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

3 Audition Recommendations to Help You Become the Next Flo

A working actor can prosper when booking a commercial, but the audition room can be very puzzling. As a Northwestern student specializing in Theatre and Integrated Marketing Communications, I have found two articles that will benefit you in your next commercial audition. 

How to Nail Your Next Commercial Audition by Jamie Irvine, a writer for Backstage.com, demystifies the audition room and provides insight into what casting directors are thinking. In Irvine's experience, she has found that being specific about clothing and knowing your colors will help bring your personality and archetype to life, but you have to be able to play the part you dressed for. Irvine touches on the importance of moments immediately before and after the audition; the waiting room is a great tool to come alive and express yourself by being aware of your surroundings. Once the audition is over, there's no reason to overthink what you just did because even your mistake might've made a strong impression. 

Source: Progressive Corporation

My Worst Moment: When Paul Scheer Realized Trying to Stand on Your Head Won't Get You the Part, by Nina Metz from the Chicago Tribune, looks at renown actor Paul Scheer's experience in an audition for a Twix commercial. Scheer was in his early 20s and felt like commercial auditions were high stakes because he might "hit the jackpot." Scheer felt pressure to stand out and make a dent, so he took inspiration from Robin Williams' audition for 'Happy Days' where he was on his head the whole audition. Scheer relied so heavily on trying to be memorable and do his two-line audition upside-down on a chair that he bombed the whole thing. 

Based on these two articles and my experience at Northwestern University and as a working actor, I have developed a few key tips to use when preparing for your next commercial audition. 

• Embrace Your Mistake. Making a mistake can be a good thing that shows the casting director something organic and natural, but don’t actively try to make a mistake.

• Use Your Archetype. Be aware of the types you are consistently called in for and make sure you can play those. Commercials rely on archetypes.

• Be Memorable, Naturally. It’s important to make strong choices in an audition to standout, but don’t force an unnecessary choice in a commercial audition where you might only have five seconds of screen time.

As actors, we must not be scared by the audition room but instead discover how to own the space. 

Julian Larach is a senior at Northwestern University studying theatre and integrated marketing communications. You can get in touch with Julian via LinkedIn or Twitter.