The Esse nc e of Ac ting 1
The Actor'sGoa l/The Actor'sTa sks
http:
//www.red b ird stud io.
c om /AW O L/e sse nc e .
htm l
The following isfrom :W e lc om e To AW O L -Ac ting W orkshop O n-Line .You c a n visitthe ir
we b site a tthe following :
http:
//www.red b ird stud io.
c om /AW O L/a c ting 2.
htm l
Copyrig ht© 1996
-2002 b yAW O L -Ac ting W orkshop O n Line
The a c tor'sprim a ry g oa lis:
o
To pe rform d eterm ined a c tions tha ta re willfullyd irected towa rd a ttaining conscious
d esires.
To a c c om plish thisg oa lthe a c tor'sprim a ry tasksa re :
1. To d e term ine wha td esires hisc ha ra c terha sa te a c h m om e ntof the pla y.
2. To d e term ine wha tactions a re re quire d to suc c e ssfullya ttain those d e sire s.
3. To convincing lyperform those d e term ine d a c tions.
Assoc ia ted with the c onc e ptof d e term ine d d e sire s,the following isa n e sse ntia lque stion
tha ta n a c torm usta nswe ra b outhisc ha ra c ter:
o
W ho a m I?
Also re la ted to the c onc e ptof d e term ine d d e sire s,he re a re two im porta ntc onc e pts
tha tinflue nc e the a c ting proc e ss:
1. Em otions(fe e ling s) a rise from the sub -consc iousa sa re sultof oura b ilityto fulfill
ourd e sire s.
2. An a c torstrive sto m a ke hisc ha ra c ter'sd e sire shisown d e sire s.
In e ve ry m om e ntof a c ting ,a n a c torm ustha ve justifia b le a nd b e lie va b le a nswe rsfor
the se thre e que stions:
1. W ha ta m Id oing ?
2. W hy a m Id oing it?
3. How a m Id oing it?
W e lc om e To AW O L -Acting W orkshop O n-Line
http:
//www.red b ird stud io.
c om /AW O L/a c ting 2.
htm l
Copyrig ht© 1996-2002 b y AW O L-Acting W orkshop O n Line
1
Pe ople a re m otiva ted to a c tion b y a d e sire to a ttain a g oa l-a d e sire .Fore xa m ple :
1. You d e sire to stop fe e ling ne rvousa b outg oing on a firstd a te with som e one you
like a lot-so you g o to the re frig e ra tora nd g e tsom e thing tasty to e a t
.
2. You d e sire to b e a c c e pted b y pe ople you like -so you d re ssin a sim ila rfa shion
a nd b e ha ve in sim ila rwa ys.
3. You d e sire to sta nd outse pa ra te from the re stof yourpe e rs,so you c oloryour
ha irpurple a nd pink a nd we a rnothing b utb la c k le a the rc lothing with silve r
stud s.
4. You d e sire to own a ne w c a r-so you g e ta job ,sa ve yourm one ya nd se c ure g ood
c re d itso you c a n a fford the d own-pa ym e nta nd qua lify forc re d itto purcha se
tha tne w c a r.
5. You swing youra rm sa ta n a ttac ke r'sknife -so you c a n wa rd off the d e a d ly
sta b b ing b lows.
6
. You we e p d e e p,sob b ing ,tea rs-so you c a n e xpre ssa nd a lle via te you intense
pa in a nd g rie f ove rthe sud d e n tra g ic d e a th of yourd e a re stfrie nd .
In the re a lworld ,ourd e sire sa nd a c tionsa re nota lwa ysknown to usc onsc iously
(a va ila b le to ourfulla w a re ne ssa nd knowle d g e .
) O ften tim e sourd e sire sa nd a c tionsa re
initia llyknown onlyto oursub -consc ious(una va ila b le to ourfulla w a re ne ssa nd
knowle d g e .
)
Forinsta nc e ,in e xa m ple 1,you m ig htnotb e c onsc iously a w a re tha tyou a re e a ting
b e c a use you a re fe e ling ne rvousa b outthe d a te.You m ig htinterpre tthe ne rvousfe e ling
a shung e r.O ryou m ig htnote ve n fe e lhung ry b uta re sim plye a ting outof ha b it-itis
sim plysom e thing you d o whe n you a re ne rvous.O rpossib ly,a syou a re ne rvously
pre oc c upie d with pre pa ring foryourd a te,you m ig htnote ve n b e a wa re tha tyou ha ve
ope ne d the re frig e ra tord oora nd ha ve take n som e thing to e a t
.
In the se c ond e xa m ple ,you prob a b lyd id notc onsc iously sa y to yourse lf,"Gosh,Ise e m
to like those pe ople .Iwa ntto b e like d b y the m .Ithink Iwilld re ssa nd b e ha ve like
the m .
"N o.M ore tha n like ly,youra ttrac tion to a pa rticula rg roup of pe ople ,yourd e sire
to b e like d b y the m a nd yourd e c ision to d re ssa nd b e ha ve like the m wa sinitia llynota
pa rtof yourc onsc iousa w a re ne ss.You m ig ht,in re trospe c t,ha ve b e c om e a wa re of why
you d re ssa nd b e ha ve like the g roup you b e long to,b uttha tislike lysom e thing tha t
ha ppe ne d som e tim e a fteryourd e sire a rose a nd you sta rted d re ssing a nd b e ha ving like
the m .
O f c ourse ,in the re a lworld ,d e sire sa nd a c tionsa re a lso a pa rtof ourc onsc ious
a w a re ne ss.Forinstanc e ,in the fourth e xa m ple ,you c ould e a silyb e c onsc iously a w a re
tha tyou wa ntto own a pa rticula rne w c a r,a nd c onsc iouslyd e c id e to g e ta job ,sa ve your
m one y a nd e sta b lish g ood c re d itforthe intentof one d a y b e ing a b le to purcha se tha t
c a r.The e ntire proc e sswould b e a c onsc iouse ffort.
So in the re a lworld ,d e sire sa nd the a c tionswhic h a ttem ptto fulfillthose d e sire sc a n b e
b oth c onsc iousa nd sub c onsc ious.
In re a llife ,a sstated a b ove ,e m otions(fe e ling s) a rise from the sub -consc iousa sa re sult
of oura b ility to fulfillourd e sire s.Forinsta nc e ,le t
'
ssa ya sin e xa m ple 3 a b ove ,tha tyou
d id c oloryourha irpurple a nd pink,e tc.a nd showe d up a tschoolthe ne xtd a y.You
found tha tyou ind e e d we re quite d iffe re nta nd se pa ra te from yourpe e rsa nd e ve ryone
notice d you a nd c om m e nted how wond e rfullyunique you we re .You would fe e lha ppy
pe rha pse ve n e uphoric b e c a use yourd e sire (whe the rd e term ine d orstillin the re a lm of
yoursub -consc ious) to sta nd outse pa ra te from the re stof yourpe e rs,ha sb e e n.
g ra tifie d .
You d id notpla n to fe e lthe e m otionsha ppine ssa nd e uphoria .You d id notpla n to sm ile
b roa d ly,wa lk with a lig ht,c a re fre e ,b ounc y g a ita nd talk in a n upb e a t,c he e rfultone .
The se a c tionsc a m e a b outa sthe e m otionsof the ha ppine ssa nd e uphoria a rose from
yoursub -consc ious;a re sultof the fulfillm e ntof yourd e sire to sta nd outse pa ra te from
the re stof yourpe e rs.
If,howe ve r,you c olore d yourha irpurple a nd pink,e tc.a nd showe d up a tschoolthe
ne xtd a y onlyto find tha tALL yourfrie nd sa lso showe d up to sc hoolwith purple a nd
pink ha ir,e tc.
,you would like lyfe e lfrustra ted ,a ng ry,pe rha pse ve n sa d b e c a use your
d e sire to sta nd outse pa ra te from the re stof yourpe e rsha snotb e e n g ra tifie d .
You d id notpla n to fe e lthe e m otionsfrustra tion ora ng e r.You d id notpla n to frown,to
wa lk with a re c kle ss,he a vy g a it,a nd talk in a c urt,a b ruptm a nne r.The se a c tionsc a m e
a b outa sthe e m otionsof frustra tion a nd a ng e ra rose from yoursub -consc ious;a re sultof
the la c k of fulfillm e ntof yourd e sire to sta nd outse pa ra te from the re stof yourpe e rs.
Ac ting ,on the othe rha nd ,isnotlike re a llife .Ac ting iswillful(c onsc ious).Ac torsha ve
to d e term ine a nd pla n e ve ry d e sire ,e ve ry a c tion.W he n pe rform ing ,a n a c torc a nnot
d e pe nd upon sud d e n re ve la tionsof sub c onsc iousd e sire sa nd spontane ousb urstsof
unre he a rse d a c tion.H e a ve ns,the e ntire pe rform a nce would b e thrown into c ha os.Ea c h
m e m b e rof the c a stc onsta ntlytrying to fig ure outa nd re spond to the se e m ing lyra nd om
a c tionsof e ve ry othe rc a stm e m b e r.
In the proc e ssof d e ve loping a role ,a spa rtof the re he a rsa lproc e ss,the a c toruse shis
sub -consc iousm ind a nd hisintera c tionswith the othe ra c torsa nd the d ire c torto e xplore
possib ilitiesof e m otionsa nd a c tionsa nd to d e ve lop m e a ning a nd truthfuljustific a tions
fora c tions.U ltim a tely,howe ve r,itisthe a c tor'swillfuld e term ina tion of spe c ific d e sire s,
a c tionsto pe rform a nd wa ysto pe rform those a c tionstha ta re the a c tor'stasks-a nd the
ke y to a suc c e ssfulpe rform a nc e .
So how d oe sone willfullyd e term ine a c ha ra c ter'sd e sire sa nd a c tionsfore ve rym om e nt
of the pla y?You a ppe a lto yoursub -consc iousm ind a nd a lotof othe rthing sforhe lp.
An a c torstrive sto m a ke hisc ha ra c ter'sd e sire shisown d e sire s.By thisIm e a n tha tthe
a c torm ustke e p hisfulla ttention upon hisc ha ra c ter'sd e sire s.The c ha ra c ter'sva rious
d e sire sm ustoc c upy the a c tor'sthoug htse ve ry m om e ntof the pla y,e a c h a tit'
s
a ppropria te tim e d uring the pla y.N otjum ping a he a d in one '
sm ind ,a nticipa ting the
ne xtfew d e term ine d thoug hts,d e sire sora c tions,b utinste a d ,a tthe m om e ntthe
c ha ra c ter,if he w e re a re a lpe rson,would ha ve suc h a thoug htorpe rform suc h a n
a c tion.Ac ting in the he re -and -now.
Thisc onc e ptisim porta ntforthe a c torto m a ste r.By d oing so,the a c torwillb e a b le to
c onvinc e the a ud ie nc e tha tthe c ha ra c ter'se m otionsa re "re a l"-so the a ud ie nc e c a n a lso
fe e lthose e m otions.
Itisa lso e xtrem e lyd iffic ult,if notim possib le ,to d o from c urta in to c urta in.Eve n g re a t
m a ste rsha ve la pse sd uring a pe rform a nc e .Itisa g re a tra rityind e e d to a c hie ve a pe rfe c t
pe rform a nc e in e ve ry a spe c t
.M a ny thing sc a n im pa ira n a c tor'sa b ility to a c t,fore ve ry
m om e nt,in the he re -and -now:c onc e ntra tion c a n b e m om e ntarilyb roke n,e ntire pa g e sof
d ia log c a n b e skippe d b y fe llow a c tors,sc e ne ry a nd propsc a n b e unc oope ra tive or
m issing .
.
.
m a ny thing sc a n interfe re with totalpe rfe c tion.
Itis,howe ve r,the a c tor'sresponsib ility to d o the a b solute b e sthe c a n -a lwa ys.
W ha tEve ry Ac torN e e d sto Know
If you a re thinking of b e c om ing a profe ssiona la c tor,itise xtrem e lyim porta nttha tyou
sta rtto g e tpra c tica le xpe rie nc e a nd sta rtto b uild a n a c ting résum é.The e a sie st,m ost
a c c e ssib le a nd ,forb e g inne rs,the b e stwa yto g e te xpe rie nc e a nd b uild a résum é isto g e t
involve d in lotsof loc a lc om m unity,sc hoola nd c hurch pla ys.
W hy loc a lpla ys?W e ll,unle ssyou live in HO LLYW O O D,you prob a b lywon'
tg e tm a ny
c ha nc e sto a ud ition form a jorm otion pic ture s.(Anywa y,wha tHollywood d ire c tor
would risk a 25m illion d olla rb ud g e ton a n unknown with no e xpe rie nc e .She e e e sh!Ge t
re a l!) So pla ysa re the m ostlike lypla c e to sta rtg e tting som e e xpe rie nc e .And fra nkly,
the a tre tra ining isa g re a twa y to le a rn a b outa c ting .It'
sa lso g re a tfun a nd you'
llm e e ta
lotof (a he m ) how sha llIsa y,interesting ,pe ople .
M ostc om m unitie sha ve one orm ore loc a lorre g iona lc om m unity the a tres.M a ny
c hurche sa lso puton pla ysa nd m osthig h sc hoolsputon a pla y orse ve ra lpla yse a c h
ye a r.
The se sa m e loc a lg roupsc a n a lso he lpyou find outa b outloc a lc la sse sa nd workshops
whe re you c a n stud y a c ting a nd im prove yourna tura ltale nt
.Som e g roupse ve n hold
the irown c la sse s.
W he re to find loc a lc la sse sora ud itionswith loc a lg roups?Look in the newspa pe rs(c a ll
yourpa pe rsa nd find outwhic h d a y of the w e e k a nd in whic h se c tion the y pub lish
a ud ition notice s.) Also look forpe rform a nc e listing s.Ca llthe phone num b e rlisted for
ticke tsa le sa nd a sk a b outfuture a ud itionsa nd a b outc la sse s.
Attend c om m unitypla y pe rform a nc e s.Ta lk to c a stm e m b e rsa fterthe show.Te llthe m
you a re intere ste d in the irg roup a nd would like to join a nd a ud ition forpla ys(b e sure
to m e ntion how m uc h you e njoye d the irpla ya nd pe rform a nc e .
) Find outwha teve rinfo
you c a n a b outthe ira ud itionsa nd a lso a sk if the y know of a ny c la sse sin the a re a .M ost
c om m unity g roupspub lish a newsle tterform e m b e rs.The se willa lso c ontain a ud ition
orc la ssnotice s.
Se a rch the w e b .M a ny g roupsha ve w e b pa g e stha tlistpla y sc he d ule s,a ud ition d a tes
a nd c la sse sif the y hosta ny.Go to the m a jorse a rch e ng ine sa nd se a rch sitesusing ke y
word ssuc h a s"the a tre"a nd the na m e of yoursta te a nd /orc ity.
Go to a sm a ny a ud itionsa syou c a n.
If you d on'
tg e ta pa rtin a pla y,the n voluntee rto he lpon the sta g e ,c ostum e ,se td e sig n
orlig hting c rews.Be c om ing involve d in the a tre prod uc tions,e ve n b e hind the sc e ne s,
willg ive you im porta nte xpe rie nc e in how the pe rform ing b usine ssworksa nd c a n b e
inc lud e d on a the a trica lrésum é a swe ll.
Rem e m b e r,e ve n the b e sta c torsstarted with b e hind the sc e ne swork a nd sm a llpa rts.
Ta ke wha teve rpa rtsyou c a n g e t
.Asyou im prove yourskillsa nd e xpe rie nc e ,you will
g e tb e ttera nd b e tterrole s.Don'
tb e in suc h a rush to sta rta tthe top.Le a rn yourc ra ft
slowly,im prove yourknowle d g e a nd skillsste p b y ste p.You'
llfind b uild ing tha t
résum é a lotm ore fun a nd m uc h le ssd isc oura g ing if you take a sm a rta nd m e thod ic a l
a pproa c h to yourtra ining .
O f c ourse in ord e rto g e ta pa rt,you usua llyha ve to a ud ition first
.Thisle sson willnot
d e a lwith a ud itions.Tha tisa se pa ra te le sson.Thisle sson willd e a lwith som e nutsa nd
b oltsa c torthing stha ta re vita llyim porta ntto know.
W hy d o you ne e d to know thisstuff?Sim ple .If you d on'
tknow the se b a sic thing s,a nd
you g o to a ud itions,you willlook like a totala nd c om ple te "new g uy".And it'
sa lot
ha rd e rfora new g uy to g e ta pa rtthe n itisforsom e one who lookslike the yknow wha t
the y'
r
e d oing .
Look a titfrom the d ire c tor'spe rspe c tive .If you we re a ud itioning som e pe ople fora
pla y,a nd we re g oing to spe nd the ne xt5-8 we e ksin intensive re he a rsa ls,a nd ha d a
c hoic e b e twe e n som e one who knew sta g e le ftfrom sta g e rig ht,orsom e one who looke d
c onfuse d a nd pa nic ky,sta ring into spa c e whe n a ske d to c ounter-crossd own c e nterle ft
a nd g ive 1/4b a c k---we llwho would you c a stforthe pa rt?Ri-i-i-i-ig ht!The pe rson who
se e m e d to know wha tthe y we re d oing ,of c ourse
So you ne e d to know wha tyou a re d oing .
Be sid e sloc a lpla ys,you should a lso m a rke tyourse lf d ire c tly.Contac tyourne a re st
AFTRA/SAG offic e to se e if the y ha ve a nyc a sting d ire c torc ontac tna m e sa nd a d d re sse s.
W a tch the TV com m e rcia lsforyourloc a lb usine sse s.Ca llthe va riousb usine sse sa nd a sk
who d o the irTV ad s.The n c a llthe a d a g e nc ie sa nd a sk if the y ke e pa c torfile s(forthose
tim e swhe n the y c a std ire c t) a nd /orwho ha nd le sc a sting forthe irprod uc tions.O ften
tim e sthe prod uc tion house sd o the irown c a sting inste a d of g oing throug h a g e nc ie s.
Contac tyourloc a lprod uc tion house s.
Contac tb ig c om pa nie sd ire c tly.Som e re a llyb ig c om pa nie sd o som e of the irown
prod uc tionsin-house a nd ke e p a c torfile s.Also a sk who the y use forthe iroutsid e
prod uc tion work a nd whic h a g e nc ie sthe y use forc a sting .
Contac tyourloc a lfilm sc hoolsorunive rsitieswith film m a king d e pts.Find outwho is
m a king stud e ntfilm sa nd m a ke sure e a c h of those a spiring d ire c torsknow you a re a n
e a g e ra c torwilling to work (e xpe c tto g e tN O pa y.Butyou m ig htg e ta vid e o of the film s
you a re in -from whic h you c a n puttog e the ra n a ud ition vid e o to se nd to a g e nts).
Che c k yourloc a lpa pe rs,film c om m issionsortra d e pub lic a tionsfora ud ition notice sfor
ind e pe nd e ntfilm stha tm ig htb e film e d in youra re a .Ca llwha teve rc ontac t#isg ive n.
You m ig hta lso c onsid e rsta rting yourown c om m unity g roup orprod uc tion c om pa ny.
EGADS!!!Ca n thisb e d one ?Sure .It'
sa c tua llyquite e a sy -thoug h ha rd work.You c a n
a lso se t-up yourown c la sse s-possib lythroug h a loc a lsc hoolorothe rc om m unity
org a niza tion,orpriva telywith a like -m ind e d g roup of pe ople .
The e a sie stwa ysto c onque rthe ne rve sis:
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
Don'
tc a re
Don'
tc a re
Don'
tc a re
Don'
tc a re
Don'
tc a re
Don'
tc a re
Don'
tc a re
a b outthe qua lity of yourpe rform a nc e
if you g e tyourline srig ht
if a nyb od y c a n he a ryou spe a k
if you g e tto youre ntra nc e son tim e
if you g e tyourb loc king c orre c t
if yourpe rform a nc e d oe sn'
tg o a spla nne d
if a nyb od y g e tsthe pointof yourpre se ntation
o
Don'
tc a re if yourpe rform a nc e issloppe d tog e the r,ha lf-ba ke d ,ill-tim e d ,d ull,
b oring a nd a w a ste of e ve ryb od y'
stim e .
In othe rword s,the e a sie stwa y to c onque rthe ne rve sisd on'
tg ive a d a m n.
So,the re you ha ve it.Don'
tworry,b e ha ppy a nd you'
llne ve rb e ne rvousa g a in!
O f Course ,on the othe rha nd :
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
If you d o c a re a b outthe qua lity of yourpe rform a nc e
If you d o c a re tha tyou g e tyourline srig ht
If you d o c a re tha te ve ryb od y c a n he a ryou spe a k
If you d o c a re tha tyou g e tto youre ntra nc e son tim e
If you d o c a re tha tyou g e tyourb loc king c orre c t
If you d o c a re tha tyourpe rform a nc e g oe sa spla nne d
If you d o c a re tha tsom e b od y g e tsthe pointof yourpre se ntation
If you d o c a re tha tyourpe rform a nc e isskillfullyc ra fted ,profe ssiona llye xe c uted ,
spontane ous,e ng a g ing ,e xc iting a nd fun fore ve ryone involve d .
.
.
.
.
.
t
ha n trustm e ,you willb e ne rvous.You willb e ne rvousb e c a use .
.
.
THEN ERVES M EAN S YO U CARE.
The ne rve siswha tha ppe nswhe n yourpe rform a nc e m a ttersto you -whe n you wa ntto
d o g ood work.
O f c ourse ,e xc e ssive ne rve sc a n g e tin the w a y of d oing g ood work.So he re a re a few
tipson how to ke e p c ontrolof yourpe rform a nc e a nd pre ve nte xc e ssive ne rve sfrom
c re e ping in.
TIP #1
M e m e orize yourline sa se a rlyin the re he a rsa lproc e ssa spossib le .The re a re m a ny
"tric ks"to m e m oriza tion.U se the m a nd g e tyourline sm e m orize d a squic klya spossib le .
M e m orizing yourline se a rlywillfre e you from the b urd e n of the physic a lsc ript
.Itwill
a llow you a sm uc h tim e a spossib le to e xplore the a c tion,c ha ra c terre la tionships,sub text,yourc ha ra c tera nd a llthe othe rthing syou c a n'
td o we llif youre ye sa re g lue d to a
sc riptin yourha nd .
TIP #2
U nd e rsta nd yourc ha ra c ter'srea son fore xisting in the pla y.
Eve ry c ha ra c terisc ruc ia lto the pla y.W hy d id the a uthorb othe rto ha ve yourc ha ra c ter
e nter,sa yline s,d o a c tions,the n le a ve ?You should know why yourc ha ra c terisin the
pla y.The re a son yourc ha ra c terison the sta g e isthe re a son you a re on the sta g e .If your
c ha ra c terb e long sup the re ,the n you b e long up the re .You ha ve a purpose forb e ing up
the re .
You b e long up the re .Thisse nse of "Ib e long up on the sta g e "willhe lpim prove your
c om fortle ve l.You fe e lc om forta b le in pla c e syou know you b e long .Find the re a son your
c ha ra c terb e long sin the pla y,on the sta g e .You willb e m ore c om forta b le with the id e a
tha tyou a lso b e long in the pla y,on the sta g e .
TIP #3
Ase a rlya spossib le in the re he a rsa lproc e ss,b e c om e fa m ilia rwith the spa c e in whic h
you willpe rform .Stand in the m id d le of the sta g e .Look outtowa rd the house .Look a t
the se a ts,the lig hts,the e xits,the c urta ins.W a lk a b outthe whole a c ting a re a .W a lk in the
wing s,d own the sta irs,look in the orche stra pit,if the re a re pla tform s,wa lk on the
pla tform s,ope n a nd c lose d oorsa nd wind owsif the y a re pa rtof the se t,sitin the
furniture on the se t,ha nd le yourprops,d o e ve rything you c a n to b e c om e fa m ilia rwith
the the a tre a nd the a c ting a re a .
W e a re c om forta b le in fa m ilia rpla c e s.W e fe e llike w e b e long the re .You m ustd e ve lop
yourse nse of b e long ing b y e xploring the spa c e you willoc c upy;b y m a king ityour
spa c e .
Do thisa lot
.Asoften a syou c a n d uring re he a rsa ls.Do thisb e fore e ve rype rform a nc e a s
we ll.Don'
tstop d oing thisuntilthe c urta in g oe sd own forthe la sttim e a fterthe la st
pe rform a nc e .You b e long on tha tsta g e .Itisyours.
TIP #4
REHEARSE,REHEARSE,REHEARSE,REHEARSE,REHEARSE.
Rehe a rse untilyou c a n'
tsta nd re he a rsing .
.
.
t
he n re he a rse som e m ore .
R e a d the pla y e ve ry d a y.The whole pla y,notjustyourpa rt.Know the pla y insid e out,
outsid e in,upsid e d own,d ownsid e up,b a c kwa rd s,forwa rd sa nd sta nd ing on your
he a d .Be c om e so fa m ilia rwith the pla y tha tyou sa yline sin yoursle e p;so fa m ilia rtha t
a tpa rtiesyourc onve rsa tion c onsistsa lm oste ntirelyof line sfrom the pla y.
Be c om e so fa m ilia rwith the pla ytha td oing the pla yon ope ning nig htislike visiting a n
old fa m ilia rfrie nd .
TIP #5
Think a b oute ve rything yourc ha ra c terissuppose d to d o,sa y,think a nd fe e ld uring the
pla y.W ha ta re youra c tions?W he re a re you suppose d to sta nd ?W he n a re you suppose d
to pic k up tha ttea c up?How a re you suppose d to hold it?W hic h wa y should you b e
fa c ing ?Are you suppose d to b e e njoying the tea ?How m uc h?Are you suppose d to
c lose youre ye s?Lic k yourlips?Sa y"m -m -m -m -m -m -m "?Isone le g suppose d to b y
forwa rd ?How m a ny ste psa re you suppose d to take to g e tto the fa re nd of the sta g e ?
W ha tline should you b e sa ying whe n you g e tthe re ?W he n you fluff tha tpillow,a re you
suppose d to hititha rd ?Soft?Ata ll?.
.
.
W he n yourc ha ra c tersa ys,"Ilove you"d oe syour
c ha ra c term e a n it?W ha td oe syourc ha ra c term e a n?
The re a re a b outa g a zillion thing syou think a b outin a pla y.Think a b outthe m .Pre pa re
forwha tyou a re suppose d to d o orsa y ne xt,whe re you a re suppose d to b e ne xt
.How
a re you suppose d to b e re a c ting to the othe rc ha ra c ter'sword sa nd a c tions...?How d o
the y m a ke you fe e l?
Ga zillionsa nd g a zillionsof thing s.Think of those thing sa nd you won'
tha ve tim e to
think a b outhow ne rvousyou a re .The re won'
tb e a ny tim e to think a b outhow ne rvous
you a re .You'
llb e too b usy thinking of a llthe g a zillionsof thing syou'
r
e suppose d to b e
thinking a b out
.
Do thisthinking thing while putting on m a ke up,putting on yourc ostum e ,wa iting for
youre ntra nc e s,while on sta g e ,e ve ry m om e ntfrom the tim e you e nterthe the a tre until
yourla stline a nd e xit.
TIP #6
Yourc ha ra c terd id notsud d e nly,m a g ic a llya ppe a rin the wing sa splitse c ond b e fore
youre ntra nc e .Yourc ha ra c terha sa life b e sid e sthe life the a uthord oc um e nted in the
word sof the pla y.W ha twa syourc ha ra c terd oing b e fore youre ntra nc e onto the sta g e ?
You,the a c tor,g e tto d e c id e .
Sa y yourc ha ra c terissuppose d to e nterc a rrying a num b e rof b oxe s,pre se ntsforhis
c hild re n.W e ll?W he re d id he g e tthose pa c ka g e s?Did he g o on a shopping trip
d owntown?M a yb e he w a lke d b a c k from the b usstop 6b loc ksa w a y,c a rrying 5 he a vy
b oxe s,a n um b re lla ,a nd we a ring shoe stha ta re b ittoo tig hta ftera long d a y of wa lking
d owntown?H e '
stire d ,hisa rm sa re sore ,b uthe '
sha ppy b e c a use he isg oing to surprise
hiskid swith hisg re a tpre se nts.
Itistim e foryoure ntra nc e .And g ue sswha t,inste a d of sta nd ing in the wing s,wa iting
foryoure ntra nc e ,g e tting a llne rvous,you ha ve b e e n oc c upying yourse lf with the
thoug htsof yourc ha ra c ter.Thoug htsa b outthe store syou shoppe d in,tha tfunny
looking c le rk in the shoe d e pa rtm e nt,the b ounc ing b usrid e hom e ,the g uy who sm e lle d
of b e e ra nd who fe llto sle e ple a ning on yourshould e r,the w a lk hom e from the b usstop,
how re d M rs.W a xwing sg e ra nium sa re thisye a r,how sore yourle g sa nd a rm sa re ,how
you ha ve yourhouse ke ysin the wrong poc ke t,a nd .
.
.
t
a d a -a-a-a-a.
.
.
The n,a na tura le xtension of thisoff-sta g e life c onjure d in youra c tor'sm ind ,you e nter,
sta g e le ft,one tired ,sore ,ha ppy m a n,e a g e rto putd own those he a vy pa c ka g e s,b ut
g e ntle with the irc ontents,sm iling in a nticipa tion of hisc hild re n'
sd e lig ht
.
Enterone a c tor,too b usythinking a b outa nd living hisc ha ra c ter'slife off sta g e ;t
oo b usy
b e ing involve d in hisc ha ra c ter'she re a nd now.
.
.
Too b usy thinking of the job a tha nd .Too b usy to b e ne rvous.
H e re a re a fe w a ud ition tips
M ostc om m unitie s-e ve n sm a llone s-ha ve a the a tre g roup ortwo.M ostine xpe rie nc e d
b e g inne rsstartin c om m unity the a tre.The y a re e xc e lle ntpla c e sto le a rn the b a sic sa nd
b e g in to b uild som e e xpe rie nc e .
The re a re m a ny,m a ny hund re d sof the a tre g roupstha td o notha ve interne tsites,or
whose sitesa re notposte d on thispa g e -ye t
.Be sid e sthe sitesposte d on thispa g e ,you
should a lso se a rch the w e b using yourfa vorite se a rch e ng ine .
Se a rch thissite too:The Am e ric a n Assoc ia tion of Com m unity The a tres.
You c a n a lso find outa b outyourloc a lthe a tre g roupsa nd the ira ud itions,b ylooking in
yourloc a lnewspa pe rs.Ca llyourpa pe rsa nd find outwhic h d a y of the w e e k a nd in
whic h se c tion the y pub lish a ud ition notice s.Also look forpe rform a nc e listing s.Ca llthe
phone num b e rlisted forticke tsa le sa nd a sk a b outfuture a ud itions.
Attend c om m unitypla y pe rform a nc e s.Ta lk to c a stm e m b e rsa fterthe show.Te llthe m
you a re intere ste d in the irg roup a nd would like to join a nd a ud ition forpla ys(b e sure
to m e ntion how m uc h you e njoye d the irpla ya nd pe rform a nc e .
) Find outwha teve rinfo
you c a n.M ostc om m unity g roupspub lish a newsle tterform e m b e rs.The se willa lso
c ontain a ud ition notice s.
Try c ontac ting yourloc a lc olle g e sa nd unive rsities.The se pla c e sfre que ntlyprod uc e
showswhic h a re ope n forthe pub lic to a ud ition.Look in the phone b ook.
Go to a sm a ny a ud itionsa syou c a n.
If you d on'
tg e ta pa rtin a pla y,the n voluntee rto he lpon the sta g e ,c ostum e ,se td e sig n
orlig hting c rews.Be c om ing involve d in the a tre prod uc tions,e ve n b e hind the sc e ne s,
willg ive you im porta nte xpe rie nc e in how the pe rform ing b usine ssworksa nd c a n b e
inc lud e d on a the a trica lre sum é a swe ll.
Be sid e sloc a lpla ys,you should a lso m a rke tyourse lf d ire c tly.Contac tyourne a re st
AFTRA/SAG offic e to se e if the y ha ve a nyc a sting d ire c torc ontac tna m e sa nd a d d re sse s.
W a tch the TV com m e rcia lsforyourloc a lb usine sse s.Ca llthe va riousb usine sse sa nd a sk
who d o the irTV ad s.The n c a llthe a d a g e nc ie sa nd a sk if the y ke e pa c torfile s(forthose
tim e swhe n the y c a std ire c t) a nd /orwho ha nd le sc a sting forthe irprod uc tions.O ften
tim e sthe prod uc tion house sd o the irown c a sting inste a d of g oing throug h a g e nc ie s.
Contac tyourloc a lprod uc tion house s.
Contac tb ig c om pa nie sd ire c tly.Som e re a llyb ig c om pa nie sd o som e of the irown
prod uc tionsin-house a nd ke e p a c torfile s.Also a sk who the y use forthe iroutsid e
prod uc tion work a nd whic h a g e nc ie sthe y use forc a sting .
Contac tyourloc a lfilm sc hoolsorunive rsitieswith film m a king d e pts.Find outwho is
m a king stud e ntfilm sa nd m a ke sure e a c h of those a spiring d ire c torsknow you a re a n
e a g e ra c torwilling to work (e xpe c tto g e tN O pa y.Butyou m ig htg e ta vid e o of the film s
you a re in -from whic h you c a n puttog e the ra n a ud ition vid e o to se nd to a g e nts).
Che c k yourloc a lpa pe rs,film c om m issionsortra d e pub lic a tionsfora ud ition notice sfor
ind e pe nd e ntfilm stha tm ig htb e film e d in youra re a .Ca llwha teve rc ontac t#isg ive n.
If you a re a tale nted a c tor,sing e ra nd ord a nc e r,you m ig htswing a n a ud ition fora
touring show a nd ,if you g e ta pa rt,join the tour.
The tourlife ishe c tic,d e m a nd ing a nd g rue ling ,b uta lotof fun a nd g re a twa y to b uild
life -long frie nd shipswith othe rsin the b usine ss.
M a ny touring g roupshold a ud itionsa tva rioustim e sin m a jorc itie s.Listing sforsuc h
a ud itionsc a n b e found in the tra d e slike Ba c k Stag e /Ba c k Sta g e W e st/Dra m a log ue .
You c a n a lso se a rch the w e b fora touring show'
swe b pa g e whic h willa lso lista ud ition
sc he d ule sa nd pe rform a nc e sc he d ule s.If a touring prod uc tion issc he d ule d to pe rform
in youra re a ,you c a n se nd a re sum é,photo a nd tape to the m a nd re que sta n a ud ition.
Ea c h show willha ve it'
sown re quire m e ntsforwha tthe y re quire ,thoug h m osta ll
inc lud e sing ing a nd d a nc ing skillsto som e d e g re e .
Althoug h you m ustb e a m e m b e rof Equity to pe rform in m ostprofe ssiona ltouring
shows,new Equity rule sa llow a n a c torto join a fterthe y se c ure a c ontrac t
.
Rem e m b e r,e ve n the b e sta c torsstarted with b e hind the sc e ne swork a nd sm a llpa rts.
Ta ke wha teve rpa rtsyou c a n g e t
.Asyou im prove yourskillsa nd e xpe rie nc e ,you will
g e tb e ttera nd b e tterrole s.Don'
tb e in suc h a rush to sta rta tthe top.Le a rn yourc ra ft
slowly,im prove yourknowle d g e a nd skillsstep b y ste p.You'
llfind b uild ing tha t
re sum é a lotm ore fun a nd m uc h le ssd isc oura g ing if you take a sm a rta nd m e thod ic a l
a pproa c h to yourtra ining .
Good luc k with yourse a rch.
Find a n a ud ition -Go to it!
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
PREPARE-PREPARE-PREPARE-PREPARE!!!
R e a d the pla y in a d va nc e ,if you c a n,a nd se e wha tpa rtsyou wa ntto a ud ition
for.
M a ke som e a c tion a nd voic e d e c isionsa b outthe c ha ra c tersyou willa ud ition for.
Forinstanc e ,you m ig htd e c id e one of the c ha ra c tersisawkwa rd ,loud a nd
tac tle ss.You m ig htc hoose a voic e tha tisra the rb oom ing ,m a yb e a b rupta nd
g ruff.You m ig htc hoose b roa d ,swe e ping ,a b rupt,m ove m e nts,tha tla c k a ny
g ra c e orpoise .
Do nottry to d o too m uc h with yourvoic e a nd b od y.M a ke thre e orfourvoic e
a nd a c tion d e c isions,the n g o with the m .
Be b ra ve a nd b old .Aud itions,e spe c ia llyforpla ys,re quire a firm ,no hold s
b a rre d a ttac k.Thisisnota tim e to b e shy.
Spe a k c le a rlya nd loud e noug h to b e e a silyhe a rd a tthe b a c k of the house .Itryto
im a g ine m yse lf spe a king loud e noug h to b e he a rd b y som e one b e yond the b a c k
wa llof the house .Tha twa y Iknow som e one in the b a c k of the house will
c e rta inlyhe a rm e .
If sing ing isinvolve d ,c hoose a pie c e tha tisfrom the show orsim ila rto song sin
the show.Choose a pie c e tha tyou c a n e a silyha nd le ;we llwithin yourra ng e .This
isnota tim e to c ha lle ng e yourvoic e b y stre tching fornoteshig he rtha n you c a n
c om forta b lyre a c h.
If d a nc ing isinvolve d ,know som e b a sic ste ps.
If you a re d oing c old re a d ing s,a nd ha ve little tim e to look ove rthe pla y,the n
you m ustb e ve ry a g g re ssive a nd c re a tive .Ta ke c ha nc e s.M a ke a c tion a nd voic e
d e c isions,a nd a ttac k.If the a ud itionsa re a g roup kind of thing ,whe re e ve ryone
isin the sa m e room a nd c a n wa tch e a c h othe ra ud ition,the n Ite llm y in-pe rson
a c ting stud e ntsto try notto g o first
.Try to g e ta fe e lforthe sc e ne sorm onolog s
the d ire c torisusing forthe a ud ition.W a tch a nd listen to wha tthe othe rpe ople
a re d oing with the ira ud itions,the n d on'
td o those thing s.Do othe r,m ore
intere sting a nd c re a tive thing swith you voic e a nd b od y.Som e thing tha twillg e t
the d ire c tor'sa ttention a nd sa y,"Hm m m m .Thispe rson looksintere sting .
"
Be b old ,a ttac k the a ud ition with vig or,e nthusia sm a nd e ne rg y.
M a ke sure you c onve ya positive a ttitud e of e xc item e nt
.Som e tim e s,whe n pe ople
g e tne rvous,the y pullb a c k.The y take a sortof,"If Ig e tit,Ig e tit-if Id on'
t
,I
d on'
t
.
"a ttitud e .W R O N G M a ke sure youra ttitud e sa ys,"Gosh I'
m ne rvous,b utI
re a llywa ntthe pa rta nd willd o m y b e stto g e tit!".Don'
tb e g ,of c ourse .Exud e
stre ng th,b old ne ss,c onfid e nc e ,e xc item e nta nd e ne rg y.