Thursday, February 16, 2012
Week 6- Got Skills?
Over the past few weeks, we have auditioned across genres from television commercials
to episodic TV shows and feature films. Through dramatic role play, we have been able to
recreate typical scenarios that you may encounter as an actor auditioning for industry professionals.
By auditioning twice a week, you are learning how to synthesize your technique so that you can quickly break down a script and
play what the writer and/or director envisions. How do you feel your skills have strengthened over the past weeks?
What have
you identified as your strengths and weaknesses?
What would you like to improve to increase your opportunities for callbacks?
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I strongly feel that I have greatly developed my audition skills already this semester. First of all, I have learned simple vocabulary that you need for auditions but that I was unfamiliar with before. For example, if I had auditioned for a commercial without taking this class and someone asked me to “slate”, I would have had no idea what to do. However, this class has taught me that and many other terms. I also have more confidence in myself when I audition. Auditioning almost every day has significantly reduced how nervous I am when I audition. I now can walk into the room with confidence. This class has opened my eyes as to how I come across and present myself to others. I have learned that two of my strengths are my voice, which apparently is soothing, and my unique energy. My biggest weakness is probably that I take criticism and rejection too personally, but being critiqued on a regular basis is definitely helping with that. In order to increase my opportunities for callbacks and bookings, I would like to increase the contrast between the beginning, middle, and end of my sides. I work hard to find and mark those sections and I know what emotion each one should have, but I have trouble incorporating that particular part of actor homework into my performance.
ReplyDeleteI really do appreciate what this class has taught me. I had an audition this weekend and there were so many things that Nicole talked about that helped me immensely. For example, there were a lot of people waiting to audition who wanted to talk to everyone about what pieces they were doing, what school they were from, etc. However, I remembered what Nicole said about talking to people in the lobby of an audition: it won’t help you out at all and your time could be better spent preparing and going over your audition materials. When it was my turn to audition, I remembered what we had learned about my audition slot being my time to show the judges what I had to offer and that they were there to see me, if only for a minute and a half, so I needed to own the time. This tip gave me a lot of confidence and ownership of the stage. The most important lesson that stuck with me at this audition was to be myself and not try to change for what I think the judges might want. They want to see what kind of a person you really are, because they’re going to have to work with you. This relaxed made me and again, made me more confident.
I think something clicked when you said being a good cold reader won't book your jobs. Sometimes I feel that I give a "solid" voiceover audition or live cold read, and I occasionally think of it in terms of being "probably better than most" or something of the sort. Or I'll hear someone else struggle through a cold read and gain confidence through it (again, not trying to be a jerk, but let's be honest: they're competition, you want to be better). But solid isn't good enough! Solid doesn't always book! And more importantly, does being able to read well have anything to do with embracing the reality of the character? Or making an impression on a casting director who wants to make a character come to life? I often feel that I read well, but I would certainly not always assert that I "make a character come to life." Isn't that really what I'm striving for, not just plowing through a text? I'm watching a John Barton video for Acting 3 right now that I think applies to this. He's saying, "shouldn't it (all the necessary dissection of a Shakespearean text) alone be able to stir us, to thrill our senses? What sometimes goes missing?"
ReplyDeletePerhaps breaking down a scene will help me with this. I definitely feel that it has improved my scene work somewhat.
Additionally, I wish we had more time to work on commercials. It's so difficult to sell something naturally. I wish I could improvise everything at real auditions. This possibility has cropped up at several film auditions, but never commercials, for me.
And, PS., I'm looking with some nervousness to monologues.
Over the past few weeks I have learned a lot about not only my auditioning process but myself in this class. I have found that cold reads work pretty well for me as long as I take the time to really sit down with the side and break it into beginning, middle and end. Something else that has helped is figuring out what the other person is saying to me so even in my “dead” time I’m not dead. I am not the strongest reader, but I think if I really start working on reading out loud cold it will help. Kari Wahlgren came to my class when I took this with Jack Wright and she was telling us that a good way is to just pick up the phone book and read that. I found that I don’t dislike cold reading anymore.
ReplyDeleteI have become a lot more confident when going to auditions, but something I still need to work on is how I present myself when I walk in. I don’t know why but for some reason I cannot get that damn walk when I walk into the room. I think something I found to be my strength is possibly that I do better as a more comedic actor. My weaknesses are defining my beats stronger. I can get them on paper but having them actually come out in my acting is lacking.
I feel that I have improved on a number of things in this class. I think it is very useful that we audition twice a week because it helps me get over my fear of auditioning. I also get a lot out of watching others in the class audition because I get to see choices made by others and I get to see what works and what does not. I still think my weakest part of auditioning is cold reading. I am not a fast reader and it is hard to glance at a script and give a performance, but I still think I have improved on my cold readings from the beggining of class. I would say my best trait is stage presence since my size kind of demands attention, and if I have something prepared I feel like I can give a good performance. Other things that I want to work on is not being afraid to "go for it". By this I mean that I look at a side and am uncertain about what I should do and how much emotion I should put into it, or that I will decide to play it how I would in the situation which is a little un-emotional. But I want to try and make stronger choices whether they be right or wrong. You mentioned I come off monotone which I get a lot and I think if I throw in some range in my audition it will greatly improve my chance of getting called back.
ReplyDeleteI have learned so many things from this class. I feel like I have made huge strides as an actor even from the first day of class to now, one month later. Last week I had an audition with Talent Unlimited and I was asked to do monologues and cold reads on camera and of course I was asked to "slate". Before this class I had absolutely no idea what that was. The first day of class when we did a cold read, I was really nervous and it was difficult for me to get up in front of everyone and pretend I was at an audition. I am very new to acting but I am already much more comfortable in my own skin when I am acting. I will continue to work on improving myself , especially to stay in character and not lose my character during the silences in a piece.
ReplyDeleteI feel that my technique and confidence have already grown so much as a result of this class. I feel like I am making steps toward realizing how I should market myself and where I can fit into the industry. I love working with improvisation in class. I like participating in it and watching others do improv because it always brings up questions that I can ask myself about how could I be prepared for a given situation. I feel comfortable in groups of people but I need to work on remaining relaxed during an audition and not let tension in my body affect my voice, thoughts, or movement. I used to think I was comfortable with cold reads because all I had to do was show up. There was no preparation at all for me. But now I realize that if I prepare really well for a cold read (if i can get the sides) then i will be more relaxed, look more professional, and have a better chance of booking the job. Another thing I want to work on is writing/somewhat memorizing a mini autobiography so I can have my best features and interests displayed during the audition if the situation calls for it. I also want to work on shaping my image as an actor. I think this will mean two different types of head shots to exhibit two different feels for the casting directors to choose from. If auditions call for me to have a monologue prepared, I want to go in with two contrasting, one matching the vibe of one head shot and one matching the vibe of the other.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Alex. A mini-autobiography seems genius. Why not know what tools we particularly bring to the table?
ReplyDeletePersonally, I feel that I could still gain a better control of my "outer self" during auditions. Sometimes, when performing for an audience for teachers, etc. I lose control of my "outer self" and like Chekhov says, begin to rely on tricks that have worked in the past but may not be honest to who the character is. Here is when I tread the delicate ground between technique, heart, and control. I honestly feel that if I could garner some sort of grip on this that I would be able to really give a great audition, one that is at the top of my abilities and will really help me book the job. I have booked work but I am oftentimes unhappy with what I book. I think that being able to control this "sixth sense" and allow it to lead me by the hand will lead to the kind of bookings that I want.
First of all, my skills have dramatically improved for auditioning just by taking this class and auditioning two times a week. It helps so much because I have noticed my confidence going up as every class passes. That was one of my biggest issues and the practice has definitely helped, as I've found a comfortable walk for myself as we call the "swag walk." Also, being able to talk about yourself to casting director, and just exuding confidence in an audition. All of these things I've learned are vital because you only have the first impression in an audition and its like Nicole says that auditioning is basically like performing a show only once. So first impressions are all we got. I think Im very strong at playing dramatic, strong roles as well as comedic roles. I know I have a strong, commanding voice to bring to acting so I play that to my strengths. As for a few things I'd like to improve on, I want to become better at physical work in my acting. I am reading Chekov and he's all about physicalization so that's been really helpful and taking Leslie's Acting III class. It's all helping me to become a more powerful actor as well as being versatile.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI definitely feel as if my skills in auditioning have improved dramatically over the course of this class. I think the thing that I have noticed the most has been my confidence level increasing. Auditioning is one of the scariest things in the world for me and I know that is bad to say as an actor because auditioning makes up our entire lives, but something about it just scares me (Mostly if I have to sing, but that is a whole different story). But, even fake auditioning has helped me overcome some of that fear. I am gradually becoming more and more comfortable with myself in an audition setting. This helps my performances as a whole because I've realized that my nerves are what make my performances so poor. Its as if I can't think anymore. All of the skill and talent that I know I possess just seem to disappear. I am so excited to see where the rest of the semester takes me. My strengths in auditions I believe my strengths when it comes to auditioning is how I interact with the casting director. I tend to be a very open and friendly person and I like to believe that I am a pretty likable person and I know I can use that to my advantage. My weakness has been and always will be my nerves. I would definitely like to improve on my confidence more. I know that if I am more confident in my skills as an actor, my nerves wont be as prominent.
ReplyDeleteAll the cold reading practice has definitely helped me to break down a script faster. It also made me realize that sometimes scripts are not as complicated as they seem. As for my strengths and weaknesses, I’ve definitely become more self-aware. I really need to work on my confidence level when I walk into the audition room. I also need to have a mini bio prepared for when the casting directors inevitably ask me to tell them about myself. I’ve also noticed that I can be monotone when cold-reading but I think that can be solved by just putting more energy into the performance and warming up my voice a little beforehand. Working on all of these things will increase my chances for getting a callback.
ReplyDeleteJamie White
ReplyDeleteFebruary 13, 2013
THR 406, Blog 2
Dr. Nicole
Over the past couple weeks from auditioning across genres from television commercials to episodic TV shows and feature films, I feel like my script breakdown is improving. I am becoming more flexible in my cold read because now I’ve learned how to take more control over highlighting and marking up my script. Usually when I can identify the opening beat for the cold read it works as an anchor for the rest of my beat choices and transitions throughout. You can’t know where you’re going if you don’t know where you even started, and I think this concept renders true when trying to smoothly work through scenes. I find it more difficult trying to do cold reads that involve a lot of action especially when you are performing with complete strangers, and sometimes I let this uncomfortable position throw me off. It becomes difficult for me and I let my focus waver because I am working to not be overpowered by my fellow actor’s strong performance choices. That is something I do see as a weakness, especially since I don’t want to be overpowered to the point of not being memorable in my auditions. I need to command attention and always be a presences with something unique and solid to offer to the scene at hand. I love the concept of making directors rethink the parameters of parts because of what you have to offer with your unique spin, just as Whoopi Goldberg did by showing up and auditioning for predominantly “white female” cast roles. Once I learn to up my performance level and confidence when I am in the scene with a stranger, I will be able to take my acting and likelihood for callbacks to another level.