Guiding Light lights the hearts of
hopeful students.
Ramesh C. Reddy
Pittsburgh Standard
Students from all over
Pittsburgh came on Thursday, Sept 25, to take a shot at becoming a star on
the soap opera Guiding Light. The open casting call was held at the
University of Pittsburgh campus in the William Pitt Union, Lower Lounge
from 9:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. The first 90 minutes was reserved for Pitt
students only.
Photo by Ramesh C. Reddy
Students wait in anticipation to register as Alan Locher, Associate Director
of Public Relations for Guiding Light speaks to Rob Feinberg, one
of the finalists last year for the show 'As the World Turns' while
Meghan Merriman, Associate Producer for CBS News' The Early Show
listens.
The event sponsored by the Pitt Program Council (PPC) in conjunction with
Special Events attracted students of different ethnicities who waited to
be interviewed by Guiding Light casting director Rob Decina as
actress Aubrey Dollar, who plays “Marina Cooper” on the daytime drama
observed.
Photo by Ramesh C. Reddy
Guiding Light actress Aubrey Dollar
observes Andy Loveridge as casting director Rob Decina interviews him.
PPC program coordinator
Jocelyn Brown was excited for the students.
“The turnout has been a
little slow possibly because of the rain but overall we are happy with the
turnout to give those students the opportunity to shine”, said Brown.
Locher was disappointed
with the turnout this year.
“Last year we had a great
turnout here. We had Rob Feinberg as one of our finalists. I was hoping
for a bigger turnout today because of the turnout last year. Last years’
turnout made an impact to come back to Pitt”, said Locher.
Feinberg, now a sophomore
Communications major at the University of Pittsburgh won the opportunity
to do a live screen test for As the World Turns last year on the
CBS News’ The Early Show.
“It was amazing and best
experience of my life. It was a great thing to have happened”, said
Feinberg.
Locher has been with
Guiding Light and As the World Turns for six years and has
loved working there and touring campuses.
“I love that everyday is
different. I get to work with some creative and talented people and
believe in the product we put out” said Locher.
Decina who has been with
Guiding Light since Nov 1999 shares Locher’s enthusiasm!
“It's [The excitement] is definitely, absolutely
discovering young talent, finding people that are special and talented.
Aubrey has incredible talent and is one of our best actresses on the
show”, said Decina.
Photo by Ramesh C. Reddy
Rob Decina and Aubrey Dollar listen to students' responses to why
they were motivated to audition for Guiding Light.
Students from different
backgrounds wanted to shine with Dollar on Guiding Light..
Anna Shenker, a Pitt student
who wants to be a lawyer thought it was fun to be part of this experience.
Charise Shively, a freshman
Biology major said, “I have a small interest in acting. I am taking an
Intro to Performance class. I want to see if acting is something I can
pursue and have the talent.”
Aisha Shabazz, also a
freshman Biology major and roommate of Shively decided to wait in line too
because of her friend.
“She pointed it out to me
and I wanted to check it out. I never saw acting as a career but I always
thought it was interesting”, said Shabazz.
Photo by Ramesh C. Reddy
Cherise
Shively and Asia Shabazz wait to get registered.
Not everyone saw acting as a
non-career.
Andy Loveridge, a Pitt
student said, “I want to be an actor. I saw auditions and decided to give
it a chance.”
Approximately 20 students
among those who met with Decina and Dollar got the opportunity to read a
screen script at 2:30 p.m in the William Pitt Union’s Dance Studio on the
5th floor.
Dollar who has been an
star actress with Guiding Light for the past year and a half was happy to be on
the other side.
“I love it [Guiding Light]
and it is a great show and a wonderful family to be part of. This
afternoon when students read the [screen script] it should be fun to watch.
I have usually been on the auditioning side”, said Dollar.
According to Decina, out of
the 20 students who read screen scripts, two Pitt finalists (one guy, one
girl) would be announced on The Early Show on Tuesday, Nov 4. to
join eight more finalists from the universities of Georgia, Miami, Denver
and Northwestern University. They will then fly to New York to do a live
screen test with an actor from Guiding Light on The Early Show
during the week of Nov 10.
“Two people who show up on
Guiding Light is up to the viewers”, said Decina.
Meghan Merriman, the
Associate Producer of The Early Show was happy to be at Pitt.
“It is good to see anybody
come out. People we saw were great and very enthusiastic. We would have
hoped to see more. Everyone and the community has been awesome! I mostly
work with our affiliates such as KDKA”, said Merriman.
The two winners should be announced on
Nov 17 and will win a weeklong role on Guiding Light in the summer
of 2004.
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