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After an audition, your adrenalin is pumping an immeasurable amount of energy through your body. And your mind is swirling with a series of thoughts. What to do next?
Breathe. Take a nice long, deep breath. This is when you sit down and write out your experience right away.
As we’ve covered in a recent post, immediately following an audition it is highly recommended to sit down and write out your thoughts. If you didn’t read the post titled, “Are You Prepared for the Call Back?” which focused on the value of writing down your thoughts after an audition, be sure to check it out.
Once you’ve written out your thoughts and answered some crucial questions about the audition, again, remember to breathe. Notice your breath and just breathe. If you forgot something write it down. Leave the waiting area and go to the car, but don’t drive away just yet.
I Am an Awesome Person / Actor
Breathe again, and again. And no matter how the audition went, good or bad, say an affirmation that makes you feel good i.e., “I am an awesome person. I am an awesome actor. I did what I did and it was more than enough.”
Say this as many times as you need to feel complete. (Perhaps set your phone timer and repeat the affirmation for two minutes.)
Now you’re ready to drive away from the audition. Move onto your next action of the day and get on with your amazing life. And that’s when the phone will ring, with a callback – after you’ve done your work and let it all go.
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If you’re an actor or know someone who is feel free to share this article with those you believe could benefit from it. Thank you.
And if you’re an actor please share any insight or additional tips for what you have experienced when it comes to breathing and the power of affirmations leading up to and following an audition. Who knows, your input just might make the difference in preparing and inspiring a fellow actor in such a way as to change the course of someone’s career and life.
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LIVE THE DREAM YOU WERE BORN TO
Acting should be simple. But that doesn’t mean it’s easy. If you’re an actor or you know someone who is, there is no better moment than now to make the intention to take full control of your acting career and live the dream you were born to.
Call 818-985-8504 or email me at Loren@IntentionalActing.com to interview and sign up for the next Intentional Acting class today.
In the meantime, to learn more about Intentional Acting and the 9 questions that frame the work I do with actors of all ages visit www.intentionalacting.com/what-is-intentional-acting/.
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The audition just ended, you walk out of the room and you’re still wearing the glow from the performance. Now what do you do next, other than remember to breathe?
As my friend Brian from Performer Track says, “Don’t just leave. Sit down in the waiting room and remember what happened during the audition.” In other words, write down your experience.
What Do You Write?
Whether you write your experience in a notebook, phone or check out Performer Track, it is imperative that you write it down and capture the essence of what just unfolded in the audition. Your experience cannot simply be logged in your head because it is likely you will end up overlooking the key pieces to your performance that will be important to remember for your call back.
So what do you write?
- Who were all the people in the room? (Don’t know? Kindly ask the assistant.)
- What were the adjustments they gave you?
- What did they say?
- Pull out your 9 Questions of Intentional Acting. Answer them according to what you did in the audition room. (If you don’t know these crucial questions for acting please message me here on Facebook or email me at http://intentionalacting.com/contact/ and I’ll email them to you.)
- Be sure to write down anything else remarkable you can remember about the experience.
You’re Ready For Your Callback
After writing down your experience you will be much more aware of exactly what you did and how to do it again. Now you’re ready for your callback.
And yes – wear the same thing, unless they tell you otherwise. Notice I say WHEN you get the callback, not IF.
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If you’re an actor or know someone who is feel free to share this article with those you believe could benefit from it. Thank you.
And if you’re an actor and have experience with writing down your thoughts after an audition don’t hesitate to share your thoughts in the comments below. Who knows, your input just might make the difference in preparing and inspiring a fellow actor in such a way as to change the course of someone’s career and life.
____________________________
LIVE THE DREAM YOU WERE BORN TO
Acting should be simple. But that doesn’t mean it’s easy. If you’re an actor or you know someone who is, there is no better moment than now to make the intention to take full control of your acting career and live the dream you were born to.
Call 818-985-8504 or email me at Loren@IntentionalActing.com to interview and sign up for the next Intentional Acting class today.
In the meantime, to learn more about Intentional Acting and the 9 questions that frame the work I do with actors of all ages visit www.intentionalacting.com/what-is-intentional-acting/.
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The great artist Michelangelo once said about his artistry that, “If people only knew how hard I work to gain my mastery, it wouldn’t seem so wonderful at all.”
The life of an artist. The world sees our work and because of the blood, sweat and tears we pour into our craft it all looks so easy. But, the moments that seem easy are due to all the hard work it took to get there.
Make It Easy
A couple of years ago I found myself watching the contortionists at the Cirque du Soleil and realized that they make acrobatics look so easy that I forget how impossibly hard it is. I took for granted the strength, the flexibility, the practice, and courage it takes to achieve those feats.
Acting is the same. Great actors make acting seem easy. But I see a lot of actors who take the craft of acting for granted. They think “I can do that” and they audition, go to casting workshops, do showcases, without having a good teacher, being in a regular class or even practicing in front of a camera. By the way, these are the same actors complaining that they’re not booking.
Respect Your Craft
Great acting requires consistent practice, a good coach and personal courage to build the emotional strength and emotional flexibility required to perform great roles. Respect your craft.
The way that you show casting that you are an actor who respects their craft is by ensuring that your audition tape is as good as it can be. Let us not overlook the obvious here. If you want to book jobs this pilot season, when you are one of 100 submissions – you have to deliver an audition that makes casting say “WOW.” At the very least don’t leave them with a bad impression with a bad audition tape.
If you don’t have the time or can’t afford a professional to put you on tape, then makes sure you learn and master the keys for an awesome audition tape. Here are 8 tips to help you.
1. Pick a quiet space that has little to no back ground noise. TVs, fans, running water and air conditioning distract the viewer when heard in the background.
2. The wall behind you should be white or blue.
3. Position yourself a few feet away from the wall to avoid casting shadows.
4. Be sure you are lit well so that the viewer can clearly see your face and eyes.
5. Record a test sample. Check it on your computer. Make sure that you can clearly see and hear yourself. Remember if you can’t see or hear yourself, neither can the Casting Director.
6. The camera should be on a tripod to keep the frame steady. If you don’t have a tripod, use a stable surface.
7. Before shooting the scene, do your script analysis and research and ask the 9 Questions of Intentional Acting.
8. Record all your rehearsals. Your rehearsals may be your best takes!
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If you’re an actor or know someone who is, feel free to share this article on making an awesome audition tape with those you believe could benefit from it. Thank you.
Be sure to share your experience as an actor when it comes to what you do to practice and improve on the mastery of being an actor. And definitely share any insight or additional tips for what you have experienced when it comes to making an audition tape. Who knows, your input just might make the difference in preparing and inspiring a fellow actor in such a way as to change the course of someone’s career and life.
____________________________
LIVE THE DREAM YOU WERE BORN TO
Acting should be simple. But that doesn’t mean it’s easy. If you’re an actor or you know someone who is, there is no better moment than now to make the intention to take full control of your acting career and live the dream you were born to.
Call 818-985-8504 or email me at Loren@IntentionalActing.com to interview and sign up for the next Intentional Acting class today.
In the meantime, to learn more about Intentional Acting and the 9 Questions that frame the work I do with actors of all ages visit www.intentionalacting.com/what-is-intentional-acting/.
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Do you know the #1 thing a Casting Director wants from an actor? To be present.
If you’re anything like the students in my acting class, it goes without saying that your career, your time, and your money are very important to you. You can’t afford to find yourself in that all-important audition with your head and your heart disconnected.
If you are struggling to reach your potential and are seeking to book not only one job, but several, the skill that is most often overlooked is: Being Present.
When you’re present, you put yourself in an ideal state of mind for creating consistent and authentic performances that will get you noticed by casting and booking jobs.
What Do You Want Right Now?
In a recent class, I had a student performing a scene. He was working hard but he was struggling to feel connected to his scene partner and the scene. I asked him what he – not the character – wanted right now.
He said that he had had a tough day. I said, “What do you want, right now?” He said he really just wanted a hug?” I told him to use this to get his scene partner to give him a hug as his intention in the scene. He resisted, “But I’m a cop, at a crime scene, testing out a new partner.” I urged him to just try it and see.
His intention to get a hug forced him to listen to his scene partner. He surprised himself by the very motivated and spontaneous physical choices he made, and that he didn’t stumble on any lines. From a casting point of view, the scene had the sexual tension, conflict, and energy needed for a strong audition.
Be Present To What Is Real
You can only be present to what is real for you in the moment. Keep that in mind, next time you’re about to perform, ask yourself, “What do I want right now?” Pick the most pressing need. Then use that as your intention, even if you think it will never work for the scene. Try it and see what happens.
When it comes to bringing your performance to the next level, being present in the moment can unearth not only a surprising and authentic result for the scene, but for yourself as well. Being present will allow you to bring more of yourself to the role and in the room – and this is what casting wants to see.
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If you’re an actor or know someone who is feel free to share this article on being present with those you believe could benefit from it. Thank you.
Remember, as an actor, you’re part of an inspiring community. Try bringing what is present to you in the moment to your next scene and share your experience in the comments below. This is your inspirational story and can serve as a valuable learning tool for others.
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LIVE THE DREAM YOU WERE BORN TO!
Acting should be simple. But that doesn’t mean it’s easy. If you’re an actor or you know someone who is, there is no better moment than now to make the intention to take full control of your acting career and live the dream you were born to.
Call 818-325-5752 or email me at Loren@IntentionalActing.com to interview and sign up for the next Intentional Acting class today.
In the meantime, to learn more about Intentional Acting and the 9 Questions that frame the work I do with actors of all ages visit www.intentionalacting.com/what-is-intentional-acting/.
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Each year thousands of anxious parents descend upon Hollywood with their equally anxious and eager children, looking to land that one acting job for their child that will positively change their lives. The reality is that for the vast majority of young actors who pass through the endless turnstiles of Hollywood’s audition process, few will actually book that job. And even fewer still will secure a series of acting jobs that can serve as a catalyst for a life-altering career.
To break through in Hollywood I can assure it will take more than just your child’s obvious talent. Overlooked in all of the preparations for stardom is the crucial role parents play in helping their children land that all-important first role.
Easy & Agreeable
The best advice I can give the parents of young actors is that your behavior is as important, sometimes even more important, than your child’s. You may be the only thing standing in the way of your child booking the job.
When an Agent, Casting Director, or Producer casts your child, they know that they will be dealing with you and spending as much time on set with you as they will with your child. It is important that they like you and know you’re going to be easy and agreeable.
I have had agents and managers who have wanted to represent students of mine, but the parents were too difficult, so they passed on the child. I also know kids who have been released from set because the parents were overly demanding and uncompromisingly difficult.
Here are 5 keys that can help your child book the job
- Be a happy and nurturing parent.
- Be flexible, patient, kind and helpful.
- Get help when and where it is needed most. This applies directly to #1 and #2. If you find it increasingly difficult to follow the advice in #1 and #2, get help immediately, or send another adult in your place.
- Hire an acting coach to properly prepare you and your child for maximizing the precious opportunities of the meetings and auditions you will go on. The adage about never getting a second chance to make a good first impression still holds true in Hollywood.
- Don’t be your child’s coach and/or manager. Whatever examples you may be able to point to in Hollywood where a young actor was successfully coached and/or managed by their parents, there are tens-of-thousands of horror stories where promising careers were halted before they ever got off the ground because of a parent’s inability to navigate the often turbulent waters of Hollywood. But it’s not just the potential of a career that is ruined. The relationship between a child and parent is forever tainted. No acting job is worth a life-time of regret.
Remember you are a part of a community and you and your child’s experience can be a valuable learning tool and inspiration for other parents with young actors. So never shy away from sharing your experience in Hollywood.
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If you’re parent of a young actor or know someone who is feel free to share this article with those you believe could benefit from it. Thank you.
And be sure to share your experience as a parent to a young actor. Who knows, your input just might make the difference in preparing and inspiring a parent and a child actor to book the job of a lifetime.
____________________________
LIVE THE DREAM YOU WERE BORN TO
Acting should be simple. But that doesn’t mean it’s easy. If you’re an actor or you know someone who is, there is no better moment than now to make the intention to take full control of your acting career and live the dream you were born to.
Call 818-325-5752 or email me at Loren@IntentionalActing.com to interview and sign up for the next Intentional Acting class today.
In the meantime, to learn more about Intentional Acting and the 9 questions that frame the work I do with actors of all ages visit www.intentionalacting.com/what-is-intentional-acting/.
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Congratulations, Becky Paz, for booking a PSA called “Break the Box”!
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The moment before is a very important part of a good audition. Film and television scenes often cut into the middle of a conversation. The scene before is older man laying in a hospital bed and the next scene his daughter crying. We don’t see that character die but we can deduce what happened based on the editing. But it’s up to the actor, in this case the daughter, to create the moment before.
Audition sides cut into the action and the actor must answer the Question #1, bullet point #3 – What is the moment before?
99% of the time the answer to what happened the moment before can be found in the script. But in a cold reading panic, actors go to MSU – Make Stuff Up University. Train yourself to read the script, find the clues, before you MSU, so that you can make a specific choice.
Correct script analysis is important because the moment before can change the entire intention of the scene. Did she just kiss him or slap him? Dialogue that follows either of the latter moments can be very similar, but the intention will be different. The Casting Director will know what the moment before is. If you make it up and miss what is written in the script, it will show the CD a lack of training and experience.
The moment before is very important in a commercial audition. Commercials are so short and they need what my directing teacher called a “Pre-Life.” A moment before creates that feeling of “life” before the scene.
Michael Caine suggests relaxing into the scene. Many actors take a full breath – in and out – before they start the scene and then they say their first line. Instead, relax into the scene, breathe in then say your first line or take your first action.
Try it. See what happens, then comment below and let other actors know how your moment before helped your audition.
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If you’re an actor or know someone who is, feel free to share this article with those you believe could benefit from it. Thank you.
_________________________________
LIVE THE DREAM YOU WERE BORN TO
Acting should be simple. But that doesn’t mean it’s easy. If you’re an actor or you know someone who is, there is no better moment than now to make the intention to take full control of your acting career and live the dream you were born to.
Call 818-985-8504 or email me at Loren@IntentionalActing.com to interview and sign up for the next Intentional Acting class today.
Leave a Reply
“I have to take the time after the show to not go, ‘Check out what I just did.’ It’s more like, ‘Wow! I’m so thankful that I was able to do that – that I was able to participate in that. And whatever wave was pushing me through that (performance) was awesome. And wherever that wave came from I’m so glad that I was able to catch it.” ~ Jason Mraz
Jason Mraz is one of my favorite artists. I think this quote applies to actors as well. He describes the feeling of what I call a “Zone” performance. You know that feeling when everything just seems perfect: you’re connected to the other actor, the words flow, you’re in the moment, you’re listening and responding and the camera and anyone watching just seems to slip away. You’re just there, in the “Zone” and it feels magical. That’s what I love about acting – it’s addicting.
Jason also puts the ego in its place as well. I notice that my best performances haven’t felt like “I” was doing it. It felt like something greater than me just flowed right through me.
You can learn more about how the 9 Questions of Intentional Acting can help you create that magical “Zone” performance at www.intentionalacting.com/what-is-intentional-acting/
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If you’re an actor or know someone who is feel free to share this article with those you believe could benefit from it. Thank you.
And be sure to share your experiences of your magical “Zone performances. Who knows your input just might make the difference in inspiring someone else to deliver the performance of a lifetime.
____________________________
LIVE THE DREAM YOU WERE BORN TO
Acting should be simple. But that doesn’t mean it’s easy. If you’re an actor or you know someone who is, there is no better moment than now to make the intention to take full control of your acting career and live the dream you were born to.
Call 818-325-5752 or email me at Loren@IntentionalActing.com to interview and sign up for the next Intentional Acting class today.
In the meantime, to learn more about Intentional Acting and the 9 questions that frame the work I do with actors of all ages visit www.intentionalacting.com/what-is-intentional-acting/.
