“If I may offer my professional opinion…”
Audition for POTC sequel 1-6-06
RA Brianna LeRoux

In a world where disappointments occur daily and good events seem few and far between, I realize chance plays a role in our lives when we least expect it. Or is it fate? A higher Being? Who knows? I only know the last thing I expected was a phone call from Kristen at Sande Alessi Casting on January 5th, 2006!
For those of you who do not understand the background, allow me to refresh you. In December of 2004, nine members of POTCIP and the BOOM pirates commandeered an LA hotel on their way to the one and only open casting call for POTC sequels. Now my memory may be a bit rusty…let me see if I can remember us all: Bri (me), Jansy, Bootstrap Beck, Lady Writer and her hubby Dangerous Dan, Sparky the MacKay, Captain Morrigan Quicksilver, Crimson Kate, and Sailing Mistress Beatrice Fox. We gathered together at the Ricardo Montalban Theater, gave our very best ARRGGG, posed for photos, and began holding our breath. Soon afterward, Beatrice got the call to be in POTC2! We were all very excited for her and lived voraciously through her experience. (You can read her account at the POTCIP website.)
As 2005 slowly progressed, I religiously checked the pirate hotline for any and all updates regarding filming of POTC. As we all now know, they were looking for extreme characters, Asian people, amputees, and the like. I began to realize I didn’t fit the bill, as it were, and began my own anticipation of the POTC2 opening. After all, I attended the open call and made my pirate-y presence known. I would never have to wonder what if.
Now, on a more personal note, I met a wonderful man named Tom who fast became a very dear friend. Tom invited me to go with him to Las Vegas in January of this year to attend a computer/electronics convention. Sounded like fun, and I could spend time with Tom as well. I had the money, I was on break from the university, so I decided to go. Five days in Vegas was just the ticket to relax me before the new semester began.
I flew out on the 5th of January, and Tom met me at the airport. We were driving down the Vegas strip when my cell phone rang. At first, I thought it was my mom wanting to know I had arrived safely. I looked at the number and did not recognize it. I almost didn’t answer it, as I have been getting numerous calls for a previous owner of my cell number. But I thought, what the heck?
“Hello?”
“Kathy Judd?”
“Yes.”
“This is Kristen at Sande Alessi Casting.”
(stifling a scream of pure excitement) “Hi, Kristen! What can I do for you?”
“Are you available for an audition in LA on January 6th?”
(With a fast glance at Tom, wondering what the heck I am going to say…like it was ever a question) “Of course! Where shall I go?”
“Great! I have you down for a 1:00pm call at the Walt Disney Studios. Do you have a pen and paper? I have some information to give you.”
(scrambling for pen and paper….God bless Tom, who must have realized at this point something big was going down. He quickly handed me a pen and paper from the console) “Got it. Go ahead.”
Kristen gave me the information necessary to confirm my appearance the next day in LA, thanked me for being available, and hung up. (Sorry….cannot give you the particulars…private). I clicked the phone off and squealed like a stuck pig! Tom must have nerves of granite, because the van never swerved! I told him what was in the wind. Tom jumped onboard immediately, at first suggesting plane tickets to LA, then offering his van, his time, and his knowledge of LA in order that I might make the audition. He knew this was important to me, and he showed no hesitation in helping me. For the rest of my life, I will never be able to thank him enough! He is definitely worth his salt! A true pirate!
Now, Las Vegas is about 3 ½ hours from LA (Tom, you can correct me if I have this time frame wrong!). We hit the road about 6:30am. I enjoyed the drive immensely, watching the sunrise over the desert. I couldn’t help but think about Johnny Depp and FALILV when we passed through Baker, CA. Tom’s knowledge of LA is every bit as in-depth as he said it was, and we had no problem finding the studios. Obviously, we were early, so we went to a restaurant for breakfast/lunch. After exploring the area a bit, we drove into the gates of Walt Disney Studios, had our IDs checked by the guards, and directed to parking. Kristen had told me to expect to be there for about two hours, and Tom couldn’t come with me, so he gave me a huge hug, a kiss, and a hearty “GOOD LUCK, BABY!” He told me he would find a café somewhere where he could access the Internet in the meantime.
I walked toward the required building, gawking at everything around me! I could NOT believe I was really here. After waiting for a solid year and almost giving up hope, I was on my way to an audition for the sequel to my favorite movie of all time! Following a group of people in front of me, I found the courtyard where we were to gather and await Kristen. I spoke with several hopefuls…all of us fans of the movie. A lot of the people there lived in LA and did extra work all the time. They smiled indulgently at my excitement and wished me luck!
Finally, Kristen arrived laden with boxes of Polaroid film and papers. She quickly briefed us on what we were there for (like I needed the reminder!) and asked that we fill out a work voucher so we could be paid for the audition. I filled my form out, stood for a snapshot, and gathered in a group to one side. When about 30 people gathered together, we were taken to another building for the actual audition. There, we were split into smaller groups and taken into a smaller room for the audition. Sande Alessi was there, and she actually RECOGNIZED me from the year before. She asked how I was and wished me luck.
I SO wish I could tell you what the audition entailed, but giving those details would reveal the plot of the movie, and they enjoined us NOT to reveal any details whatsoever! Suffice to say, I feel my audition went well, and, if selected, I may find myself acting with one of my favorite characters! After the audition, they took another photo of me and sent me to a guy who validated my work form, thanked me for coming, and wished me luck again. (He did that for everyone).
Yes, it seemed a carbon copy of the cattle call in Dec. 2004, except that we ( the auditioned) were allowed to act the audition and given specific instructions as to what to do and not do. About 500 people showed up for this, so it must be a pretty big scene! I wandered back toward the parking lot, passing the commissary where people were enjoying lunch. I saw 3 or 4 people I KNOW I should have known, but for the life of me, I couldn’t put a name to any face. Just being there was such a thrill I couldn’t make my mind recognize anything beyond my own mobility.
Once back in the parking lot, I hugged Tom and thanked him again for his extremely generous offering of his vehicle and time, and we hit the road back to Las Vegas. The rest of that weekend was wonderful! Tom and I enjoyed the computer convention, we saw the pirate show at Treasure Island, we did the Star Trek Experience at the Hilton (I think…Tom?), and we ate a buffet place that was truly outstanding in regard to size, variety, and taste! I truly HATED leaving on Monday, and I almost missed my flight due to traffic on the roads and backed-up security lines in the airport. But I got home safely. Now the wait began!
Kristen had said the filming would take place Jan. 16-23, and we (the auditioned) would know something by Monday, Jan 9th. Of course, I turned off my cell while in the air, but I left it on the rest of the time. Late Monday night, I called the hotline and learned they had just received a schedule for shooting with the core groups. I assume that means the guys who are playing pirates. They were to be called first and sent to the location. We, the anxiously waiting, must continue to wait!
With regard to this concept of fate, I wonder if it doesn’t play its capricious role in all our lives. This entire venture exudes a dream-like quality, one of being in the right place at the right time. I was in Las Vegas, only a short hop to LA, and available for the audition at the time requested. Had I NOT taken the trip to Vegas and remained in Tennessee, I doubt, despite all my efforts to the contrary, I would have been able to make the audition. I had less than 24 hours to be at the studios, and it would have been virtually impossible to catch a plane within my financial means, find the studios in time, and make my way home again. Yes, you can bet your bottom dollar I would have moved heaven and earth to be there, but I fear I would have failed. As it was, I flew to Vegas, was generously driven to LA, participated in the audition of a lifetime, and had a wonderful weekend on top of it all. Fate? Luck? Higher power? Don’t know…don’t care…I remain extremely grateful to circumstance, Tom’s generosity, and the ULTIMATE opportune moment! As Jack so aptly put it, “When you only have one shot, it’s best to wait for the opportune moment!” To date, I’ve had no phone call, and I maintain a close relationship with my cell phone! One never knows! It took over a year to get the audition….it may take another 6 months to learn whether or not I am suited to what they desire for the film.
Does no call mean I wasn’t selected? Maybe! Could the filming be behind schedule? Perhaps! Is it possible I might still get a call later in the year? Could be! Am I disappointed in not hearing anything? NOT AT ALL! I said in Dec. 2004 and I’ll say again…just having the audition means the world to me! Am I going off the deep end wondering when and if I’ll get a call? PROBABLY! Let’s just say ringing cell phones make me jump now! J For those of you who wonder if good things will ever come to you, remember this! Keep a positive attitude, live your life to the fullest, expect the unexpected, and never fail to take that opportune moment! It might be the one that makes your dreams come true!