How To Audition for Film and TV
By Mark Stolzenberg
(Continued from the homepage) … large camera light in class. Students who study with me often say, “I went to a big audition today, and it was just like your class, so I felt confident and knew exactly what to do.” One of my students who had never acted in his life prior to studying at the School, signed up and took classes with me for six months. He then started auditioning and booked 20 movies in one year!
- Memorize your lines. It’s a lot of work to memorize, but it pays off. If you must rely on the script or sides, make sure you study with me or another expert in the art of reading off a script. Reading off a script requires training, coaching, and practice.
- Make bold, strong choices about what you are doing with the character and his or her predicament. Don’t be shy or tentative about your acting choices – own it! It is still possible that the casting director will give you adjustments to make. Listen carefully to those requested changes! You may have busted your chops working on a specific interpretation, but you need to go with the flow and accommodate the casting director’s suggestions. The casting director will be impressed if you can take direction well.
- Your default position for your eyeline should be right next to the lens. Do not look directly into the camera or play it to the casting director unless you are specifically asked to do so.
- Move things along rhythmically. Don’t sit on your lines in a self-indulgent manner. Really listen to the other character if lines are being read to you. Listening is even more important than speaking.
- Yes we all get nervous! Focus on your motivation, the imaginary place, and really talk to someone. Don’t act!!
- Don’t over intellectualize about your performance. Just bring the character to LIFE. And that’s it. Make him or her real.
Make bold, strong choices about what you are doing with the character and his or her predicament. Don’t be shy or tentative about your acting choices – own it!
- If you get a call back, wear the same outfit and give the same performance unless asked to do something different.
- You can ask one or two questions, but if more than that you may be viewed as a pain in the neck.
- Put your audition out there with confidence and then forget it and move on with your life.
If you would like to get started with NYC Acting Classes, including classes which teach you the business side of your budding acting career, call (212) 877-2219 and speak directly with Mark Stolzenberg, or click here.