Exclusive: Aud Online Audition clip recently shared by Actor Lucas Gage quickly went viral and made waves in Hollywood. Now the director, Tristrum Shapero, who is listening in the video, is coming forward and taking charge.
The British-born Shapero, writing the only special article for Deadline, provides an account of his infamous audition, apologizes to Gage and provides references to some of the words in his “sensitive comment”. Worked in such series, as a TV director Unbreakable Kimi Schmidt, Brooklyn Nine-Nine And Never Have I Ever, Also explains why he decided to speak up and what he would take away from Zoom’s frustration.
Zoom and doom; An Aud online audition is worrying
By Trustrum Shapero
You may not know who I am, but you are probably familiar with my story. One actor, Lucas Gage, posted a clip from a zoom casting on social media and it was part of me and the back in August. Meanwhile, the insulating director refers to the small apartments and the actors referring to ‘these poor people’. The quick-witted Gage replied that he knew his part was ‘shitty’ and that’s why he needed this job so he could get a better job.
Gage has had millions of views since posting the video and has garnered support from every corner of the acting world and many of her fans. The director was not initially identified, although there was much speculation about who he was, which eventually turned out to be true.
Despite the wise advice as possible: to say the least possible and let this pass, I have decided to come forward, take responsibility, give Mr. Gage a worthy apology and give a little background to my unacceptable and sensitive comment. I’m Trustrum Shapero, a 20-year-old PV television director, half in the UK and the other half here in the U.S.
First and foremost I offer Mr. Gage a sincere and unforgivable apology for my offensive words, my unprofessional behavior during the audition and for not giving him the attention and attention he deserves. My job is to evaluate the role I am trying to cast. Lucas deserved better.
The Zoom audition took place in August Gust, after a four-month lockdown. Many of my colleagues were also in the days dish that had been made for many days. It was emotional to see the artists working so hard to win the available parts and under extraordinary circumstances we were deeply inspired by the passion of these youngsters.
I used the word ‘poor’ in the sense of proper empathy, as opposed to any economic judgment. My words were spoken from a place of admiration for what the actors had to endure, stuck in a limited space, finding themselves inside to give a role-winner performance under these conditions.
As I say on the video, I got fed up with what happened. While I can’t put the proverbial toothpaste back into the tube, I’m more of a sympathetic man than this phenomenon; More focused director and I promise, excellent partner for the cast from the audition process to the final cut.
With humility and gratitude,
Tristrum Shapero
Here’s the video, posted with the gauge caption, “psa If you’re a talking director, be sure to mute Ur Shutty on Zoom Mtgings.” In it, Shapero is heard saying, “These poor people live in this small apartment. I look at her background and find her TV, “to which Gage replied,” I know it’s a beautiful * apartment, so give me this job so I can earn better. Realizing that his mic was making noise for a private comment, Shapero apologized and said he was “mortified.” Happens.
