Struggling Actors: 3 Techniques to Start Booking Roles

As an actor, you agree that auditioning (either in person or via self-tape) and booking roles is both the most exhilarating yet hardest part of the job.

    As an undergraduate student at Northwestern University studying Musical Theatre and Film, along with working in the entertainment industry for six years, I have found two articles that are both insightful and motivational for your next audition. 

         In the article entitled “1 Distraction You Need to Avoid When Auditioning” (include a link to the article) published in Backstage by Natalie Roy, mentor and audition coach Roy describes the idea of avoiding self-judgement and trying to predict what the casting directors are thinking about you in favor or choosing to engage fully with the material and “play” in the room. One must avoid criticizing an audition in order to live fully in the moment and become the character in question. 

Source: La La Land “Audition Trailer” from We Got This Covered
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_PyZBPEobFI

    This jovial perspective from Roy creates the question: but how can you be sure that you prepare and “play” the material in the way the writers intended? After all, having a joyous and exuberant mindset is only as valued as answering the needs of those sitting behind the table. 

    This is when an article entitled “The 1 Thing You Should Know Before Auditioning for TV” (include a link to the article) published in Backstage by Michelle Danner, becomes extremely helpful. Danner, a director and audition coach, claims that: “[y]ou can be the best actor in the world and bring truth to the scene you’re performing in an audition, but if you don’t understand the material you’re playing and if you don’t enter the specific world the story is set in, you’ll be at a loss and do yourself a disservice.”

     Danner goes into detail about how larger categories, such as “Medical Dramas” can be broken down into specific themes: such as “Grey’s Anatomy” dealing with both rare cases and light-hearted romantic relationships, while “ER” deals with straight, heightened drama without the same joking nature. Understanding these differences are crucial, in order to fit in the overarching arc and theme of the show and to ultimately book the role. 

   














 

Source: Grey’s Anatomy… from ABC News
https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Culture/video/greys-anatomy-cast-reflect-shows-iconic-love-stories-61398257  


 Based on my review of these two articles and my experience as an actor, casting director, and producer, I have developed three recommendations when thinking about booking roles directly from your audition. They are:

1.     Focus on You – it’s impossible to know what the casting directors are thinking, so it’s better to give it your all and live in the moment.
2.     Style and Tone – know and understand the material given to you for the audition, so that you can deliver it appropriately in the vein of current episodes.
3.     Come to Play – know your material well enough that you can adapt to notes and/or scene partners, don’t memorize it to the point of being stuck in your ways.
 
        This combination of being both free in the moment and expressing yourself while understanding the material’s overarching themes can be applied in both an in-person audition or via self-tape. And as the entertainment industry becomes more digital and more actors are becoming bi-costal and local hires across the country, it becomes even more important to produce a high-quality self-tape to match your level of acting ability. 

        Several materials have the ability to transform your audition. They are:

§  A portable blue Backdrop:

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§  A tripod with a Blutetooth remote to hold your phone while filming: 

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§  Lighting to mimic on-set angles:

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·       or, if you want to combine a phone tripod and lighting: 

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    So the next time you receive an audition notice, remember to bring your full self to the scene and focus on your work, not the thoughts of those watching you. Research the scene and show in order to understand the material, tone, and themes. And bring a child-like openness and energy to the room that is open to adjustments and willing to play. And if someone asks for a self-tape, know that the quality (and the acting) will impress every viewer. 

About the Author: Alison is a 22-year-old theatre and film actress taking the industry by storm in Chicago, New York, and LA. Known for her witty humor and vivid facial expressions, she is about to begin her senior year at Northwestern University, where she is pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Theatre, a Musical Theatre Certificate, Marketing Certificate, and Minor in Film and Media. When she is not in the classroom, she is auditioning for agents in several cities, working downtown Chicago, and keeping up a blog and YouTube channel. 

 My interview with Authority Magazine is out now! 

Follow me on Twitter: @alisonvandam 

Follow me on Instagram: @thatgirlalisonn

Film/TV: 3 Tips for Thinking About the Work of Controversial Figures

·       As viewers of film and television, it is important to consider the implications of the media we are consuming and its creators, especially in regards to the recent Hollywood movements relating to abuse and assault. As a film student at Northwestern University, I have two articles that will help you navigate the conflicting feelings you may feel when thinking about the work made by controversial people.

      In the Paris Review article What Do We Do with the Art of Monstrous Men? author Claire Dederer grapples with her own feelings on consuming the work of controversial figures. She goes through many men: Roman Polanski, Bill Cosby, Woody Allen. She ponders if it’s fair that these men’s transgression are interfering with her connection to their art, and asks what their situations mean for her love of their work. Additionally, she discusses what our moral responsibility is as viewers when watching these pieces. Finally, she poses the questions: “What is to be done about monsters? Can and should we love their work? Are all ambitious artists monsters? Tiny voice: [Am I a monster?]”

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Source:  https://www.cnn.com/2017/10/25/us/list-of-accused-after-weinstein-scandal-trnd/index.html

      Wesley Morris discusses the implications of the Bill Cosby trial in his New York Times article How to Think About Bill Cosby and ‘The Cosby Show.’ He cites the 8 season show as a source of foolproof happiness and joy. But, he also emphasizes that there are other parts of Bill Cosby that people tend not to focus on. He explores these parts of the public figure, and argues that America’s collective cultural memory may be selective. The fall of Bill Cosby is complicated, Morris argues, by racial issues. In cases such as Cosby and OJ Simpson, Morris says: “If achieving success in this country is twice as hard for black people, it’s also doubly tough for black people to flunk their own.” Morris also points out that Cosby decided to weaponized his work by utilizing lines from Fat Albert, which remains a big disappointment for the author.

After reading these two articles, and from my studies as a film student at Northwestern, I highly recommend these action items the next time you are thinking about work created by controversial figures:

•  Reject the weaponization -- Do not let the art of the artists become an excuse for their transgressions; do not let them use their portfolios as a weapon of strategy to negate their wrongdoings.

• Mourn the nostalgia -- If you wish to condemn the artists, you cannot separate them from their alter egos; their wrongdoings have contaminated even those most innocent and comforting works with controversy

• Accept the conflict -- This is an important ongoing conversation that requires nuance and the exploration of context as it relates to many factors; accept that while there is no easy solution, the dialogue around this topic is productive.

While watching film and television, it is important that we do not forget the context of the media we are consuming. We must explore our own moral responsibilities and, most importantly, remain in an open and ongoing conversation about these topics.

Kiki Meiners-Rios is a dedicated student at Northwestern University studying Radio, Television, Film + Creative Writing + Integrated Marketing Communications. She endeavors to work in the film industry, and you can connect with her on Twitter (@_kiki_m) or LinkedIn.