Week 4 Final Scene with ABC Casting Director for “General Hospital” Mark Teschner

Go Big or Go home with Mark Teschner!

By Josie Goldberg

Los Angeles, California (The Hollywood Times)

This week is the final test to see if I have what it takes to make it as a scripted union actor for General Hospital on ABC or so at least that’s what I thought and was hoping for. Mark gave me a very special scene that he found for me in his archives.  The last 3 weeks of his class I was playing a doctor and various nurses.  He told me that I would love this role he chose for me. I was playing a single woman named Zoey.  The character Zoey has been on online dating apps for a minute, and she is always meeting men that are a foot shorter or a decade older. She also looks at dating as a business and this time she is presently surprised because she finally met a man that was everything she dreamed of. Does this sound familiar? Well, I’m “Only Josie Knows” and am going to tell you how my final audition went down.

As you all know, I am a gamer, I sometimes risk it all and sometimes lose it all. I have won big and lost big throughout my career in love & life, but I live by the sword, and I will die by the sword. I try to change my attitude and behavior through not being able to progress sometimes, through counseling, but then when I’m in front of the gold mine I just go for it. Win, lose or draw!

I was amazed at how I progressed and was able to memorize my part and immerse myself into the character I was playing. Mark Teschner is really the best teacher I’ve ever had.  Even when I was broken the first week, he never kicked me while I was down.  I told him I had PTSD from almost grabbing the golden part back in 2010 with David Milch and HBO. I told him I failed so hard that Emmy award winner creator of television David Milch told me I was a “Shitty Actress” and his personal coach told me I did not have it. To make matters worse Henry Bronstein who was an Executive Producer at HBO (The Sopranos) who I met through David Milch told me I’m a nice Jewish girl and this life is not for me. I should get married and not go through this rat race.  Mark is a “Mensch” he said Josie forget the past and we are starting from the basics.  There is a reason that he has been the casting director at ABC General Hospital for over 36 years and has a couple of Emmys under his belt.  His program was not about getting the part, it’s about learning how to develop one’s craft (Can’t share his secrets).  (No competition element) However, by the last week, I felt confident, competent that I am ready to get it.  I was in front of a prominent casting director at one of the top networks and I was seeing stars. When it was time for my scene, I asked him if we can pretend this is a real casting and if my read would have landed me the part.  He said in a stern voice “I am not going to answer that question because it’s not about booking the part and in my terms winning and or losing. He said I am here to teach you. I started to explain to him that these four weeks have been amazing. I have been praying to be seen by the right people and not only am I here with a network casting director, but I love the roles of General Hospital actors and I like working with you. You should have seen the look of horror in his face. He could tell I got attached to the idea of being an actor on General Hospital and I did not want to let it go. I had a slip up and went back to my unfiltered character flaw of reality star Josie Goldberg and told him I never want to go back to nonunion tv and or reality trash tv. I did not mind doing those characters in the past and paying my dues but after being immersed in General Hospital scripted tv characters for 4 weeks this feels so right especially with him.  He answered me again more sternly as said, Josie you’re not going to tell me what to do! I said I’m sorry but you’re one of the best in the business and I might never have this opportunity EVER and I’m just honest and wanted to be honest with you. For myself.! I told him when I won the big money at thoroughbred racing, they said “its post time”. Whatever it maybe I did my best. I told him I tend to self-sabotage myself sometimes, because I just go for it. Dr Phil told me I have “Grandiose thoughts” but do I? or is it just the right way or only way to make it in show business.

The former President of SAG/AFTRA Gabrielle Carteris who also was a breakout star on Beverly Hills 90210, said that working anything non- union was unacceptable and a form of slavery which was abolished in December 6, 1865. She urged Union member as me to not get sucked in. I did my scene and Mark was impressed, or so that’s what he said. Big improvement…

I met celebrity Tori Spelling (former actor on her dad’s show Beverly Hills 90210 and currently a huge reality star at a reality tv event a few years back. She was really classy, educated, and very nice to attendees at the event. As a Jewish woman to another, I kindly asked her why she is in reality tv, when she has such a big resume and opportunities and access to “BIG JEWISH MACHERS”. I told her I’m trying hard to get out of reality tv and work in scripted, but these powerful Jewish men run away when I ask for work. (Darren Star, Steve Tisch, Mark Cuban (a very interesting chance encounter with Mr. Cuban), and former Exec Brett Ratner that I have met throughout my career.  She said gosh my dad would have loved your ambition and especially that you’re a first-generation Jewish girl, he would have put you to work on one of his shows. I said gosh why did he die before my time.

Aaron Spelling was one of Hollywood’s most successful television producers who produced shows like “Charlies Angels, The Love Boat, Dynasty, Beverly Hills 90210 and many more.   Tori’s words gave me encouragement that there are some powerful Jewish men who will love my “CHUTZPA”.  I just must find the ones that are still alive, the last of the “Mohicans” Then I had a brief situation ship with her agent/manager who was a cutie but that’s for another article.

I am” Only Josie Knows” and I am trying to be politically correct and follow the industries standards but there is a reason that my partner named my best ever racehorse “ONLY JOSIE KNOWS” because he said you have your own mind and always find a way to make it work for you. I know whatever God wants for me, my destiny is written in the stars, as the Jewish scholars say. Until then I will try to make friends and not enemies along my path. However, If Aaron Spelling was alive and would see how reality tv destroyed his daughter’s life he would be rolling around in his grave. It’s time for the Jewish men to wake up and help union Jewish actors like Tori, me and many others because her father and the late pioneers of the studios would have never let us get left behind. Jewish people should always look out for one another. Especially myself, as mine are holocaust survivors and I have no one to push for me or protect me. It’s time for change. For Tori, me and many Jewish actors and get to working on union shows under the “SAG/AFTRA” Bargaining agreement and build the right life, with a solid foundation and a solid income. There is a reason the studios have paved the way for many entertainers to live their best life.

As the Jewish people are fighting Hamas in “The Middle East” I’m fighting to achieve the right life and the right jobs and life that can push me and others forward. Now more so than ever!

“Am Yisrael Chai”