Joe Sernio - All My Children
February 2010
SoapCentral.com
How did you first learn about the auditions for All My
Children?
I didn’t really hear about any auditions
on the show it was just one of the shows that I had sent in
for before getting called for As The World Turns.. I was
going for both the shows at the time. Not sure why but AMC
is what I wanted to do… I was very happy I was working
especially on a soap but for some reason that was what I
wanted. It was “The” show to get on. I remember this one day
I was sitting in the dressing room on As The World Turns,
when a woman by the name of Sue Henderson approached myself
and a few other actors with her mailing labels…It was sort
of like the Ross Reports but concentrated a lot more on the
TV side of things but more the soaps..I went down to the
cafeteria got a water came back up and opened the magazine
like paper that I had just purchased and right on the front
page was an article about getting onto the top soaps. The
first soap in the article.. AMC. From there I just started
the normal send out routine just concentrating on the one
show. Not to say I didn’t like As The World Turns. I loved
it. Great Great cast and the casting directors there are
great to work with whether you’re recurring, background or
whatever.
The process was pretty much like any other
audition. You get the call, they send you the sides, you
study the sides, you know them front and back, and then once
you get there you forget every word..And the ink is almost
gone off the sides from your sweaty palms.. Ha-ha.. No it
was like any other.
Every actor has their way of preparing for an
audition. I prepared my usual way and did the best I can.
I auditioned for As The World Turns, to later book
some recurring background work so I had an idea of what I
was going in to. But all casting is different in this case I
was in and out and felt I did what I could do.
Funny story…First time I went into ABC
studios I was auditioning for a Spanish character… I think
it was a cop I don’t remember.. but I couldn’t really pull
off the accent the way I wanted to or they wanted me to. So
I actually wound up not landing my first audition.. It was
the 2nd time I was called in for the orderly
where I read for the casting director again.. I left pretty
happy. I
received a call about a month later ill never ever forget
that call… I was on my way home. It was about 4:30 on the 27th
of November. I answered the phone, he says “Joe it’s
bob Lambert
calling from All My Children, I want to book you for
some recurring U5 work as an orderly”, I said “Great”, and
the greatest 4 words any actor waits to hear “Welcome to the
show”
What was your reaction?
At that moment I remember wanting to call
him back and have him repeat what he said. I was so nervous
I thought I was putting words into my head. I remember
thinking “Did he say welcome to the show, or did I just say
he said it” or maybe someone else said it in the car next to
me and I just overheard them. I was nothing but just happy,
very happy. I worked so hard to just get in that door. It
was the one show I wanted.
I know it was nothing crazy at the time… Just some
work here and there, but being on “The” soap opera it was a
dream come true.
Oh this is a good story. I’m a momma’s
boy… Who do you think the first person I went to was? I
didn’t even call her. I went to her house. she was raking
leaves in the backyard I said “Mom, I’m moving to Pine
Valley” she replied “How much do you need Joe”
She then realized
what I was talking about and like every other time I gave
her some news she told me how proud she was then asked if I
can get her on the show…. After I went to my mom I made a
quick stop at the cemetery where my father is. One of the
most important people I had in my life passed at a very
young age. He was 45. Everything I do big news or little
news the two most important people have to know about it ya
know.
It’s both. I don’t want to say it’s more
than the other. The acting I love. I love the craft and
admire it. Always did. It’s a giant rush every time I’m
doing it. I never really thought of soaps until I started
working on them. Now I just don’t want to stop. I think in
most projects if given the opportunity or control of the
character you can be an actor of any kind. So as much as I
love being on the soap and want to continue I still love my
projects outside of that to. Given a character of a bad guy
or good guy you can make them and shape them into whatever
it is they are. Same with the soap you create that character
and run with it.
If I’m not working on the show I’m working
on other projects so I haven’t been around to keep track of
the show so I try to catch up when I’m on set. We can watch
them film as we are in holding; It’s either that or the view
so… If not I get my daily phone calls with my mom’s run down
of the day in Pine Valley, well first she asks if I am
coming for dinner.
She actually called once screaming about a hospital
and someone getting shot, I realized shortly after it was on
the show.
My first memory? Hmm. Ok True story. My
grandparents owned a bar in Miami Beach a long time ago “The
Playhouse Bar” and no it was not a strip bar it was more of
a pub. I
remember my grandfather calling and saying that Days of Our
Lives had just got done filming a scene at the bar and he
was in it… They use to call him Ice Crème Joe around Miami.
As we watched sure enough who walks by Bo Brady (Peter
Reckell) with a cigar in his mouth… Ice cream Joe. I think
he even had a few lines. That was my first memory. I try
looking for it on YouTube but no luck. He was quite the
character.
As
a character that works in the hospital, you tend to be on
scene when big and bad things happen. What are some of the
scenes that you’ve been involved in or characters that
you’ve crossed paths with?
There have been a few crazy moments in Pine Valley Hospital.
Some crazier than others, and some that I have watched that
I wasn’t there for. One was right when Kendal went in for
her heart transplant. I was her nurse at the time. It was
actually pretty emotional watching them act that specific
scene out. Especially zack (Thorsten
Kaye)
incredibly talented.
Then
there’s the argument between JR (Jacob Young) and Ryan
(Cameron Mathison) one time. (Also two unbelievable soap
actors, they are actually my favorite. There preparation is
amazing) I forget what episode it was but JR came storming
out of the room and pushed Ryan into the cabinets, that was
some pretty good action.
And then of course you always have where
someone is running down the hallway pushing orderlies and
wheel chairs out of the way.. Always something happening.
I don’t have to re-audition I just get a
call for the Hospital scenes I am in. Sometimes 2 episodes a
day sometimes it’s different, sometimes you have lines
sometimes you don’t.
Kind of better that way. I save paper by not sweating
the ink off every time I have to audition.
It is all one giant learning experience. Yes you get the
knowledge and skill from classes, and auditions but the true
training is being right there in front of it. Love Monkey,
As The World Turns, Haunting Evidence they all taught me
something different. Same with Indie Films.
Everything is done differently, every director
directs different and wants something different so it leaves
you learning something with every new project you get
involved with.
I just got back from a shoot for the film “My Brother’s
Keeper” it takes place in
the tough streets of the Bronx in the 1950’s it is a classic
story in which everyone can relate
to. Preparing for that was almost like how some prepare for
soap work. Sometimes you have to dig very deep to pull
whatever it is that’s going to make that character out of
you. On All my children I play an Orderly. Outside of the
show I’m filming a series with a talented young director
Nick Pavano. In the series I am a cold blooded hit-man.
Mr. Pavano helps me
with the character the way he sees him. So going from that
to the soap or that to something a little less emotional is
different. As some of the stuff doesn’t compare as some of
it does. Now if I find myself doing a hit on compulsive and
feeling I should bring them to pine valley to make sure
there ok or hoping they survive..well.. Then we have a
problem..Ha-ha..
I
just turned 29 years old. I guess if I were to do a doctor
role or orderly somewhere else it would compare to this but
So far I have been a cop, a hit-man, a 1953 bad ass, just to
name a few so I guess I can’t compare it to anything. Soaps
have their own vibe, their own feeling which makes me love
it even more. But I can tell you that the soap world is
where I want to be for now . I think it might be the scrubs.
There quite comfortable to work in.
It has already impacted my future. Not in
a bad way but in a “what do I do” way. When I got the call
about the show moving it was sort of a last minute thing. I
have the studio numbers in my phone under something
different than All My Children God forbid my phone gets lost
or stolen the last thing I want anyone getting is prank
calls. So when I get that call I see the name and I get good
bumps.. every single time to…Anyway when I received a call
for that weeks shoot day the last part of the conversation
was “Hey did you hear we’re moving to LA” I already kind of
knew it was in the works from the internet and what not so
it wasn’t a huge huge shock but it got me thinking about the
future. I have
become so comfortable with everything. The routine of going
to film, getting my wardrobe, being on set, everything. If
it’s a nice day out I take the path from Jersey City to 33rd
street. I walk from 33rd street to West 66th
where the studio is. It’s a great walk, it’s a routine ya
know? Now what if I have to change it… It feels like a
relationship that didn’t work out. You break up, meet
someone else then have to go through the entire parents
meeting process again… uggh but change is good so im not
worrying to much I guess.
I think to myself Here is a show that I
absolutely love being on, one that I worked my behind off to
get on. No matter what it is I finally got steady work on
“The” soap opera I wanted in at. Now we have these other
shows going off of the air after 70 something years, and
moving and what not so it does role around in your head when
you start thinking about your future.. You start to question
yourself. Do I stay with the soap work and continue on
getting my foot in the door or do I branch out and shoot for
other stuff? It’s hard very hard. So I don’t know how it
will impact my future. As of now something inside is telling
me to stick with it.
I’ll let you in on a little secret.
I am going to LA. Already booked and ready to go..
For what? I’m not sure yet but in hopes that I can
stick to what I am doing.
Just want to say thank you to you Dan and
Soap Central. I’m going to keep pushing and I thank you for
helping me do so. Thank you to all of you out there that
support all of my work. I love every single one of you…
Hit me up on my profiles so I can say hello. Always
love new friends. Long
Live Soaps….