Back in 2004 I was invited to audition for a movie that was looking for either an actor who could fake playing piano, or a player who could act. The role was a 1930’s sidekick bandleader, a fourth scripted role. I got the gig, and learned all the piano parts by ear from the prerecorded soundtrack. The first run through, the director realizes I’m actually playing along to the soundtracked piano and from that point on, my hands are filmed extensively. Scripted scenes went off fine. But I did have other filmies asking how long I’d been playing piano… all my life, I said. But how long have I been acting? About 10 minutes. I won best supporting actor (not the Oscars, folks, ha ha). Anyhoo, that led to a couple more auditions, but I dropped out. Oscar Levant, I’m not!