Michael McShae - News Archives

There is a LOT of news to catch up with! Unfortunately as Michael's mom had to go to Omaha for one of Mike's cousin's confirmation (Congratulations, Sammi!), I had to be the one to drive Mike to his auditions in LA. So as a result, the updates here have been slow...

First up was his callback for "The Secret of the Cave." Mike felt he really nailed it and it looked really good for him but we just found out a few days ago that one of Mike's friends at Osbrink ended up booking the job. Way to go Kevin!

Next, Mike got the news that "The Contract" had been cast so he just missed out on that one as well. In this business, you really have to develop a thick skin since you are lucky if you can get one out of every 50 jobs for which you audition! Maybe even more!

However, the one you do get can more than make up for all the others! Only in Hollywood can you become a millionaire with only a 2% success rate!

Anyway, before Mike could get too concerned about missing those movies, he got a call last Sunday evening about another audition for a new TV pilot called, "Kyle XY" to be shown on the ABC Family channel. So last Monday, Mike and I had to pack up and head to LA for that audition.

On the way out, we got a call from Mike's manager telling us that Mike had another audition on Tuesday for a guest starring role on the Nickelodeon show, "Zoey 101" which stars Jamie Lynn Spears (Britney's sister). Once we got into LA, we had to pick up the sides for that audition and on the way out, ran into Mike's voiceover agent. She wanted Mike to come in on Tuesday, as well, to record an audition tape for a new animated movie called, "The Fly".

Well, Tuesday was filling up pretty fast and we hadn't even been to Mike's audition that evening. However, once we got there, it went extremely well. Mike evidently nailed the audition and the casting director (one of the most powerful CD's in Hollywood) even came out and told us that of all the hundreds of kids he had seen audition, Mike was the first one to make him laugh! Of course, Mike got the callback! And, of course, it was on Tuesday as well!

So despite originally intending to return that night to Anthem, we ended up staying at a Holiday Inn Express in Van Nuys with no clean clothes, pajamas or personal grooming supplies and eating dinner at the Denny's next door. Needless to say, we did some laundry and made it all work...

Michael had a blast at the voiceover audition and then it was off to Malibu, of all places, for the Zoey 101 audition. Malibu is quite a drive from Universal City and the audition was held on the campus of Pepperdine University where the show is taped. Following that, Mike met up with his good friend Brittany and a couple of her friends at a live Ellen Degeneres show they were taping in the park in Burbank only a few blocks from the Disney studios where Mike was going to have his callback for "Kyle XY".

Finally, Mike and I headed to his callback and Mike went in and nailed it once again! After that, we headed back to Phoenix. Six hours later we collapsed in our beds! The next morning, Mike found out the executive producer had evidently been very impressed and told Mike's agent they were VERY interested in Michael! Of course, we were both excited but had no idea just what that interest indicated. Well, Thursday night, on the way to Sedona to watch some of Mike's former classmates in a school play, we found out... We had to be back in LA by 11:15am the very next morning for a second callback!

Evidently there were hundreds of kids who initially auditioned for the part which were reduced to maybe 20-30 kids for the first callback. After that, I am guessing that Mike was one of about 8-10 that were supposed to come back for the second audition.

Well, we got back from Sedona, scrambled to get ready and then grabbed about 3 hours of sleep before leaving Anthem at around 4:15am for LA. We got in around an hour before his callback and because Mike had to sleep in the car on the way, his hair got all messed up. So here we were in a bathroom at a McDonalds in Burbank soaking Mike's hair in the sink and trying to brush and dry it under the hand dryer! It wasn't working too well so we went out in the hot sunshine in the parking lot to finish the job before the callback! Crazy!

Anyway, Mike went in and nailed it yet again! In fact, Mike heard one of the executives at the audition say "Incredible!" as Mike finished his audition! As we left and headed all the way back to Anthem, Mike said that was the first time he really felt he had left it all in the audition room! In other words, he felt he had really done his best and had no regrets whatsoever! Great job, Mike!

And evidently the producers agreed since we just found out that Mike is one of the last four kids being considered!!! So tomorrow, we are on our way back to LA for Mike to attend a screen test on Monday. That is where they mix and match the finalists for all the roles to check out how they look together as well as to watch the chemistry between potential cast members.

On Tuesday, those remaining will be back again in front of more studio staff. After that, the two finalists for each role will be selected and will read for the "suits" (the top executives) at ABC television to find out who gets each of the parts! Whew!

Either way, the casting director has already told Mike's agent that he will be looking to consider Mike for future roles in major upcoming feature films! Mike's manager told us that this casting director only does the absolute TOP projects and that he is a major player in the film industry! Anyway, we all wish Mike the VERY BEST in his upcoming screen test! Break a leg!!!!!

Ever since a very hectic trip out to LA for 3 more auditions in ONE DAY, Mike's life is settling down a little to where he can catch up with his schoolwork. He is trying to finish up the school year before our anticipated move to LA at the end of June...

Anyway, during his last trip, Mike had his callback for the feature film, "The Contract" (he did really well... they even had him wear a brunette wig to see how close he resembled John Cusack) as well as two more new auditions for feature films... an independent movie, "The Secret of the Cave" to be filmed in Ireland and the sequel, "Cheaper by the Dozen, 2" with Steve Martin. Both of the new auditions had perhaps over a hundred kids auditioning! Needless to say, we sat around in crowded rooms for HOURS waiting for Mike's turn...

The good thing is that Mike got another callback! He was called back for "The Secret of the Cave" which he will have to go out to LA this Wednesday (May 11) to attend. If he should get this part (one of the starring roles), he will literally have to be in Ireland by May 22 to begin shooting. Needless to say, we are scrambling to get passports just in case! Wish him luck!