07/08/2007

TwentySomething

Modeling is not on the list

By Danielle Killgore
Local columnist
danielle.killgore@
gmail.com

I don't normally go to the mall, especially on weekends.

However, I needed some last-minute gifts, so there I was at the mall, on a weekend. As I was hurrying through the halls, a lady approached me and said, "Have you ever thought about modeling?”

I laughed as the image ran through my head; my face turned bright red. Probably a good sign I wouldn't be good in the biz.

"No, but thanks,” I said and tried to walk away. She wouldn't have it, insisting on taking my name and number and telling me to think about it. She wants me to come to one of her agency's casting calls.

Soon the agency phones: "We would like you to come to our casting at 12:30. If you can't make it, call us back to reschedule.” I never go. I never call.

Within a few weeks, there's another: "Hi Danielle, you didn't come to the casting. We have another one, can you come?”

I tell them I'm out of town (which is true). They schedule me for a later date, though I'm almost sure I'm not going to go.

Finally, they phone to say, "Remember your date — this is your last chance.” Suddenly I'm on casting call probation. Maybe they should stop calling me. Or, maybe I'll just go. It can't be that bad, right?

"Line up over there. You will be asked to walk on the stage. Face each direction so the panel of judges can see your bone structure and size and then walk off stage leaving the opposite side,” we are told. After a quick introduction to the posh judges, the parade begins.

The agency is for acting and modeling. Truth be told, I'd rather get up and sing in front of Simon Cowell than catwalk in front of these people.

"You, white tank top, blonde hair, you go first.” That would be me, the one trying to blend in at the back of the line. So I walk up there, stand (pose?) and they ask some questions.

No judge smiles or looks like a model; not even the personal trainer. The lady asks, "Are you serious about doing this and about this business?” Hmmm, well let's see, I have never come to a casting call and I really don't know why I'm here and I'm dressed for the library so … "Yes.”

The next question is good, too: "Do your parents support you?” That's complicated. Financially, yes, though that is about to end. But is modeling why they sent me to college? Probably not, but honestly, we haven't discussed it. "Yes, of course,” I say. Again, do people ever respond with "no?” And if so, are you automatically ejected from the stage?

On it goes until the lady representing the agency informs us we will all come up and perform a commercial to show our acting skills. The commercials begin and most of them are hilarious; others, not so much. Everyone laughs and cheers, except the judges, who show no expression.

And then it happens. The list.

"If you are on the posted list, we don't want you signing with us and we do not wish to represent you. So please leave,” says the kind representative.

A girl I've gotten to know since arriving checks the list. Looks like they want us. She is stoked.

I am ... ready to go.

Danielle Killgore grew up in Traverse City and is a 2002 graduate of Traverse City Central High School. Newly graduated with a bachelor's degree in communication from Columbia College in Columbia, S.C., she is working as a sales consultant for a Web-based data acquisition company. She will write occasionally for the Record-Eagle Twentysomething column. She can be reached care of the Record-Eagle or at danielle.killgore@gmail.com.