Megan Peta Hill left her home in
Australia to further her acting career
in Canada. When she had a chance
to audition for the hit series
Supernatural, she needed to call on
some important lessons about
surrender and sacrifice.
Earlier this year I walked into a familiar
casting room, audition scenes in hand, and just
the right amount of nervous butterflies fluttering
around my stomach. It was a director-producer
session, which are always very rewarding but
can be rather nerve-wracking with such raised
stakes! I was however, highly excited for this
particular audition. More-so than usual. I have
been a long-time fan of Supernatural and the
opportunity to test for the show was exhilarating.
Following my audition session, I walked out of
the studio‟s front gates and into the rain (it‟s
Vancouver, let‟s be real - it‟s always raining!),
thankful for the opportunity to audition for such a
renowned television series.
However, after many years in the business I
have learnt that after an audition, you must take
what you can from the experience, be grateful for
the opportunity, and then „Forget About It‟! If you
spend the next week wondering „what if‟ and
jumping every time your phone rings (hoping it‟s
your agent), you will turn into a total NutterButter! This I know from experience!
Instead, I have learnt that once I have left the
audition room, I must surrender myself to the
process, and know that if I am right for the job
then things will fall into place.
For a long time I have believed that the art of
acting can be boiled down to two distinct factors:
surrender and sacrifice.
From the first day of concept development, to
the final day of post-production, much of the
creative process requires the cast and crew to
make sacrifices, and surrender completely to the
project.
Ordinarily, actors are involved in such a small
portion of the entire filmmaking process. We may
be called to set for one day, or one week, or six
months, but once the director voices those sweet
yet sorrowful words, “That‟s a wrap,” the actor‟s
job is essentially done. We hang our costumes,
say our thank-you‟s, and begin the anxious wait
for the release date.
There are so many more hours of love and
labour – and then a little (scratch that, a LOT)
more labour – that happen before and after the
actor‟s work on set. But for our brief time on any