AUDITIONING
It can be an entirely different animal than acting.
Your surroundings, your character's environment, your scene partner and
many other things are all different, and the biggie, you're AUDITIONING!
The main thing to keep in mind here is, you only have control
over the things you have control over.
You don't go on set thinking, "I hope they pick me!". You've got the role.
You're portraying your character, you have the environment to
settle into, and your scene partner is there with you, having an
on camera conversation with you, making things much easier.
Not to mention, you now have had time to read the entire script and
you understand more of your character's story.
In an audition, you're in a small room, the camera and the people behind it are
focused on you, you may have just received lines or sides the night before, and
you are often herded like sheep with the rest of the actors, being paraded by the director
one at a time in the most time efficient way possible.
In addition, the best actor doesn't always get the role. More often,
it's the actor who most fits the director's idea of the character that wins.
You have no control over that. So, that's something to toss over your shoulder.
Go in knowing that you've done your best to know your lines, your character's
history, environment, motivation, etc. That's something you DO have control over.
So, in short, do your best with what you have control over,
forget the rest, and relax. If you fit the role, you'll get it. And don't forget to breathe.
Practice Auditioning...
Also, just like everything else in life, practice makes perfect.
Find film schools whose students make films as part of their studies,
like MPI in Troy, and who hold open auditions. You can cold read on a dozen
or more auditions in a day. I once landed eight roles in one day!
(a cold read means you don't see the script until you get there)
If you get the role, and don't want it, you don't have to take it, but
you just got some great practice auditioning.
If you do take any roles, congratulations, now you get more practice
acting! If you turn down any roles, do it graciously, and don't burn bridges.
Besides being the right thing to do, you never know what student you piss off
today could be the next Steven Spielberg tomorrow!
Monologues...
On occasion, a casting director or agent may ask you to bring in a monologue.
Hmmm, what monologue do you use? Dramatic, comedic, romantic?
It depends on what kind of role you're auditioning for. Try to match one up
to your potential character, but always have a few practiced and ready to go.
Have a small variety of monologues in your arsenal. One from each of three
or four genres should be enough.
Try to find good monologues that in one minute or so can tell a quick story, and
lets the director or agent see that you can play that character and scene.
Also, try not to use well known material. They've probably seen the same films
you have, and may have heard those scenes a hundred times from other actors.
Do a Jack Nicholson scene, and they'll expect to see and hear Jack Nicholson.
No offense, but at this point, you're probably not Jack, and having a casting director
compare you to Jack will probably not be in your best interest.
Keep it fresh. They'll appreciate it, and you'll have a better shot.
Audition Etiquette...
Smiles, everyone! Of course, be polite, brief and professional. When you're one of
dozens or even hundreds of actors auditioning for a role, the director has no time
or interest in chewing the fat with you. And with so many people, come so many germs.
Don't shake hands unless they extend one first. Let them make that call.
Most likely, they will be sitting behind a table with a camera on it. Six to ten feet from the
camera will probably be a piece of tape or a mark on the floor which is where you stand
for your audition. Give your brief, pleasant greeting, hand them your headshot and resume,
and stand at your mark. This shows them you know where you're supposed to be, and they
will appreciate not having to tell you.
Slate...
Most often, you'll be giving a "slate" for the camera. Basically, they'll ask you to say your
name, what agency you're with, and what character you're auditioning for. This is how
they will identify you later when they're reviewing the auditions for the day.
Example...
"Hello. I'm Dave Kilgore, Charlie's Talent Agency, auditioning for the role of Curly."
You'll then take a breath, pull your character from within you, and nail the audition.
When do I know if I got it?
Never contact them, in any way, to ask if you got the role. You'll just aggravate them,
and they may not call you in for the next audition.
Generally, you only get contacted if you get called back for a second round of
auditions, or if you were given the role. When you see the movie or commercial, and
you're not in it, you probably didn't get it. This time.
More to come...