Hints for Auditions
Sat, 2 Oct 2004, 09:54 pmcrgwllms1 post in thread
Hints for Auditions
Sat, 2 Oct 2004, 09:54 pmHINTS FOR AUDITIONS
Prepared by Jenni Cohen Casting and the WA Equity section of MEAA
Always try to enjoy the experience of the audition. It is a great way to keep your skills tuned and a great way to network.
AUDITIONS AND YOUR AGENTS
When your agent calls to book you for an audition, remember to ask:
- What is the audition for?
- Where is the audition?
- What time is the audition?
- How long will the audition take? (Understand how much time you will be given to present yourself.)
- What is the part?
- Have they given you any hint about the character?
- Are there any dress requirements for the character?
- Are any accents required?
- Is there a script available to learn?
- Any physical movement skills required? If so, wear something you can move comfortably in.
- When is the shoot date? (Make sure you are available for the part you are auditioning for. It's not good form to take up a director's time only for them to find you're not available.)
- What is the fee, if chosen for the job?
BEFORE THE AUDITION
- Prepare as much as you can. If you have a script, learn and practise it. If there is no script then make sure you find out as much as possible from your agent and do a little research.
- Practise in front of a mirror, in front of a home movie camera, or with someone.
- Dress appropriately, i.e. if there are dress requirements, follow them. If possible, wear something suitable for the part you're auditioning for; otherwise, smart casual.
- Take a brief resume/CV, with your vital statistics (height, suit size, etc). Casting agents sometimes ask you to fill these details on one of their forms, while waiting.
- Make sure you know where the audition location is. (Look it up in the map book or even do a trial run to the location). Allow for traffic, and finding parking.
- Be there 5 to 10 minutes before time.
- If you are late or lost, call your agent immediately so that they can contact the casting director.
- Stretch; do a vocal warm up; relax. Have a water bottle handy.
- Turn off your mobile phone
DURING THE AUDITION
- Be aware of the space you are in, and the type of role you are auditioning for. (i.e. for theatre/musicals, they want to hear you fill the space. For camera, they want you to be natural.)
- If you are talking to an 'invisible' character, decide on a fixed point to focus your eyeline.
- Find out how tightly the camera is focussed on you. Be careful, if you move, that you don't go out of frame. If it's a tight close up, keep all movement to a minimum.
- Listen to what the casting director asks. They are looking to see if you can take instruction.
- Don't look down the barrel of the camera unless directed.
- If you are reading from a script, hold it so your face is not obscured, and look down as little as possible.
- Remember that the camera picks up everything so underplay rather than overplay.
- Keep acting until you hear 'cut'.
- Be prepared to try things several different ways. If you're given direction, make bold choices in that direction.
AFTER THE AUDITION
- Review what went well or what could've been better...but don't get too stressed about it!
- Call your agent and let them know how the audition went.
- Ask your agent when they expect to hear the results and can they try to get feedback if possible. Keep your schedule free until then.
- Follow up with a call about a week later.
- Forget about it and look forward to the next one!
Prepared by Jenni Cohen Casting and the WA Equity section of MEAA
Always try to enjoy the experience of the audition. It is a great way to keep your skills tuned and a great way to network.
AUDITIONS AND YOUR AGENTS
When your agent calls to book you for an audition, remember to ask:
- What is the audition for?
- Where is the audition?
- What time is the audition?
- How long will the audition take? (Understand how much time you will be given to present yourself.)
- What is the part?
- Have they given you any hint about the character?
- Are there any dress requirements for the character?
- Are any accents required?
- Is there a script available to learn?
- Any physical movement skills required? If so, wear something you can move comfortably in.
- When is the shoot date? (Make sure you are available for the part you are auditioning for. It's not good form to take up a director's time only for them to find you're not available.)
- What is the fee, if chosen for the job?
BEFORE THE AUDITION
- Prepare as much as you can. If you have a script, learn and practise it. If there is no script then make sure you find out as much as possible from your agent and do a little research.
- Practise in front of a mirror, in front of a home movie camera, or with someone.
- Dress appropriately, i.e. if there are dress requirements, follow them. If possible, wear something suitable for the part you're auditioning for; otherwise, smart casual.
- Take a brief resume/CV, with your vital statistics (height, suit size, etc). Casting agents sometimes ask you to fill these details on one of their forms, while waiting.
- Make sure you know where the audition location is. (Look it up in the map book or even do a trial run to the location). Allow for traffic, and finding parking.
- Be there 5 to 10 minutes before time.
- If you are late or lost, call your agent immediately so that they can contact the casting director.
- Stretch; do a vocal warm up; relax. Have a water bottle handy.
- Turn off your mobile phone
DURING THE AUDITION
- Be aware of the space you are in, and the type of role you are auditioning for. (i.e. for theatre/musicals, they want to hear you fill the space. For camera, they want you to be natural.)
- If you are talking to an 'invisible' character, decide on a fixed point to focus your eyeline.
- Find out how tightly the camera is focussed on you. Be careful, if you move, that you don't go out of frame. If it's a tight close up, keep all movement to a minimum.
- Listen to what the casting director asks. They are looking to see if you can take instruction.
- Don't look down the barrel of the camera unless directed.
- If you are reading from a script, hold it so your face is not obscured, and look down as little as possible.
- Remember that the camera picks up everything so underplay rather than overplay.
- Keep acting until you hear 'cut'.
- Be prepared to try things several different ways. If you're given direction, make bold choices in that direction.
AFTER THE AUDITION
- Review what went well or what could've been better...but don't get too stressed about it!
- Call your agent and let them know how the audition went.
- Ask your agent when they expect to hear the results and can they try to get feedback if possible. Keep your schedule free until then.
- Follow up with a call about a week later.
- Forget about it and look forward to the next one!
crgwllmsSat, 2 Oct 2004, 09:54 pm
HINTS FOR AUDITIONS
Prepared by Jenni Cohen Casting and the WA Equity section of MEAA
Always try to enjoy the experience of the audition. It is a great way to keep your skills tuned and a great way to network.
AUDITIONS AND YOUR AGENTS
When your agent calls to book you for an audition, remember to ask:
- What is the audition for?
- Where is the audition?
- What time is the audition?
- How long will the audition take? (Understand how much time you will be given to present yourself.)
- What is the part?
- Have they given you any hint about the character?
- Are there any dress requirements for the character?
- Are any accents required?
- Is there a script available to learn?
- Any physical movement skills required? If so, wear something you can move comfortably in.
- When is the shoot date? (Make sure you are available for the part you are auditioning for. It's not good form to take up a director's time only for them to find you're not available.)
- What is the fee, if chosen for the job?
BEFORE THE AUDITION
- Prepare as much as you can. If you have a script, learn and practise it. If there is no script then make sure you find out as much as possible from your agent and do a little research.
- Practise in front of a mirror, in front of a home movie camera, or with someone.
- Dress appropriately, i.e. if there are dress requirements, follow them. If possible, wear something suitable for the part you're auditioning for; otherwise, smart casual.
- Take a brief resume/CV, with your vital statistics (height, suit size, etc). Casting agents sometimes ask you to fill these details on one of their forms, while waiting.
- Make sure you know where the audition location is. (Look it up in the map book or even do a trial run to the location). Allow for traffic, and finding parking.
- Be there 5 to 10 minutes before time.
- If you are late or lost, call your agent immediately so that they can contact the casting director.
- Stretch; do a vocal warm up; relax. Have a water bottle handy.
- Turn off your mobile phone
DURING THE AUDITION
- Be aware of the space you are in, and the type of role you are auditioning for. (i.e. for theatre/musicals, they want to hear you fill the space. For camera, they want you to be natural.)
- If you are talking to an 'invisible' character, decide on a fixed point to focus your eyeline.
- Find out how tightly the camera is focussed on you. Be careful, if you move, that you don't go out of frame. If it's a tight close up, keep all movement to a minimum.
- Listen to what the casting director asks. They are looking to see if you can take instruction.
- Don't look down the barrel of the camera unless directed.
- If you are reading from a script, hold it so your face is not obscured, and look down as little as possible.
- Remember that the camera picks up everything so underplay rather than overplay.
- Keep acting until you hear 'cut'.
- Be prepared to try things several different ways. If you're given direction, make bold choices in that direction.
AFTER THE AUDITION
- Review what went well or what could've been better...but don't get too stressed about it!
- Call your agent and let them know how the audition went.
- Ask your agent when they expect to hear the results and can they try to get feedback if possible. Keep your schedule free until then.
- Follow up with a call about a week later.
- Forget about it and look forward to the next one!
Prepared by Jenni Cohen Casting and the WA Equity section of MEAA
Always try to enjoy the experience of the audition. It is a great way to keep your skills tuned and a great way to network.
AUDITIONS AND YOUR AGENTS
When your agent calls to book you for an audition, remember to ask:
- What is the audition for?
- Where is the audition?
- What time is the audition?
- How long will the audition take? (Understand how much time you will be given to present yourself.)
- What is the part?
- Have they given you any hint about the character?
- Are there any dress requirements for the character?
- Are any accents required?
- Is there a script available to learn?
- Any physical movement skills required? If so, wear something you can move comfortably in.
- When is the shoot date? (Make sure you are available for the part you are auditioning for. It's not good form to take up a director's time only for them to find you're not available.)
- What is the fee, if chosen for the job?
BEFORE THE AUDITION
- Prepare as much as you can. If you have a script, learn and practise it. If there is no script then make sure you find out as much as possible from your agent and do a little research.
- Practise in front of a mirror, in front of a home movie camera, or with someone.
- Dress appropriately, i.e. if there are dress requirements, follow them. If possible, wear something suitable for the part you're auditioning for; otherwise, smart casual.
- Take a brief resume/CV, with your vital statistics (height, suit size, etc). Casting agents sometimes ask you to fill these details on one of their forms, while waiting.
- Make sure you know where the audition location is. (Look it up in the map book or even do a trial run to the location). Allow for traffic, and finding parking.
- Be there 5 to 10 minutes before time.
- If you are late or lost, call your agent immediately so that they can contact the casting director.
- Stretch; do a vocal warm up; relax. Have a water bottle handy.
- Turn off your mobile phone
DURING THE AUDITION
- Be aware of the space you are in, and the type of role you are auditioning for. (i.e. for theatre/musicals, they want to hear you fill the space. For camera, they want you to be natural.)
- If you are talking to an 'invisible' character, decide on a fixed point to focus your eyeline.
- Find out how tightly the camera is focussed on you. Be careful, if you move, that you don't go out of frame. If it's a tight close up, keep all movement to a minimum.
- Listen to what the casting director asks. They are looking to see if you can take instruction.
- Don't look down the barrel of the camera unless directed.
- If you are reading from a script, hold it so your face is not obscured, and look down as little as possible.
- Remember that the camera picks up everything so underplay rather than overplay.
- Keep acting until you hear 'cut'.
- Be prepared to try things several different ways. If you're given direction, make bold choices in that direction.
AFTER THE AUDITION
- Review what went well or what could've been better...but don't get too stressed about it!
- Call your agent and let them know how the audition went.
- Ask your agent when they expect to hear the results and can they try to get feedback if possible. Keep your schedule free until then.
- Follow up with a call about a week later.
- Forget about it and look forward to the next one!