Nailing an acting audition of any kind is tough. How about one where not even the organizers are sure about the film’s potential? Details are bound to be missed, and director Sohale Dezfoli molds this concept into something that’s both current and hilarious in Main Character Energy.
Brian Scott (Mark Prendergast) is an actor who, like many others in his line of work, hopes for a big breakthrough in their career. Arriving at an audition, he’s immediately overwhelmed by the presence of so many others vying for similar roles. In his rush, he requests the screenplay pages for a character that seems straightforward enough, but a crucial detail he missed threatens to upend his chances. Joining forces with the helpful and equally nervous actress, Lizzie Mason (Taylor Joree Scorse), the two go about untangling the meaning behind the mixup before the casting directors summon them.
Like its actors, Main Character Energy has very little time to make a lasting impression. Just twelve minutes, to be exact, yet it manages to make each second count. Nicholas Begnaud’s screenplay is very smart. Not only does it introduce Brian efficiently, but it also uses his mild-mannered personality as a lens to project the cuthroat nature of such auditions. Actors sweat and pray, the assistant (Kacey Rose) is extremely unhelpful, while others go out of their way to ridicule and belittle others, with Brian even being referred to as a “glorified extra” in one instance. Yes, it’s done for laughs, but there’s definitely a layer of truth to all of it.
The mood is greatly lightened by Lizzie’s appearance and, of course, the big reveal about Brian’s role. Prendergast and Scorse share an easy chemistry that builds steadily to their final performance as a duo. In a room devoid of any excitement, and with three very bored onlookers, Brian and Lizzie give it their all in hopes of staging a true crescendo of a showcase. Just like the short itself, it’s a corny yet self-aware display. Some smaller flaws in the sound design aside, Main Character Energy is a real delight!
