Thursday, August 9, 2012

Getting Cast Includes Your Ability to Craft and Audition Well

By Maggie Flanigan


Serious actors understand that the ability to audition well is a skill that needs to be studied, practiced and developed. Gaining acting experience on stage, film or television is an important way to develop acting skills, but that won't happen if you don't audition well. Acting classes in NYC might be the place to build strong auditioning skills, but it doesn't hurt to work on this independently as well. Landing a role is luck and timing but, none of that matters if you're not prepared when the opportunity comes. Meisner acting classes in NYC that teach the Meisner technique are known for producing disciplined actors. There is a known connection between the Meisner acting technique and professional, inspiring auditioning techniques.

There are one or two ways that are common reasons actors "fail" to turn in arresting auditions. The first way to fail is to enter the audition with overconfidence. 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. Too nervous, and it's too distracting to you and the auditors and you run the risk of not being open to the performance and the emerging character. 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. Stating your name, your agent, at the beginning of the tape helps them track your audition but, it's also their first impression of you. What may seem like a tiny practical thing, can have huge consequences if they don't like what they see. This is the bad news. Many times, directors and producers never even get past the slate. Actors must think about how many hundreds of other actors are also turning in tapes our auditions. Anything to speed things up, like a poor or boring slate, is a good excuse to just move on. A slate needs to take those few seconds, and let them know you are someone worth watching.

This is challenging for the actor, but challenging is what spurs growth. The fact remains that learning to slate well increases your chances of being seen. While some acting classes deal with auditioning, many don't. A good resource for learning about slates are often acting classes in NYC. Acting classes in NYC in some institutions, may ask for a slate and audition tape for entry into their program. It's something you can do on your own, and do quite well with a little help from a friend. Enlist a friend to help record your efforts on tape and you will instantly see how well you are doing. Here are some things to consider when practicing slates. Communicate to someone, not the camera, which is an art form unto itself. Record yourself trying several versions of a slate and then assess them. Feedback from people you trust is also important, the slate should communicate who you are.

The information you include need not be lengthy, they really just want your name and possibly your agent. First impressions should be short and sweet. It won't hurt in commercial auditions to put a hint of the character in your slate but avoid going over the top. If you fall short of their expectations they may hit the eject button before the actual tape. The aim of the slate is to give them a sense of who you are as an actor and a person. Slate and then, give them a brilliantly original, fresh fascinating character that will make their project soar. Classes that offer Meisner acting NYC are a great place to develop the skills that can be used to build excellent auditioning skills.




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