I don’t think I mentioned this to you guys, but a couple of months ago I had the chance to audition for a McDonald’s commerical. I went knowing that it was going to be super competitive because it’s McDonald’s of course. I figured a bunch of models that I had seen before would be there, and I was right. I saw models that I literally haven’t seen in years, maybe because we’ve been auditioning for different jobs. We had to go in and act like chefs and do a Japanese dialogue we were given. I really didn’t get my hopes up, I was just happy to get through the picture selection process, but there were still a lot of guys there, but I didn’t let myself get intimidated. I went to my little corner practiced my lines in as my different ways that I could. I did my best, and went home.
I made the final cut!? REALLY?!! I was elated.
The final cut came down to three other models and I. I didn’t see the model that usually beats me, so my confidence was through the roof! We had to read over and over and pair up in different teams to see who would be the final two. The final audition was a lot harder and these guys had better Japanese than me. I could understand and I could speak, which was why I got as far as I did, but these guys had the finer nuances of Japanese down pat. They could even make jokes, which instantly engaged the staff. After the readings, seeing the reactions of the director and the staff, my confidence started waning, and fast.
They had all four of us try on the chef’s outfits that would be used for the commercial. I was a little bigger than everybody else, so when I squeezed into the gold pants and chef’s top, I resembled Hulk’s alter ego, Bruce Banner more than I did a McDonald’s chef. I’m not talking about calm Bruce Banner, either. I mean Bruce Banner just as he was about the reach the anger point of no return, when all of his clothes are ripping at the seams (except for those purple pants that must be made of some special, space-age, polymer).
It sucked, because I was the only one the final suit looked weird on 
.
I knew they were going to chose one African-American and one Caucasian male for the role. So it was me, or this other dude. I had a 50/50 shot, but in the end I didn’t get the job. It would have been nice to do a commercial for a big brand, because the chance doesn’t come around for me so often. It’s not everyday you get to say “I was in a McDonald’s commercial.” But, I can’t be bitter. Truth be told, as well as I thought I did, these two nailed the audtion. Now I’ve started seeing the commercial on television and I’ve heard it showing on the trains, too. It really twists the knife just a little deeper, knowing I was that close to a national ad spot. This is the commercial:
(To the tune of the McDonald’s jingle): “Ba da ba ba ba really wanted’ it.”
Almost doesn’t cut it when it comes to these types of jobs. Gotta stop having these close call misses. Next time, though, I’ll be ready for ‘em…FOR SURE!! 
Donald Ash
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