When I first auditioned for reality television shows, I knew my odds of winning were slim, but the odds of exposure for The Darkwinner (and by extension, my "Almost Passing Guides") were pretty high. Unfortunately, I hit some bad luck with Idol and Want, so I tried a new show.
Ironically, to promote a DVD I directed, I am competing as a...director! More ironically, this is the competition that I have the best chance to win at. While I sing/act well, there are better singers/actors out there. But I think my directorial skills are superb. I am deliberately positioned myself to be initially underestimated, and then win the whole thing.
My audition piece is the "sample mnemonic." I'm not sure what the producers are looking for in the 16 directors. I'm hoping they'll pick half experienced/professional guys, and half amateur aspirants. My submission isn't awe inspiring, but it is memorable (decidedly different than all the other entries) and it is the most effective at accomplishing its intended goal. I'm hoping the judges pick contestants who either:
A) Had great resources and experience, leading to a pro job B) Didn't do a pro job, but did okay considering resource limitations C) Effectively executed a project (regardless of available resources.)
If they're looking for C), that's me. I had NO resources (just some mid-grade camcorders, my living room, and my imagination.) I directed, wrote, produced, acted, and edited the entire project. And this project does accomplish its goals, standing out from the other submissions while "making learning fun!" I demonstrated that if I can be this interesting with a dry subject (branches of the axillary artery) then I could do even better if I had stories and actors and a director of photography.
I'm hoping my submission will be enough to earn a call back. If I was a producer, I'd call me back, because of my unique persona (how many spins can they do on the "I'm an overweight wanna be film director" story?) and because it's intriguing to see how good this guy actually is.
Note Nope, I didn't get a call back. I guess they only wanted directors who were A). I'm hoping it doesn't make for a boring show, because I defintely want to audition for Season 2, when I will have a great intro and a great film.
I decided to use my entry to reflect who I was (as per my introduction). My strategy was to sell myself first. (Hence the emphasis on my intellect and humor, and how I wasn't just another "boring" director.)
If they liked my character, then I could show what a great filmmaker I was in round 2. It made more sense to spend $1000 ONCE for round 2 (when I knew I was in serious conetention) than produce a $500 film for round 2 and a $500 film for round 1. It seemed like a better distribution of resources.
Note: I thought my intro effectively showed my potential with such parameters, while the film showed I was smart in a different way than most other applicants. But my plan did not work
So I don't have anything online that shows my potential with such parameters in a narrative story context. Just my word that I can direct because of my theater experience, can lead because of my band experience, and can make smart decisions based on my school. I can put all three together to be a great film director, now I just need a chance.