Acting classes in nyc focus on developing your skills as an actor, especially the foundational skills that are required to practice the craft. There is one thing that acting classes in nyc cannot teach you, for the most part, and that is an auditioning technique that you can use out of the classroom. Audition tapes are becoming the norm, since the producers and agents can easily see if you are camera ready. Audition tapes need not be expensive, professionally shot videos. Enlist the help of a director friend, rent a simple camera and follow these rules.
How you appear is key, and lighting is a big part of this. Strong shadows falling in the wrong places can eliminate your chances of producers watching the tape all the way through. However, if the lighting is too strong, you will appear completely washed out and "hot" which is just a distracting. Anything that takes away from your performance is lethal and bad lighting is one of those things. Nice, bright yet completely unnoticeable lighting is the goal. If you are studying in a professional acting program, or taking acting classes in nyc, there should be someone who is teaching an "Acting for the Camera" class or something similar. Ask for help creating a simple diagram that outlines a lighting scheme.
It should involve three lights, relatively bright, or a light source from outdoors. A light should be placed in front of the talent (you) one on either side, and far enough away to not cause shadows or hot spots. Then a third light can be used to fill in the background. There are audition tapes that have dark backgrounds which can set a certain mood and this can work. Just be sure the overall tape is not too dark, or the contrast too great between your face and the background. Correcting the color with a white balance feature is the important next step.
Different lights sources are different "temperatures" which means they have a different color. Daylight has a lot of blue in it and is very "cool." If you set up lights near a window the camera must correct for that. The white balance feature is used to make this correction quickly and automatically. Just place something white in the approximate place where you will be standing and hit White Balance. If you do not use this feature the color will be completely off, especially your skin tones. Forget to do this and skin tones and all other colors will be "off," which is very distracting.
Sound is another very important feature. Distracting static, muddy tones in your voice, are all ways to kill what might otherwise be a good audition tape. No one wants to sit through a tape that they can't hear. The mic should be as close to the source of the sound as possible to eliminate stray noise. Camera mounted mics might be convenient, are not the best choice, renting a Lavalier would be better. You aren't communicating with the audience if you can't be heard clearly. There are plenty of good acting classes in nyc that will help guide you through this process.
Once the basics are set up, content becomes the focus. Preparing for a live audition is slightly different than preparing for a taped one, of course. Meisner acting techniques can be helpful when preparing, especially for a specific character or role. Using the Meisner acting tools can help create a riveting audition tape that does not seem rehearsed or staged. Keeping important elements under the surface, is something coaches of Meisner acting nyc can teach you how to develop. Cramming every emotion and gesture into a performance will always seem false. The key to great acting is what you don't present, but leave simmering underneath. Audiences like to work, think, and look for clues which is a way to engage them in your performance.
Of course, if you are asked to prepare an audition tape of something specific, some sides or a scene, the tape will consist of this. In a more general circumstance, it's good to have a recent audition tape with a monologue, ready to send out on a moment's notice. Whether you have the gift of comedy, or a talent for dramatic roles, a great audition includes both. The greatest actors are well rounded and can include many layers of abilities during a short piece. Tragedy and comedy always work together, for instance and its good to include a sense of both. Enlist the teachers of acting classes in nyc, or wherever you study, to review your practice tapes and incorporate their suggestions. We are not always the best judge of of our own work and being open to direction is a part of being a professional actor.
How you appear is key, and lighting is a big part of this. Strong shadows falling in the wrong places can eliminate your chances of producers watching the tape all the way through. However, if the lighting is too strong, you will appear completely washed out and "hot" which is just a distracting. Anything that takes away from your performance is lethal and bad lighting is one of those things. Nice, bright yet completely unnoticeable lighting is the goal. If you are studying in a professional acting program, or taking acting classes in nyc, there should be someone who is teaching an "Acting for the Camera" class or something similar. Ask for help creating a simple diagram that outlines a lighting scheme.
It should involve three lights, relatively bright, or a light source from outdoors. A light should be placed in front of the talent (you) one on either side, and far enough away to not cause shadows or hot spots. Then a third light can be used to fill in the background. There are audition tapes that have dark backgrounds which can set a certain mood and this can work. Just be sure the overall tape is not too dark, or the contrast too great between your face and the background. Correcting the color with a white balance feature is the important next step.
Different lights sources are different "temperatures" which means they have a different color. Daylight has a lot of blue in it and is very "cool." If you set up lights near a window the camera must correct for that. The white balance feature is used to make this correction quickly and automatically. Just place something white in the approximate place where you will be standing and hit White Balance. If you do not use this feature the color will be completely off, especially your skin tones. Forget to do this and skin tones and all other colors will be "off," which is very distracting.
Sound is another very important feature. Distracting static, muddy tones in your voice, are all ways to kill what might otherwise be a good audition tape. No one wants to sit through a tape that they can't hear. The mic should be as close to the source of the sound as possible to eliminate stray noise. Camera mounted mics might be convenient, are not the best choice, renting a Lavalier would be better. You aren't communicating with the audience if you can't be heard clearly. There are plenty of good acting classes in nyc that will help guide you through this process.
Once the basics are set up, content becomes the focus. Preparing for a live audition is slightly different than preparing for a taped one, of course. Meisner acting techniques can be helpful when preparing, especially for a specific character or role. Using the Meisner acting tools can help create a riveting audition tape that does not seem rehearsed or staged. Keeping important elements under the surface, is something coaches of Meisner acting nyc can teach you how to develop. Cramming every emotion and gesture into a performance will always seem false. The key to great acting is what you don't present, but leave simmering underneath. Audiences like to work, think, and look for clues which is a way to engage them in your performance.
Of course, if you are asked to prepare an audition tape of something specific, some sides or a scene, the tape will consist of this. In a more general circumstance, it's good to have a recent audition tape with a monologue, ready to send out on a moment's notice. Whether you have the gift of comedy, or a talent for dramatic roles, a great audition includes both. The greatest actors are well rounded and can include many layers of abilities during a short piece. Tragedy and comedy always work together, for instance and its good to include a sense of both. Enlist the teachers of acting classes in nyc, or wherever you study, to review your practice tapes and incorporate their suggestions. We are not always the best judge of of our own work and being open to direction is a part of being a professional actor.
About the Author:
The Maggie Flanigan Studio provides nyc acting classes for serious actors. To learn more about commercial acting class visit the studio website.
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