CASTING AUDITIONS
What are Casting Auditions ?
Casting Auditions - Interview for actors conducted by a director or a casting director in order to determine if the actor fits the role. The actor should prepare a monologue or in most cases read from the project's sides.
Usually after a successful audition, the actor would be asked to come again for a callback.
Some auditions involve cold reading, or performing a script that the actor is not familiar with. This is similar to many dance auditions, in which the focus is on learning new choreography, rather than showcasing prepared work.
For smaller roles in a large production, mass auditions are held at which many inexperienced or aspiring performers, most without agents or manager show up. These are popularly known as cattle calls, since the hopefuls are often kept together in one large room like a herd. American Idol is doing auditions by using this technique, since there are so many auditions.
Casting Auditions Advice from Casting Directors :
While you are
at an audition, there are
absolutely some obstacles that
one will find themselves in.
Possibly, not even while you are
at an audition, but while you
are acting in any form. However,
more commonly you will
experience this particular type
of anxiety in the audition room
when you are asked to perform a
cold reading from the script. It
is in these few precious moments
that one must zone all of his or
her attention to the script and
begin to think several critical
questions in order to establish
a character instantly.
For the beginning actor, even
the more advanced actor,
establishing a deep and
intriguing character instantly
is one of great trouble.
However, it does not have to be
this way. It only takes a few
moments, and a basic
understanding of human emotions.
And after grasping this notion,
you can establish a character
instantly that has depth and
meaning.
As working as a Casting Director
for several years, it is very
common for me to sit in my
casting chair, and watch
countless actors and actresses
walk in and out of my room with
literally the same performance.
It used to baffle me when
watching, and thinking to
myself, "I have seen this person
before." And in all actuality I
have never met them in my entire
life. This feeling was brought
on by their performance. It is
because each of these actors
gave a very flat and, dare I
say, boring performance.
If one was to gaze at acting in
the sense of a terrain - strange
I know. However, visualize a
gorgeous mountain range, one
full of deep valleys, and
extreme highs. There are
literally millions of nooks and
crannies that one could easily
get lost in, and trying to
explore the entire terrain would
be close to impossible - and
yet, one still wants to do so.
And now visualize a plane - one
from the Midwest, to where you
can see for miles and miles.
There are no hills, there are no
mountains; the only thing that
is prevalent within eyesight is
flatness. Upon first gaze, one
is immediately bored. There is
absolutely nothing that catches
the eye. Nothing is interesting,
and soon one begins to turn its
back and walk away.
Now compare these two terrains
with acting styles. The first
terrain, or actor, has depth.
They have knowledge that the
human psyche is one full of
crevices and caves. With extreme
highs and glorious lows. There
performance is that of depth,
and perception. Never knowing
what is going to happen around
the next turn - or the next
page. And now think of the
second terrain. Boring, flat,
monotonous. Everything is the
same; it is as if the repeat
button was turned on while God
was creating it. Now apply this
to acting, it is very common,
and very sad, that millions of
actors possess this type of
acting style. One that is
boring, and monotonous. One that
is predictable, and has no use
of imagination; it is this last
terrain that as a Casting
Director is an immediate "no."
Now that we
know the different types of
acting styles - of course, it is
a very simple and generic
formation of the various types
of styles. Now we can delve into
how to make an instant and
stable character.
The first thing one must
remember is to use your time
wisely! Once the Audition Side
is handed to you, the Casting
Director will allow you several
minutes to read of the script
and let you become familiarized
with it. And this is when the
downfall for most actors begins.
DO NOT MEMORIZE THE SCENE!!!
This is where most actors go
wrong. They the precious moments
that they are given to memorize
the scene in which was handed to
them, this a massive mistake. I
know by now you are slightly
confused about why I am saying
this, but if one was to really
think about it, the answer would
automatically pop up inside of
their head.
While you are sitting there,
memorizing your lines, you are
paying little or no attention to
why the lines are being stated.
You are simply memorizing. And
by doing so you are trapping
yourself inside of a creative
block. This is due to the fact
that when performing you are
worried about what line is next,
you begin to completely push
aside any emotions that will
automatically arise inside of
you if you are truly connected
with your character and the
scene.
The second reason why memorizing
an audition side can be harmful,
is because the time allotted, is
usually - at maximum - two
minutes. Unless you have a true
photogenic memory, this two
minutes will not be enough for
you to truly memorize - or even
finish "memorizing" the scene.
So, this in turn, will let you
be slightly familiar with the
beginning of the scene, but
towards the end you will find
yourself completely lost.
So, how do you use your time
wisely? Well, first, read the
scene completely through,
familiarize yourself with what
is going on. Gather the main
emotion for your character
within the scene. Once this
information is gathered, than
you will be able to instantly be
able to create your character.
EXAMPLE: The scene involves a
teenager and his mother. Within
the first opening beats, the
teenager's attitude reads that
of being aggravated. And the
mother is that of being
over-protective and worried.
There are your main emotions. If
you are a human, which hopefully
you are, than you know how to
act and react within these
emotions. The teenage will begin
aggravated, and then defensive,
and then angry. And the mother
will become worried, hurt,
upset, disappointed, etc. Of
course, the range of the
emotional plane will vary
depending on the particular
scene.
Now that you know the absolute
basic of creating and
establishing a character
instantly, good luck, and many
blessings on your acting
career!!!