Filmmaking / Directing : Directors and casting directors: When casting actors for a project, what do you least like to see, hear, or be asked in an audition? by Gillian McAuley

happy holidays shanedean.com

Thanks for your guidance, Matt! I am in the middle of a major career change, having worked social services administration for years, am now actively pursuing my acting dreams full scale. Please check out my resume page om IMDb: http://www.imdb.me/patricia.urbonas.clark I think the art of mastering any long-term skill is to never stop learning and to always be open to new ideas. Hope to work with you professionally someday!

Matt, thank you so much for getting this started with SUCH great advice! “Have faith in who you are auditioning with…” and “if you’re nervous… don’t be… they are just as nervous as you are, the risks are the same.” - such great points and so very true! As you point out, the folk on the ‘other side of the table’ have as much to gain from a good audition as the actor does. They want more than anything for the next actor that walks in the door to be exactly what they’re looking for and an experienced director like Matt will enjoy using his/her skills to get that performance out of you, time permitting. There are many ways for actors to combat nerves, mask them or positively channel the adrenalin that nerves generate but one of the most effective ways to deal with audition nerves is simply to remember that directors and casting directors aren’t sat there ready to judge you in some scary, negative way. Why would they? They need to cast the best so they’re gunning for you! They want you to be great just as much as you do. So, rather than focus on how nervous you are, try to focus on making their job easier and more enjoyable by giving them a fully rounded, interesting character – no matter how small the role you’re auditioning for – whilst being completely flexible to taking direction so they can have some fun finding out if you might be ‘the one.’ Even if, this time round, you’re not right for the role you’ll have shown them a positive, generous, likable, unruffled professional who’s clearly happy to be there – just as they expected you to be when they sifted through hundreds of submissions and picked you to come in and cast – and they’ll remember that the next time you come in to cast for something else.

The ultimate 'don't' I saw first hand when behind the table at a cattle call. Doofus runs into the room from the waiting room, dressed in a lime green track suit and aviators. Tells us how important he is, and that he can't wait any longer because he has a show or something, and hands us his resume - interrupting the audition in progress. We apologized to the auditioning actor, had a good laugh about the guy's horrid headshot, and sent it straight to the circular file.

Aaand cue the spam.

Wonderful advice from Matt. Would also like to add one from a casting session I had earlier this year - Never walk into a casting two hours late, ignore the female casting director to introduce yourself only to the male assistant, and declare, "I didn't read the sides. Tell me what this scene is about." Same goes for pausing your read to answer a text message.

Commitment, you can't give more then 100% because there is no such thing 110%? Ask questions, if you think you don't have question then there something wrong? If you get the chance to read script be honest with the story and yourself? When you read script couple of times you know it's for you or not? If its for you then good and make sure got character prepared, costume, imaginary backstory etc? But mainly questions more you have the better? Thx

personality - that's what counts to me in the first place. reason why I always ask talents to play a personal performance based on their feeling of the day instead of letting them alone on the script's dialogue.

'don't read from the script- never do that. Get into character,' Huh! If you're not doing a reading (or portraying the character from the movie) which character should you get into?

Fair point, Wayne, except I saw the comments Ali had made and assumed he meant: “don’t JUST read from the script” as in don’t be glued to the script in the audition as you, the actor, just reading the lines! And he did then add “i.e.: don’t hold it in front of you during auditions.” I’m only pointing that out because Ali’s now taking these comments down, sadly! They were good points. It may seem obvious but in fact I’ve seen SO many experienced actors in screen castings ruin the only record of their audition that the director / producers (if absent) may ever see – their audition tape – by looking down at their sides throughout or waving them around in front of their face. In auditions where you haven’t been given time to get off-book, don’t forget those basic ‘how to hold your script’ techniques. It’s easy to forget them when the adrenalin kicks in!

Gillian, my post was asking for clarity as to Ali comments, not condemnation. One thing that you'll learn about me if you follow my posts is that I'm always trying to learn (in everything that I do), I'm not a know-it-all. I'm sorry to see that he removed his posts as well. Apparently my post was poorly worded.

I had an acting teacher tell me to have a prepared monologue for every audition. I was wondering if that was where Ali was going.

There are two things that show on film that casting agents don't want to see, fear and desperation. Nothing is worse than an actor who is desperate to get a role or one who is so fearful that they won't get it. Relax. Have fun. Be prepared for sure, but remember it's not oh so important in the big scheme of life. I always go in assuming I won't get the role for what can be tons of reasons, from the color of my eyes to the way I part my hair, to the fact that I look like the director's cousin that he hates. With this in mind, I go in and have a blast. I ignore the camera and embody whatever character I'm reading for, smile, thank whoever's there, and walk out. I don't think about it afterward or worry about whether I got it or not. What I first decided to go with this attitude I got the next NINE parts I auditioned for in a row. I don't do much acting anymore because I'm enjoying a ton of success as a writer now, but if I do go to another audition sometime, I'll relax and have fun.