Like the title says, this post is merely a catch-up. A few paragraphs to tell you what’s been going on in my life. The first part will be all about this convention called “Actors, Models, and Talent for Christ,” or “AMTC” for short.

You all know my best friend Danielle, right? Well, obviously you won’t actually know her, but y’all catch my drift. Anyway, a couple months ago, I’m doing homework in my room (shocking, right?) when I get this text from Dani (what I call Danielle) saying something like, “Katie! Have you heard of AMTC? It could be your big break!” And then she had put a web address to the web site. Curious as to what she meant by my “big break,” I immediately checked out the site. Apparently, AMTC is a convention held twice a year at the Gaylord Palms Resort in Orlando, Florida. Anybody aspiring to become an actress (like me), a singer, a dancer, or a model could audition at the closest to their home, and if they got a callback, they would go to the convention in either the summer or the winter and compete with about 500 other contestants for awards. But do you want to know the best part? The judges are top Agents, Casting Directors, Managers, and Music Reps from all over the world. How awesome is that? So that means you could get a contract, and that has actually happened to many people! Have you ever heard of a little actress named Megan Fox? Yeah, she got her start with AMTC.

Now onto my experience with AMTC. When Dani texted me about it, I got super excited. You see, I had been planning on saving up around $5,500 so that I could go to this acting camp in New York over the summer. AMTC is only $3,595, so I would save almost $2,000! But anyway, I freaked out and starting researching this event as much as I possibly could. I asked Bob and Mom if I could attend the audition that was about a week and a half away, and they actually said yes! Not right on the spot, but eventually I was on my way to the audition. I got there at about 6:45 P.M, and it was supposed to start around 7:00. I filled out my application and attached the photo I brought (my eighth grade spring school picture). Then I attempted to decided which of the cold-reads I would recite. I ended up choosing this one that had to do with Mentos, but that doesn’t matter. After about three or so minutes, we went into the ballroom and watched the video that they had on the projector. Shortly afterward, the CEO of the company came up and talked to us about the purpose of AMTC and all the other important things. She even talked about scams and everything that we needed to know about the competition. When she was done with her speech, it was time for the auditions to start! The actors and models had to go out into the hall while the dancers and singers stayed in the ballroom. When we were in the hall, one of the acting “judges” told us to split up into two lines: children 12 and under and then everyone else. Then we had to organize ourselves in chronological order. I ended up waiting in line for almost two hours with absolutely nothing to do! When it was finally my turn, the hallway was almost empty, but I was determined not to let my uplifted spirit get crushed by anything. The judge finally called my name and we said hi and everything, and now I will attempt to paraphrase our conversation:

Judge: Hey Katie, how are you?

Katie: I’m good, how are y’all? *There was a man and a woman judging.*

Judge: I’m good. So you’re fourteen? *Sounding a little awestruck*

Katie: Yes, sir.

Judge: Wow you look older than that. But you get that a lot, don’t you?

Katie: Yeah, sort of.

Judge: So what are your goals?

Katie: Well this is going to be different from what I put on my application because I was pressed for time, but I want to show people that actors don’t have to be total skanks; they can actually be role models.

Judge: Good, good. (And then they went off on this story about this little kid who wouldn’t cuss in his audition for a Tyler Perry show but got the role anyway, me all the while agreeing and stuff.)

Judge: So what are you gonna do for us today?

Katie: I’m going to read Script 6. (Then I did my thing.)

Judge: Good. Well, thank you! (I took that as my cue to leave.)

Then I went over and grabbed a packet from the table and we left. Now, during the presentation, the CEO said that if we had earned a callback, we would get a phone call by 3:00 P.M. on Tuesday, which happened to be the next day. Well, the day went by and when I got home (I get home at about 2:45 P.M.), I immediately asked Bob if anyone had called.

They hadn’t.

But I kept hope that in the next fifteen minutes someone would call.

They didn’t.

So I was bummed for the rest of the day and the next day because I really though I had a chance. Then when I got home, I made myself a snack and was just about to go upstairs when Bob and Macayla came in (she had early release) and Bob said, “Katie, come here, I want you to listen to something and tell me your first impression of it. Close your eyes.” So I did. Then I heard, “Hi, this is to the parents of Katie Hall. I’m calling with her audition information for AMTC. You did earn a callback, Katie. If you would call me at –enter phone number here–, I’d be happy to answer any questions and give you your results. Thanks and have a good day.” That was when I started jumping up and down on the spot and screaming because I was so excited. I had gotten a callback! Can you say AAAAH?!!!! So anyway, I ran upstairs and called her number, but she didn’t pick up. I left her a message and hoped that she would call back before the day ended.

She didn’t.

And the next day I was still excited, but a little less because she returned my phone call. When I got home, the first thing I did was call her back. She still didn’t pick up, so I left yet another message. Then a couple hours later, I was just about to post on Facebook how annoyed I was that she wouldn’t call me back when Bob walked into my room with his hand outstretched and his Droid showing a New Orleans number. I instantly knew it was the woman, and I bolted out of my seat so I could talk to her. That was when she told me how my audition went. Apparently, I got really high scores on my actual acting, but that’s not all the entertainment industry is about, is it? So they had judged me on my personality and appearance as well, but they liked those, too. They said I looked fresh, I had good skin, I was very mature (that was when the woman put in that she was astonished at how well I sounded in my messages and that for a second she doubted that I was fourteen), I had good features, and that they considered me for commercial modeling as well as acting, which is everything but the whole 5’8″ height requirement, skinny as a pole, gorgeous model aspects. I was very ecstatic about that. Then we got to the money issue. That was when a little red flag went up in my head and I told her to talk to Bob about it. He wrote down the price and then, while Macayla and I were at our dad’s house, Mom and Bob discussed it and decided that they didn’t want to put down the required $500 deposit and then not have the other $3,000 we needed in order to do it. But Mom also told me that if I could raise the money, I could do it. And since we didn’t pay the deposit by the required date, I cannot participate in the July competition, but I’m shooting for January. The only bad part about that is that it’s the first week of the second semester of my sophomore year, but when I get to live my dream and I’m ranked 7th out of 575 freshman academics-wise (that was another thing they liked about me — that I had such fantastic grades), I think I can spare a week especially when I’m able to catch up so quickly.

So January is when I’m hoping I’ll be able to compete. Fingers crossed! Wow, would you look at the time! 9:31 P.M, and I was supposed to be in bed by now! Well, I hope y’all enjoyed today’s rant. I’ll try and remember to continue my catch-up tomorrow, if not, I’ll remember eventually. Live long and prosper. *Makes the Star Trek hand sign*