There is no question that the majority of people wish to avoid a state of conflict and drama. It can inevitably lead to anxious feelings, fear, and chaos. However, when it comes to acting auditions, conflict is necessary to a successful reading. In order to have a good audition, it is necessary for an actor to find the conflict within a story and within a character.
Perhaps one of the most common conflicts, internal conflicts are those that consist of the psyche battling between opposing desires and feelings. Persons and characters can also experience conflict externally with fate, the environment, the world, and God. And, of course, relational conflicts exist as well. Typically, an actor is only given the dialogue, a brief outline of the character's personality, and a story overview when they are asked to read. Some form of conflict always exists in a story and personality. It is the actor's job to find the hidden conflict and give it life in their audition.
Instability is always exciting regardless of how uncomfortable or stressful it may be. Instability in a character or story adds depth and movement. After you have gotten a handle on the personality of the character, there are naturally going to be difficulties and obstacles that that character must face. Life is always this way. Our life's hurdles must be overcome and manipulated until they become collaborators in our lives. Think about the movie, "Midnight Run". In the film, Robert De Niro is a bounty hunter who has the responsibility of finding Charles Grodin's character. Jack, played by De Niro, needs to collect his bounty by bringing in Mardukas, played by Grodin. Jack experiences numerous conflicts in the form of other bounty hunters, his personal turmoil, and, of course, Mardukas.
All of the answers may not be provided to you in the material provided to you at the audition. Improve your acting audition by using the dialogue and the clues therein to create a character full of depth and truth. Doing so will hold the attention of the auditor and make you more likely to obtain the role. Far worse than creating the "wrong" conflict is delivering a performance without any emotion and depth. With these skills, your auditioning skills are sure to improve.
Make sure that the conflict you create is multi-dimensional. The average character will have several different desires and feelings that are in constant struggle with each other. Using this to your advantage during an audition will make for an exciting reading. Creating a character's personality is far more important than the lines that are being read.
Although your character may be the only live person in the scene, there are doubtless other hidden forces affecting his or her life. Being able to bring these hidden elements to life is what will separate you from the other actors and make your audition a success. Another thing to remember about conflict. Conflict should always be slightly comedic. Levity is a part of even the deepest conflict. Neglecting to add comedy will make the reading unwatchable. With both conflict and comedy combined, your reading is sure to be a success.
Perhaps one of the most common conflicts, internal conflicts are those that consist of the psyche battling between opposing desires and feelings. Persons and characters can also experience conflict externally with fate, the environment, the world, and God. And, of course, relational conflicts exist as well. Typically, an actor is only given the dialogue, a brief outline of the character's personality, and a story overview when they are asked to read. Some form of conflict always exists in a story and personality. It is the actor's job to find the hidden conflict and give it life in their audition.
Instability is always exciting regardless of how uncomfortable or stressful it may be. Instability in a character or story adds depth and movement. After you have gotten a handle on the personality of the character, there are naturally going to be difficulties and obstacles that that character must face. Life is always this way. Our life's hurdles must be overcome and manipulated until they become collaborators in our lives. Think about the movie, "Midnight Run". In the film, Robert De Niro is a bounty hunter who has the responsibility of finding Charles Grodin's character. Jack, played by De Niro, needs to collect his bounty by bringing in Mardukas, played by Grodin. Jack experiences numerous conflicts in the form of other bounty hunters, his personal turmoil, and, of course, Mardukas.
All of the answers may not be provided to you in the material provided to you at the audition. Improve your acting audition by using the dialogue and the clues therein to create a character full of depth and truth. Doing so will hold the attention of the auditor and make you more likely to obtain the role. Far worse than creating the "wrong" conflict is delivering a performance without any emotion and depth. With these skills, your auditioning skills are sure to improve.
Make sure that the conflict you create is multi-dimensional. The average character will have several different desires and feelings that are in constant struggle with each other. Using this to your advantage during an audition will make for an exciting reading. Creating a character's personality is far more important than the lines that are being read.
Although your character may be the only live person in the scene, there are doubtless other hidden forces affecting his or her life. Being able to bring these hidden elements to life is what will separate you from the other actors and make your audition a success. Another thing to remember about conflict. Conflict should always be slightly comedic. Levity is a part of even the deepest conflict. Neglecting to add comedy will make the reading unwatchable. With both conflict and comedy combined, your reading is sure to be a success.
About the Author:
Kirk Baltz has been a acting coach in los angeles for more than 15 years. Kirk helps actors of all levels get the roles that they desire. You can read more about acting auditions at the actor's intensive website.
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