Being unemployed offers me time to scour through endless websites, hoping to find something that sparks the imagination. It was on such an occasion that I happened to see a casting call for a new reality TV show being held here in Toronto. Without much thought, or even an idea of what this was all about, I sent in my registration and was told to show up with one piece of work at 9 a.m. on Saturday and expect to be there 5 - 10 hours. Up until Friday night I was not sure I was going to go. Thousands were expected and, although Torontonians seem to have an affinity with standing in long lines for much coveted events, I lack the patience for queuing.
I woke up early Saturday, checked the weather, intermittent drizzle was expected throughout the day, and decided to get there at 9 a.m. If the line was around the building and/or parking impossible, I'd keep driving and take myself right back home. I got dressed, picked a small painting which was easy to carry and went to the casting call.
It was early and the line was not monstrous. The website mentioned limited parking at the back of the studio/gallery and I got the last spot. The sun was shining and no sign of rain was in the sky so I went to get registered. I was in line about two hours but it was relatively warm and it was interesting getting to talk to other artists. Many of them were agonizing over the event. Some mentioned staying up all night adding/changing their work of art. Others talked about hours spent worrying what to wear....please! I took the last painting I did and wore what I always wear at artsy fartsy events.
The casting call was over Saturday and Sunday. Two thousand artists were registered for the event. On Saturday, half of them were present. We went before the judges, had a 3 minute interview and the first cut was made. Out of the first thousand, they only called 100 back. And I was one of them!!!! They would see another 100 artists on Sunday. We went before the judges again for another 5 minute interview. We were told we would hear who made the next cut, down to 25 out of the 200 artists by the end of the week.
Out of 2,000 artists.....I am in the 25 chosen for further interviewing!
The show will consist of 10 artists, doing all kinds of artistic challenges, one by one being eliminated until the final one...gets a whole bunch of money. I think it's $25,000 but I'm not even sure, that's how much attention I've been paying to this.
Never expected (or really even wanted) to get this far but, it sure is nice to have my artistic ego massaged every now and then. :)
Wish me luck on Saturday.....I may be a star! Well, on TV at least. We all know I am already a star in my own lunch hour, right?
If interested, you can see what Time Magazine thinks about the American program, "Work of Art", on which this Kanuk version in based. Our program will be called "Art for Love".
Bravo Reality Show 'Work of Art' Riles Up the Art World - TIME:
