Need some movie and TV audition and interview advice? There is an art to auditioning. Learn how to avoid the most common audition mistakes and make the most of your auditions.
These articles contain advice and guidance from casting directors, talent agents, actors and filmmakers.
| Audition & Interview Advice |
Meeting with a Talent Agent
Before we tackle this subject, let's make something clear. I want to like
you. It's my job to sign actors and if you're sitting in my office, that
means you did something right. Maybe I noticed your submission. |
Your Interview with an Agent
So, Tell Me About Yourself. Do these words strike fear into your heart? Or
are you thinking, "Finally, someone wants to know about me!"? What do you
say to such a broad opening line? |
Ten Interview Blunders Actors Make - and How to Correct Them
Let's assume the fishing for representation is over. You've got a bite and
someone wants to interview you -- an agent, manager, or casting director.
The dreaded interview looms. What do you do? How do you not blow it? The
following examples, positive and negative, are taken from real interviews. |
Tips for Beating Shyness
It's difficult not to ponder human vagaries when someone proclaims, "I am
shy" then instantly adds, "I want to act." it's like hearing: "I'm afraid of
heights. I want to be an astronaut." Or, "I'm afraid of water. I want to be
an Olympic swimmer." |
Coping with Audition Nerves
You finally got the audition slot you wanted. You've practiced your
monologue over and over, dressed your best, and given yourself plenty of
time to get to the audition. Now you're here, your appointment is in five
minutes and your heart is pounding, your knees are shaking, and you can't
breathe. How do you get relaxed, yet maintain your focus? |
Audition Basics
Auditions are a nerve-wracking and difficult experience for most actors, but
they are an essential part of the job. Here's how the audition process
generally works and a few tips on how to perform your best in front of the
casting director or producer. |
Audition Fundamentals
The basic purpose of auditioning is to showcase your skills and prowess as
an actor. It is therefore necessary that you prepare yourself as a
professional who knows what he or she is doing. |
Audition Procedures
What is an acting audition? It is important that you understand that
auditions are primarily interviews or trial acting performances that have
been organized in order to discover and even test your acting talents
(hidden or obvious). Whether the role being cast calls for an actor, singer
or dancer, you will take part in an audition. |
Audition Preparation Tips
Your acting audition is a big test of your ability so why not ensure that
you get the basics right to improve your chances of being cast. We can't
always tell you exactly what to expect, but at least a little preparation
and research about the basics of your next audition will help you to relax,
so you can focus on the more important parts of the audition. |
Auditioning Tips
Film and theater auditioning, like any other performance, requires careful
planning and preparation. Before you attend your very first acting audition,
you should have a strong understanding of the central casting process. With
a little knowledge, understanding, and the following audition tips and
guides, you should have no trouble at your next acting audition or casting
call. |
Tips for a Successful Audition
How many times have you thought that you had failed in something, when
everyone else is telling you that it's all "down to experience" and "a
learning curve"? Well, I don't want to point out the obvious but it really
is true. This applies to everything from to trying to come first in your 200
meter sprint at your school's games day, to getting your first audition, and
trying to find your perfect role. |
Tips, Tools and Truth about Your First Audition
The importance that many budding actors lay on their first acting audition
is spectacular and makes my heart melt every time. Strictly speaking, the
audition is fairly important - you won't get your next acting job without
it. Sadly though, so many actors fail their first auditions because they are
too uptight and worried that it won't go smoothly. |
Improve Every Audition
You are at your audition to work as an actor. Every audition is an opportunity
to perform for an audience. No, it is not a "performance" but it is still acting.
Forget about who is in the waiting room, the quality of the reader, the response
in the room. Focus on what you can control - your work. |
Audition Strategies: Unmask the Classic Myth
Being an aspiring actor does not necessarily equal being miserable.
Nevertheless, countless actors will argue the point, saying that struggling
and going hungry is all part of the package; that it's an accepted, or
guaranteed reality. This kind of sad logic is not only self-defeating, but
ironically enough, completely unnecessary. |
Audition Strategies: Stay Upbeat to Stay in the Running
When you get to your audition, make sure you've "shaken off" any negative
influences that might be upsetting you that day. Forget the car trouble or
other pressures for now. In order to be at your absolute best, you've got to
be in a vibrant, upbeat frame of mind. |
Audition Strategies: It Pays to Know Your Niche
Your appearance, from the way you dress and speak to the way you carry
yourself, is what's called your "type" or niche - how the people who run the
casting machine instantly classify you and your acting style. More often
than not, your niche coincides with someone currently in the mainstream. |
Audition Strategies: Have "Another" Audition in Your Hip Pocket
Just before your TV series or film audition, you may ask the director his or her point of view in order to confirm the choices you've
carefully made for your character. And if you do, you'd better be ready for some curve balls. For instance, what you may have confidently
interpreted as lively and genuine warmth on the part of your character, may turn out to be a faηade for guilt. |
Audition Strategies: Improve your Improv!
It's fair to say that nearly half the commercials you'll audition for will invariably require improvisation in one form or another. Consequently,
you'll enjoy an enormous advantage by developing strong improvisation skills. As a past casting director, I've been appalled at the high
number of actors who sadly neglect this essential skill. |
Audition Strategies: Beware of Zombie Casting Directors!
At nearly a third of all your auditions, you're going to encounter a "zombie" casting director. That's one who reads the other character's
lines during your audition, but gives you so little emotionally, you'd swear they don't have a pulse. The reason is they're either too tired
from seeing scores of actors all day, or they simply don't have an acting background and aren't familiar with the concept of providing you with
something to "feed off of." Somehow, they expect you to materialize a performance by some kind of mystical, solo osmosis. |
Audition Strategies: Temper Enthusiasm with Business Sense
New actors often overlook the necessity of doing things in a logical, properly conceived order. As a result, they often engage in a classic
self-sabotaging activity. It could be aptly named, "Getting to market before the crop's ready." In their excitement and enthusiasm
to get ahead, they actually succeed in severely delaying, rather than accelerating their progress. |
Audition Strategies: Adopt the "En Garde!" Stance
Instantly snapping your script into the most advantageous reading position, with a minimum of movement and hesitation just before you begin
your audition, radiates self-assurance. It's almost as if you're confidently declaring, "En garde." And once your script is in position,
make every attempt to keep it there. Bringing it up to your face each time for a line, and then lowering it, then bringing it up and lowering it again,
is a monotonous habit that invariably distracts those watching you. Your poise will seem far more professional if you keep your script continuously in one spot. |
Audition Strategies: Harness the Power of Habit
Have you ever heard or used the expression, "I couldn't help it -- force of habit"? Never underestimate the potential of that "force." We hardly
think of it as a potential for anything because the phrase usually arises from doing things with negative associations, like thoughtless behavior
or careless blunders. Yet, the results that can arise from harnessing habitual, productive behavior can be anything but negative or thoughtless.
In fact, it can be downright astonishing. |
Auditioning and What You Can Expect
Auditioning is a funny thing. It's difficult to understand and figure out what a casting director is thinking, what he/she is looking for and why really
you have been chosen or why not. The fact is that 99% of the time you never find out, especially the why not. Here are some interesting thoughts, observations
and experiences from me. |
Auditioning and What You Can Expect Part 2
After about twelve auditions and castings and not getting one callback, I realized I should probably take an on-camera commercial class. While
some actors tell me that twelve auditions without a callback is common, I still began to wonder if there was something I could do to better my chances. |
Auditioning and What You Can Expect Part 3
Once I took a workshop with a noted soap casting director named Rob Decina. He was telling us about the audition process. He told us that for contract roles,
which to my understanding are the regular main characters that you see each and every day, he sees 350 actors in NY and then flies to LA to see 350 more.
Only a few are chosen to audition again and from them, just two or three are chosen to do a screen test with one of the real actors and after all that,
only one actor is chosen! His point was to go audition and then move on with your acting career and your life. |
Cold Reading
Cold reading is the art of auditioning with script in hand. Although script
sides are supposed to be given to an actor at least 24 hours before the
audition, sometimes you won't even see a script until you walk into the
audition. This is why cold reading is such an important skill for actors
wanting to work in commercials, film, and television. |
Advice to Actors on Cold Reading & Booking Jobs
When you are starting out in your career, you must first understand that it is a career, not a job. Your job is to work your career.
A career spans a lifetime and the only way that you will fail, is if you quit. With that said, make sure you think of yourself as if
you are in training for the Hollywood Olympic Committee. You need to practice everyday. Go out on as many auditions as possible so that
you become an expert at booking. Learn how to work a room. Learn how to work your techniques. Learn how to book. Keep your work simple. |
Audition Rejection - Don't Take It Personally
The next time you are tempted to give up and throw in the towel after a
frustrating audition, remember that some things are simply not in your
control. There are times that you just can't land the role--no matter how
well you read for it. Don't take every rejection as a reflection on your
ability, because sometimes skill just has nothing to do with it! |
The Secret to Dealing with Audition Rejection
There are ways of handling rejection which I strongly do not suggest. You
know them all. But there are healthy ways to cope with the hurt inherent in
this profession: work out your feelings in the gym, jog, clean your
apartment, go to a movie, take an extra dance class or singing lesson or
coaching session. |
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