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Friday, August 22, 2003
'Empire' calls back
Copyright © 2003 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc. | ||||||||||
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WATERVILLE — Here's the scene: I'm a justice of the peace, marrying two folks. I've just asked the woman if she'll take this man to be her lawfully wedded husband and she answers, "You're damn right I will." I'm supposed to act surprised - mildly surprised, slightly taken aback even - then deliver my line. I know I've been surprised at some point in time, but apparently, I don't know how to act surprised. So, with wide eyes and a gaping mouth, looking like I've just seen the ghost of Elvis pitch the Red Sox to a World Series win, I stumbled through this line: "Well then, I have no alternative but to pronounce you man and wife." Fine, said the casting directors. That's fine. Next. Well, it wasn't quite that abrupt, but I could tell by the looks on the faces of local casting directors Cameron Bonsey and Dee Cooke that I probably would not be playing a justice of the peace in the upcoming film "Empire Falls." When filming begins on the HBO movie in Waterville and Skowhegan in September, someone else will do the marrying. But that's OK, I have a fallback plan. Just before I read that line Thursday at the film's Waterville production office, I also auditioned for the part of a bartender in a Key West joint called Capt. Tony's Saloon. It may be better known as "the bra bar" because of all the, uh, support from female customers who leave their undergarments behind. I was lucky enough to read for these two small speaking roles in the film because I got what is known in the biz as a "call back." I was one of the thousand or so folks who went to an open casting call for extras and bit players at an American Legion hall in Waterville on Aug. 8. I waited 3 1/2 hours in line to get my picture taken and to read a line. I wrote about the experience, so for weeks after people were nudging me and saying, "Did you get the part? Huh? Goin' to Hollywood, are ya?" Yeah, right, I told them. The film, based on Mainer Richard Russo's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel about a Maine mill town, is already the biggest thing to hit central Maine in years. It will star Ed Harris, Helen Hunt and Paul Newman, and will be filmed all over Waterville and Skowhegan. Many folks, like me, wanted to experience this movie magic in some way, even if it was just going to a casting call. Then on Tuesday, Bonsey called and said he wanted me to come up to Waterville on Thursday to read for the bartender part. I was one of about 150 people from the open casting call being called back to read for small parts. Maybe I was goin' to Hollywood, after all. Or at least to the Kennebunk area, where the bar scene will probably be shot. My wife and co-workers became my coaches, telling me to wear a garish Hawaiian shirt, shorts and some sandals, so I'd look like a Key West bartender. Or at least what Mainers think a Key West bartender should look like. I thought about how I'd say Capt. Tony's. I'd say "Cap'n" like Cap'n Crunch. That would be my stamp on the line. When I got to the production office on Water Street, in an old Central Maine Power building by the river, there were 30 or 40 young women waiting to audition for nonspeaking roles as beauty school students. Some had gigantic beehive hair-dos, others just mild comb-outs, and all were positively sparkling from the makeup. While we were signing forms in the "sign-up" room, I noticed that on the wall were labels indicating the various small speaking roles, like "help-wanted man," "liquor inspector" and "frowzy woman." Some had names and pictures under them. Then I noticed a label for "Keys bartender," the role I coveted. The only thing under it was a note that said: "Do we need this?" Oh great, they're cutting me out of the flick before I even get the role, I thought. But in a few minutes I was in a small audition room with Bonsey and Cooke. I was videotaped on three sides. Then Cooke explained that I was to pretend to be making drinks, hear the phone ring, answer it by saying "Capt. Tony's," then improv a line telling the caller I knew who he was asking for. Finally, I would hand the phone toward the camera and say something like, "It's for you, buddy." Bonsey stood behind a video camera and told me to begin. I poured imaginary Dewar's scotch into an imaginary glass, heard the imaginary phone, answered it without putting down the glass or the scotch and said, "Cap'n Tony's." Pause. "Yeah, I know who you're talking about." Pause, long glance around the room. Hold arm stiffly out to hand off imaginary phone. "Hey pal, it's for you." I was extremely proud of my improv. Cooke said I should say something like "Buddy, it's for you." But I went in a completely different direction, with the fresh and innovative "pal." Cooke and Bonsey were enthusiastic, praising my performance. They asked me to do it again, this time for a wide angle shot. I started by taking an imaginary bottle off a shelf behind me, then basically said the same things, adding "I think I know the guy you mean." They praised me again. Then, they blindsided me. They told me the justice of the peace line had just been added and they were asking people who came in today to read it. I did my best, but I think I could relate better to the bartender character. I understood his motivation, his love of beer and pretzels. I'm not even sure what a justice of the peace is, exactly. Bonsey told me that about 25 people had read for the bartender role, and that Thursday was the last day for speaking-part auditions in Waterville. He gave no indication as to when I might find out if I got the part. Bonsey told me that besides people in Maine, actors from outside Maine might also be cast in any of the 30 or so small speaking roles. But he said there was "a real chance" that many Mainers would get some decent roles. Hey, that's all any of us want, a real chance. I got mine Thursday. Staff Writer Ray Routhier can be contacted at 791-6454 or at:
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