This year is the 30th anniversary of E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. Above is a clip from Henry Thomas's audition for the roll of Elliott. In a recent Esquire interview, Thomas recalled his audition for Steven Spielberg:
I read a scene from some early version of the script, and then I was asked to do an improvisation. I think the gist of the improv was, "You found someone, and they're going to take them away from you, and it's your friend, and you really don't want your friend to go away." So I started crying, and really going for it I guess.
David Pescovitz is Boing Boing's co-editor/managing partner. He's also a research director at Institute for the Future. On Instagram, he's @pesco.
He could turn on the tears at will and he was only 7. No wonder child actors are so messed up.
http://ae4rv.com/ royaltrux
I was really impressed, too. But now that you mention it, aren’t there a whole lot of seven year olds that can turn on the tears to serve their purposes?
Boundegar
I’ve seen them in fiction, but never met one. And I’m a dad.
franko
this should go by the online dictionary’s definition of “Nailed it.”
SlyBevel
Ok kid, you got the job! :)
http://twitter.com/LordWhittle Lord Whittle
what a great audition! who needs juliard some are just natural!
ocker3
Can’t watch, too heartbreaking. He really knew his stuff
I read a scene from some early version of the script, and then I was asked to do an improvisation. I think the gist of the improv was, "You found someone, and they're going to take them away from you, and it's your friend, and you really don't want your friend to go away." So I started crying, and really going for it I guess.
