Biggest Loser is now casting for season 13! Casting calls have been posted on the all new Biggest Loser casting website. Basically, this post is a collection of tips I’ve written based on my experience making the cast of season three, as well as some links to casting advice I don’t think you should miss:
- NBC has posted casting information and the application here. They have all the casting news and information on a special blog just for Biggest Loser casting, which you can find here.
- Pete Thomas, the season 2 $100,000 winner has some of the best casting call advice out there, which you can find at his website, Winning Man.
- Jen Kerns, a season three contestant like myself, and a doctor for the show for seasons four and five, has also put together some fantastic casting advice that you can read here.
- Holland, a casting director for Biggest Loser sent me a bunch of great advice on how to be casted, you can find it here. She updated them October, 2009.
- I’ve been posting these casting tips for the last few seasons and they always seem to end up with thousands of comments; just about every season has contestants that were hanging out on here, reading and giving each other thoughts and advice. You can find the most recent one here.
- If you’re dealing with disappointment about not being cast, then check out my post on Biggest Loser casting disappointment.
One of the questions I hear a lot is about money … how do contestants afford to be away from home and work for months at a time? I don’t know what it is now, but when I was a contestant there was a $500 a week stipend for cast members on the ranch. When you received the check you could cash it and spend it, send it home, save it, whatever. All airplane tickets, hotel accommodations, etc., for the contestants and potential cast members are taken care of by NBC, and during the casting process it self there was a $50 per diem to cover food costs.
Another question is timing; typically a season lasts for about 8-9 months. About four of this is spent in filming; if you last all the way until the final three or four, you could be away from home for as much as four months or so. Once the ranch filming wraps and the last few contestants are sent home, however, there is still another four or five months that all the contestants have to continue losing weight until the finale. In addition, potential cast members are flown out to California a couple weeks before filming begins for the final round of casting, medical checkups, psychological evals, etc. NBC brings out more people than what they need and the cast is not finalized until filming literally begins. People have been cut at the last minute and replacements flown in with hardly any time to spare. Nothing is in stone until it’s on camera!
When will you hear from Biggest Loser about your video? There is no way of knowing. I heard back a few weeks after I sent it in, but even after that it’s a big waiting game. If you get a phone number or email from a casting direction, definitely drop them a line/call every couple weeks to find out if you’re still in the running or what’s going on. Schedules and plans change almost every day, so it’s easy to get lost in the shuffle. If you don’t hear back within a month I would think your video didn’t make the cut. That doesn’t mean you can’t send in another or visit a casting call – it’s just up to you!
Finally, here’s my video application tips! This is by no means a recipe for success; it’s based on my video application and the conversations I had with casting directors out in LA in between things. I was pretty curious about the whole process so I was pumping them for info even after filming began. I’m such a nerd!
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They’ve usually decided if they’re interested in you within the first 30-60 seconds of your video, so front load it with your best stuff. Make it interesting! Start off with something funny or exciting!
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Keep in mind, if you’re going to be cast, your video is going to be watched hundreds of times by producers, executives, casting directors, etc. If it bores you or your friends the second or third time watching it … put some more time into it!
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Special effects? Don’t bother! We’ve all got video editing software with all sorts of bells and whistles on our home computers, but fancy transitions are not going to sell you to people who do video editing for a living. In fact, it can distract from who you are. I’m a video editing nerd and I didn’t use any special effects other than putting my name and contact info on as a subtitle at the beginning.
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Don’t bother talking about why you need to lose weight. When I first started filming my audition video I started describing all of my health reasons for losing weight – but when I was watching it back, I realized … they don’t need to hear it! One look at me was all they needed to know I needed to lose weight! Show them why you need to lose it; I said I needed to lose weight for my kids, and then I followed it with a minute or two of the best footage I could find of me with wrestling with my three boys. We probably filmed half an hour of that insanity and I grabbed the cutest, loudest, and funniest few moments for the audition video. Your physical need to lose weight is not nearly as interesting as who or what your losing the weight for.
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Live loud! Reality TV is over the top, dramatic, and filled with loud personalities. They need to see that on your video! I wanted them to know that even though I was morbidly obese I was up to the challenge of the crazy competitions and workouts – so I threw on a bunch of clips from my different youth group activities; me getting slimed, snowtubing, playing paintball, screaming at events, being on stage, running around … you get the idea. Other contestants did things appropriate to their lives; Tim from Oregon had himself spinning out on his Harley, Tim from Delaware recruited his elementary school class to do things with him, Heather Hanson filmed herself running around in a sports bra all day doing her household chores and errands. The less talking and more action you can have, the better (in my opinion)!
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If you have footage or photos of yourself thin, include those at some point on the video. If you can show them what your after will be, then do it!
Remember, enjoy the conversation here and know that I will never compromise your anonymity – not to NBC, 3Ball, Casting Directors or anyone. You can post anonymously, or you can leave your names and contact information … just remember that NBC likes to be the one announcing their cast for the show, so if you start identifying yourself publicly as a finalist, you’ll probably find yourself eliminated from the casting process. Be aware that casting directors do check in at my blog to see what people are saying, get a feel for what questions are going on out there, and sometimes to give us updates. Good luck to everyone … and let me know if you make the show! I get a kick out of hearing about the different contestants that have hung out on my blog before making the show! 
Matthew McNutt 
April 22nd, 2012 at 20:22 | #6
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
@Carol Anne
Nice to hear back from you and you are welcome.
In case you are interested in reading it, here is the link for “Matt’s Biggest Loser Blog (Season 11)” https://matthewmcnutt.com/?p=2592&cpage=1#comm…
I’d love to know if Hannah and Olivia were one of us McNutty’s (on Matt’s Biggest Loser Blog) before they made it to the BIG TIME!!!
Have a great night.
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@Carol Anne
What "My Time!!!" is referring to when he says “Ok here I go last again!!!”, he is meaning he’s the last post on the page. A couple of the people on here like to point out when they're first and / or last on a page.
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Carol Anne, I chart each season separately, and what I meant, is that I cannot give charts from 12 or 13 because I have not done them yet. I was going to give some example charts :P. It would take a LONG time for me to upload every single one from Season 11, because I chart them week by week. So here are a few from the very first week of Season 11!
OK, here are some charts for anyone who's curious :D! I figured if anyone wanted to steal my idea and claim these as their own, they'd have to recreate every single one, and I'm just giving you guys a few ;). So here are some Season 11 Charts.
Season 11 Starting Weights
http://tinypic.com/r/15odmvd/5
Season 11 Couples' Starting Weights
http://tinypic.com/r/r74qas/5
Season 11 Week 1 Weight Loss
http://tinypic.com/r/2hnz5es/5
Season 11 Week 1 Couples' Weight Loss
http://tinypic.com/r/16a5u2r/5
Season 11 Week 1 Weight Loss Percentage
http://tinypic.com/r/mm6cf5/5
Season 11 Week 1 Couples' Weight Loss Percentage
http://tinypic.com/r/2o4zt/5
Season 11 Week 1 Weigh In
http://tinypic.com/r/14lq4xw/5
Season 11 Week 1 Couples' Weigh In
http://tinypic.com/r/2ewnrmd/5
:D! Hope you enjoyed!
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Oh whoops.. Matthew I just realized those pics I posted had my friends daughter in it. She was helping me upload them. Could you please remove them so I could remove her face? Then post them again.
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*remove the post.
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Wait.. maybe not. By the time people see them it'll be too late anyway :P. Nevermind.
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<blockquote cite="#commentbody-48100">
SuperCyber15 :
Carol Anne, I chart each season separately, and what I meant, is that I cannot give charts from 12 or 13 because I have not done them yet. I was going to give some example charts . It would take a LONG time for me to upload every single one from Season 11, because I chart them week by week. So here are a few from the very first week of Season 11!
OK, here are some charts for anyone who’s curious ! I figured if anyone wanted to steal my idea and claim these as their own, they’d have to recreate every single one, and I’m just giving you guys a few . So here are some Season 11 Charts.
p
! Hope you enjoyed!
Thank you so much! I'm really going to enjoy these. I didn't know there were so many BL devotees out here!
Joyfully,
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@Carol Anne
Haha. Yeah, like I said, just basically copy those and put them in for every single week, and every single season. I've spent *hours* on this. And I'm getting really close to being done :)!
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<blockquote cite="#commentbody-48096">
Should have been a PI :
@Carol Anne
Nice to hear back from you and you are welcome.
In case you are interested in reading it, here is the link for “Matt’s Biggest Loser Blog (Season 11)” https://matthewmcnutt.com/?p=2592&cpage=1#comm…
I’d love to know if Hannah and Olivia were one of us McNutty’s (on Matt’s Biggest Loser Blog) before they made it to the BIG TIME!!!
Have a great night.
At the very least, they were probably lurkers. : ) I have been startled to find out just about every single contestant has been to my blog while going through casting. It was slightly embarrassing at the reunion last May!!! lol
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There has been some new information about the walk off from the producer seen on the episode; he did an interview. You can find it here: https://matthewmcnutt.com/?p=3785
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@SuperCyber15
You have some homework to do, over on one of Matt's blogs. I don't know anyone who could complete it better than you.
Check out his blog at https://matthewmcnutt.com/?p=3785 and read comment # 1, which will detail your homework assignment.
I'd say good luck, but I know you can do it.
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April 23rd, 2012 at 02:00 | #17
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
@SuperCyber15
You have some homework to do, over on one of Matt’s blogs. I don’t know anyone who could complete it better than you.
Check out his blog at https://matthewmcnutt.com/?p=3785 and read comment # 1, which will detail your homework assignment.
I’d say good luck, but I know you can do it.
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@Should have been a PI
Hmm… Would my homework be watching S13 over again :P? If it is, I've already started it like, a few weeks ago. Adrian just got eliminated, and I took a break before enduring anymore of.. That. So I'll look out for what Mark says/does from now on :D.
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@SuperCyber15
I knew you were a smart boy and that you were the perfect candidate for that assignment.
You were so smart, you even got a head start on it, suspecting the teacher would be requesting it from you. 🙂
Looking forward to any new insight you can give us, knowing now what they claim the walkout was all about.
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Wow, a lot has been going on. I still haven't been able to watch last week's episode, maybe tonight. I have an appointment with my gastro dr. tomorrow so we will have to see what happens. Keep me in your thoughts and prayers.
My oldest competed in Florida last week and all the groups got first place trophies. So proud of her. Next year my wife and I will be there with her!
By the time casting starts I know my weight and health will be different and I am so happy that you all are still here.
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With all the talk about how the producers edit with a certain script in mind I can't help but think you could end up being anyone. Just so everyone knows I love God. I don't cuss, and I want to help others. I'm trying out for the health benefits, but won't turn down the money. I just thought I should put that out there before I sign a contract that makes me look like Conda. JKJKJK
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@Nanny
You crack me up!
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@Balzak75
Congrats to your daughter!
Prayers continue for you as you continue to investigate your crazy health issues.
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@Should have been a PI
Pfffft, I didn't watch it for that reason ;). I'm on the S13 charts so I had to go rewatch the whole season (you can imagine my enthusiasm) to write everything down :P.
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@Balzak75
You're in my prayers, as always :)!
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@Nanny
Ahahaha. Like I said you always brighten my day up :)! You're too funny!
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Holland just tweeted that she'll be answering casting questions in a few moments @BLcastingteam on twitter.
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@Nanny
Ooh yay 😀
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Disgusted with tonight's episode.
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@SuperCyber15
I completely agree :-(((( (That includes my triple chins disappointment too)
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Well that didn't work.
It was supposed to be a colon, a dash and 4 open parentheses (representing my SAD face and my triple chin below it)
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<blockquote cite="#commentbody-48168">
Nanny :
Holland just tweeted that she’ll be answering casting questions in a few moments @BLcastingteam on twitter.
So, did you get any details on time frame?
Tell us all. We want to know.
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@ Big Fat Guy, how is it that you had a contract but never flew out to sequestering?
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<blockquote cite="#commentbody-48177">
Question For You :
@ Big Fat Guy, how is it that you had a contract but never flew out to sequestering?
I realize I am not "Big Fat Guy", but as Matt has said "They make you sign the contract before they fly you out to CA for the final round of casting. They don’t want to waste the money on a plane ticket if you’re going to end up not signing it." AND "you sign the contract before you ever fly out; they don’t want to waste time and money on you if you’re not going to sign it".
Hope that helps…
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So disappointed in last night's show. Mike and Laura looked amazing! Does anyone know Adrian and WHY he wears that ascot all the time? Is there a meaning behind it or something?
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@Should have been a PI
Nothing about a time frame for casting. The Q&A was pretty much the same old questions asked every season.
Amount of weight you need to lose, can Canadians tryout, singles or couples, etc…. stuff like that. The cities haven't been picked and as far actually having a season 14, she just said she's hopeful for the future. I choose to believe there will be a season 14. How sad would it be if the show that has changed so many lives for the better goes out with this season!
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@bkbrp
I just think it's his style. I think it's funny :).
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<blockquote cite="#commentbody-48184">
bkbrp :
So disappointed in last night’s show. Mike and Laura looked amazing! Does anyone know Adrian and WHY he wears that ascot all the time? Is there a meaning behind it or something?
I believe they explained it during one of his earlier episodes, but I cannot remember their explanation. Maybe @SuperCyber15 will pick the details up and let us know, as he is repeating, watching this season now.
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@Should have been a PI
Well yah, that's what he said :). It's just his style. I like it, but when Little Miss Perfect heard it she rolled her eyes and scoffed.
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maybe the ascot is his way of indicating he's a McNutt!?!?
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Wow, haven't watched this week's episode, but I still have to say that I am not feeling sympathy for Conda. It was amusing to say the least that the same rules they were complaining about have brought Jeremy back. I guess I will have to watch it tonight.
My Capitals won the series last night. Can I just say I was excited? C-A-P-S CAPS CAPS CAPS!
Not sure about the McNutt thing with the ascot, but you never know.
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Holland "Master Caster" Striplin wrote tonight on facebook:
Who is SINGLE, driving distance to LA, in their 40s or 50s and overweight? Please post your age, marital status, city/state you live in, & and how much weight you need to lose to get to your ABSOLUTE IDEAL weight in the comments below! Make sure you have a recent photo as your profile pic too 🙂 Males AND females! If we are interested based on this info and your pics we will contact you with further questions and info on what it's for. Please ONLY post if you meet THIS EXACT criteria! Thanks!!
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@Should have been a PI
Hmmm…. sure hope they are not going for a Dating Game season of Biggest Loser! Haha…. wouldn't interest me.
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Just wanted to share some things quick.
While watching The Voice with my father we determined that this was the best Battle Round of all Battle Rounds.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Ibi3df2MzE
I started watching The Voice UK and found an equally stunning video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ZNcBAjeufw
Thought you'd all like to see these :)! I love them!
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@Tempted
I was really scared that it could be the theme for the next BL. I'm even more scared, now that you have had the same idea.
It would be really interesting that they’d do that, considering, I believe it was either Matt or “Big Fat Guy” who said the contract states there is to be no physical contact (in the way dating would promote) allowed on the ranch.
Do we believe they’d go as far as to actually re-write the contract that much, for one season?
Just what we need… Another show like Big Brother. Boo!!!!
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For those who have not watched this week's episode yet, I will not blow it for them, but instead I will only say I am listing these current numbers in alphabetical order (for the 3 finalists).
1. 33.6 % weight loss
2. 38.5 % weight loss
3. 41.6 % weight loss
Let’s hear it for Finalist # 3 winning it all at the Finale.
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@Should have been a PI
I honestly think producers have probably toyed with the idea of a dating BL…. I say this because they often point out that they have created more matches than any other reality show.
To me, however, I think they would ruin the show if that were what they were truly going for! And it would eliminate a lot of their biggest fans …..
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Ugh… Just looking at all the shows I like to watch and realizing every single one has had or is having a horrible season. The Biggest Loser.. The Amazing Race, The Voice (mostly because of the good people being eliminated), The Next Food Network Star (they decided to copy every other show and turn it into 3 teams of 5. I'M SO SICK OF TEAMS. And also they decided to make all the contestants past winners from other cooking shows.. D:), America's Got Talent (not a fan of Howard Stern, the new judge). Please.. Someone save me from this bad reality TV :P.
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Woo! Just finished Season 11 Charts :D! Now I'll be moving on to Season 12, then watching the rest of Season 13, then charting all of Season 13.. Then I'll anxiously wait till Season 14 like the rest of you :P!!!
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Since The Biggest Loser is going to once a year. When do yall think it will air? I heard something about January, so I'm thinking the filming would start sometime in October.
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@Nanny
Well it isn't a for sure thing yet… At least I hope not. And it isn't as far as I know. But yeah, that sounds about right. Season 12 premiered in September, which is when S13 started filming. Which is how it usually is. So I'd say September or October.
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They could also bridge the two with a longer season on less of a time Lag; sort of run it End of October/Beginning of November thru March/April.
I always though it would be fun to match normal people with obese stars. I know the logistics would probably be way to difficult and most probably wouldnt do it, but I think it would be an instant hit. Celebrities alone would be boring, but matched with non-celebrities would be interesting.
At first you would'nt think there would be enough Celebs, but after thinking awhile there's alot more than immediately come to mind. You could even match like personalities. Personally, I think I'd be best matched to Kevin James(King of Queens). Who would the other Mcnutties on here think they'd be best matched with? Mike and Molly stars? Berta from 2 1/2 men(Or any of the Manhiem sisters)? Cedric the Entertainer?
To answer to that other person, yes the contract is sent to you before youre even chosen as a finalist. Although you do know youre getting closer to being chosen when you receive it, it makes the sting a hell of a lot harder when youre not picked. BTW, its not even the last thing sent either. So some had received the contract, and not what I received after that.
…pit in my stomach comes back again just remembering it. It's hard to believe that was less than a year ago; seems like 5…
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@Big Fat Guy
I think I'd match up to Gabriel Iglesias. He's hilarious, and I like to think of myself as funny :). And even if I don't match up to him, I'd still pay to have him on the show XD XD XD. And yeah, I LOVE Kevin James, and you are a lot like him!! You should be a team :P.
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<blockquote cite="#commentbody-48285">
Big Fat Guy :
They could also bridge the two with a longer season on less of a time Lag; sort of run it End of October/Beginning of November thru March/April.
I always though it would be fun to match normal people with obese stars. I know the logistics would probably be way to difficult and most probably wouldnt do it, but I think it would be an instant hit. Celebrities alone would be boring, but matched with non-celebrities would be interesting.
At first you would’nt think there would be enough Celebs, but after thinking awhile there’s alot more than immediately come to mind. You could even match like personalities. Personally, I think I’d be best matched to Kevin James(King of Queens). Who would the other Mcnutties on here think they’d be best matched with? Mike and Molly stars? Berta from 2 1/2 men(Or any of the Manhiem sisters)? Cedric the Entertainer?
To answer to that other person, yes the contract is sent to you before youre even chosen as a finalist. Although you do know youre getting closer to being chosen when you receive it, it makes the sting a hell of a lot harder when youre not picked. BTW, its not even the last thing sent either. So some had received the contract, and not what I received after that.
…pit in my stomach comes back again just remembering it. It’s hard to believe that was less than a year ago; seems like 5…
I can't even imagine. 😦 I was bummed just getting a call back/on camera interview and not making it!
Okay- score one for the chubby lady today 🙂 On a whim I tried out with my daughters for a local play- "The Wizard of Oz". I told them if they would try out- I would too. Well- they were both cast (as munchkins and flying monkeys, lol) I didn't think I would get picked for anything besides possibly Emerald City folk or something, given the fact that there were only 3 adult main female roles. So…imagine my surprise when the director called me and told me I got one of the big lead roles! I'm playing Auntie Em, and….get this…The beautiful good witch Glinda!
Now, as most of you know, self esteem for someone who is overweight is not always there- so I said "Are you sure?" And she said "You are going to make a WONDERFUL Glinda- I loved your audition! " I almost cried. 🙂
So that is my happy moment for the day.
Now…if I can get the BL14 casting crew to love me that much- I'm golden. LOL
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Whoops- put in my name instead of my screen name. Oh well. Dawn=quikwits . shhhhhhh! 🙂
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