The first day of February, and the day before filming, the Diesel ad with Carrie hit the stands. Carrie's Teen Vogue article also released the same day.
I met with Constance Stone at FOCUS in Century City to sign my contract with HBO. Seven episodes for $6,000 each, and $12,000 for the last episode, the HBO special remake of The Breakfast Club.
*
The first day of filming I drove to the HBO casting studio for my audition at eleven am. The casting office overflowed with thirty males in the (fifteen-twenty-one) age group. Film crew scattered everywhere. I noticed Andrew and Simon. We nodded to each other but stayed in separate areas as we planned. I shifted my focus around the room trying to spot Leah. Finally, I caught her sitting on the floor in baggy jeans and a hoodie. I waited nervously, while they called names. After the first seven, Andrew went in. A casting assistant called my name three actors after Andrew. I took a deep breath and walked into the casting room.
Lowe, Natasha, and Patrick introduced themselves and I read for Bender.
"Very nice," Lowe said. The three whispered to each other.
Natasha asked me to read a scene for the jock.
"Which one?" I asked.
"Scene 15..."
"Okay."
We began to read the scene, and I could see the reactions from the casting department. Lowe pretended to be curious, but the rest started to pick up on the absence of my script while knowing the scenes instantly and delivering the lines perfectly.
So far so good.
I knew the hard part would be next.
After the scene, Jared asked about my script.
"It's in my bag." I pointed to the Beatles messenger bag on the floor, "But I know it."
My tone, honest. "Act innocent" Karen had coached. Lowe's part came next.
"You know all of it, the whole film?" Lowe said, acting surprised, skeptical.
"Yes."
Lowe began the quiz. He listed off pages and scene numbers and I gave the three lines that followed his prompt. Natasha and Patrick flipped through their scripts and continued testing me. I nailed every request. Not smiling, just focusing. I worked weeks for this. Most hours in each day for the past month. Lowe smiled. The casting directors tried not to look impressed.
"One more..." Lowe said, "Janitor Carl's last line, followed by written directions."
"You bet! Ext. Parking Lot-Day. Cut To: Brian gets into his dad's car and leaves. Andrew and Allison kiss, Allison rips a patch off Andrew's jacket and gets into the car. Andrew's dad arrives and looks at him, then at Allison. Andrew gets into the car and they drive off. We see Claire take out one of her diamond earrings and put it into Bender's hand. They kiss and she gets into her car. She leaves. We see Bender put the earring in his ear." I recited, not missing a beat.
"Bravo!" Lowe exclaimed, ending the inquisition.
"Thank you, you may leave."
I nodded my head and left.
Back in my car, I gave a whoop of relief. I passed the first test.
*
I drove to Equinox to meet Andrew at the gym. We talked about auditions. His sounded more by the book. He read for the jock and rebel, done.
"Carrie wants us to meet for lunch, at Baba Bistro," Andrew said, in the locker room after the workout. " It's important." He added
We showered and I followed Andrew to Baba to meet Carrie before going home.
Carrie waited for us at the table and she informed me of what was about to happen. "Paparazzi are waiting to take our picture leaving Baba."
"What?"
Andrew filled me in about Carrie attracting attention from the gossip magazines, the two of them have been followed, and photographed for the past week. The magazines mainly focused on Carrie, and her and Andrew being a couple. Since the Diesel adds, her team thought it best to get a photo of the three of us as friends, so magazines didn't start making up random stories. Leaving Baba, Four photographers snapped shots, keeping their distance, and not saying anything. We got into our cars and drove to the Shire.
Andrew and Carrie disappeared into the master, and I walked upstairs to my room. I smoked weed, turned the TV on mute, and played an i-tunes playlist on my speakers.
