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As we wrote in our review of Idiagi Ernest Eromosele’s previous short film The Long Wait, the “loneliest queue on earth is the unemployment queue”. Now, imagine someone or something trying to cut into that queue, how far would you go to stand your ground and prove your worth? It sure leads this young man in The Audition down a dark path within himself. It is a painfully funny short film whose technical imitations don’t inhibit its relatability.
Director Eromosele, on a humble path, making shorts with phones and little to no budget, has made projects with a mix of tones so far. On a closer look, they all revolve around a key issue in Nigeria, mostly reflecting the frustrating state of Nigeria for the youth. You are likely to be right even, if you consider The Audition as a direct follow up to The Long Wait (well, at least they make a fitting double header), shot on a shoestring, following what could as well be the same character. And even if viewed as a different character, there are common themes across both. All in all, Nigeria is a frustrating experience for the youths, with unemployment as a core theme.
The Audition is a simple story set in one location about an audition for a film role, which makes a man dig into depths within to land this role. How long has he waited to be close to this role, whether he is suitable for it or not? Is this a highlight coveted dream role? It might not matter much, as the film doesn’t say. All the character needs is a role—a paying job. It possibly doesn’t matter what kind of job or role at this point. This makes Eromosele’s The Long Wait and The Audition interesting works to analyse side by side.
Our lead, played by Eromosele’s dependable collaborator Fortune Ibinabo, is optimistic as he heads into the audition. We are doubtful as viewers. Even his counterpart in the waiting room is doubtful. “We are supposed to dress like the character,” he is reminded. Our lead looks too polished and casually dressed for the required role of an armed robber. But we decide not to judge the book by the cover and maybe he has something up his corporate sleeve that we do not know. He definitely doesn’t plan to land this role this way. He is an actor, right? First time we get a hint at everything not being well is when he brandishes a gun. So, why wasn’t he dressed as his character in the first place? Well, it is a source of amusement for us as we wonder why he’s dressed that way for the role due to the contrasting nature of the situation. This is well-planted comedy. In our amusement, you’re also forced to question more about this character and who he is. What’s his deal?
Now, with a more light-hearted tone in this short that occasionally edges towards cringe comedy, way lighter than Eromosele’s previous short films, his voice remains. Watching his short films, I always feel the agony of the country’s issues from the lens of his lead who is usually a proxy for the Nigerian youth. This could have easily been another somber take on this topic, but we need more comedy shorts, and under meagre resources, this is a welcome addition.
What I like about his short films so far is how unpretentious they are and how you would imagine a frustrated Nigerian youth would express themselves if armed with a camera. Still a rough work and still working on the more complex side of the arts like dialoguing, the filmmaker is on a good path and we would love to see more from him with more resources soon. His inadequacies are not as obvious in The Long Wait because it was with few to no words and more showing. Also, for a role that could potentially change our lead’s life in The Audition, we don’t see enough of that in the production due to budget limitations. Just two people in the waiting room, not enough pomp to the importance of this role. But the emptiness of the set doesn’t affect the story. Because this audition can be anything, it stands for you.
This means a lot of the believability and comedy hinges on our lead’s acting. And he mostly delivers in what could have fallen flat if not better handled. He transitions from sane to extreme to hopeful to a dark agony. Is he acting? Is it his reality? Something is clearly on the line for the young man.
Does this sudden extremity land him the role or not, likely not, but the film doesn’t explicitly say. But he has convinced the viewers. And we remember that the man had been assured in himself even before the switch. And the self-assuredness must have come from knowing that he would do whatever it takes. Many sane people would give up and go about their day to the next audition (which, again, represents more than the depicted film audition). I see it as the pathway for whatever it takes to make it out of whatever undesirable situation one has left behind, knowing that one cannot go back to that dark room (The Long Wait reference), but can only try to push forward (to try to land that role, that visa to japa or that job or whatever).
How badly do we fight for things we want or go to extreme for it? What stops us from turning our other side? Is it shame or self-respect to save ourselves from embarrassment? If we had nothing to lose and pushed to the wall, where do we go from there? What character do we become? And what mask do we hide behind?
Continuing our close analysis with the director’s previous short film, I would say that he doesn’t get the job and that leads him further down the hole in The Long Wait. If you view The Audition as a singular work, it also works, with our unemployed lead’s display ultimately revolting in masked agony, “Are you not entertained?”
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