From students to soap stars
Liz Essley
Issue date: 11/12/09 Section: Arts
This weekend six Hillsdale College students will have the chance to be the next big soap opera star.
A hand-picked group will participate in a "Days of Our Lives" auditioning seminar in Detroit, Mich. on Thursday, and an open casting call on Friday, according to Professor of Theatre George Angell.
Steve Blackwood, a former regular on the soap opera "Days of Our Lives," chose students based on film clips shot in a master class he taught at Hillsdale Oct. 23.
Out of 16 students in the master class, Blackwood selected seniors Kate Jones, Christian Campbell, junior Kirsty Sadler, freshman Paul Rezzo, as well as Collegian design manager junior Joel Pavelski and opinions editor senior Katherine Timpf.
Jones said they each recorded short monologues on film, then Blackwood reviewed them, gave them feedback, and selected the six based on the short clips.
Of the group, Rezzo is the only one not to have acted in full-length Tower Players production.
Angell and Jones said the TV show is auditioning actors for special, one-show roles. If the students stand out from the hundreds of other actors in try-outs, they will go to call-backs Saturday. If they are selected, they will fly to Los Angeles for filming sometime in the next couple months.
"It would be a tremendous stroke of luck to get somebody to call-backs," Angell said.
Friday's open audition will only require the actors to recite five lines. Thursday's seminar will be filming clips similar to those shot in the master class, Jones said.
Angell said the auditioning seminar will be taught by the "Days of Our Lives" casting Director Marnie Saitta. Students selected from other colleges will participate as well.
Campbell said the best thing about the opportunity is the chance to work with a professional casting director and experience a professional audition.
Jones said the seminar would double as a preliminary, closed try-out.
"We get the advantage of being seen ahead of time," she said.
Both Jones and Campbell said they hope to act on the stage after graduation, but might do some TV and film work as well.
Campbell said he doesn't care for soap operas, but wouldn't turn down the role if it were offered.
"This is the worst time in the world to start turning down job opportunities," he said.
Acting on TV is necessary for successful actors, since it pays much more than the stage, Angell said.
The six students submitted head shots and resumes for the audition. Angell said they will travel together to Detroit and stay in a hotel paid for by the theatre department. He said he allocated the funds because he thought the weekend would be a valuable education experience for everyone.
"It's really a great opportunity for students," he said.
A hand-picked group will participate in a "Days of Our Lives" auditioning seminar in Detroit, Mich. on Thursday, and an open casting call on Friday, according to Professor of Theatre George Angell.
Steve Blackwood, a former regular on the soap opera "Days of Our Lives," chose students based on film clips shot in a master class he taught at Hillsdale Oct. 23.
Out of 16 students in the master class, Blackwood selected seniors Kate Jones, Christian Campbell, junior Kirsty Sadler, freshman Paul Rezzo, as well as Collegian design manager junior Joel Pavelski and opinions editor senior Katherine Timpf.
Jones said they each recorded short monologues on film, then Blackwood reviewed them, gave them feedback, and selected the six based on the short clips.
Of the group, Rezzo is the only one not to have acted in full-length Tower Players production.
Angell and Jones said the TV show is auditioning actors for special, one-show roles. If the students stand out from the hundreds of other actors in try-outs, they will go to call-backs Saturday. If they are selected, they will fly to Los Angeles for filming sometime in the next couple months.
"It would be a tremendous stroke of luck to get somebody to call-backs," Angell said.
Friday's open audition will only require the actors to recite five lines. Thursday's seminar will be filming clips similar to those shot in the master class, Jones said.
Angell said the auditioning seminar will be taught by the "Days of Our Lives" casting Director Marnie Saitta. Students selected from other colleges will participate as well.
Campbell said the best thing about the opportunity is the chance to work with a professional casting director and experience a professional audition.
Jones said the seminar would double as a preliminary, closed try-out.
"We get the advantage of being seen ahead of time," she said.
Both Jones and Campbell said they hope to act on the stage after graduation, but might do some TV and film work as well.
Campbell said he doesn't care for soap operas, but wouldn't turn down the role if it were offered.
"This is the worst time in the world to start turning down job opportunities," he said.
Acting on TV is necessary for successful actors, since it pays much more than the stage, Angell said.
The six students submitted head shots and resumes for the audition. Angell said they will travel together to Detroit and stay in a hotel paid for by the theatre department. He said he allocated the funds because he thought the weekend would be a valuable education experience for everyone.
"It's really a great opportunity for students," he said.
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