That was quite a pleasant day. I could’ve gone one of two ways when self tape auditions became the norm. Either I could have expressed my distaste by just turning them in, or I could have started to think of it as an arm of my craft. I went the latterway. I’ve tricked myself into liking them because they give me freedom. If they ask for too much I try and enjoy giving it to them. I got my friend’s gardener to hold the camera for a full length shot as requested. I drove off site and shot the scene set in a car in my car, cos he was leaf blowing and it mixed up the tape a bit. Commercial was sent just before ten and then onto Shakespeare which was due at 3pm.
You do need partners really to work with Shakey. It’s energy work. It’s a curious part in one of the great plays, in a pleasant part of the world. I’d likely drive up if it landed and find digs out of town so it’s a healthy time and not a booze soaked horrorshow. I shot the tape in the garden in blazing sunshine, moving location each scene. It was fun stitching it together and meant I got the best of the day’s heat. My iPad was playing the other voices, thanks to Scott, and it overheated so badly that I had to put it in the freezer twice. Loads of technical fuckery, one scene it is clear I’m cueing the other voices manually, but it feels like art, of a sort, crafting a little journey through some scenes for a bunch of strangers to make a decision likely based on my height or the shape of my eyebrow.
Now it’s done I feel strangely bereft. I’m sitting bollock naked in the evening sun while Rajah rolls round my feet. I just ate a fish and chips and had a shower and honestly I’m already considering bed and it’s not yet seven. The flying ants are upon us, early this year what with it being the last day of term. The school holidays are upon us too and that long period of endless summer we all remember from our childhood will begin officially tomorrow. And I’m out of immediate pressure to DO anything, so it’ll be the ants, the cats and the woods. I can’t wait to do nothing for a bit. It’s been a long time coming.
AlBarclay 