An Actors Auditiontips & Techniques

In this 3rd and final part of his interview for Backstage Duncan Stewart get's down to the nitty gritty of the audition and what a casing director expects from an actor.

Actors should take note that he says that if they make a mistake not to worry about it and get on with it. Don't stop and try to resrt as there's no need and often no time.

You must remember not to be afraid of the panel or the situation., It may well be a role you are desperate for or maybe you might simply need the money and it would

save your bacon. All of these emotions put unnecessary pressure on you, I know it's difficult to do but from my own experience, the auditions I went to where I thought

I didn't stand a chance - I always did well in. The only rational I have for this is, I didn't place any subconscious pressure on myself.

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Do You Really Want Success as An Actor?

What is success? it may be one thing to me and another to you. As a photographer I may think of a big exhibition or a coffee table book as success. A statement that I've arrived. On the other hand somebody else might well judge their success as earning a good steady living - being able to provide a decent standard of life for your family. As an actor it may be London's West End.

To be really successful how hard do we need to work and how hard do we need to push ourselves?

Well, Malcom Gladwell in his book Outliers says this "Once a musician has enough ability to get into a top music school, the thing that distinguishes one performer from another is how hard he or she works. That's it. And what's more, the people at the very top don't work just harder or even much harder than everyone else. They work much, much harder."

Another well know motivational speaker Tony Robbins says this about success. "If you want to be successful, find someone who has achieved the results you want and copy what they do and you'll achieve the same results".

Tony Robbins also said this,"In essence, if we want to direct our lives, we must take control of our consistent actions. It's not what we do once in a while that shapes our lives, but what we do consistently".

What's clear in all of those statements is the need to work harder than anybody and everybody else. I also take it that we need to consistently work hard, it's difficult when it feels as though you are constantly banging your head against a brick wall. When you can see no light at the end of the tunnel and your spirit begins to drop.Robbins also says "success leaves clues.”

We need to find the people that are the best at what they do, who are successful in the field we want to be in. We must use them as reference examples.  Work backwards from success to save time figuring it out from scratch.  Use the mistakes they made to to avoid the same ones. Model them to help find the short-cuts and the proven paths these people have used.

Gladwell says " to achieve mastery in anything....roughly takes 10,00o hours" Cuy this time dramatically by finding a mentor.

MT Expert's Ten Top Tips: Act your way to the top - Service ...

Successful actors rarely sit around waiting for their big break; they create their own opportunities, and then ensure they are prepared for them when they come through. Scan the horizon by searching periodicals, current events, ...

Publish Date: 02/12/2010 12:48

http://www.managementtoday.co.uk/

chocolategirl's blog: Motivation

Motivation is such a mystery. What makes some people so good at motivating themselves while others seem unable? Once you lose it, can you get it back? And how? I had a whole other topic for today's blog (Now THERE'S a southern ...

Publish Date: 01/29/2010 15:50

http://chocolategirlsblog.blogspot.com/

Headshot Insecureities

The little insecurities of an actor are a issues I come across on a regular basis as a headshot photographer in London.

I came across his great post on the Unscripted Blog and really thought it was worth a read as it gives an insight into the actors sensibilities. Angela Sauer expresses many of the sentiments I encounter everyday when shooting actors.

Headshot Photographer

As an actors headshot photographer I encounter many actors who imgine themselves in a different light when in front of the stills camera, especially if they have the time to over analyze the shots on the computer screen. Dealing with an actors insecurities about themselves and then encouraging them to express themselves is a major part of the headshot photographers ability. Often actors see flaws in themselves that are not really there or that are so insignificant as to be unnoticeable to the independent viewer. It can be difficult to remember that sometimes when you are convinced you have a big nose, or a smaller left eye or even as far as being preoccupied with things like my thinning hair or one ear larger than the other.

Often no amount of level headed objectivity can convince an actor that all those years of having that little green devil on their shoulder, is worrying over nothing at all. This is where one of the great benefits of digital photography comes into its own - people can actually see right there and then that they're worrying over nothing. Being fully aware of what I've said above about over analyzing a shot on the compute screen, if the photographer takes the time to explain his thought process from an objective point of view, as someone who is used to viewing hundreds of headshots on a regular basis. Explaining clearly what they actually see and just as plainly what they don't see. This can go a long way to alleviating the actors concerns over their little foibles. There is always the last resort too.

The Headshot and Photoshop

It also helps that you can use the magic of Photoshop to tweak the picture in front of their eyes, thus settling their nerves and calming all of their fears and worries , and the screaming of those little green devils on their shoulder. I must admit that I rarely need to make major adjustments to a headshot simply beacuse once the actor has managed to relax and relieve themselves of those little niggling worries they more often than not open up and express themselves so much better. Leading to a much better, more natural headshot that they are nearly always happy with and feel no need to have the retouching done anyway.

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To do really well in an audition you’ll have to practice your audition skills until they become second nature. Every single actor knows how critical a good audition is This and  your headshot are crucial to your success as an actor.

Giving your memory a good work out is one of the most valuable skills as it is critical to learning your lines. Making sure you have a few pieces memorized is absolutely essential for any actor. Every actor should set aside at least 15 minutes of their schedule everyday and practice their reading. It’s imperative that you have several audition pieces and that you practice them on a regular basis along with your sight-reading skills. Having these two techniques thoroughly practiced and comfortably in your ‘locker’ relieves the pressure on the day of the audition.

You can begin by simply taking a few sentences from a script or a play and reading them aloud. Take a good look at them and try to repeat the sentences without looking back at the passage. The first time you may well struggle with just a few words. But within 15-20 minutes or so, as you continue to practice, you will find that you will memorize the whole of the sentence and maybe part of the second, and so on. Whatever you do, you have to perfect your skills. You have to put your time and energy into them. The more you practice, the more you’ll be prepared. Then if you get a sudden call for an audition, your preparation will definitely pay off. But you should also remember that improvisation is one of the greatest skills an actor can have. You can be funny, creative, energetic or even solemn, pensive and thoughtful to bring life into the character.

If you read well and you’re right for the part hopefully you’ll get that callback. What happens if you read well but and your audition piece is wrong – well that’s just tough luck. Take it on the chin and get on with it – and learn for the next time. Don’t beat yourself up over it. Think of it as a learning experience and make sure you’re better prepared next time.

The casting director may well think that you are a good actor, but not exactly suitable for the role. Maybe they thought you didn’t understand the character correctly – another essential skill for the actor. As an actor you’ll have to learn to make those choices and interpretations, as they’re crucial to a successful audition. When you’re introduced to the character, you’ll have to visualize and understand what the character is all about. Essentially you'll do  your own version of the role, but it’s you who brings the character to life.

Everyone likes a creative and intelligent actor but a director will be more impressed by an actor who can follow direction. You should keep in mind that you’re there to impress, to get the role but you’re also there to follow direction and bring a character to life under that direction. You may well be asked to read with another actor, a complete stranger auditioning at the same time, or someone employed by the casting directors to play a role across the whole day for everyone the same way. If you have a chance to practice together – great – do it. If you don’t and you have to do your duologue straight off, make the most of it. Give it you’re best shot and try to bounce off the other actor, look for clues in their speech and actions and feed off those for a better, more realistic performance.

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Want To Make It Big As An Actor?

I know this is the motivation for many actors especially those just starting out on their career - to 'make it big'.

Whether it's as a a movie star or simply to make it financially the desire usually burns bright. These two desired outcomes often come hand in hand together but some times the money comes before stardom.

There are many so called 'jobbing actors' who are neither famous nor financially secure yet who are well know amongst their peers and who have a good solid earning capacity.

Is it better to earn a good living doing something you love, something that satisfies your heart or is it better to constantly berate yourself for 'not making it big' but be a working actor?

Whatever the most important motivation is, it's more critical that you feel as though progress is being made towards your goal - constant progress.

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