Free The Perfect Audition by Kate Forster Page A

chair TG chewed on his pen. He was surrounded by headshots and tapes of actresses with unsolicited auditions. Casting was so important. The women in this film had to hold their own story lines as well as interact, portraying genuine female friendship.
    “TG, you have final auditions in fifteen minutes,” his assistant called from the other room.
    “Fuck,” said TG and he grabbed his phone and then sped off in his silver 1954 Porsche 356 Speedster. With the stereo blasting out Frank Sinatra’s
Live at the Sands
, TG was oblivious to the stares that were directed at him. With his blond curls glinting in the sun and his Persols sitting on his tanned face, he was often mistaken as an actor.
    The car skidded into the parking lot of the unassuming office block and TG sauntered into the office and greeted the casting assistant waiting for him.
    “How we going?” he asked as he walked into the large room, set with a video camera and a few chairs decorating the sparse room.
    “Good, we are down to the final three for each role, I sent the tapes over on Tuesday,” said the assistant leafing through her notes. “Diana is on the phone, she’ll be with us in a moment.”
    Diana, the casting director walked into the room bringing her New York style to LA. Black on black with an Eve Ensler bob and no makeup spare a slash of deep red lipstick. TG had met her in New York at film school when he begged her for free extras for his final film and she had agreed after seeing his show reel. He was a talent even then and she hitched her star to his wagon and had cast everything for him ever since.
    “You watch the tapes?” She barked at TG as she sat down and lit a cigarette.
    “Yeah I watched them.” He said and sat down next to her.
    “And?” She pushed blowing smoke into the airless office.
    “I need to met them, see them in action, gauge their styles.” He sat back as the assistant bought in bottles of Fiji water and soft drinks and placed them on the table.
    “I fucking hate this water,” looking at the tray in front of him. ‘Why do we even need water from Fiji? What’s wrong with our water?’
    “That’s not very LA of you.” Laughed Diana, “I though it was the drink of your tribe.’
    ‘My tribe is full of shit.’ He said. TG was tired of LA and it’s celebrity worship.
    The assistant left the room for a moment and then popped her head around the door again.
    “Rose is here.” She said.
    “Great,” said TG and stood up as Rose Nightingale walked into the room.
    “Hello darls.” She said and kissed both TG and Diana on the cheek.
    “Thanks for coming,” said TG slightly embarrassed that Rose Nightingale was auditioning for him. Rose had stopped auditioning years ago, after the Oscar and the BAFTA but he wanted to be sure he had the dynamic right.
    “No problem, its fine. Good to be out actually.” Said Rose in an English accent that could cut glass.
    Diana smiled, this was why she had suggested Rose, even though she was on a supposed sabbatical. Rose was a good sport, her fame had never taken over her personality. She was guarded in many ways but had an English elegance and warmth that endeared her to audiences and most of all, she was never afraid to be silly and make fun of herself.
    Classically beautiful, she looked just a few years younger than her real age, unlike other actresses her age filled with Restolane and Botox. A brunette Grace Kelly lookalike, what stopped her from being too perfect was the slight smattering of freckles across her nose from the years of horse riding.
    “Drink?” Asked the casting assistant but Rose shook her head. “If I drink now I’ll need to go to the loo. I’ve a weak bladder when I’m nervous.” She smiled genuinely at TG and he smiled back. Rose was exactly as he had hoped when he saw her audition tape.
    “So, the role we are thinking for you in
The Italian Dream
is of Mary Ann. She is the painter who has gone to Italy after separating from her husband after