Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Taking Responsibility For The Audition Starts Now

By Maggie Flanigan


Acting involves the development of many skills, one of which is auditioning, a skill you can study and learn in many acting classes in NYC. Becoming a working actor is essential to gaining experience, and becoming a working actor can't happen if you don't audition well. If auditioning is not being taught in your acting classes in NYC, it's a skill that you will need to work on developing. Being prepared, with a deep set of auditioning skills is necessary if you expect to exploit every opportunity to audition that comes your way. Acting classes in NYC that teach the Meisner discipline are known for turning out highly professional actors that know how to work. There is a known connection between the Meisner acting technique and professional, inspiring auditioning techniques.

One or two ways actors tend to crash and burn during auditions are common. Overconfidence in an audition can be killer. However, being insecure or overly nervous will not count in your favor either unless it suits the character. Directors and producers are used to seeing overly confident or insecure actors and this is not what will count against you. Being nervous or confident projects a sense of "self awareness" which can kill a great acting performance.

Being "closed off" or self aware is a very bad acting habit, and one that threatens to get in the way of a great audition as well. In essence, "you" and whatever you are feeling needs to disappear, and make way for a fascinating, exciting character to emerge. The many layers of human traits, communicated in a thousand smalls ways is what must shine through, how you feel personally can't inhibit this.

The slate may not seem important. As many of you know, the slate is when you state your name into the camera so the auditors can keep track of everyone they've seen. What may seem to have little importance, in fact may be the very thing that keeps you from being seen. The bad news is this. Not all casting directors, producers or directors watch all the tapes past the slate. For any given part there are likely hundreds of folks auditioning. They are on the lookout for the best of the best and a so-so slate will indicate that your tape is not worth their while. A quick dismissal of an actor's tape because of a lackluster slate gets them to their goal more quickly.

This may seem brutal, it does speed up the process. Learning to slate well is one way to get an advantage over some of the actors you go up against. Some acting classes teach excellent auditioning skills knowing how important they are. Acting classes in NYC may be able to help you practice your slate. Acting classes in NYC in some institutions, may ask for a slate and audition tape for entry into their program. This skill can be practiced much like any other. Lights, camera action and give it a go. Practicing slates isn't easy. Communicating to a "presence" or person rather than the camera is important. Record and play back several versions of the slate and see how it plays. Find people you trust to watch the slate and give you feedback.

The information you include need not be lengthy, they really just want your name and possibly your agent. The shorter the better so they move on to the critical thing, the audition. While it might be okay to offer a hint of character for a commercial audition, it's still a risk. You will have to assume what they are looking for in a character and you may not be right. Mainly, the aim is to give a slate that represents you as a person and as an actor. Then, give them what they want and deserve, a brilliant, fresh take on the part you are aiming to get. Seek out Meisner acting NYC if you want to know more about how to create character with this technique.




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