Every casting director has their own way of conducting auditions. If you are coming to audition with us, this page will tell you what we’d like you to do.
But before we start please remember
WE WANT YOU TO SUCCEED!
Our job is to find the perfect actor for a role – we want you to make us look good, we want you to get the role, we want to discover new talent.
So this is what you should do:
1) Learn the sides.
Absolutely the most important requirement of any audition – please be off book.
We film every audition and make it available online for all the decision makers to look at – director, producers, execs, financiers. They need to see your face, your eyes. They need to see you be the character – and they can’t do this if you keep looking down at your audition pages.
But we don’t want you to over-learn the lines so that you are wooden and not able to take direction – difficult to strike a balance, we know, but it’s part of the job.
2) Be prepared to jump straight into the audition.
Outside of the audition room we expect you to be focused, getting yourself into character – and we wouldn’t want to break your concentration by having some inane small talk once you enter the room. After a perfunctory introduction to everyone in the room we love to jump straight into the audition.
This gives you the maximum amount of time within your allocated slot to show us what a wonderful versatile actor you are. We will all be relaxed enough to give you several shots at the scene, to let you try it a few different ways. And it avoids anyone confusing your own personality with the personality of the character you are playing (believe me, this happens very often). We would go as far as advising you to enter the room in character – including using the right accent.
Of course, you may have legitimate questions that you need answering before you enter the room – so either get in touch with us directly beforehand, or arrive early and ask prior to entering the audition room. Because once you’re in – we want to get straight down to business.
3) Dress appropriately
Please – do NOT come in costume. Ever. But do spend a little time thinking about your wardrobe and the impression you will make as you walk in the door.
If it’s a period piece, don’t wear anything too modern. If your character is down at heel don’t wear your best outfit.
Even small details – earrings, scarves, shoes, hair up/down/styled/tousled, stubble – all help create the subliminal image that you are close to the character you are portraying.
So when the time comes for you to do your audition you can present us with a fully fledged character, as opposed to an adequate but pedestrian ‘reading’ of the lines.
4) Be camera aware.
We need to constantly see your face, so no matter where you are looking or what actions you are doing you need to know where the camera is and – more or less – keep facing it. If your scene involves speaking to more than one other character, place them either side of the camera. If you need to ‘notice’ something behind you then place it above the camera. It may feel strange and unnatural but at least we (and the execs and financiers who aren’t in the room) will be able to see your expression and that’s the whole ball game.
And never, ever look into the camera unless directed to do so.
This story was originally posted by Manuel Puro, to see the original post go to Puro Casting
