When I first went to college,I thought I was going to be the next great plus-sized actress. I was on a mission, and no one could stop me! After two colleges, countless shows, crappy jobs, and less-than internships/apprenticeships, my desires shifted a little. I still love acting, and venture out to auditions occasionally. There are even a few "some day" Gadfly shows that I plan on sticking myself in. Acting is emotionally and creatively fulfilling, and I always have a blast. At some point my focuses shifted though. I fell in love with so many other things, including running a company, activism, directing, and producing-all which led to the beginning of Gadfly. I've been thinking a lot about my days as a 'hard core' actor with auditions for Suburban Redux coming up, and comparing it to how different the experience is. There were things that as an actor, I never believed about directors and producers. I spent so much time trying to be the absolute best, that a lot of times, I lost my "voice" as an actor and/or personality. It's so important to be the best YOU at auditions, and not the best actor. Here are some of the things people tried to tell me about my own auditions that I just wouldn't listen to.
1) It's not personal. Not even a little bit. If you are a working actor, you are probably talented enough to be one. Not being cast has exceedingly, exceedingly little to do with not being talented, or even not being talented enough. I have had to turn away countless actors due to height, age, chemistry with other actors, vocal qualities that they can not help, etc. etc. Casting is a lot like a puzzle. In fact, I've even sat down with the headshots and tried putting various 'pieces' together until it all made sense. If you aren't cast in something, it means that you weren't right for that part, that time. I can count on my fingers alone the number of actors I've turned away because I didn't think they were talented or ready for a certain role. Among those, over half of them I thought had raw talent and just weren't ready.
2) The producer and director aren't there to judge you; in fact, we WANT you to be good. If we sat there ready to judge and tear apart every audition, how would we ever cast a show?
3) There's more to it than talent. I don't want people to walk away from this blog entry thinking that how good they are doesn't matter. Notice I HAVE not cast people because they weren't good...it's just that if you are a working actor with any degree of success, you are probably good enough. Auditioners are expected to be good. Period. The only way to guarantee a role, is to make sure that you can play every age, every race, every height, have excellent chemistry with every actor of every gender, and seem like a good match for every company's mission and every show's vision. In other words...it's not possible. Those things I mentioned in number one and just reiterated now...they will cost you roles. Sorry. But guess what? They will also get your roles. So basically, know yourself; your strengths, weaknesses, and abilities. Play them up. As an actor, I thought showing any weakness or that I recognized weakness was going to cost me. Instead, lack of acknowledgement that I was plus-sized/the age I was/not always comfortable around men/etc. cost me, not that the fact that I was those things. A director who really likes you can and will find a place for you with those things in mind, eventually, if it's clear to them that you are aware and willing to work with or around them.
4) Know the show. Know the company. As much as possible. Suburban Redux is a U.S. premiere, obviously we don't expect everyone to know it inside and out and ask perfectly insightful questions. We DO expect you to ask questions prior to auditions, about the company, the show, the playwright, the other auditions, etc. etc. It shows you care, AND there's the obvious factor: if you know more about the show, your acting will be better. You will also save yourself time and trouble if it turns out you aren't a good match for the company or the show. Would I audition for a classic Nativity play at a fundamentalist-Christian performance center? Hell no. Would I audition for Raisin in the Sun? As much as I love the show, I wouldn't waste everybody's time...including my own.
5) Be honest. No one is going to judge you for not working for the past year, being a natural redhead, or never having a lead. At least, no one that you'd want to work for. So be honest. On your resume, in any post-audition interviews, in the initial contact for the audition.
6) Confidence is key. Why would I cast someone who appears like they would shake like a leaf under pressure?
Without jumping in and giving unsolicited acting tips (which I still may do one day), this is my advice. It comes from a director-actor, who until she became a director, never believed a word of this.
Peace, passion, and love.
Perspectives from the other side. Love it.
ReplyDelete