The Football Wannabes!

Text: Can you play a football fan, in blue,  for a well known newspaper ad?

I had a scarf, a hat, ...well, that would do wouldn't it?  

I arrived at Watford Football club for the call time of 7.30 am sporting any blue clothes that I could lay my hands on  and was directed to the parking spaces. We were quickly ushered into the restaurant where a welcoming display of croissants, danish pastries, sausages and bacon rolls with hot pots of tea or coffee awaited us. I sat down at one of the round tables and was joined by a friend of mine, Derek. The table soon filled up and banter flowed around the table as if we had all known each other for some time. However, the time soon came when we eventually we had to go to work. Filming was outside and as we were directed to our seats in the stand, we were given extra blue clothes such as t shirts, scarves and flags. I was split up from the people  on my table and soon found myself sandwiched between two people who were the sort of people I dread. You can always tell these people as the first words they usually say are not an introduction to their name but:

"Hello, I'm not really an extra, I'm actually an actor."

Nothing in the world gets my back up more than hearing this. If I am talking  to a trained actor, it will come out during the conversation. However, with wannabe actors, the need to establish themselves as an actor in the opening sentence is always a necessity  especially if they are failing wannabe actors... 

I asked them if they had had any training. Both answered no. Perhaps, I thought they might have some stage experience. Again no. Strangely enough both had agents, although I am sure it would be debatable as to how good these agents were in the light of lack of experience and training these wannabes had. One of them was very excited that he had gone for an audition for Emmerdale. Had he got it? No. 

The other had gone for  a role in a film - had he got it? No. 

I spoke to them about training and perhaps getting a few workshops under their belts or maybe the odd days acting seminars to help them out. Apparently, you don't need any of this, you just need to feel that you can act.....

I daresay these two are still not doing very much and I dread the time when I meet them again as I am sure I will do.

I resisted the temptation to tell them, when my  mobile rang in a tea break that I had just been offered a speaking role in a film....