Last November, the 47-year old daytime soap opera, As The World Turns landed its film crew on the College Park campus to look for students to appear in one of their episodes. The Terrapin Times recently caught up with Ben Parker, who was one of the five hundred students to audition. Parker, who landed the role of “Kevin” and appeared in four different scenes, all with speaking parts, recounted the experience. Like most other students, Parker had seen posters around campus advertising that the CBS soap opera was on a “college tour” and would be making a stop on the Maryland campus looking to fill the roles of “Kevin” and “Carol.” One of the subplots on As The World Turns last fall involved several youngsters, the “Oakdale three” who ran away as a result of a fire that they allegedly caused in their hometown. The trio hid-out on college campuses across the country. And, the storyline worked well, because CBS used the plot to court college age kids to tune into their show. Some college students could watch their friends and classmates on television, while others could simply relate to the characters because of the college-related plot.
After some convincing by one of his friends, Parker decided to make an appearance at the audition for the show’s producers. After the long, three hour wait, each of the students who auditioned were only given about a minute to do a “cold reading” of a mock script. Parker said the cold reading was “unique” because the show’s aim was not to fill a role for the series, but merely for a few scenes in one episode. Later that evening, Parker was called back and asked to fill the role of Kevin. He claims, “It was just pure luck.”
According to Parker, three types of people showed up to the auditions among the crowd of five hundred students. One segment of the student population believed that they would be picked because they had the “soap opera look.” Another group of students did it just for fun. And, a third group, of which Parker includes himself in, did it because they actually had acting experience and wanted to audition as they would for any other role. With the limited amount of time that the CBS producers had to fill the role, it is evident that they must have picked up on Ben Parker’s acting skills and experiences.
Parker has been involved with acting since he was in the seventh grade. Upon arriving at the University of Maryland, he has starred in such plays as Fashion (Spring ’02), You Can’t Take It With You (Fall ’02), and Romeo and Juliet (Spring ’03). Even though he has enormous acting experience, Parker is majoring in Computer Science at UMD, but plans on “keeping his options open” regarding the acting career, of which his aspirations are looking upbeat.
After appearing on the soap opera in November, Parker was one of five students from around the country to get called back once again. This time, it was for an opportunity to be guaranteed a week-long role on As The World Turns during the upcoming summer. Last November, Mary Clay Boland, one of the show’s directors said she was “looking for different things at each college campus” and that she is “always looking for a new face for the show.” Along with four other men and five other women, Parker was hoping at a chance to land a role on a series in which other now-famous young actors such as James VanDerBeek, Jason Biggs, and Lauryn Hill, first gained recognition.
To participate in this competition, Parker was flown to New York City by CBS to appear on The Early Show on April 22. This time his audition was more thorough. In fact, it was not a cold read, but a live audition on national television. Each morning that week, one male and female performed on The Early Show in a mock soap scene. For Parker, he co-starred in a 90-second scene with current cast member Martha Byrne, who plays the twin characters of Lily and Rose. Parker admitted he was nervous. “There’s something about being backstage watching a TV show you’re about to be on.”
He compared being on the show with all of his acting experience thus far. With plays, he has a lot more time to rehearse the script and perfect it. Yet, he said he has always “felt comfortable on a stage.” But, being a studio, “you have no idea what camera is looking at you.”
Viewers voted online at the end of the week, but Parker didn’t get the part. The experience, however, was rewarding. Expecting the typical Hollywood hoopla, Parker said he was surprised all the actors and directors he met were “very nice and really friendly.” He said the encouragement he received from others on the set allowed him to relax. “Having someone to tell you that you did a good job settled the nerves.”
Asked what impact the experience had on him and his potential acting career, Parker said that it “enforced things I already believed.” Referring to an actor’s life, Parker said that “If you are able to get steady work, it’s good work and pays well. But if you don’t get steady work, then you are no longer an actor, but merely an auditioner.”
Even though Parker is now a Computer Science major, he has taken and will continue to take theatrical classes at Maryland. “It’s amazing how much classes can do for you. There is never a time to stop learning about acting.” He pointed out that award-winning actors such as Helen Hunt and Robert DeNiro still go back to school and take classes to learn new theories and ideas about the art. And, at UMD, Parker has all the opportunity he wants to learn and succeed in this field. He cited the family atmosphere among the staff and students, and the flexibility that the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center adds to the entire experience.
While Parker realizes that making it as an actor is a tough living, he still has his dreams. As an actor, he loves the movies because it is “more of a finished product” than a television series and, like theatre, there is “more time to work on specific scenes.” One of his favorite actors is Ed Norton because of the quality movies and variety of roles he plays. Yet, Parker owes his real inspiration to his family, friends and girlfriend. “Everyone is so supportive,” but above all, “my mother is my most active supporter,” said Parker. “She is always very concerned for me to have the best opportunity that I can.” And, with Parker intent on keeping his options open, Maryland just may be that breeding ground of opportunity.
If you would like to view the live audition that Ben Parker performed for The Early Show you still can online at: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/04/22/earlyshow/series/main550545.shtml.
Or, if you are interested in theatrical productions at the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center, visit their website at: http://www.claricesmithcenter.umd.edu/