The Loud Whisper Takeover
Featuring interviews with actors, stunts, dancers, filmmakers, action movie directors, athletes, Krav Maga teachers, acting coaches, and more.
Epic tales of changemakers, authentic personal stories, and top tips about the industry, the podcast is a treasure of knowledge helping storytellers of all kinds on their own journeys, and inspiring people to take action upon their own dreams.
Ever heard your inner voice getting louder and louder, urging you towards a new path? When our inner guidance starts to become so loud, we can no longer ignore it, and we MUST take action... This is often a time when life changes direction drastically. We are literally being called to take that leap of faith, make that phone call, write that script, make that film in other words, time to embrace our wildest dreams, shift gear, and grow exponentially.
Let's dive into the art of listening courageously to our inner compass. Because every one of us is destined to live a grand story and adventure while walking on planet Earth!
Headphones on, notebooks out, and buckle up!
Hosted by Cindy Claes.
The Loud Whisper Takeover
25: Comedy Castings, Zoom Auditions & Real Friendship
Forgive us for the sound; it isn't perfect in this episode due to a technical issue, but the content was too good not to be shared!
Join us in this high-energy episode with Cindy Claes (action actress) and Simon Maestre (international actor from Barcelona), as we navigate the unpredictable world of comedy casting.
Simon shares details about an audition experience that kicked off with an unusual request. Instead of diving into a script, he focused on aligning himself with a high frequency wave-length. He got booked on a feature film surrounded by incredible comedy actors.
Cindy shares an amusing story, could it be her dog's adventures and a crumbling down love life that got her the casting? The Zoom call back gave her butterflies.
UPDATE: While production details are still to remain secret, we can now confirm that Cindy booked the comedy role after her Zoom call back!
Both actors are represented by ART-T management.
In this episode, we also dig into:
• audition experiences and casting stories for comedy
• the importance of humour and vulnerability in self-presentations
• overcoming nerves during Zoom auditions
• navigating language barriers in the audition process
• the impact of physicality on performance
• the significance of building a supportive community
• celebrating success and sharing joyous moments with friends
IG Cindy Claes:
@cindy_claes
IG Simon Maestre:
@simon.maestre
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I like it. Let's see what we come up with. Okay, okay, I'm ready. Oh, my god, this is so funny. Okay, are we ready? Are we doing this?
Speaker 2:We are doing this.
Speaker 1:Okay, no, I have to take myself seriously. I'm like a serious actor, okay.
Speaker 2:Of course.
Speaker 1:I'll be quiet.
Speaker 2:Welcome to the Loud Whisperer's Takeover podcast. I'm the main host of this podcast and an action actress, also a filmmaker, Cindy Klaas.
Speaker 1:And I am Simon Maestre. I am currently an international actor residing in Barcelona. I've been super good friends with Cindy since we took an acting class together, so she's like my soul sister and, yeah, we just have lots of fun together.
Speaker 2:And I'm super excited to be talking to my soul brother today because we will be talking about some fun and memorable castings we had. So let's dive in.
Speaker 1:So I know you just recently had an audition and I would love to hear about that experience. I just want to know what was the first initial part of the process. Like OK, so you get this casting, what how do you prepare for it, what do you do? And then you get the call back, so go go through that okay.
Speaker 2:so first of all I was auditioning for a comedy and the very first thing that my agent, rt, asked me to submit was just a presentation. There was not even a script, there was not even a comedy exercise to submit, it was just a presentation. There was not even a script, there was not even a comedy exercise to submit, it was just a presentation of myself. Because it was a comedy, I made the specific. My intention was just to make it very light. So usually my presentations are kind of standards or kind of serious, or you know, very straight to the point. But I thought, ok, because I'm only submitting just a presentation of myself, I'm going to keep it very light. And I went in full ADHD. I was sort of, you know, going from one topic to the other and I was just like free, freestyle it, freestyle around it. And that particular sales page, which was just a presentation of myself with a very light tone that was my decision got me a callback and the callback was on zoom okay, okay.
Speaker 1:So you had to do a presentation like was there a specific thing that you had to present? Because I know you talked about, like freestyling. I'm kind of interested in that, because what were you freestyling there?
Speaker 2:well, literally, I had, I had literally zero information about the project. The only thing I knew was that it was a comedy, and so I thought, and I think I had to talk about my hobbies or something like that, okay, yeah and so I was just talking about myself. But I think my hobbies I'm so attached to it like my hobbies are- like so important to me, I'm so obsessed with them.
Speaker 1:I guess yeah, you know, like so many, you have so many and I have so many, oh god, it's horrendous, like once I dive into something, I just dive into it.
Speaker 1:Like you know, I, when I, when I started, craft my god, I just craft my god for 17 hours, yeah okay, sorry, I have to cut you off here because people have to know you're very extreme in whatever you do, like you're either zero or a hundred, like there is no in between. You're like I'm doing this like craft, my god. Like you said, oh, I'm starting. You like Krav Maga. Like you said, oh, I'm starting. You know, I would think, oh, she's gonna take some basic lessons here and there. No, you did 17 weeks. I just I admire you so much for that 17 hours per week, per week okay, crazy.
Speaker 1:I that's even worse. I think 17 hours that's like a part-time job, cindy. So yeah, I know, I know, I just wanted to let people know how extreme you are and yeah, it's just amazing.
Speaker 2:So and I literally do that with every single thing that I get passionate about, and that includes fitness, weightlifting, a new martial arts that I'm starting, you know, any sort of dance form that I start studying? I just dive into it like a ludicrous, really. So I thought, okay, I need to do this presentation for this comedy. Let me just talk about my dog and my love life that isn't working out.
Speaker 1:Oh my gosh, are you freaking serious? No, that's what I was not expecting. That response literally. Oh my gosh, that's hilarious.
Speaker 2:Well, I thought this is this. Is you know something, life, that I can talk about? You know, yeah, that's amazing.
Speaker 1:I would have never thought about that, and that's actually kind of being really vulnerable as well, so I'm sure that really worked in your favor.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and also my dog you know like, because obviously my dog he's like a new, my new yes, pizer in crime, you know, in my life, and so looking for toys for him and getting him entertained, and you know all of that.
Speaker 1:It's, uh, it's, it's. It's another kind of thing I can talk about, you know, in a very light space.
Speaker 2:New passion, yes, and it got me my call back that is.
Speaker 1:That's great. So, yeah, I think that's amazing because it's it's also probably really different from what everybody else talked about. You know what I mean, so I'm sure that that's why. Okay, so you get the call back, do they text you? Do they call you what? So?
Speaker 2:my agent, yeah, my agent go back to me. Obviously I cannot give us too many details because at the moment, you know, the project is still, you know I cannot share more.
Speaker 2:that's why, literally it happened a few days ago, this callback. So I got a callback and I received a script, a script with several scenes, but they also gave me extra scenes that I'm not in so that I could sort of have a bigger picture of what's happening around me and the place I work and stuff, and so for the callback it was on Zoom with the casting director and the director of the movie.
Speaker 1:Had you done Zoom callbacks before, or was this like your first one?
Speaker 2:I had done a Zoom callback for a commercial during the pandemic and I remember that, but obviously it was for a commercial, so it was a very different sort of vibe and I remember. No, I've done several zoom callbacks actually, but always for commercials it's a fiction one before.
Speaker 1:This was like your first fiction zoom yes first fiction zoom casting before for commercials.
Speaker 2:It's it's super nerve-wracking because basically you log in or you, you enter the zoom call and there are 20 people in that but nobody has their camera on. They just like from production and from I don't know from. You know various departments, yeah, but everybody is looking at you but nobody has their camera on. Oh my, god, my.
Speaker 2:God, and there's only the assistant that's saying, yeah, okay, so welcome, and now we're going to take this, take or whatever, and then maybe the casting director or the person you know that is in charge might give you a note or two to do it again. But it's super weird because you feel observed.
Speaker 1:Yeah. I mean if you have 20 people there that are watching you, of course you're going to feel observed to you know? Yeah, I mean, if you have 20 people there that are watching you, of course you're gonna feel observed.
Speaker 2:That's crazy and you just have little screens in front of you. You know, yeah, you don't even know who's looking at you.
Speaker 1:Oh I yeah, that sounds nerve-wracking, honestly here for this zoom call.
Speaker 2:It was a very different sort of environment because it was a casting director and the director of the movie and you can see their faces right like they were black.
Speaker 1:Okay, yeah, and there was a real.
Speaker 2:There was a real human interaction, there was a real conversation, there was a genuine sort of willingness to have a creative process, to talk about the scenes, to give me directions, and so in that perspective it was like a, an amazing experience, you know it sounds very nourishing both on a human and on a creative level, I think, where the why I had butterfly is I hadn't done a, you know, a zoom casting for a while, and also I had this image in mind where all these people are connected but nobody sort of looks at you.
Speaker 2:Also, this particular casting was in Spanish, so my script was in Spanish.
Speaker 1:Oh my gosh, that's right, you had to do Spanish, which you do, speak Spanish, but let's say, out of all the languages, that's probably like where are you at with that one?
Speaker 2:Yes, so I make a lot of grammatical mistakes. Spanish is my fourth language and I'm still learning. You know like I mean.
Speaker 1:I can have conversations.
Speaker 2:People can understand me, but I make really like I make big mistakes.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it's funny because, like I remember going to dinner, like when we took that class and we were like they were speaking Spanish and I remember you being quiet, which is not like you normally because you're, very like you know, always talking. But I do remember, like with Spanish it seems like you you can do it, but it's like, it's like you know to to initiate that. There's like a trust thing almost there.
Speaker 2:You know what I mean but it's and also like in a group setting yeah, you have to pay attention to so many miles that are moving you know it's quicker. Yeah, yeah, yeah, you have to lip read on. Like different faces and different accents too, because, like we were with international people, so not everyone spoke the same type of spanish so here, not only was the script in spanish, but that's fine, because there is a script and, yeah, I can learn it in advance how many scenes did you have to do?
Speaker 2:there were only two scenes. I have two scenes okay, so they sent me more they sent me more to give me a to give me an idea.
Speaker 1:Yeah, gotcha, gotcha, gotcha.
Speaker 2:But then the conversation prior and after you know about the movie, the character, about me and what I do, and all of that kind of stuff was also in Spanish and I think that's what gave me butterflies you know, wait, wait, wait.
Speaker 1:Okay, so you had a conversation with the director and the casting director during the Zoom audition before you did it about the character, or where did this conversation happen?
Speaker 2:They just asked me questions about what I did, because they checked out my.
Speaker 1:Instagram, yeah, they checked out my Instagram. Okay, okay, okay.
Speaker 2:That's when we know they do check Instagram accounts. We know that's when we know they do check instagram accounts. So they do about. Yeah, even though I have I was I'm auditioning for um, a comedy role that has absolutely, you know, there are there are no fighting scenes there. There's no stunts work involved. They knew that I was doing this kind of physical work, so they were asking me questions about it. They knew I had a podcast. They had checked out the podcast, so they were just asking me things about me as an artist, really in.
Speaker 1:Spanish yeah oh my gosh, that would be so nerve-wracking, that would be so crazy but okay, as well though, yeah, yeah. I mean, you sound confident about it, so I so I'm sure it went really well. So, okay, they have this conversation with you and then you get into the two scenes Like how did that work?
Speaker 2:Yeah, so we did that. The casting director was reading for me and I did the scene a couple of times and then they were giving me notes to have a different take on it, you know and try different things. Well, that's one of my strengths as an actress having done the Jacques Lecoq?
Speaker 2:yeah, having done the Jacques Lecoq training in Paris. Like and also having been a dancer my whole life like, taking notes and being able to apply them straight away is one of my forte. So if all of a sudden you know I have something in my head and you tell me that it's something else, I am able to very quickly switch.
Speaker 1:Yeah, you take direction very well and I can attest to that because I've seen it in action. The same workshop that I'm talking about, that, like where we were with a group of people talking in Spanish, I saw you like do it for the casting director I think it was your monologue, I don't remember but then he was like oh yeah, do this and this and this. And you just like switched it up so quickly. I was so impressed by that. And then he even said you take direction really well.
Speaker 2:That was when we did the workshop with Luis Canete.
Speaker 1:No, yeah, luis Canete. Yeah, exactly, Exactly, that's the one. Yeah, yeah, yeah and yeah no. But he gave you notes and it was crazy because he gave you like a bunch of notes, like he was like do this and this and this, and you just took that all in and like I'm amazed by your ability to process that so quickly, because for me, like I have a hard time processing it so quickly, you know. So when someone gives me a note, I'm like okay, but I have to really think about it to get there, you know, and you just seem to like like that, you know.
Speaker 2:I think I would say because if people you know struggle with taking notes or struggle like change, changing choices, and things that got me there.
Speaker 2:I think I did a lot of improv. You know like, yeah, in my training as an actress I filmed a huge amount of improv and his improv even if it's comedy improv, you know, it has nothing to do with drama or whatever. It's a very different genre that we do in movies. It just helps you to really think on your feet, yeah, to really be very, you know, go with your guts and your instinct and just to change all the time. That's number one. Number two, I think having done a lot of physical work as a dancer, as a physical theater artist, even if in my head I can't find the difference in my head or you know, like, obviously you analyze the script and you show things like that and then all of a sudden, changing your thought process takes time, but changing your physicality can take a second.
Speaker 2:So let's say that I'm sitting, you know, a little bit like leaning back in my chair, because you know I'm sitting for this audition. I can sit up a little straight. I can just like turn my shoulder a little bit around. You know, a bit more nonchalant, I can, you know, take a pen in my hand, because the pen, you know, I just like work with the pen in a very mean way, or I can take the pen and, you know, use it in a very sexy way.
Speaker 2:Or if I'm standing on my feet maybe the first time I did it I can feel that my weight was a bit more my toes. So maybe I'm a bit of a character that is more you know attacking or going somewhere, or you know being in action. Maybe if I put my weight on one leg I'm a bit more, you know, in between two thoughts as a character. And so when I change my physicality, even if I don't have the thought process, I change something in my physicality and that will immediately change something in my acting as well. You know, yeah, yeah, yeah, a hundred percent, a hundred percent.
Speaker 1:It's interesting that you're talking about this because I actually saw an interview with Tom Holland he was talking about I can't remember what actor he was talking about, but he said that he used to hate crying scenes and this actor told him that what he would do to get into a crying scene was change the way his throat was or something like that. I can't remember exactly what he said, but it was so interesting because it's like your body's natural response to like the way you're, you're using it, and so I think that's amazing because it's like muscle memory. You know, you change your, your pose or you change something about the body and you immediately just go to a whole nother direction. So yeah, and I definitely, I definitely see that you're very good with physicality. It seems like obviously that's an area of expertise for you, so it's really cool that you're able to switch so quickly with just your body.
Speaker 2:But try it also for yourself. Even if you are in everyday life. If you go and order a sandwich, just shift your waist balance and see if the way you order your sandwich becomes a very different. Way of ordering a sandwich, just because you change your physicality, you know.
Speaker 2:And then the next day, yeah, the next day it tries to change something else you know in your physicality yeah, the way, you order the same flipping sandwich changes and you will see, you know that you might be able to then add it to your acting as well yeah, yeah, that's like good like tips for, like you know, just incorporating your acting in your everyday.
Speaker 1:Like order a sandwich in a sexy way see how that feels, you know, order it in a happy way see how that feels. So, yeah, I'll definitely order, probably not my sandwich, but probably a coffee because I order coffee every day. So, yeah, I'll definitely order, probably not my sandwich, but probably a coffee because I order coffee every day. So maybe I'll try it.
Speaker 2:But you see the way you worded it is. Order is in a sexy way, so that means that you're gonna think sexy before you go to the physicality. What I'm saying is put your body in a position and see what comes out.
Speaker 1:Okay, so your body is like the thing that is controlling the situation, not you thinking that you're standing in a sexy way.
Speaker 2:Yeah, so literally put your body in a position, see what comes out of that position your voice, your, your confidence, your. You know your relationship to the world might be different. That if you put yourself in another position with a shoulder forward, really stands more on the right with you, stands more on the left with you, stands more on the back.
Speaker 1:So yeah, okay, good tip, good tip to know. Okay, so you are able to make quick changes for them. Did they have you do the scene? How many times can you kind of walk us through, like some sort of notes, that they gave you and how you accumulated and put that into the performance the next time?
Speaker 2:So I think I would. I did each scene about four times and they gave me, like, literally once I had to do it in a very different way once they picked up on something that they found funny and they wanted me to do it again, but maybe do it longer or, you know, add something to that funny moment. Then there were also moments where I had read the scene in my head. I had visualized the scene differently than what they might have visualized it. So then they said, yeah, okay, actually visualize this, or imagine this, or your report with this person that you're talking to is actually they gave me even more context. You know, that is a moment where, even though, when you receive those notes, I could see that they were so genuine and so supportive and so loving and so, oh my God, we want to work with you creatively, but obviously you cannot listen to that little voice, because that little voice was sort of, you know, in my head saying Cindy, you didn't see that? Didn't you read that in between the lines?
Speaker 1:Oh my gosh, I know, exactly what you mean. Like it's that little voice, that's like it's in the back of your head and even though, like you're in this moment where it's like great, there's still like a part of you that is like, oh, you messed up, like you have to do it better. You're like hard on yourself. That happens to me, like even in classes, like whenever I'm performing in front of people, I'm just like, oh, they didn't like that, they didn't like that because they didn't laugh, or something like that.
Speaker 2:You know what I mean yeah, and also because obviously we are on. So there are two things. Number one if the information they gave me, I was like oh my god, I should have seen that and read it in between the lines in the scenes they gave you to give you context. But you know, when a project is new, you are missing out on stuff. You know. It's just what it is, you know.
Speaker 1:And I also think it takes time. It takes time to like, get all of that information and process it into your character. So you didn't. How long did you have to prepare for this?
Speaker 1:I did have a couple of days, which is a luxury in our world yeah, it's a, it's a big luxury, because you have to be fast, it's like you said, and then also like you're learning these scenes, so you have to memorize, you have to do all this work, yeah, and most people don't see this work. So, yeah, yeah, that's that's probably why you didn't like get every single little detail in there, because it's it's almost like literally impossible.
Speaker 2:And then I would say another thing as well, because just before the Zoom casting call she obviously has been rehearsing my scenes and blah, blah, blah. And you know I've tried different things, but you know I'm sort of walking around, you know, in my living room and my kitchen and in my car when I'm driving. Maybe shouldn't do that, but I did it and then I put. Then that was because I had to put the computer, you know, at eye level. You know they asked for the computer to be at eye level and you know I set up my lighting and then I started doing the scene, but I needed to look in the camera and all of us, and also you know this, this character had to move and follow a character and then speak to the character, then move again, and all of a sudden I started rehearsing with the computer and I'm like, oh my gosh, I'm not looking in the camera. You know they want me to look in the camera and so I mean it's that extreme precision. You know that I had to, oh 100%.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:Because it's part of the storytelling, like how that character is moving, and how are you going to incorporate that in such a tight space?
Speaker 2:I had to kind of look at my camera and I started, you know like to move. You know this upper body, you know like I'm making sure that I stayed in frame and making sure that I looked, you know the camera. So it was. It was like details, yeah, detailed work, you know, and lucky that I did that. And I think I should do that again for other zoom casting calls or callbacks for fiction, because commercials they always ask you to do other stuff. You know, as I hear, was so specific in. So when we had the zoom call, I asked them again do you want me to really look at the camera when I'm delivering the lines or do you want me to look a little bit on the side and that sort of thing? They wanted me to really look in the camera. But because then when you look in the camera you don't see yourself on screen anymore. So you kind of have to trust that you're doing this right that you're not. You know what I mean Like off screen. So that you were doing is right that you're not.
Speaker 1:You know what I mean like off screen so it's additional rehearsal that should be planned in. Yeah, I mean, well, honestly, like when you're on set too, like this kind of this kind of goes along with like our job, you know, like we have to be able to like direct our movements and be aware of where the camera is and like have, cause I just I, I just got done being on set, you know, and it's such a big part of like what I was doing was, no, you have to walk here, then look to the right and then walk here in this certain way, no, a little left, a little more, and you have these marks that you have to hit. So it's interesting that you're talking about this now, because in zoom auditions you kind of were doing that, but for yourself, you know, so that you could present like this audition in a certain way, and you also have to tell the story by doing this.
Speaker 2:so I think that's that's like a really good thing to do for any audition the only thing is that on set it is easier because, obviously as well, I'm a dancer, so you know giving me a mark and telling me I've got one step to go there and then turn around, and all of that works because you have a distance between the camera and yourself. You know, so you can look at the camera. There is a distance here. The camera of your, your screen, when you're in a Zoom call, is so close that your space that you can play with, your playing space, is extremely reduced. You know, and that's the difficulty with, well, self-taping and auditioning online.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. And it's like, it's weird to me whenever they put like something like oh, you're walking along the sidewalk and you're like no, I'm standing in front of my camera, like how do you want me to present that I cannot walk? And then I like sometimes I just make stuff up because I'm like I don't know, guys, I'm just going to like sometimes I'll shuffle, and that doesn't seem to go over very well, so I've stopped shuffling. And yeah, it's just interesting that, you know, because of self-tapes, you do have that limited space and you're almost having to choreograph it so that you move, but in a very minimal way, I would say.
Speaker 2:Have you ever seen the influencers that are, you know, changing outfits and are sort of fashionistas? Is it kind of walking on a small treadmill. Maybe we need that, you know.
Speaker 1:Hey, that's a really good idea, actually. Okay, let me get on the freaking treadmill, since you guys want me walking for this. I'm sure it'd be a lot different than many self-tapes, okay, so let's go back to um, the audition. Okay, so you basically do these takes, they give you notes, you incorporate these notes into there and then how does it? How does it end? Like, how do you feel? What did they say to you?
Speaker 2:so it was a. What I really appreciated was there was a real creative process and, like I feel, in the world of film sometimes it is, um, also a luxury. It's not in every, you know, in every movie that we have an opportunity for creative process. So it was a very human and artistically interesting interaction. Then we talked a little bit about the character and then, of course, they asked do you have any questions for us? And that's another one we should always be prepared for. And I wasn't, but I came up okay.
Speaker 1:I came up with a question, you were not prepared for that question. This is a surprise to me, because you're always like you have a list of things that you want to ask.
Speaker 2:I know. And then here I was, just I think I had so many butterflies because it was in Spanish, um, but yeah, I did ask some creative questions, you know, around the script and the character and the settings and all of that kind of things, um, more as a broader perspective, you know.
Speaker 1:So, but it was, it was a very positive experience, but I kept having those butterflies in my belly like for hours after fasting really yeah, and even the next morning, when I woke up, I still felt butterflies it must have been like a very, like you said, very positive experience, because I also feel like butterflies is like a good thing, as opposed to this like nervousness, where, like it gets in your way, like butterflies lift you, they like make you go and I think another thing as well that I sort of got present to was I've been, basically I've been casting so much for darker roles, you know um, which I, which I absolutely love, um, but and you know these action movie roles and a hundred yeah got kind of thing you know or what you're really good at, I would say.
Speaker 2:I would say that's definitely like your niche, but you have range, which is good as well yes, and I think one of the reasons why I had butterflies is I've been so focused on my action, acting roles.
Speaker 2:I've been so focused on training, training, training on my martial arts skills, you know, and and my fighting skills and all the rest of it. I think I had even lost perspective of what the other challenges are. That would make me feel excited and actually having a role in a comedy, would you know like it's a total comedy, it's not just my role, that is the comedic release kind of thing, it's like a full-on comedy sounds like a challenge that would just make make me freaking love life and my craft and my art form and and the team I'm working with and all the rest of it. So, yeah, I think it kind of reminded me, you know, what the universal open door is not just about what you want, but maybe there's so much more than what you imagine and what you want that can be freaking exciting oh my god and yeah, never lose perspective, you know a hundred percent.
Speaker 1:I agree with that. It's really cool because sometimes, like we think we know what we want and we're just so focused on that that we don't allow ourselves to open up, so like what the universe is giving us, which essentially, sometimes could even be better than what we think we want. And you opening up yourself to comedy, I think is great, because there's a lot there as well that sometimes, like for me personally, I don't like, I'm like no, I like this, this is the type of character I want to play. And then, like you open the store and you're like wow, and it's exciting because you haven't been there and it's stepping outside of your comfort zone. So you're also growing and I think that's really important as actors.
Speaker 1:I love that's really important as actors. I love that. I love that, like you, had a positive experience with this thing and I also. I think it's great that it was comedy, because I remember the first time I saw you it was in Frank's class and it was a comedy in that class that was your first scene, cindy. I know you as a comedy actress like that's what you established in my heart. Later I found out that you like these darker roles, but I remember that class was like laughing so hard. There.
Speaker 2:Everyone's rolling on the floor it's so funny that the first time we met you actually saw me in two comedy scenes in class and you were hilarious yeah, and you were freaking hilarious, so I think it's a good avenue for you as well.
Speaker 1:Like I think you could take a lot and do a lot with that. I know, obviously, like we have our our thing where it's oh, I, I do like action and I think you do really well in those roles, but it's we're actors, we have range as well. So, yeah, it's good that you got this yes, I will keep you updated, please do please.
Speaker 1:I'm really excited for you, regardless, that you did this audition, because it sounds like it was a good experience overall well, well, you know that you were always the first one that will know.
Speaker 2:You know, you're always the first one that I pick.
Speaker 1:I know I, but it's so funny because I feel like we both share stuff with each other, because we live vicariously through each other. You're like, oh, I just had this audition.
Speaker 1:I got a call back and I was like I was there with you, you know, yeah it's like when you were on set, like last month, and uh I was just like cheering, you know, living your experience with you, because you were excited to work on set with a dream team yeah, and it's funny because I always will send you like messages, like you're the first one to know, literally because I feel like you know, sometimes, like I tell people and I don't know if maybe it's because some of them are non-actors so they don't really get like what that means, but like when we get a call back, that's such a cool thing, like why wouldn't you like rejoice with that person? So I'm glad that I have you on my team.
Speaker 2:And also I want to. I want to say that it's so important because that's what I love about our friendship. But also a lot of people often tell me hey, I see my friends, you know, like I see who's there when I'm going through a rough patch right, and for me I always said no, I see my friends when I'm really experiencing the highest of my joys and I see you when you're there to share that with me, because not everybody is able or can or want to really celebrate your joys and your successes. Because when you're in a low, I always think you know what some people are not equipped to support you in that low. Maybe they've never experienced it, maybe they don't understand the pain you're going through, maybe they don't have the right words, maybe they go through a rough patch themselves and you don't know it. So sometimes, of course, sometimes you know people are willingly or you know, not willing to be there and they don't care.
Speaker 2:That happens, I'm not saying that, but generally speaking, gives people the benefit of the doubt, you know, in your times of love. But when it's a time of joy, when it's a time of come and celebrate my joy, my life, my success, my hard work and your friend that you consider your friend isn't there or can't be happy when you're happy. I think maybe there is something to analyze, and what I love between us is that we just celebrate each other's joy. That is also what makes our friendship so very special and I.
Speaker 1:It's so funny because, like we both joke that we have add, so I think that's part of our add. Like what you're happy, I'm happy, like it's great. Though, because I feel like, like you said, sometimes, like you have certain people in your life that like, if you share something good that's happening to you, it's like almost I don't know sometimes, maybe like they get jealous, maybe or like I don't know, I don't know what it is, but they're not there with you and like you can feel that energetically. I can feel that whenever I tell someone some good news and they're just like they're hearing it but they're not celebrating it yeah, and that breaks the bond, I think yeah you know, yeah or doesn't, at least doesn't solidify it?
Speaker 2:should we tell that little story that happened at the air force when I called you crying and you told me you were so happy?
Speaker 1:oh my gosh, that is, that is our bond. Right there, that is literally our bond. Okay, yeah, I forget details, but it was hilarious so, basically, something uh heartbreaking was happening to me.
Speaker 2:My mom was very, very sick and, um, I was also, um, like it was. It was really horrible. My mom had an illness where there was no cure and I became her full-time caretaker and I had to basically move countries and then and I had to stop working and so I'm at the airport because I have to go and pick my stuff up in another country, leave all the things that I had built as an artist. And so I'm calling you, simon, and I'm crying on the phone and I'm like I don't know how to handle the conversations with our agents.
Speaker 2:I feel like I'm a loser. I feel like people are going to not take me seriously. I'm dropping out of every project, but obviously I have to go and take care of my mom and there are all these emergencies, and I feel overwhelmed. And go and take care of my mom, and there are all these emergencies, and I feel overwhelmed, and so I'm sending you voice notes and I'm crying and you're supporting me and you're like, no, it's gonna be all right and you're not a loser and you're handling it well. And and all of a sudden, why? So I'm at the airport alone, and you know when you're alone. But the airport is full and you start crying and you're like no, not here not here and not here and I'm just like I'm in full breakdown.
Speaker 2:Okay, I'm in full breakdown, leaving you voiceless. Everybody in the airport looks at me, but I'm like I don't care about this voice, I'm just having a breakdown. In that moment, while you are basically like cheering me up, something happened and you announced me that you sell the next bit what I?
Speaker 1:I forget honestly I. What did I say? I? Don't remember, I don't remember I know it was like I I booked right, was that when I bought? Yeah, so basically I'm crying at the airport.
Speaker 2:We do a couple of back and forth messages, like it's a very dramatic moment. I'm in social breakdown, you as a friend are trying to cheer me up and all of a sudden you're like Cindy, oh my god, cindy, I just got booked, like our agent just our teacher just got. No, they just fixed me. I booked, I booked, I'm on a fiction, I'm, I'm. Oh my god, it's next, it's in two months time, and all of a sudden, oh my god it was.
Speaker 2:You were so happy because it was a really cool role. You had a lot of dates where you were going to be on set, and so I'm crying and I'm enjoying it. I'm like, oh my god, simon, I'm so happy for you, I'm so freaking happy and I'm full of joy and I was crying at the same time. And you're full of joy and you're trying to force me at the same time and it was just like such an awesome dramatic comic.
Speaker 1:This video was comedy relief it was just like written for a movie and I feel like that really represented our friendship totally 100, because I remember, like it was so funny because, yes, you were having like a breakdown moment, but I think, rightfully so Like I would have literally just I probably would have just stayed on the floor, not gotten out of bed or something, because literally you had a lot on your plate. And so, like you're sending me all these messages and, needless to say, like I was feeling really good that day and you were sending me these messages, so I was like I'm going to pour some energy into Cindy, like all this positive energy that I have, and I was. I kept being like, no, it's going to be okay. Like you're strong, cause you literally are like one of the strongest people that I know. So I knew you were going to get through this. But it was just so funny Cause, immediately as you were sending me messages like RT was sending me messages as well and they were like telling me you just booked and everything.
Speaker 1:And I was like holy shit, like I had so much joy inside of my heart, you know, at that moment, and I was like should I tell her? Should I not tell her? There was like no, containing that. So I had to spread that to you in the best way that I could and I just I was like, okay, cindy, this is what's happening. Because, like also, I feel like when you're in these times, you know where you're going through things. You also want to like hear something good and take from that, because I think there's energy in that. And then you taking that good energy, like yeah, you were breaking down, but like you're on a roller coaster of emotions, you're riding that happy way with me, but like you still had your thing. So, yeah, it was perfect timing. I would say Like something completely orchestrated by the universe, because the timing was just like that. You were there, rt was there and I had booked and I was so excited about that.
Speaker 2:I really, really wish everybody, every artist, a soul brother like Lyman in their life. Oh, you're so sweet. Okay, so shall we now talk about one of your memorable casting audition moments? Maybe we can talk about the recent job that you booked and that you know. Obviously you shared with me when I was at the airport in Full Breakdown. You have now been working on set for this particular project, but we're going to talk about the casting process, okay yes, yes, yes, yes so the first message that you received from our agent, what was it?
Speaker 1:when I booked, or like when I got the audition audition the first phase of the audition.
Speaker 1:Okay. So I actually I got an email from Enzo. This was during the summer, so it was literally I think I auditioned for this in July, and you know I love summer, so I was on a high. I was on a big high, like just on life, not on anything but life, just because, like, um, you know, summertime happiness. And so I kept getting like auditions for commercials and stuff like that, and I had gotten one for fiction prior in June. But then Enzo sends me a message and he's like hey, so there's this movie that's going on, but they just they want a presentation because they're looking at you for this one character. And so I had done one audition before where it was just a presentation for a fiction, sort of like what you did with your Zoom. So that's what mine was. Literally it was just me saying hi, I'm Simon, simon, you know, and then kind of explaining about myself, where I'm at, and I think one of the questions was like what have you been up to this summer? Or something like that, you know did you make?
Speaker 2:you know, like I made a very conscious choice to talk about my dog, you know, and my love life that was working out. Did you make a light choice?
Speaker 1:or were you just like, yeah, I've been swimming the funny thing is, cindy, that I think in that regard, we're very different. I that's why I think I like working with you, because you're very like you plan stuff out, you know what you're getting yourself into. I'm just like, oh, I'm here, I'm just gonna do something now, whatever comes out, that's it. So. No, I was the reason I think I didn't think too much about it was because, like, I was in a very good place energetically, like I was telling you I was riding high on life, so, and I kept getting auditions, I was doing a lot of auditions was, you know, I do castability, so it's like a self tape every week on top of, like, my auditions. So I was feeling just like, keep them coming, keep them coming. I was on this roll, this roll, you know, of auditions, and when I got that message I was like, oh, here's another fiction one. You know, I'll just get it out of the bag like, do it. I'll probably do it like tomorrow. And it was easy because it was just a presentation. What is there to talk about?
Speaker 1:Like, I did make sure that I put myself in a place where I let them know what, where I was coming from and I had been doing a lot of like shorter films, um, in the summer. So literally I this year I did a, a few short films. So I was like that's where I'm coming from, so I need to let them know that, because that's where I'm going as well, so maybe they want to be a part of that. So I did I guess subconsciously, I made that choice. I didn't really think too much about that. I was like, hey, I'm an actor, I've been filming, this is what I've been doing, and so I really got into all the projects that I did.
Speaker 1:That's the majority of things that I talked about. But showcasing my personality, you know, like no, not just being like. Oh, I did this. I was very like myself, I was very animated and it was funny because it was like dressed in all black and I didn't know it was a comedy. I had no idea it was a comedy. They didn't tell me it was a comedy.
Speaker 2:So I had no idea.
Speaker 1:It was a comedy no idea, no, no idea, literally. And it was interesting because I think had I known it was a comedy no idea, no, no idea, literally. And it was interesting because I think, had I known it was a comedy, I probably would have approached it differently. So I'm glad I didn't know, just because I was like whatever comes out is going to be great, and so I went into it with that mindset and I didn't hear back for a couple months. Eh, like I heard nothing. So I was just like, okay, another one that you know I just threw out there and who knows where that went. But yeah, eventually, like uh, enzo did contact me. Like what was interesting about it was that it was just the presentation. They picked me right off of the presentation. I didn't have to read for the role or anything oh, so you didn't have a callback.
Speaker 2:You didn't have, there wasn't a callback there was literally no callback.
Speaker 1:that was, and I'm telling you like, for me, as an actor, what's really important is to put yourself energetically in the place that you want to be in, because you don't necessarily have to base it on whether you get the callback. Or am I doing good, am I doing bad? No, like you're an actor, you're an actor. This is part of the work. Auditioning is part of the work. So I had no expectations. I had no expectations whatsoever. I just knew that I'm an actor and I am involved in movies and that's how I went in and that's the result you get.
Speaker 2:get that's literally like a manifestation, because I did not have to read for the role what I'm hearing from you, like listening to you, it's almost like there is a mantra, an energetic mantra, playing in your head which is I'm bookable and I book, I'm bookable and I book, I'm bookable and I flip and book.
Speaker 1:And I book yeah.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and it feels like you were. That was the energetic space. You were, yeah, living.
Speaker 1:Yeah, a hundred percent. And the thing is, because I had been on set with these short films, like for me it's like a mindset thing. What does this feel like? The life of an actor, like what is that really? And me being in front of the camera and having to work with the director, having to work with, like the DOP no, please stand here, no, hit your mark here All these things is what is required for you to be on a real set. So you practicing this, that's going to put you in that mindset.
Speaker 1:So I was in that mindset when I was auditioning for this role, like I know what I'm doing and I feel like that's really what pushed me to have a good presentation, cause I mean, I I assume it was good, cause they picked me I have no idea, I hope it was good. But yeah, I was coming from a very like confident place and that's something that I've had to work on a lot, because I tend to be a very nervous person, especially with auditions. Like when I first started, oh my gosh, doing self-tapes and everything, I was very like stiff, I gotta get it perfect. And, like you have like this kind of mindset, like no, I need to book, I book. It's not I need. I do book. I know what I'm doing. I am killing this audition.
Speaker 2:It's so funny that obviously we didn't even prepare which audition we were going to talk about today, but I just shared shared. I just shared about one that for some reason or another I had butterflies. I felt very shaky, I felt very vulnerable and usually I am very grounded in auditions. You know I can really handle stress. And then you are sharing one where you're super grounded, super confident and usually you know I'm not that person.
Speaker 1:Literally, we're like back and forth. This is why we balance each other out super well, I think absolutely so.
Speaker 2:Once you, once you booked it, is it in the moment of booking that you actually discovered all the details of this project?
Speaker 1:oh yeah, 100%. It was interesting because I didn't even know what my character was. They were just like dress in all black and present yourself. So literally I did the presentation, I sent it in, and it was interesting because I went to our agent to go meet, because Enzo came in and you had told me about him, told me about him and he basically, for the people that don't know, enzo is the one that handles the fiction side of RT, along with Natalia. So I wanted to meet him and talk to him and just let him know hey, this is where I'm at, like these are the kind of characters that I think I'd be good in, and I had already sent that audition in before I met him in person.
Speaker 1:But the funny thing is like whenever I met him, like nowhere in my mind was I like oh, I'm going to talk about this audition, see what's happening with that, nowhere. And then he was like so somehow, like he put it in there oh yeah, I haven't gotten like a no from you for for this project that you auditioned for, and I had actually auditioned for another fiction one and I thought he was referring to the other one. I was like, oh yeah, that one. You know, I spent hours on that self-tape and like it was not the one that I I was thinking at all and he just looked at me like okay, that's strange, you know. And now, after booking it, I find out, oh, this is the one I just did a presentation for, and that was like a couple of months later. But he had originally told me they haven't said no to you, you're not on the list that they said no to, and I didn't even catch on to that. So it was a complete surprise to me when I booked this project, because I wasn't even thinking about this project at all. Like this project just went out of my mind completely. So I get these news and I'm like what project is he talking about? Like I had no idea whatsoever and that's like when. I think it took them about like maybe a week to send in the full script.
Speaker 1:And once I got the script, I read the project and I was like, oh, it's a comedy and I don't do a lot of comedy, like I haven't. I did a lot when I first started out in acting, but that was like when I was 15. So, and I was known for comedy then. But it's, it was different. You know, I was in high school. Obviously we're going to think differently and I was known for comedy then but it's, it was different. You know, I was in high school. Obviously we're going to think differently and I've grown up to become a completely, like, different person.
Speaker 1:And so when I get, when I find out that it's coming, I'm like how did I book a comedy? I had literally no idea. And then that came as a surprise Cause. I was like, should I approach the role differently? And I just had a bunch of questions. Surprised because I was like, should I approach the role differently? And I just had a bunch of questions.
Speaker 1:I was actually really nervous after I booked it because I was like what if I'm not good at comedy? You know, like what if I? Just it was the unknown, you know, it's like what you were talking about, going in and stepping outside of your comfort zone. So for me to have booked that, it was such a blessing it was such a blessing in disguise because it wasn't the original thing that I think that I had thought I booked, but it opened doors for me. It opened up like because I, when I was on set, you know, I was seeing comedy in action and the actors that were on set were just incredible and like they were so quick, like they literally would do some improv at times, that I got to witness that because I was there.
Speaker 1:And now that has just opened up my world, like I feel a lot looser with my acting, like that literally has just made it okay for me to handle any type of role. So it was definitely. I think the universe was like hey, take this, learn from it and then start applying it a little bit, so we'll see. We'll see where that takes me. But yeah, initially I had no idea what the project was even about and it was a big surprise. It was a big surprise but the best surprise of the year I would definitely say that has been like my biggest thing this year was this was booking this, booking this.
Speaker 2:So, yeah, it was something to celebrate for me and that's why I had to tell you first and so, just to wrap up this interview, are you allowed at this moment in time to actually uh, give the title of the movie, like when people listen to the oh yeah 100.
Speaker 1:they actually they're on instagram as well. It it's called Spicy Will and I think their handle is at spicywillmovie, but I'm sure if you search and who's the director.
Speaker 1:Chris Houle. So he's actually he was a producer and now he's more on the directing scene. He directed another movie before, but he was so cool. He was just amazing to work with really chill guy and he was letting the actors have fun, which that's something that I hadn't experienced. In that sense, like, yes, being on set for me is always fun, but there is work behind it as well, and this one just felt it was very like family. It felt like family to me. Everyone was so kind. The general vibes of the set was incredible. All the actors on set were just so welcoming.
Speaker 1:I don't know, it's just he made the ambience of the whole thing very comforting and when I approached him initially, like I was very scared because when you first get on set, you don't know who you're working with or like you don't know how that relationship is going to develop. You're kind of you have like all these questions because you are stepping into the unknown and that can be very exciting but very like nerve-wracking as well. And from the moment like he approached me, he was so kind. I'm so happy. You have no idea, and I can't wait to see it because the actors in there are so funny.
Speaker 1:Like my character. He's not like the funniest one on there. Obviously there's a comedic thing to him. But the main actors on there I literally was on set cracking up the whole time. I could not stop laughing and I was like sometimes I'd be like, no, keep it together. You do not want to laugh after they say action. And that was part of my struggle because they were so freaking funny. But it was good that I got to witness that, because now I will look at comedy differently and I learned from those actors. I learned on the job which I think is the best part of doing this, you know, is being able to get on a set and actually learn from that experience when that movie comes out.
Speaker 2:We will definitely do an episode about you know all your learning, you know. Once the movie comes out. I think that then people can have a reference, um and watch it before listening to the episode. And this episode is coming to an end, but we must do a part two of our most fun and memorable casting and audition moments because I think it was like freaking awesome and a part two must come yes, I'm so excited.
Speaker 1:We're definitely like we need to share more, because I also had a zoom audition, which was a completely different experience, and I would love to be able to share that with you so everybody, make sure that you tune in for part two bye, see you. Thank you, cindy.
