Hey, Everyone!
Hello there! My name is
D.W. Moffett (but maybe you already figured that one
out), and I have been given the distinct privilege of blogging here at TVGuide.com about my new show
Hidden Palms, as well as a few other projects I have under way. I am very much looking forward to this experience as being a two-way street, with a significant part of my content coming in response to your comments and questions. So bring it on! Are you ready? Here we go....
The folks here at TVGuide.com have asked that I initially give you a little idea of what
Hidden Palms is about... you know, its tone, the cast and all the vicious, horrible things actors do to each other when... no wait. Wrong magazine. But I am going to spice things up a bit when the time comes and the hat fits and all that, so keep your eyes open.
Seriously, though, my first contact with
Hidden Palms was a script that appeared on my doorstep followed shortly by a phone call from my agent that went something like this:
Hello?
Hi, D.W., it's Jonathan
Jonathan who?
Jonathan, your agent... are you awake?
Oh yeah, sorry. Hi.
Anyway, I sent you this Kevin Williamson script and they want you to audition for the father of the lead kid. Are you OK with that? [Agents are always afraid that you will scream at them if you think they are submitting you for
old parts.]
The script is really good and it's all about Palm Springs and all this weird stuff happens and....
And on and on he went. He is a huge fan of Kevin's, and why wouldn't he be? I mean, how many people have done so many iconic projects? Projects that have launched networks and saved movie studios?
OK, here is where I could start writing my book about how to audition for stuff and the many,
many pitfalls one can avoid. Suffice it to say, I am one of those weird actors who, despite a healthy collection of horrific audition experiences, actually enjoys the process. I enjoy reading the material, especially if it's good (score No. 1 for
Hidden Palms). I enjoy preparing the scenes, especially if they are good (acore No. 2 for
Hidden Palms). But most of all, I enjoy meeting the people who are actually out there creating these TV shows and movies and spending as much time as they will allow talking to them about their project and creative process.
I read the
Hidden Palms script and loved it. I loved the journey the main character (my stepson - you might know him - played by
Taylor Handley of
The O.C.) was taking and the strange world his new father (me) had brought him and his mother (
Gail O'Grady of
NYPD Blue fame) to. I loved the scenes I had to prepare, so I set off to hit it out of the park at the audition.
I arrived at a high-rise (not many of those in L.A.) in Hollywood on a beautiful March morning in 2006 and walked into the casting office to confidently announce my arrival.
And you are here to see...?
Why, I am here to see Kevin Williamson for his new show.
And you are...?
Um, I'm D.W. Moffett and I believe that....
Your audition was yesterday.
What???
Yes, D.W., we had you down for 11 am yesterday.
But, but, but, but....
And before the confusion could turn to some form of inappropriate rage at my agents and managers and all the heavens, I heard...
... but Kevin is really excited about meeting you so we've rescheduled you for tomorrow.
What?
That was certainly some nice info to help float me out the door and tide me over until the audition. And let me just add this about auditioning: There are people who make you feel welcome and "heard" in an audition. And they do it without saying a word. And then there are people who will talk and talk and talk and talk and the minute you walk out the door you know that you were not really seen or heard at that audition. It's not a great feeling.
Kevin, thankfully, falls into the first category. He's a quiet gentleman who makes you feel, well, I'll say it again, welcome. And therefore he allows you to do your best work possible. I felt really good about the audition and went home.
And I waited and waited... and waited.
"Oh well," I kept thinking. It was pilot season and there were other projects - but not really, and I was starting to get ticked off.
And then the great phone call came and after more auditions in early April 2006 I found myself at a beautiful hotel in Palm Springs, California, getting a haircut. Bob Hardy (the name of my character) was about to become a reality and I was ready to go. Ready to meet my cast mates and ready for my first day of shooting, which involved a full day of kissing a woman I had never met!
Well, I gotta put the kids to bed, so this is a good place to say, "To be continued." Don't forget to watch the premiere on May 30 on the CW!
