I just got back from another job interview. The company is a huge design firm that creates posters and basically all graphic materials for films. It has a super
swazzy three floor office in the CNN building in Hollywood. There were artists and rimmed glasses everywhere. Having submitted so many resumes lately I had no idea what the job position was until I sat down with two ladies and the interview was underway.
They described a variety of duties and tasks that are, what I refer affectionately to as, monkey work. This work requires someone to be a little hired hand to do all of those things no one else wants to do. I am no stranger to these kinds of jobs. In many ways I have been doing them my whole life. Cleaning up after people, getting people things when they are thirsty or hungry, and pretty much being invisible. I can already envision the numerous times I'd have to tell a superior, "It's Jessica not Jennifer" and the rest of the time when I will just smile and let it go.
Contrary to my description, this kind of job does not really bother me at all. I had a good interview and I think they were quite pleased. But in every interview I have encountered, there is that one dreaded question; the question I know they will ask but I wish, and hope, and pray they will not.
"So are you an actor?"
"Well....um, I, moved out here to act, yes, and I have a fine arts degree, a theatre major...and um..."
"But you aren't auditioning, or going out every day, right?"
"Oh, no. No, not at all."
Here s what I really thought:
"Well, it's like this see I worked so hard very hard to get a commercial agent and eventually I did! But I have not been sent out in so long and the industry is in a huge down slide and I can't wait tables anymore I can't! I'm so poor it's too much I can't so I'm trying something new and I'm really scared I made a mistake or failed or something and I love acting but out here it's different it's not fun anymore and I have NO money and I'm just gonna do something else right now I think I guess for awhile and then see but in my heart this question makes me so sad because I want to respond to your question enthusiastically with YES I am an actor but I am in a transitional thing and so umm ummm ummm."
They said they would let me know in a few weeks. So I guess I have a few weeks.