NBCLive: Welcome to NBC Live!
NBCLive: Tonight we have a very special evening planned, as
NBCLive: two of Passions' hottest stars, Taylor Anne Mountz
NBCLive: (Kay Bennett) and Travis Schuldt (Ethan Crane) will
NBCLive: be calling the winners of the first ever Passions
NBCLive: Online Casting Call to announce the good news!


NBCLive: The winners have been decided by an online vote in
NBCLive: which YOU got to choose the next stars of Passions,
NBCLive: and now you can continue in the fun by learning the
NBCLive: results at the same time they do!
NBCLive: Once the results are announced, you can ask Travis,
NBCLive: Taylor Anne and the new "stars" of Passions whatever's
NBCLive: on your mind!
NBCLive: BORING BUT NECESSARY INFORMATION
NBCLive: You agree not to use offensive language or personally
NBCLive: attack any other participants or third parties. You
NBCLive: are solely responsible for all of your communications,
NBCLive: and you agree not to violate or infringe upon the
NBCLive: rights of others. NBC and Talk City reserve the right,
NBCLive: but are not obligated, to edit or delete any information
NBCLive: that it deems to violate these ground rules. NBC and
NBCLive: Talk City reserve the right to suspend access to anyone
NBCLive: who violates these rules. NBC and Talk City also reserve
NBCLive: the right to republish, disseminate and broadcast any
NBCLive: materials posted.

TnT-fan-guest: What do you think of the idea of the casting call?

Travis_Schuldt: I think it's a great idea - it gives the audience a
chance to participate in the show, and bring in new viewers.

Taylor_Anne_Mountz: I think it's a creative and fun way for fans to get
involved, and I can't wait to announce the winners!

POPsicle-guest: Are you excited to meet the winners?

Travis_Schuldt: Yeah!! I can't wait to call them! It's a privilege to
give people good news.

ViolaB: What advice would you give these two new "stars" for when they
appear

Taylor_Anne_Mountz: Prepare to work with a really great, goofy bunch of
people!

Travis_Schuldt: Relax, be yourself, and have fun. Finally that's what I
do - it took me a month or so, though :-)

Melinda-guest: Do you think Passions should have more online casting
calls in the future?

Travis_Schuldt: Sure!

Taylor_Anne_Mountz: No!

Travis_and_Taylor_Anne: LOLOLOL

WYnot-guest: What should they expect when they come to the set of
Passions?

Taylor_Anne_Mountz: Be prepared for a long work day. It's very fast
paced, so always be on your toes, and be listening for when they call
your name! That means you have to go to the set now.

Travis_Schuldt: Be ready for a good talking to by Bret or Roy. They're
the stage managers. They'll tell you what to do, so always be listening
for when they call your name, when to come on set, when to go to makeup,
when to go to hair, etc.

dither-guest: Who do you think they should play?

Travis_Schuldt: I thought that maybe one of them could be my sister.

Taylor_Anne_Mountz: There are a lot of open-ended characters on the show
that have been mentioned. So I'm sure it will be a character that comes
in and stirs up some kind of trouble.



ETHAN^4EVER-guest: How do you get involved in acting?

Travis_Schuldt: I just kind of started through choir, and doing musicals
in high school. I did a play in my senior year, called Pandora's Box. It
was written and directed by a student in my class. I've always been
desiring attention, so this is a great way to get it!

tweety6545-guest: Hi Travis. First I want to say I love you and how do
you like doing scenes with Liza Huber? And do you hang out with anyone
from Passions off the set?

Travis_Schuldt: Well I enjoy working with Liza. We have a great time on
set, and a fun relationship. We keep finding new things between them,
like a sense of humor and working on the whole Theresa situation
triangle. We find that fun :-) And sometimes very complicated. Off the
set, I hang out with a lot of people, like Galen and Dalton, most of the
guys. I keep trying to hang out with Taylor Anne, but she's too busy!

Gloss-guest: If you could change one thing about your character, what
would you change?

Taylor_Anne_Mountz: It would be to not be quite so determined, and to
cultivate other relationships with other people to fall back on for
support.

Travis_Schuldt: I'd like to have my life NOT run by all the women in it!
That's pretty general, not that I don't like women in my life! LOL

ETHAN^4EVER-guest: How old do you have to be to audition?

Travis_Schuldt: It depends on the role. The youngest person on the show
is 15,

ETHAN^4EVER-guest: I love Galen Gering!! Did he really get engaged to his
long time girlfriend?

Travis_Schuldt: Yes he did! It's true.
Travis_Schuldt: I'm now phoning the female winner I'm pressing a "1"
We're on a conference call now with our winner...Her name is Alicia
Ziegler! Congratulations!

Alicia: I'm VERY excited! I'm SO nervous!!!!!

Travis_Schuldt: Well, you can relax - you've got the job!

Alicia: All my friends are calling me...

Travis_Schuldt: How long were you sitting by the phone?

Alicia: All day! I thought they might call at 5:30, so I waited all day.

Travis_Schuldt: Did you kick people off the phone just in case?

Alicia: I said "I have to wait and see."

Travis_Schuldt: Did you watch your audition online?

Alicia: My computer wouldn't download it. I tried to watch it. Did you
see it?

Travis_Schuldt: I tried too, It was the same kind of experience.

sudsy-guest: Why did you decide to audition?

Alicia: I had two friends who wanted to audition for the show and they
needed a female to try out with them, and then I decided to make my own
tape and send it in.

bimini-guest: Do you want to be an actor?

Alicia: Yes! I've been trying out in the business for about five years,
and this is the most exciting thing that's ever happened to me!

Evelyn-guest: What was your reaction when you found out you won?



Alicia: I almost dropped the phone! I haven't been able to breathe yet! I
was SO excited - I still am :-)

FANtastic: What are you most excited about?

Alicia: The opportunity to work with NBC and new people and new faces;
doing something I love, going after my Passion.

Gerbera-guest: Which cast members are you most looking forward to meeting?

Alicia: Travis, of course!

Travis_Schuldt: You're in!

Alicia: Was that a trick question? LOL

hanseatic-guest: Who do you hope to do a scene with?

Alicia: Travis, of course!

Imogen-guest: How long did it take you to make your audition tape?

Alicia: About an hour. I wanted to rehearse it, but not have to
over-rehearse it. I didn't want to be reading the lines. So it took me
about an hour?

Travis_Schuldt: Where did you do your scene Alicia?

Alicia: On a friend's porch, inside a little studio. Nothing too
exciting...

JESSamyn: What do you currently do? Are you in school? do you work?

Alicia: I attend Chapman University in Orange CA. I'm a freshman,
majoring in film production. I don't work, just do auditions. But now I'm
working!

koala: Are you nervous about appearing on Passions?

Alicia: No. I'm just excited.

Travis_Schuldt: You should be!!!!

Leon0-guest: When you submitted the tape, did you ever think you might
win?

Alicia: Uh-huh. I almost passed out when I saw I was one of the
finalists! It's so random, so anything can happen.

guest-star2b: Casting call winners...how did you feel when you found out
that you were a finalist? Then when you won? How long will your roles
last?

Alicia: I was so excited when I found out I was a finalist. I got a
T-shirt and a necklace, and pictures of the cast - the boys :-) I have no
idea how long the role will last.

soapsudsdish-guest: CCW, when you first started watching Passions, did
you ever imagine you would be on it? Congratulations!!!

Alicia: Oh thank you! No, not at all., I've been watching the show ever
since I auditioned, getting caught up on it. I did the tape back in
October, so it's been a long wait. Then I had to do networking, and call
everyone, and tell them to vote! So I have to thank everyone who voted
for me. I went to my friends and said "Pl-e-e-e-e-e-ase"! You learn a lot
about how ambitious you really are. I met a lot of people from out of
state, who emailed me and asked if I was the girl on Passions. One friend
has been emailing me like crazy!

soapsudsdish-guest: Casting call winners, which actor or actresses are
you most looking forward to working with?

Alicia: That's a given! Let's just say, everyone. I don't have any
specific one.



EZGuest: Winners: Congrats! Do you guys have any hopes or expectations
for who you're characters might be?

Taylor_Anne_Mountz: I just wanted to say congratulations, and I'm really
looking forward to working with you.
Taylor_Anne_Mountz: I'm calling the male winner now. I've got him on the
line, and we're talking now! Our winner is Ryan Gessell, and he's on with
us now. Congratulations Ryan! How are you feeling?

Ryan_Gessell: I'm very excited! I've been waiting by the phone for over
an hour now!

Taylor_Anne_Mountz: Are you an actor Ryan?

Ryan_Gessell: Definitely! I live in LA, in Westwood.

Taylor_Anne_Mountz: When did you send in your tape?

Ryan_Gessell: Thanksgiving, so it's been a bit of a wait. Yesterday was
fun, knowing that I'd find out today. I found out a couple of weeks ago
that I was a finalist, and then 5:30 rolled around...and then 6:30 rolled
around...and here we are!

Taylor_Anne_Mountz: Did you check out the website after you sent in your
demo?

Ryan_Gessell: Yes, it took me about 3 hours to get in and it looked like
a dubbed Japanese movie! (But I liked it).

Taylor_Anne_Mountz: Where did you do your tape?

Ryan_Gessell: In a friend's living room.

bubblegumgal: What are you most excited about?

Ryan_Gessell: I'm most excited to be able to pay my rent! And to work on
the show :-)

katsy99-guest: Where do you see Passions in five years?

Ryan_Gessell: On NBC... ;-)

NBCSoapFan: What was your reaction when you found out you won?

Ryan_Gessell: I wasn't sure if it was a crank call or not - I have
friends that would do something like that! When I was put on hold, I
figured out it was legit - I made myself numb to it, just because with so
many people I didn't really expect to win. So it will probably hit me
later on.

Taylor_Anne_Mountz: Alicia, the female winner is on now too.

Ryan_Gessell: Hi Alicia!

Alicia: Hi Ryan! Are you excited?

Ryan_Gessell: You bet!

Travis_Schuldt: Did you watch each other's tapes?

Alicia: No, I didn't see him. Do you have black hair Ryan?

Ryan_Gessell: No - that must be somebody else :-)

harvey-guest: Which cast members are you most looking forward to meeting?

Ryan_Gessell: harvey, that's a loaded question! I'm looking forward to
meeting every single one of them.

natalie-guest: Who do you hope to do a scene with?

Ryan_Gessell: With Taylor Anne, I'd have to say!

Travis_Schuldt: Good answer! Smart guy!

Ryan_Gessell: Yeah, I'm watching myself :-)

Taylor_Anne_Mountz: Who do you think your character will be related to?

Ryan_Gessell: I don't know - maybe I'll be Timmy's uncle Ryan :-)



camerashy-guest: How long did it take you to make your audition tape?

Ryan_Gessell: It took me about half an hour of pre-production to make my
tape, then editing took probably a couple of hours.

Meg_dreams: You guys are awesome. I hope to someday be on a soap as well,
do you have any advice?

Ryan_Gessell: Make a lot of friends in the country who will vote for you!

Taylor_Anne_Mountz: Be persistent!

Travis_Schuldt: Get a good agent!

pinay1112-guest: Where can I send both of you mail to get your
autographed picture?

Travis_Schuldt: Try www.nbc.com/passions, and there's an email address
there.

jbones-guest: Are the winners' parts are going to be large or small?

Ryan_Gessell: that's a good question. We don't know.

Alicia_Ziegler: Let's hope big! Think positive!

Travis_Schuldt: I have a question for you - did you ask your buddies to
vote for you?

Ryan_Gessell: Yes I did, and now they all get Passions Daily News every
day!! You know, Travis, had you voted, you would have known that!

Travis_Schuldt: LOL I don't vote!

sweetness28_15: I'm 15 years old and I want to be in the next casting
call but I'm too young. Next time are they going to make the age limit
younger?

Taylor_Anne_Mountz: We're thinking about it. I'm not, but they are LOL

Travis_Schuldt: Are you in college Ryan?

Ryan_Gessell: Yes, I go to UCLA. I'm majoring in theatre.

silverbelle_825: What kind of storyline do you think will be created for
the new characters?

Alicia_Ziegler: Probably something romantic...

Travis_Schuldt: You can bet it will be very passionate, romantic, and new
-)
Travis_Schuldt: How does your family feel about this?

Alicia_Ziegler: My mom told everyone in the phone book!

Ryan_Gessell: My mom is online right now, reading. I was on my cell phone
with her when you called. Hi Mommy!

Travis_Schuldt: Did your parents ever give you a hard time about wanting
to be actors?

Alicia_Ziegler: No, they were 110 percent supportive.

Ryan_Gessell: My dad majored in theatre at UCLA.

Travis_Schuldt: Where were you born?

Ryan_Gessell: L.A.

Alicia_Ziegler: Oxnard CA.

Travis_Schuldt: We filmed in Oxnard the first month of the show!

sassyladi22: When will the winners start on the show?

Taylor_Anne_Mountz: sassyladi, that's a good question.

Travis_Schuldt: We don't know.

guest-theresafan: Who would your dream character be, Alicia?

Alicia_Ziegler: My dream character would be someone nice. Nice, pretty
and powerful. Preferably rich too :-)

Gr1z31: What made you guys want to be actors???



Ryan_Gessell: An addiction. It's something that I HAVE to do. And
something that I love to do. Stop laughing Alicia!

Alicia_Ziegler: I started when I was 8, and it just sort of happened. I
didn't really go after it.

Taylor_Anne_Mountz: For me, it's an outlet, a way to put all of my
emotion into it. It's a form of expression, and a challenge.

Travis_Schuldt: It's the only way I know how to make money without
working very hard!

Ryan_Gessell: Amen to that!

Alicia_Ziegler: It's the hardest form of work there is!

crystaldreams2k-gues: Do you think the writers with have Theresa win
Ethan's heart? We think she should win his heart over.

Travis_Schuldt: Honestly, we have no idea. She's going to have to talk to
Gwen first, and the way she's going now...

EZGuest: Do you guys like how your characters act? Taylor Anne, do you
like the fact that your character is sneaky and kinda mean?

Taylor_Anne_Mountz: Yeah, I love it! It's really fun to play, and I get
to do all these outlandish schemes that are really fun. Reilly, the
creator, comes up with great stuff.

EZGuest526: I spent the last hour printing out your pics. What do you
think about anyone being able to connect to the net and look you guys up?

Travis_Schuldt: It's very flattering, and also kind of nerve-wracking.
We're all just people here, and people are downloading your picture and
wanting to know what you did today so it's unsettling at times, but it's
part of the job.

Taylor_Anne_Mountz: I've never had that kind of exposure, but I'm really
flattered by it.

ajk4578: DO you guys work many hours a week?

Taylor_Anne_Mountz: Yes.

Travis_Schuldt: Yes. 3 or 4 days a week, on average.

Taylor_Anne_Mountz: I'm 17, so my legal maximum is 10 hours. And I have
to balance my school work with my work time.

bubbaish-guest: Was it fun to tell the winners the good news?

Travis_Schuldt: Oh yes! It was a lot of fun. Alicia, I hope I didn't drag
it out too long! Are you still here? LOL

Alicia_Ziegler: Yes, I'm here!

Taylor_Anne_Mountz: I had a great time. I thought it was really fun, and
I was excited too, and anxious to hear his response.

NBCLive: We are almost out of time today, thanks everyone for joining us
and congratulations to the winners! Any last words for our audience
before signing off?

Taylor_Anne_Mountz: Watch Passions!

Ryan_Gessell: Send us fan mail so they keep us on!

Alicia_Ziegler: thank you NBC!

Travis_Schuldt: Yee-HAW!!!! Thanks, fans, for joining us in the chat room
and enjoying this moment with us and Taylor Anne and Ryan and Alicia.



NBCLive: Thank you for joining us tonight for this ground-
NBCLive: breaking event! Make sure to keep checking the Passions
NBCLive: website, www.nbc.com/passions, for exclusive information
NBCLive: on the winners and details of when they will be appear-
NBCLive: ing on Passions!
NBCLive: Also, be sure to check the site for information on
NBCLive: upcoming chat events with the stars of Passions!
NBCLive: Do you have any comments or questions about this
NBCLive: chat, or anything you've seen on the NBC television
NBCLive: network, or at www.nbc.com? Email us:
NBCLive: nbclive@nbc.com.
NBCLive: All of us at NBC and Talk City wish you a fantastic
NBCLive: evening, and we look forward to seeing you soon.
NBCLive: This live chat event has been a production of NBC.com
NBCLive: and Talk City, Inc. Copyright 2000, all rights reserved.

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