and she kneels down, laying out her violin case and taking the instrument out with love and care. The moment her fingers wrap around the neck of it, though, she's stopped by the two behind the table.
Slowly, Ariah stands back up to her full, if diminutive height, and blinks owlishly as she peers at the notes and words before her. "...singing... role...?" she asks, looking bewildered before reaching for the papers again and looking them over much more intently.
- Michael Hannigan has posed:
The question Ariah states does cause for the duo of judges to look to each other curiously. Although the larger of the two still seems amused. "Multi-talented I see." He comments with an accented voice, "You remind me of someone. They can switch parts at the drop of a hat too."
Despite the mention of a hat drop, the judges allow for a bit more time for Ariah to regroup. The quieter looking man clears his throat. "Same person I am thinking of I'm sure. Well..." He turns on the recording device, "Audition piece of 'All This Time'. Whenever you are ready, number 15."
- Ariah Olivie has posed:
"Oh," Ariah states. "I had planned to simply play the violin, but..." she gathers herself and takes the sheet in hand, sorting out the pages properly for the lyrics. She has a crisp, thick French accent, and hears the click of the recording device. A slow, low breath is taken as she simply. Goes. A challenge has been set before her, and she's certainly not going to back down from something so mundane as this.
'Can a sky be so indifferent?
Can what once was true be true no more?
Can this life be an illusion?
Just an illusion
my broken heart
can't ignore.
He was gone but not forgotten
In each ocean breeze he lived again.
Can his heart distant and clever
be lost forever?
Be lost forever?
When all this time
All these years
All those nights
of looking for that star we share
Remembering all of our plans and dreams
Now it seems it's me that's been
the fool for all this time.
Tell me no.'
The icy little French woman's voice is loud and clear like a crystal bell. Her eyes fall shut partway through and the girl simply... pours her heart out into the song. It's likely she'd done her homework, at least listened to it many a time to get the music itself down. But the feeling in the song and how such a small set of lungs can fill the room with so much emotion is no less than at least, perhaps, unexpected.
No half measures from the small soldier.
- Michael Hannigan has posed:
As Ariah starts up, the judges grow quiet, listening intently. The man who had displayed his Italian accent just prior leans forward, studying her expression as she sings. When Ariah stops there's a wide expression. "Why'd you-?"
The other man sighs, tilting his head down as he shakes his head. "...They forgot to give out the second page. Didn't they?" He shakes his head before looking over to Ariah, shutting off the device. "...Thank you. I believe we have enough here. The recording will be reviewed by other. Uh, an you confirm that the contact information you have provided at check in is fully correct? The travel preference section as well?"
- Ariah Olivie has posed:
Ariah's accent lends a certain... something. Perhaps, considering her fluent French and at least intelligible English, a certain je ne sais quoi would be appropriate. She blinks, though, staring at the reactions and looking at the pages. "Non? Did they?" she asks. "...was... mostly memory..." she looks through the pages again. "...mostly script..." she says quietly. The reactions she's getting, though, are still bewildering to me. "Ah... so... no violin then?" she looks at her forgotten instrument, and kneels down to carefully ensure it's seated before she closes the case.
Then she glances up at the questions, nodding slowly. "Oui. It is my mobile number. And. I can travel anywhere you would need me, if I am accepted. Merci, for the opportunity..." she says, clasping her hands and bowing humbly.
- Michael Hannigan has posed:
The duo of judges look to each other and nod. "In that case you will be hearing from someone on our team in regards to any potential roles." The non-accented man states. "There will be a lot of work involved with matching the voice to the right part. You won't need your violin if you get picked." The slip of paper is retained, and dropped into a near empty looking basket. the amount of slips in it significantly less than the other basket which seems to have a very thick layer building already. "Thank you, Miss 15. Next time we meet, may it be on a real name basis."
