The Perfect Audition

Kate Forster

The Perfect Audition

This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental.

AVON

An imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers Ltd.

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London SE1 9GF

www.harpercollins.co.uk

Copyright © Kate Forster 2012

Kate Forster asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

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Ebook Edition © MAY 2012 ISBN: 9780007489411

Version: 2017-05-04

Table of Contents

Title Page

Copyright

The script was…

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The script was flawless. It was a script that director TG had been waiting for. A magical blend of humor, tragedy and love, and the dialogue literally sang on the page. Three romances, during a summer in Italy. It was a big picture with even bigger expectations from the studio and the public.

The Italian Dream was the film the studio needed to take in huge box office earnings and they had put everything into ensuring its success. This started with hiring the best director for the job. They needed a passionate, workaholic who understood women.

‘TG’, as everyone in the industry called him, was Tim Galvin. The hottest, young gun director in Hollywood. An NYC film graduate, he made his mark directing videos for some of the LA garage band scene. He liked to shoot quickly, he liked quick edits and he loved to have fun on set. He could be crass and immature, but he did this to stay in with his crew who he needed to be on his side. They trusted him and respected him. When decisions needed to be made, he made them and his affable demeanor complemented his exceptional work ethic and relentless pursuit of getting the right shot.

When the studio presented the script to TG’s agent, he baulked at it. TG did action – not drama and romance. He was known for his movies having loud soundtracks, sexy actors and huge budget-breaking action scenes. The agent thought TG would pass. Surprisingly, TG was ready for a change. He was sick of car chases and martial arts and he was tired of LA, where his latest starlet girlfriend had dumped him for her new leading man.

Eight weeks in Italy will do it, he thought. Then he would disappear for a while, sailing the Sardinian coast till he had to start post-production.

The script was truly lovely. In fact, the cynic in TG was almost quashed, till he remembered his ex-girlfriend telling him she loved him but she had to move up in her relationships to move ahead in her career.

TG had imagined her in the role when he had first read the script, she would have been perfect. He had offered it to her on one of their last nights together, she had seemed non-committal about it. Three days later when he found the letter taped to the Michelin Tyre mirror in the lounge he understood it was not just the role she wasn’t committed to.

Casting the film was never going to be easy. Once the high-powered agents and stars of Hollywood found out there were three plum roles for women in a film about love, shot in Italy, the hype was insane. Stars started to lobby themselves when their agent had no luck. The studio brought in their own ideas and their own level of pressure but TG was adamant. If they wanted him, then he got to cast it.

He couldn’t even go out to eat in LA as so many stars and wannabes threw themselves at him. TG had been offered more sex in the last few weeks than Hugh Hefner, and several times it took all his effort to turn down a few of the more fascinating and beautiful women.

TG wanted actors for this one, real actors, who brought with them their own individual fan base. He needed a young woman who was appealing and had not yet had her face on the front of the National Enquirer with a police board of numbers underneath and a stoned expression. A thirty-something who could hold her own against a big star. And finally, he needed an actress who could play forty for real. Not an easy feat in Hollywood. The women were tending to become ageless, in an odd and creepy way. The more chemicals that they stuck into themselves, the more they lost their features and the wisdom etched on their faces.

He was reading the script at his small bungalow on the studio lot. Surrounded by toys and film posters, some his own productions and other movie classics, his office space looked like a teenager’s room.

Pinball machines, basketball hoops, foosball tables and plastic collectable toys covered the shelves. TG’s MTV Movie awards and Golden Globes sat on the top shelf, gathering dust.

Sitting in his Eames chair TG chewed on his pen. He was surrounded by headshots and tapes of actresses with unsolicited auditions. Casting was so important. The women in this film had to hold their own story lines as well as interact, portraying genuine female friendship.

“TG, you have final auditions in fifteen minutes,” his assistant called from the other room.

“Fuck,” said TG and he grabbed his phone and then sped off in his silver 1954 Porsche 356 Speedster. With the stereo blasting out Frank Sinatra’s Live at the Sands, TG was oblivious to the stares that were directed at him. With his blond curls glinting in the sun and his Persols sitting on his tanned face, he was often mistaken as an actor.

The car skidded into the parking lot of the unassuming office block and TG sauntered into the office and greeted the casting assistant waiting for him.

“How we going?” he asked as he walked into the large room, set with a video camera and a few chairs decorating the sparse room.

“Good, we are down to the final three for each role, I sent the tapes over on Tuesday,” said the assistant leafing through her notes. “Diana is on the phone, she’ll be with us in a moment.”

Diana, the casting director walked into the room bringing her New York style to LA. Black on black with an Eve Ensler bob and no makeup spare a slash of deep red lipstick. TG had met her in New York at film school when he begged her for free extras for his final film and she had agreed after seeing his show reel. He was a talent even then and she hitched her star to his wagon and had cast everything for him ever since.

“You watch the tapes?” She barked at TG as she sat down and lit a cigarette.

“Yeah I watched them.” He said and sat down next to her.

“And?” She pushed blowing smoke into the airless office.

“I need to met them, see them in action, gauge their styles.” He sat back as the assistant bought in bottles of Fiji water and soft drinks and placed them on the table.

“I fucking hate this water,” looking at the tray in front of him. ‘Why do we even need water from Fiji? What’s wrong with our water?’

“That’s not very LA of you.” Laughed Diana, “I though it was the drink of your tribe.’

‘My tribe is full of shit.’ He said. TG was tired of LA and it’s celebrity worship.

The assistant left the room for a moment and then popped her head around the door again.

“Rose is here.” She said.

“Great,” said TG and stood up as Rose Nightingale walked into the room.

“Hello darls.” She said and kissed both TG and Diana on the cheek.

“Thanks for coming,” said TG slightly embarrassed that Rose Nightingale was auditioning for him. Rose had stopped auditioning years ago, after the Oscar and the BAFTA but he wanted to be sure he had the dynamic right.

“No problem, its fine. Good to be out actually.” Said Rose in an English accent that could cut glass.

Diana smiled, this was why she had suggested Rose, even though she was on a supposed sabbatical. Rose was a good sport, her fame had never taken over her personality. She was guarded in many ways but had an English elegance and warmth that endeared her to audiences and most of all, she was never afraid to be silly and make fun of herself.

Classically beautiful, she looked just a few years younger than her real age, unlike other actresses her age filled with Restolane and Botox. A brunette Grace Kelly lookalike, what stopped her from being too perfect was the slight smattering of freckles across her nose from the years of horse riding.

“Drink?” Asked the casting assistant but Rose shook her head. “If I drink now I’ll need to go to the loo. I’ve a weak bladder when I’m nervous.” She smiled genuinely at TG and he smiled back. Rose was exactly as he had hoped when he saw her audition tape.

“So, the role we are thinking for you in The Italian Dream is of Mary Ann. She is the painter who has gone to Italy after separating from her husband after finding out he has had an affair. Her parents were originally from Italy but she has never been there herself. She’s fluent in the Italian language and immerses herself in Italian life, staying at Isabel’s villa and pretending she is someone else. Eventually her husband comes looking for her, trying to win her back. They work through their issues in the marriage and come to a better place than they have ever been before. She and her husband stay in Italy and slowly and surely their marriage is mended by the beauty and romance of the country.”

Rose nodded as TG spoke. She understood the role more than TG realised and her thoughts wandered to Paul but she pushed them away and remained focussed.

“Shall we do the sides?” Asked TG referring to the pages of the script that he wanted to use for the audition.

Rose smiled and nodded. The assistant turned on the camera and TG watched as Rose went through the lines, perfectly.

God she was a talent, thought TG as he watched her work with the lines. They did the scene a few times and then TG stopped her.

“Rose, I just want to say how much I appreciate you auditioning for this, I know an actress of your talent is often above auditions.” He said honestly.

“Not at all. We are all just working actors at the end of the day. I’m just happy to have a chance at this, the script is one of the best I’ve read in ages.” She said laughing away his concerns.

“I’m glad you said that.” Said TG sitting forward. “I love it also.”

Diana moved her papers signalling the audition was over and Rose stood, knowing when to make an exit.

“Good luck with whatever happens TG, thanks for seeing me.” She said and smiled at them both and swept from the room.

TG turned to Diana, “She’s amazing.” He said.

Diana nodded, she only brought the best talent to TG and was confident in her choices.

‘Rose is amazing but she needs this role. She’s critically acclaimed but needs a hit to ensure bankability,’ said Diana leaning back in her chair. ‘I think we could knock her price down if you want her.’

‘You’re the Svengali of casting you know that?’ TG exclaimed half admiringly to Diana who just shrugged at him.

“Jessica’s here,” said the assistant putting her head through the door just before Jessica McClure walked into the room. It was obvious before she spoke that she felt that auditioning was beneath her and that she should be just offered the part. She sighed and placed her Jimmy Choo bag on the table in front of Diana, who moved it to the floor with a steely look on her face.

“Hi,” she smiled at TG and Diana but there was no warmth behind her eyes. She flicked her tawny hair over her shoulders and TG could see a small weave on her neck were the hair extensions were sewn in. She picked up a bottle of Fiji Water and opened it and drank from it, smearing her lipstick.

“So before we start, I want to know how you feel about improv on the set?” ‘I’m feeling this script is a little dry, it needs some fun, you know, it’s just so soppy.’ Inside TG groaned, there was no need for improv with a script this good.

Jessica was talented but she was unpredictable. Sometimes she would bring gold and other times she was shamefully bad.

He tried not to glare at Diana who seemed to be deeply involved with a blank piece of paper in front of her.

“So you understand the character?” TG asked, ignoring the question about improvisation.

“Yeah, although I thought I might be better suited for the role of Isabel.” Jessica remarked, looking down at the pages of the script in her hand.

“OK,” Said TG, silence then hanging in the air as Diana and TG looked at each other horrified. The role of Isabel was ten years younger than the role Jessica was reading for. Oblivious to the awkwardness in the room Jessica then went on reading the lines of Isabel.

TG let her read the lines, afraid of what might happen if he interrupted her. She seemed wired and panicked and he felt sorry for her. Ageing in Hollywood wasn’t kind and TG understood her denial of the inevitable. The parts became older and fewer and soon drastic measures were taken to their faces and their bodies courtesy of a Bevery Hills surgeon on speed dial.

He knew it was pointless to even continue with the audition and as she finished the lines for the wrong character he smiled at her kindly.

“Thanks Jessica,” before proceeding to look down at the papers in front of him.

Jessica sat waiting for him to continue.

The silence enveloped the room again and TG stood up and walked over to her, “So, we’ll let you know.”

“You’re not going to tell me now?” She pouted her lips a little and TG frowned. What had happened to this wonderful, talented actress? When had she become a caricature?

“No Jess, I think its best we leave it to the casting gods, ok?” he manoeuvred her out of the room and let the casting assistant take over as he shut the door behind her.

Turning to Diana he feigned a heart attack. “What the fuck happened there?”

Diana shook her head. “I don’t know, she was fine last week.” “I’m really sorry.”

“I know what happened,” he said. “Its classic audition panic. She gets the call-back and overreaches. Loses what she naturally has and tries to be something she isn’t.”

“I did notice her lips were fuller than last time I saw her,” said Diana archly.

TG slumped in his chair. No matter how much he liked film, he hated the bullshit that went with it and the desperation from the actors, no matter how big their star was.

“It’s kinda sad, actually,” said TG thinking of his ex girlfriend and Jessica and her overblown lips.

Diana scowled, “Sure, but who the fuck would want to be an actress anyway?” she asked.

TG laughed as the casting assistant bought the next woman in for the role of Isabel, not right thought TG as he watched her work. To comedic, no depth.

He worked with two more actresses when Sapphira De Mont stalked in and sat down without speaking. TG swallowed nervously. She was predatory and dangerous and he glanced at Diana who sat back in her chair, her face blank.

TG was familiar with Sapphira De Monts’ work, she was arguably the most famous and enigmatic women on the planet at that moment but they had never worked together.

“Thanks for coming.” TG smiled, his voice professional.

Sapphira raised her eyebrows at him and reached out and took one of Diana’s cigarettes and lit it.

“Gotta love it when New York comes to Hollywood,” she drawled before crossing her legs in her skin tight leather pants. TG could see the bones on her chest at the gap in her coffee coloured silk blouse, so translucent he could make out the outline of her tattoos underneath the flimsy fabric and the outline of a black, lace bra …

“So, the role of Isabel …” Started TG and Sapphira blew smoke above her head.

“Yes, I’ve been thinking,” she interrupted and TG held his breath. She was the least likely person he would cast as Isabel at this moment, regardless of her significant talent but she had huge box office clout and her agent had petitioned strongly for TG to have a look at Sapphira for the role of Isabel.

“The film is really Isabel’s story. As the widower who’s forced to grieve as well as survive in her half renovated villa. I think when she opens the villa for the tourists because she needs the money, the intention is financial but her guests become family so in that way the film really needs to be an ensemble piece.” TG sat back surprised and relieved.

“I think as Isabel begins to care for the guests, they begin to care for her and then obviously the love interest for her helps her move on and start again. A new start, not a better one, but new.” She mused as she smoked her cigarette.

TG nodded impressed. “Can we do the sides?” he asked as she put the cigarette out in the water that Jessica had opened and turned to the camera.

As the casting assistant said the lines, Sapphira seemed to shape shift in front of the camera and the vulnerability of the character, the nervousness and worry crossed her face as she said her lines. She was exceptional and even Diana sat forward as they watched.

When she finished she turned to TG and shrugged. “Fucking great script.” Don’t you dare butcher it.”

“Not a chance.” Said TG and she nodded her respect.

And with that she stood up and walked from the room, leaving in her wake the scent of cigarettes and Bulgari Black perfume.

“Wow,” said TG as he watched her leave.

“I know,” said Diana. “She is her own woman that’s for sure.”

“But her acting?” She’s good.”

“She is,” said Diana, “She needs a role where she is no longer seen as just the sexy vixen and she knows it. She’s smarter than people realise that one.”

TG didn’t have time to ask her any more questions as the casting assistant announced the arrival of the first actress for the role he had once promised to his infidel ex girlfriend.

“Hi, I’m Anna,” said the younger actress and TG smiled and she went through the role and the lines to camera.

After she left TG turned to Diana, “Sweet but too young, needs to be a little older.”

“She’s a talent to watch though,” said Diana. “Just did the new Judd Apatow film.”

TG stood up and stretched his legs.

“When is the next one arriving?” he asked the assistant.

“Fifteen minutes.”

“I’m gonna take a walk.” Back in ten.”

TG opened a can of Coke and slurped from it noisily as he left the office and stood on the street when he heard someone yell, “Fuck.”

He turned and saw a blonde yelling into her phone. “Mom, just stop, ok? You’re not my manager anymore.” She yelled and snapped the phone shut.

TG stared at her.

“What?” She yelled at him.

He was taken aback. “Are you ok?” he asked.

“Do I look ok?” She dared him to ask more questions. “What a stupid fucking question.” she mumbled.

“Ok, well good luck then.” He said and sipped from his Coke and turned from her.

“Hey listen, I’m sorry,” she said behind him. “I’m having a shit day. I’m sorry.” He turned back to her again. “Can I ask a favour?”

“I guess,” he said, his shoulders shrugged casually.

“Can I have a sip of your coke?” she asked. “I have this audition and I’m so parched and I hate to ask but I didn’t bring a water.” TG looked into her gold flecked eyes and nodded and handed the can to her.

She took a greedy sip. “God, I love coke,” she said and gave a tiny burp. ‘The drink, not the drug,’ she clarified in case he was a reporter.

“What’s the audition for?” he asked although he already knew the answer.

“Some fucking film set in Italy that I won’t get,” she said. “I’m not nearly talented enough, I don’t even know how I got this far,” she laughed. “Anyway if I don’t get it there’s some action thing in the works, although I don’t really want to do it,” she mused.

“Why not?” he asked carefully.

It was her turn to shrug, “Well, you know action is hard to break out of and I would love the chance to do some real acting with good actors,” she said her words tumbling over each other.

She had no idea why she was rambling to this stranger but she thought she knew his face from somewhere, although she was notoriously bad with faces and names, much to her pushy mother’s horror.

TG nodded as she kept talking and drinking his Coke. She was tiny, like a little doll but she had a fierceness when she spoke that belied her physical frame. TG found himself mesmerised by her and barely listened as she spoke, instead entranced by her mouth and the way her eyes danced and the way she scratched her shoulder and had a tiny drop of Coke on her bottom lip.

“Hey,” he heard the casting assistant and he turned to her and nodded.

“Well good luck,” he said, smiling at the girl.

“Thanks, I’m gonna need it.” She laughed and handed him back his nearly empty can. “Fuck, sorry.” She grimaced at her own bad manners.

TG waved it away, “Finish it,” he said and walked inside and sat in the room and waited.

“Calypso Gable,” said the assistant a few minutes later and she did a double take when she walked through the door.

“You?”

“Me.” he said and was surprised by the flipping of his stomach as she entered the room. “Hi, I’m TG, the director.” she shook his hand but clearly looked uncomfortable.

“I’m really sorry about my bogarting your Coke and talking too much,” she stumbled. Diana watched TG who blushed slightly.

“It’s fine. Everything that was said out there is off the record.” he offered.

Calypso sat straight in her chair and looked around nervously.

“Shall we do the sides?” he asked and Calypso turned to the camera and went through the scene. TG gave her some direction, which she responded to well and her performance improved. She was luminous on camera but not as known as the other actresses auditioning with only one feature behind her and a hit TV show.

TG watched her as she spoke and moved in front of the camera and he crossed his arms and leaned back in his chair. She was good but not brilliant he decided.

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