James Urbaniak ([info]urbaniak) wrote,
2006-08-17 21:50:00
  • Previous
  • Memorize
  • Share
  • Next

Character Breakdown

The audition for the Michel Gondry film was smooth as silk. Your move, monsieur.

I also auditioned today for (get ready) a Verizon commercial. Yes, a post-Josh Emery Verizon commercial. I read for the role of a representative of a rival phone service provider who dresses up like the "Can you hear me now?" guy and boasts to people on the street about how his service is just as good as Verizon's. He then crumbles under mild interrogation, comically betraying his company's insufficiency. So I dressed like the "Can you hear me now?" guy (dark industrial uniform type jacket, glasses), which was interesting because as I noted in this old thread, the character--created during Mr. Emery's glory days with Verizon--bears a suspicious resemblance to my character of Simon Grim in "Henry Fool." (Indeed Mr. Emery has admitted as much.) In fact, I considered wearing the actual Simon Grim jacket (which I own and which features, as every indie film fan knows, a "Simon" label) but opted instead for another industrial uniform type jacket in my possession that bears the scripted logo of the Kitty Clover potato chip company. (If I sold all my thrift store jackets on e-Bay I'd make a fortune.) Nevertheless, one could argue (and why wouldn't one?) that today I auditioned to play the doppelganger of my own doppelganger. Somewhere Josh Emery is laughing. That is, if he is not dead.

Even stranger, the description in the script said the character should be (and I am not kidding) a "Patrick Warburton type." Well, now. In the two years I have spent as a cast member on Cartoon Network's hit series "The Venture Brothers" (three years if you count the pilot), I have sharpened my Patrick Warburton imitation to a razor precision. (In fact, a few years before "The Venture Brothers," Patrick Warburton and I were both cast members in a sitcom pilot that never made it to the air.) Of course, Patrick Warburton and I are about two of the most completely different looking people on the face of the planet. But I understood what the Verizon people wanted--a sort of clueless bravado (and yes, Venture fans, I realize that that description does not apply to Brock Samson)--and I gave it my all. So if you buy the Josh Emery/"Henry Fool" conspiracy angle (and I know you do), today you had Doc doing Brock doing the "Can you hear me now guy" doing Simon Grim. A psychic funhouse of identity confusion to make David Lynch proud.

  • Post a new comment

    Error

    switch
     
    Help
  • 52 comments

[info]mitdasein

August 18 2006, 02:31:50 UTC 5 years ago

Does this mean you're no longer bitter about being passed up for the role of Puddy on Seinfeld?

[info]surplusj

August 18 2006, 02:35:58 UTC 5 years ago

When I was still working at a talent agency, a breakdown once came out - and I think it was for a commercial - that used one of our clients as the type. The character's described as a John Smith type, so the agenct calls up and says, "What about John Smith?" (I'm sure you see where this is going.) The casting director says, "Hm, no, he's not quite right." I will never understand these people.

[info]urbaniak

August 18 2006, 02:40:23 UTC 5 years ago

That sort of thing happens all the time. A couple of months ago I was speaking to the actress who played the mother in "Sideways" and she told me how she'd recently gone on an audition for a role that was described in the breakdown as "like the mother in Sideways." She didn't get it.

[info]dougo

August 18 2006, 05:09:10 UTC 5 years ago

"The important thing is we all have that Barton Fink feeling, but since you're Barton Fink I'm assuming you have it in spades." [....] "You arrogant sonofabitch! You think you're the only writer who can give me that Barton Fink feeling?! I got twenty writers under contract that I can ask for a Fink-type thing from."

Hey, I just realized, Barton Fink and Ben Geisler are now the brothers Ambrose and Adrian Monk!

[info]glamourcorpse

August 18 2006, 02:40:17 UTC 5 years ago

"today you had Doc doing Brock doing the "Can you hear me now guy" doing Simon Grim."

I think my brain just exploded.

That being said not only do I hope you get it because money rocks, but I NEED to see that commercial to live. (There is a sentance I never thought I'd say...)

[info]urbaniak

August 18 2006, 02:41:41 UTC 5 years ago

Well, you'll see it but I won't be in it. I never get commercials anymore.

[info]automatoid

5 years ago

  • Loading...

[info]ajsnavely

August 18 2006, 02:40:17 UTC 5 years ago

Well I hope you get both rolls.

I finally watched the Kidnapped pilot today, and you were by far the highlight of the show. I can't wait for your inevitable spin-off.

[info]toddalcott

August 18 2006, 02:43:11 UTC 5 years ago

a representative of a rival phone service provider who dresses up like the "Can you hear me now?" guy and boasts to people on the street about how his service is just as good as Verizon's.

That would not be a difficult boast. I don't even own a phone company and my service is already better than Verizon's. Because Verizon's service SUCKS.

Seriously, I need to set up a second DSL line in my house and I'm afraid to call them, because EVERY TIME I DEAL WITH THEM it ends up taking DAYS out of my life as I am forced to deal with their incompetence.

Good luck on the role!

Anonymous

August 18 2006, 13:52:57 UTC 5 years ago

DSL

I just had an unsettlingly pleasant experience setting up Verizon DSL. I called the number fully expecting to be hasseld about buyiny other fine, more expensive products and services, but it didn't happen. Just an "I'd like to sign up for DSL, here is my phone number." from me and a "Thanks, I'll get the package right out to you." from the phone guy. Then, about four days later, a box showed up with the gear. Twenty minutes later I was on-line cruising the Live Journal for teh sex.

[info]eronanke

August 18 2006, 03:00:46 UTC 5 years ago

Oh, what a tangled web we weave....


That is all.

[info]urbaniak

August 18 2006, 03:04:51 UTC 5 years ago

...when first we practice to deceive. What are you suggesting?

Anonymous

August 18 2006, 03:13:13 UTC 5 years ago

Well, we already know that you don't really exist. The internets told me.

[info]eronanke

August 18 2006, 03:35:58 UTC 5 years ago

*puts on her best Onatopp impersonation*
James, James, James... Let's not play coy.


In other news: Toronto- y/n?
I'm desperate to return the restaurant-info favor.

[info]urbaniak

5 years ago

  • Loading...

[info]eronanke

5 years ago

  • Loading...

[info]eronanke

5 years ago

  • Loading...

[info]eronanke

5 years ago

  • Loading...

[info]eronanke

5 years ago

  • Loading...

[info]notoriousnoir

August 18 2006, 03:15:30 UTC 5 years ago

You're arching the "Can you hear me now?" guy? Now that's exciting.

Good luck on all the parts that you've been auditioning for.

I did get to see the Kidnapped pilot. I wasn't expecting the Accountant when I first saw him in the background so I said something like "Look! There he is" which is a bit odd 'cause I was watching it by myself.

The writing was a bit better than I expected since I've been let down by network TV very often in the recent past. I was also pleasantly surprised by the appearance of some actors that I really enjoy: Dana Delaney, Delroy Lindo and even Ricky Jay!

So let's hope this is a big hit. I'm looking forward to the scenes you mentioned where we see more of the Accountant's home life. Also, let's see what we can do to make "All accounts are closed" a catch phrase.

[info]dougo

August 18 2006, 05:10:58 UTC 5 years ago

I really hope the term "arching" catches on.

[info]crudelydrawn

August 18 2006, 03:22:11 UTC 5 years ago

Today you had Doc doing Brock doing the "Can you hear me now guy" doing Simon Grim.

What does that -- I -- Does not compute -- My brain can't --

*promptly starts crying*

Anonymous

August 18 2006, 03:27:15 UTC 5 years ago

"(In fact, a few years before "The Venture Brothers," Patrick Warburton and I were both cast members in a sitcom pilot that never made it to the air.)"

I think I want to hear more about that. What was it called?

[info]urbaniak

August 18 2006, 03:39:12 UTC 5 years ago

It was a sci-fi comedy called "Jeff of the Universe" and it exists only on a handful of VHS tapes in the homes of the people who worked on it.

[info]automatoid

August 18 2006, 03:46:07 UTC 5 years ago

So that would mean...you own a copy?

[info]urbaniak

5 years ago

  • Loading...

[info]automatoid

5 years ago

  • Loading...

Anonymous

5 years ago

  • Loading...

[info]urbaniak

5 years ago

  • Loading...

[info]automatoid

5 years ago

  • Loading...

[info]urbaniak

5 years ago

  • Loading...

[info]automatoid

5 years ago

  • Loading...

[info]urbaniak

5 years ago

  • Loading...

[info]monica_black

August 18 2006, 04:18:33 UTC 5 years ago

Pardon me for being a slightly sheltered teenager who just spent 8 years in Iowa, but what is the Kitty Clover potato chip company?

[info]urbaniak

August 18 2006, 04:29:09 UTC 5 years ago

I'm a 42-year-old Manhattanite and I hadn't heard of it until I bought the jacket. It is (was?) a regional (Midwestern) potato chip company. I'm not sure if it still exists (Midwesterners?). My Chicago-born wife was familiar with the brand but she hasn't lived there in decades.

[info]monica_black

5 years ago

  • Loading...

[info]urbaniak

5 years ago

  • Loading...

[info]automatoid

5 years ago

  • Loading...

[info]urbaniak

5 years ago

  • Loading...

[info]monica_black

5 years ago

  • Loading...

[info]dougo

5 years ago

  • Loading...

[info]surplusj

5 years ago

  • Loading...

[info]___acid_queen

5 years ago

  • Loading...

[info]sheherazahde

5 years ago

  • Loading...

[info]monica_black

5 years ago

  • Loading...

[info]eronanke

5 years ago

  • Loading...

[info]toddalcott

5 years ago

  • Loading...

[info]vforventure

5 years ago

  • Loading...

Anonymous

August 18 2006, 05:50:12 UTC 5 years ago

Stay in the acting world long enough, and you'll eventually playing everyone, I guess.

[info]unwiredben

August 18 2006, 17:06:34 UTC 5 years ago

(using the deepest, darkest Brock voice)

PWLVG: CAN YOU FEAR ME NOW!

(quieter)

PWLVG: Good.

(PWLVG = Partick Warburton-Like Verizon Guy)

[info]greyaenigma

August 18 2006, 19:02:42 UTC 5 years ago

I was thinking that Verizon commercial was oddly appropriate even before you got to the Simon Grim and Patrick Warburton stuff.

[info]stormy_pinkness

August 18 2006, 19:29:45 UTC 5 years ago

good luck on the michel gondry role! i was wondering when he would do a follow up to "eternal sunshine." oh and bravo to you and the whole Venture Bros. team- season 2 is very kickass.
Create an Account
Forgot your login or password?
Facebook Twitter More login options
English • Español • Deutsch • Русский…