Okay, so I guess I’m full of it.
Before we took our 4-year-old daughter, Sunny, to audition for the movie “Blue Valentine” in Morro Bay yesterday, I cooly suggested that we were merely going for the experience. You know, so one day Sunny could say something like, “Yeah, I tried out for a movie when I was four.”
Because that’d be kinda cool, right?
When I was younger, I found out that a neighbor kid was in a “Cap-n-Crunch” commercial, and I thought it was the wildest thing ever. And later, when I learned my friend Dave’s cousin was in a Coolio video, I had newfound respect not only for Dave’s cousin, but also for Dave — just because he was related.
Still, I was aloof about this whole audition thing. I mean, really, what were the chances? I knew there’d be a huge crowd, which you can see in this hastily made video, and they were only looking for one girl, aged 4-7.
So if she didn’t get the part, well, no biggie. Shoot, it’d probably be even better that she didn’t, lest she become the next young celebrity to crack up.
Yet, when when Sunny was finished with her audition and no one asked her to come back later that afternoon, I was like: “Wait — what? Are you serious?”
I mean, really. She’s adorable. How could you not want — what monster would not want — this cute (and did I mention as sweet as can be?) kid back for a second look?
Then I thought: I knew we should have brought a photo. The casting people said you didn’t need to bring a photo, but that was probably their way of weeding kids out. They say no photos needed, but in the back of their mind, they’re like, “No photo? Next, please.”
Because, really, if you’re serious about a role in a Hollywood production, you get a photo, right? I’ll bet those Olsen twins had photos before they had birth certificates. After the delivery, the doctor was like, “Congratulations — they’re girls. And, by the way, here are their head shots.”
Heck, there was a lady at the audition whose kid had an agent!
Maybe I would have taken it better if I hadn’t seen the girl in the group before Sunny get asked to come back. Because that little girl was really similar to Sunny in size, hair color and cuteness, except not really because Sunny was actually far cuter than that little —
Oh no. Listen to me. One audition, and I’ve become the ugly stage parent, prepared to cut everyone down in his path to living vicariously.
Okay. I just need to step back, breathe, and give myself time to think about my behavior here. If I catch myself now, I can stem the tide before it gets out of control. Before I become obsessed and obnoxious.
Relax, Pat.
Breathe.
And — above all — get that photo made.
–Pat P.
Photo: Chrissy Montez
She Likes to Watch 
Pat, before you get that photo go see” I know who killed me”, then go rent “Arachnophobia” then top it all off with a nice evening with “Incubus” All “shot in SLO county” films All stinkers Spend the money on a nice ant farm or erector set.
It’s interesting how many parents had no clue as to what the casting directors were looking for. For one, they weren’t looking for cute and adorable. They were looking for a girl who portrays curious and “real”. Second, if you know anything about the two actors portraying the parents you know they are both light skin and blonde hair. So automatically, that rulles out all girls with dark hair and dark skin. Thirdly, many parents were complaining of the long wait. Well, why weren’t you there early?? Don’t get mad at the people who are putting on this casting call, it’s your fault that you have to wait 3-4 hours. By the way, I was there early with my daughter and we waited 3 hours and that was with a 8 month old baby. Not only that, when my daughter finally went into the audition, my wife was permitted to go in with her. I’m proud to say that out of the 5 girls that went in together, the casting directors really liked my daughter and another girl. To top it off, we didn’t have a head shot either. So what does that tell you? We are now anxiously awaiting our call from Hollywood.
proud father,while there was a surprising amount of parents and guardians that brought their daughters whose ethnicities and physical characteristics failed to remotely resemble the actors that have been cast as the parents in this film, your general tone in your reply is very unbecoming. you come across as ignorant by (only) pointing out the two actors’ light skin and blonde hair characteristics. aside from williams’ lovely brunette hair she had as recent as september, if you knew anything about “hollywood” or even life out from underneath a rock, you’d know about artificial hair color. no, not cgi or special affects. we’re talking about a little box you can pick up at any given drugstore for $5. and while we’re sure your blondie is “better” than the other 300+, are you saying the casting agents only picked blonde girls for the call back? really?pat p.’s blog was lighthearted and written in jest which apparently went completely over your head and instead of “proud father” it seems “jackass father” would be the more appropriate nickname for yourself. here’s hoping that your daughter makes it big, then maybe she can get you that much needed sense of humor. besides, i hear it’s next season’s must-have in hollywood. tah.