'One Life To Live' - Soap provides newcomers with the chance to spread their wings

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'One Life To Live' - Soap provides newcomers with the chance to spread their wings

published: Saturday | July 22, 2006

Paul Mischeshin

YOU PROBABLY haven't heard of Paul Mischeshin ­ yet. But if you watch One Life to Live, you've seen him before. His scenes aired last month: He was one of the orderlies who was taking Margaret Cochran (Tari Signor) to the asylum and had to perform CPR on her when the van crashed. (She later died.)

Eight pages of dialogue might be intimidating to a newcomer, but the cast and crew were so supportive and encouraging, it seemed like a breeze. "Luckily, I had two days on set," Paul explained. "The first day I worked with (director) Larry Carpenter, who is just a genius at the process of soap work. He knows how to use his actors, how to coordinate the technical aspects and how to get the work done."

For Paul, first-day jitters soon transformed into excitement. "That first day I didn't have many lines, so I had a chance to get comfortable on the set and with the crew. Everyone was fantastic. I hung around the set watching other scenes getting shot and got to know some of the cast, particularly Josh Casaubon (Assistant District Attorney Hugh Hughes) and the stage manager, Allan Needleman.

INDEPENDENCE AND AUTONOMY

"By the time I was on, I was acclimated to the surroundings and could focus on the work."

Paul was happily surprised by the amount of independence and autonomy OLTL provided its cast members. "The work happens so quickly, and the director is often more involved in the technical process. The actors must find their characters' truth on their own."

All the excitement surrounding his first major role on a soap had some stiff competition for his attention the week his spots aired: his wedding. "My episodes aired just days before I was married. I was sitting in a restaurant with some of my family, and they insisted on watching the show. Of course, we're not the only ones in the restaurant. As the show is playing and my part comes up, my family starts whooping it up. It was wonderful and embarrassing. By the time we get ready to leave, a little girl walks up to me asking me for my autograph. I was touched. Of course, Tiffany (his wife) was filled with pride."

CASTING PROCESS

The casting process of any soap is so important, because the director must trust that the actor chosen for the part can handle the development of the character, the dialogue and the tight shooting schedules. Whether the actor is a dayplayer, like Paul, or in a contract role, OLTL trusts only the best and brightest to bring its characters to life.

When OLTL decides to give a newcomer a chance-of-a-lifetime role, it doesn't pull any punches. You could call the reality show I Wanna Be a Soap Star ­ wherein the winner gets a 13-week contract with OLTL ­ the world's longest audition. Airing Thursdays at 11 p.m. on SOAPnet, I Wanna Be a Soap Star 3 is getting closer to finding its newest soap star.

Who knows what the future holds for Paul Mischeshin or the newest winner of Soap Star? But one thing is for sure ­ OLTL will have played a predominant role in shaping and preparing the actor for whatever role might come his way.