Why you should always be polite at a casting call or audition
Why you should always be polite at a casting call or audition
Undercover operatives
I have a friend who is a casting director for a number of well-known TV shows. When she conducts open audition days she often sits on the registration desk and helps with the registration of people auditioning for the available roles. Why does she do this? People are still relaxed while they are registering, they are still being themselves so she gets to see what people are like before they are ‘on’ during the audition.
My friend finds this to be an exceptionally valuable casting technique. She is often able to put together a shortlist of her ‘favourites’ by using this technique. By the end of the day it’s often that same list of favourites who get booked for a screen test.
You catch more flies with honey than vinegar…
So what can you learn from this? This biggest take away here is that it never hurts to be friendly to everyone! It could be the guy calling the next person to audition or the person doing the registrations if you’re nice to everyone, you’ll leave the best possible impression on the day and that’s really your main objective.
Moral of the story, it’s just as your mother used to say… “If you don’t have something nice to say, don’t say anything at all!’
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What role should I audition for?
The purpose of an audition is for the casting director to find the right person for each role in what ever it is that they are casting. It’s worth remembering that they have a clear vision of what they want to create in their minds, and that means that sometimes you’re going to be a perfect fit and other times you’re not. This is no fault of your own… but before you get disheartened because you didn’t get a role you wanted, consider that you may not have had the look that they were looking for. You might have been too tall or too short and these are things that you can’t control so don’t fret, just move on to the next audition with your head high!
A good casting director will let you know this sort of feedback in the room, which is nice because it helps you to understand their motivation and what went into the decision making process.
Finding the right role for you is more important than how many lines you have.
When it comes to choosing which audition to go to there are a number of things to consider. In the beginning it might be a good idea to go to a couple of auditions just to get a feel for what they are all about so you know what to expect. But once you have a handle on it, and you start to understand the process a little better you can be a little more selective.
You’re not always going to be a perfect fit for every lead role, and the times you are, get in there and give it everything you have and win the part. But it’s also worth remembering that if you’re not a perfect fit for the lead, you may be perfectly suited to one of the supporting roles or being part of the chorus (for that production). So think carefully about the role you want to audition for, and go for it. If you audition for a supporting role and the director seeing something special in you that would work in a more senior role, they’ll let you know.
Moral to the story, audition for the role you think you are the best fit for. Sometimes that will be the lead role and other times not, but remember that the casting director will know the talent he or she is looking for when they see it. So do you homework, be prepared and give it your best shot, whatever the role is.
Acting Tip: The Motionless Figure
It’s a common saying in theatre that the moving figure dominates, but that’s not the whole story. Actors are taught from the beginning of their careers that the audience pays more attention to the person moving than to the person talking. This is true to a point. The moving figure may dominate the stage, but it’s the motionless figure that captures the attention of the audience.
In theatre as in life, we are drawn to people who seem calm and collected and we are wary of those who seem quietly dangerous. Our eyes may move to the man who is walking, but our attention always returns to the man who stands his ground.
The actor gains respect onstage by choosing the most powerful moments to stand perfectly still, to and delivery their lines clearly sand powerfully to maximum effect.
For a list of theatre auditions near you check and 1,000s of other casting calls, go to TalentJug.com
Mastering the Art of Facial Expressions during an open audition
The face can convey many emotions and attitudes and can make dozens of expressions. Facial expressions are very important to stage actors, but are a crucial component of movie and TV acting…especially for close-ups.
Using facial expressions is equally if not more important when you’re casting for a role at an open casting call. It is the only opportunity the director and casting team will get to see you delivering your lines live, and often they will have seen many people in one day. So it crucial that you really nail the facial expressions. This is true not only of the character you are portraying as part of applying for the role, but also when waiting to be called in, during the audition and afterward. Master of your facial expressions can be key to leaving a good impression.
The face can convey so much and so quickly. The face can show fear, anger, serenity, hate, love, sadness, happiness, awe, confusion, panic, determination, disdain, surprise,
and humility even without having to move the body or speak.
It’s amazing when you think about all the things the face can do. You can tell a whole story with just the face and a few body movements.Watch an old silent movie sometime to get an idea of just how important the face is to acting.
Prior to going on stage or before the cameras many actors do facial exercises such as opening the mouth as wide as possible, making exaggerated chewing motions with the mouth and jaws, pursing the lips, grinning, frowning, raising and lowering the eyebrows, opening the eyes as wide as possible, and squinting. These types of facial exercises can help you master the art of conveying emotion and attitude through your facial expressions
How important is having a headshot at an Open Audition?
A headshot is an actor’s most important marketing tool. It IS your first impression – it can lose you the job or get you the role you’ve always dreamed of!
After all if you’re going to make the effort to get to the open auditions in Los Angeles or an open call in New York (or whatever town you’re in) you should be fully prepared. And that means having a great headshot. It’s the only thing a casting agent will have to remember you by when you leave so it’s critical that you not only make a good first impression but that you also leave a memorable lasting impression with your headshot.
Your headshot is your calling card – it represents you – so it better look like you…and when you walk through the door with your headshot, be sure you look like your headshot!
A great headshot will intrigue the viewer and make them want to meet you. It will hint at certain aspects of your personality and leave the viewer curious and wanting more.
You only have one chance – one photo to make a good first impression, to show what you look like as well as your body type and to convince a casting agency or director that you have loads of personality.
Some actors may find it necessary to have at least two distinct photos showing contrasting emotions or looks because it’s important to have a photo that is the right “look” for your particular industry.
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