The importance of being insane.

They say the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again while expecting different results.

That can also, these days, define "foreign policy."

So, here's the quiz for my vast audience of five or six:

Last night I went to audition for a local production of The Importance of Being Earnest, one of my favorite plays since time immemorial. I'm thirty-five years old, and the male leads are in their late twenties, so it may be my last chance to play either of those roles, ever. Without sounding too cocky, I'd say my chances of landing a role are pretty good.

However, the final performances conflict with the Jacksonville Film Festival. I know the director of programming, you see, and she's all but guaranteed a spot for "The Cell-Phone" in their shorts programs. Anything could still happen, of course, which is why I'm not saying it's been officially accepted until it's been, well, officially accepted.

Now, given that for most festivals I have to buy my own travel, hotel, etc. this wouldn't be an issue. I'd simply elect to not attend. But Jacksonville is apparently unique; they pay the filmmakers to attend. Room, board, travel, the whole shebang. And given how important face-to-face interaction is in this biz, can I afford not to attend?

(Of course, I'm not sure whether shorts auteurs are given this treatment. It may only be certain filmmakers. The blurb I read wasn't entirely clear.)

The mercenary in me says, "OF COURSE you should go to Jacksonville! This is an opportunity to get ever-closer to your ultimate goal of taking over the world of short animation!" The social animal in me says, "But you've not acted since the summer, and you may never play this part again! Besides, wouldn't it be great to have a hobby outside the house again? What shall become of a man who gains the world and loses his sanity because he's stuck in front of a computer animating all the time?"

So that's my dilemma: Earnest or Jacksonville. For the sake of argument, leave aside the possibility that I won't get cast, or "The Cell-Phone" won't get programmed, either of which would solve all my problems. Here's your question: does deciding to do Earnest, as opposed to attending Jacksonville, qualify as a new definition of insanity?

Come on, lurkers, now's your chance to join in the fun! Just hit the "0 comments" link below! It's easy! And make it quick, because if I'm gonna not do Earnest, I'd like to let the director know tonight, which is the final night of auditions.