Casting Director Audition Tips
| February 3, 2010 | Posted by caroline under arts and literature, storytelling, theories |
I met with a group of producers, actors and a cinematographer tonight for a project we’re working on together. We’ve all got high hopes for it as it’s already been noticed by a huge Canadian network. After getting through the business talk of what role each of us would have and production days, we all sat back for some chit chat on a more social level. As a side note, I always leave these scenarios feeling really insecure and unsure of how I present myself on a personal level — maybe it’s because their opinions matter to me, as much as my co-workers’ opinions matter to me in a media setting (as I mentioned in a previous article On Panics in the Workplace)..Though this meeting featured no entertaining panic attacks. LOL.
Anyway, one of the writers, who is also a cinematographer, was sitting beside me. I engaged him in a lengthy discussion on everything from feature film-making to documentary film-making (as you know this is the industry in which I work on a more regular basis) and acting. For his bread and butter (and what sweet, filling bread and butter it must be!), he works as the man behind the camera in those spaces we all dread and yearn for — the casting room. So he sees all the inner workings of casting directors at auditions and, often, the director, writer, producer and their moms. This guy works for one of the top casting ladies in Toronto and I had some questions to ask him about what goes on behind the scene. Some of you might already know the answers to these things, but I thought I’d share some wisdom for the audition room:
- Shake hands with the enemy before you audition: If anything, approach the table and try to shake hands with them. If they don’t want to do it, don’t push it, of course. They’ll signal their distance. But it’s good to introduce yourself regardless, especially if you’ve never met them. Otherwise, it’s just to say “waddup.”
- Be off-book: I always ask coaches this to confirm and I sometimes wonder if it is just an old wives tale, but it is in fact true: It’s a huge crime to not be off-book (know your lines) at an audition.
- If the writer is present..be very careful about ad-libbing. In fact, just don’t do it. Lots of writers are very sensitive about their work — understandably so.
- Be confident: Speaks for itself! Just be open and self-assured. (This seems to be the key to many things in life;))
Besides getting tips on the casting room, he also confirmed a couple of things for me.
- The director/casting director does often have a look in mind, and no matter what you do, you can’t always change their minds. A good director might be able to see beyond your “look” and choose you for skill, rather.
- Having to do the scene twice doesn’t necessarily mean you have or have not gotten it. I know I’ve gotten nervous when I’ve had to do two takes, and I’ve gotten nervous when I’ve had to do one take. It works both ways. Sometimes they love you on the first take and they just make you do the second take for the sake of it. They usually just “know.”
OK, so that’s all I’ve got for now. Hopefully I’ll remember something else important and come back to edit this:) My next blog — which I’ve been writing in my head — is a response 3 leading acting coaches in Toronto. Let’s pray I find make time to do this over the next few days/weeks.
Till next time,
Cheers!
Caro
