This was like a dream come true for me. I had left my friends and family in Toronto Canada and headed off to Hollywood California in the United States to pursue my career as an actress. I had done a little in Toronto a few things here and there but nothing really major and I wasn't contacted by any agencies so I most likely wasn't even noticed. I knew if I wanted to make it and be noticed Hollywood was the place to go.
I had saved up a lot of money to cover my rent for nine months and food for maybe three months. By then I hoped to have something that brought me steady income. My dream was to be either in movies or a popular drama series on television, whatever came first. I had looked for places to stay and that I could afford and contacted the landlord before leaving to Hollywood to notify him that I would take the place and will pay him as soon as I arrived so he saved it for me. It wasn't very big but came with a single bed, a mini fridge, a microwave, a small dresser, closet, television set, and telephone jack. After settling in I decided to go to the closest market which was only about a 10 minute walk from where I was staying to get some food. I ended up picking out a loaf a bread, some tuna, deli meat, some Chef Boyardee products, a can opener, and a few newspapers. I brought a couple of plates, bowls and utensils from home so I was good with that.
On my way back I started looking at boards and lamp posts to see if anybody was advertising for possible jobs in the entertainment industry. At this point I would take anything, however no such luck. I got home an and made a tuna sandwich sat on my bed and began looking through the newspapers to see of they were any auditions for anything. The it hit me right there. It read "Small part on television show, possibility to be a recurring role." I couldn't believe it, it was a rather small add I thought for a television show it would be almost a full page. So I copied down the address and telephone number, plugged in the small phone I had also brought from home and called them immediately to set up an audition. I decided this could be it and I had to be ready and had three days before my audition to maybe practice reading some stuff. It really didn't matter what I read just to get my voice right and practice pronunciation and annunciation and I wanted to get a good night sleep the night before. I immediately went to my closet to look for the perfect outfit to wear something professional but also something that I would be comfortable in. I was so excited and knew I was ready for this. I finally settled on a black pant suit with a blue blouse. After I took a shower changed in my pajamas and plopped on my bed to watch a little television and e-mail my mom back home with my laptop which I had also brought with me to let her know that I had arrived safely and told her about my audition.
For the next two days I was reading articles from the newspaper out loud just to practice. I didn't look for any other auditions or jobs quite yet. I didn't want to be running around in a city I don't know trying to find places. I went on Mapquest to find out where the audition was held and thankfully it wasn't too far and lucky for me they had public transit there.
The day of my audition had finally arrived I got a good nights sleep and woke up excited and totally ecstatic. I took and nice hot shower and got dressed ready to head out. My audition was for 11:00 am so I left at 9:00 am I definitely wanted to be early show them that I was prompt. It was held in a small office building of five floors and the audition was on the top floor in a suite. I entered at about 10:20 am, and saw there were only three other people there. Maybe I would be lucky since the add was so small maybe a lot of people might have passed it up. So I checked in, sat down in a chair and waited to be called. I tried to remain as calm as I could I knew if I was relaxed I would do much better in the audition. The time seemed to pass by rather quickly and 4 others showed up. But I knew it was still early in the day who knows how many people would show up later or how long they were holding auditions for. At about 11:10 am they called my name. I entered the room where there were two men and one woman sitting behind a desk.
They had me pose for a Polaroid and handed me a script. I had me read a scene which seemed like a police drama from the way the scene was written and the lines. I read the scene with the woman as the other person in the scene. I read for about 10 minutes and I really got into the character well I thought. The scene and ended and they conversed with one another quietly and one of the men spoke. "Thank you Miss Hampton, if you are chosen you should receive a call within a week." I walked over smiled and shook each of their hands firmly thanking them each for their time. I walked out knowing I did a good job and felt very confident. On my way home I decided to pick up a job application from the local supermarket. I thought I could get a job a few days a week just to have some extra money. Only a few days though so I still had time to go to auditions. I got home and plopped on my bed still totally psyched that I did such a good job on my audition and I knew it.
Three days later my phone rang and I dived across the room to the side table next to my bed where the phone was sitting so fast to answer it I almost slid completely off my bed.
"Hello," I said.
"Jessica Hampton please."
"This is her," I said smiling brighter than I ever have before
"This is Eric Dawson I handle the casting for the television series CSI. I was in the room the day you auditioned and we absolutely loved you and have decided to give you the part in our show if you are still interested."
"Oh my gosh yes absolutely."