5-Common-Audition-Mistakes-Actors-Make

If you’re struggling to land your dream role – or any role – it might not be because you lack the “X factor”. What makes an actor stand out in an audition isn’t always their talent or looks – it’s their professionalism.

Even big names have to audition or do screen tests. If you really want to be an actor, this process isn’t going end any time soon – so start getting it right!

It’s unfortunate, but small audition mistakes could cost you the role of a lifetime. Lucky for you, I’ve seen them all.

 

Audition Mistake 1: The Basics

Ok, this one’s for those of you new to auditions.

Try some calming techniques beforehand to help you walk in without the jitters. You could meditate, pop to the gym, or play a quick game of Sudoku: whatever sets your mind at ease.

If you (like many actor types!) lack an “inner serenity,” you can find comfort and relaxation at the audition itself by socialising with those around you. A friendly face and some small talk can work wonders for an extrovert’s sense of confidence.

When you walk into the room, there should be an ‘X’ marked on the floor – this is where you stand. It’s a good starting point for your performance, but don’t be afraid to move around: you should be dynamic with your whole body, not just the upper half!

If speaking to someone in a scene, do not address the panel. Look slightly downstage of them. This is because they’re here to watch your performance, not partake in it! Unless, of course, you’re doing a scene with a reader – feel free to look in their direction.

Don’t signal the end of your scene with a flourish and a “ta-da!” Just relax, stand still for a moment, and then look to the panel. Perhaps say “thank you”.

When interviewing with the directors after performing, don’t stay in character – I know it’s the method way, but the show is over! Ask questions. Show the panel you’re familiar with their work and admire it. You need to demonstrate that you’re a professional, and easy to work with. You can be difficult to work with when you’re famous.

 

Audition Mistake 2: Communication

Confidence is key everywhere, but especially here. If you show physical signs of nervousness, you might not be the leading actor they’re looking for. The moment you walk into that audition every part of you is being judged, from the way you move your feet when you walk to the first words you say when you open your mouth.

It sounds scary, but is nothing a little practice won’t help you solve. In your day-to-day life try to stay aware of how you walk and talk, and it won’t just help your auditions – it could very well improve your social life, too.

When you interview you should let your personality come through. Don’t just answer the panel’s questions – have a conversation! You should let them know who they’re getting the chance to work with. On that note: while confidence is fantastic, arrogance is not. Your conversation should be friendly but above all, respectful.

As in an interview for any other position, you should have questions prepared.

Lastly, don’t forget: smile!

 

Audition Mistake 3: The Role

It’s possible you’ll have only one scene or monologue to show you can play the role in all its complexities. Don’t overact to show your range; instead, make it clear that you know the character. Close read the scenes you’re performing and learn everything you can about your character. Here are some questions to ask yourself:

If your scene doesn’t let you explore more than one or two motivations/emotions, ask questions about the character. This will tell the casting director that you are prepared to fully live it. Alternatively, you could go full method and walk into the audition performing and interviewing as the character. However, few people can pull this off in a way that doesn’t seem arrogant.

Showcase a few techniques if you have enough context. It’s worth reading up on the director and what kind of acting they like, or even past iterations of your character. Is your Peter Parker written in the 1960s by Stan Lee, or directed by Julie Taymor on Broadway? You should take a fresh approach to everything, but it can’t hurt to incorporate techniques you know work.

Acting is to do, not to read. Stay dynamic in your scene, and try to communicate the character through its physical behaviour as well as through your voice.

Stay vulnerable and open to emotional change; this is easiest done if you are a method performer, truly feeling what your character is.

 

Audition Mistake 4: The Material

In all the excitement, it’s easy to forget that there might be strict rules or guidelines regarding audition material. A small checklist to use is:

These are very basic – but a basic mistake is the most likely to cost you the job!

Now that you know what you can work with, it’s time to choose material that best showcases your abilities.

If performing multiple scenes, try to portray contrasting emotions – but don’t make an entirely new character each time. Directors want range, but in an audition they also need to see consistency.

It should go without saying, but: learn your lines. Don’t just memorise a speech or scene, but actually know the lines inside out. There is a good chance you will be asked to deliver a line in a way you haven’t practiced: if you memorised a speech instead of a paragraph, your muscle memory might make this hard to do.

The best way to know your lines whilst maintaining flexibility is to practice them in a few different styles, so cadence and rhythm don’t play into your memory.

The great method actors sometimes go further: they will physically and emotionally embody the character for some time, and only learn the lines a short time before performance. This lends an authenticity to the words as they’re spoken.

 

Audition Mistake 5: Practice

Practice is important not just before an audition, but also in between them: your art, like your muscles, must be exercised to stay in top form. You can take an extra acting class or join a community group – whatever helps you stay in shape.

When practicing for a specific audition, it’s often helpful to record your performance. By doing this you can time the length of your speech, check your technique, or even get someone else to watch it and help you build a better performance.

 

Whether you’re starting off in the industry or you’ve been on the scene for a while, we have a course to help: we have one-off classes, a three-day boot camp, or the much longer Ultimate Acting Programme, which runs from October this year.

All of our courses will expose you to industry professionals and help get your foot in the door: the Ultimate Acting Programme even includes meeting a Hollywood casting director.

If you want to learn which of our numerous courses is perfect for your career, don’t hesitate to get in touch.

5-Common-Audition-Mistakes-Actors-Make

If you’re struggling to land your dream role – or any role – it might not be because you lack the “X factor”. What makes an actor stand out in an audition isn’t always their talent or looks – it’s their professionalism.

Even big names have to audition or do screen tests. If you really want to be an actor, this process isn’t going end any time soon – so start getting it right!

It’s unfortunate, but small audition mistakes could cost you the role of a lifetime. Lucky for you, I’ve seen them all.

 

Audition Mistake 1: The Basics

Ok, this one’s for those of you new to auditions.

Try some calming techniques beforehand to help you walk in without the jitters. You could meditate, pop to the gym, or play a quick game of Sudoku: whatever sets your mind at ease.

If you (like many actor types!) lack an “inner serenity,” you can find comfort and relaxation at the audition itself by socialising with those around you. A friendly face and some small talk can work wonders for an extrovert’s sense of confidence.

When you walk into the room, there should be an ‘X’ marked on the floor – this is where you stand. It’s a good starting point for your performance, but don’t be afraid to move around: you should be dynamic with your whole body, not just the upper half!

If speaking to someone in a scene, do not address the panel. Look slightly downstage of them. This is because they’re here to watch your performance, not partake in it! Unless, of course, you’re doing a scene with a reader – feel free to look in their direction.

Don’t signal the end of your scene with a flourish and a “ta-da!” Just relax, stand still for a moment, and then look to the panel. Perhaps say “thank you”.

When interviewing with the directors after performing, don’t stay in character – I know it’s the method way, but the show is over! Ask questions. Show the panel you’re familiar with their work and admire it. You need to demonstrate that you’re a professional, and easy to work with. You can be difficult to work with when you’re famous.

 

Audition Mistake 2: Communication

Confidence is key everywhere, but especially here. If you show physical signs of nervousness, you might not be the leading actor they’re looking for. The moment you walk into that audition every part of you is being judged, from the way you move your feet when you walk to the first words you say when you open your mouth.

It sounds scary, but is nothing a little practice won’t help you solve. In your day-to-day life try to stay aware of how you walk and talk, and it won’t just help your auditions – it could very well improve your social life, too.

When you interview you should let your personality come through. Don’t just answer the panel’s questions – have a conversation! You should let them know who they’re getting the chance to work with. On that note: while confidence is fantastic, arrogance is not. Your conversation should be friendly but above all, respectful.

As in an interview for any other position, you should have questions prepared.

Lastly, don’t forget: smile!

 

Audition Mistake 3: The Role

It’s possible you’ll have only one scene or monologue to show you can play the role in all its complexities. Don’t overact to show your range; instead, make it clear that you know the character. Close read the scenes you’re performing and learn everything you can about your character. Here are some questions to ask yourself:

If your scene doesn’t let you explore more than one or two motivations/emotions, ask questions about the character. This will tell the casting director that you are prepared to fully live it. Alternatively, you could go full method and walk into the audition performing and interviewing as the character. However, few people can pull this off in a way that doesn’t seem arrogant.

Showcase a few techniques if you have enough context. It’s worth reading up on the director and what kind of acting they like, or even past iterations of your character. Is your Peter Parker written in the 1960s by Stan Lee, or directed by Julie Taymor on Broadway? You should take a fresh approach to everything, but it can’t hurt to incorporate techniques you know work.

Acting is to do, not to read. Stay dynamic in your scene, and try to communicate the character through its physical behaviour as well as through your voice.

Stay vulnerable and open to emotional change; this is easiest done if you are a method performer, truly feeling what your character is.

 

Audition Mistake 4: The Material

In all the excitement, it’s easy to forget that there might be strict rules or guidelines regarding audition material. A small checklist to use is:

These are very basic – but a basic mistake is the most likely to cost you the job!

Now that you know what you can work with, it’s time to choose material that best showcases your abilities.

If performing multiple scenes, try to portray contrasting emotions – but don’t make an entirely new character each time. Directors want range, but in an audition they also need to see consistency.

It should go without saying, but: learn your lines. Don’t just memorise a speech or scene, but actually know the lines inside out. There is a good chance you will be asked to deliver a line in a way you haven’t practiced: if you memorised a speech instead of a paragraph, your muscle memory might make this hard to do.

The best way to know your lines whilst maintaining flexibility is to practice them in a few different styles, so cadence and rhythm don’t play into your memory.

The great method actors sometimes go further: they will physically and emotionally embody the character for some time, and only learn the lines a short time before performance. This lends an authenticity to the words as they’re spoken.

 

Audition Mistake 5: Practice

Practice is important not just before an audition, but also in between them: your art, like your muscles, must be exercised to stay in top form. You can take an extra acting class or join a community group – whatever helps you stay in shape.

When practicing for a specific audition, it’s often helpful to record your performance. By doing this you can time the length of your speech, check your technique, or even get someone else to watch it and help you build a better performance.

 

Whether you’re starting off in the industry or you’ve been on the scene for a while, we have a course to help: we have one-off classes, a three-day boot camp, or the much longer Ultimate Acting Programme, which runs from October this year.

All of our courses will expose you to industry professionals and help get your foot in the door: the Ultimate Acting Programme even includes meeting a Hollywood casting director.

If you want to learn which of our numerous courses is perfect for your career, don’t hesitate to get in touch.

5-Common-Audition-Mistakes-Actors-Make

If you’re struggling to land your dream role – or any role – it might not be because you lack the “X factor”. What makes an actor stand out in an audition isn’t always their talent or looks – it’s their professionalism.

Even big names have to audition or do screen tests. If you really want to be an actor, this process isn’t going end any time soon – so start getting it right!

It’s unfortunate, but small audition mistakes could cost you the role of a lifetime. Lucky for you, I’ve seen them all.

 

Audition Mistake 1: The Basics

Ok, this one’s for those of you new to auditions.

Try some calming techniques beforehand to help you walk in without the jitters. You could meditate, pop to the gym, or play a quick game of Sudoku: whatever sets your mind at ease.

If you (like many actor types!) lack an “inner serenity,” you can find comfort and relaxation at the audition itself by socialising with those around you. A friendly face and some small talk can work wonders for an extrovert’s sense of confidence.

When you walk into the room, there should be an ‘X’ marked on the floor – this is where you stand. It’s a good starting point for your performance, but don’t be afraid to move around: you should be dynamic with your whole body, not just the upper half!

If speaking to someone in a scene, do not address the panel. Look slightly downstage of them. This is because they’re here to watch your performance, not partake in it! Unless, of course, you’re doing a scene with a reader – feel free to look in their direction.

Don’t signal the end of your scene with a flourish and a “ta-da!” Just relax, stand still for a moment, and then look to the panel. Perhaps say “thank you”.

When interviewing with the directors after performing, don’t stay in character – I know it’s the method way, but the show is over! Ask questions. Show the panel you’re familiar with their work and admire it. You need to demonstrate that you’re a professional, and easy to work with. You can be difficult to work with when you’re famous.

 

Audition Mistake 2: Communication

Confidence is key everywhere, but especially here. If you show physical signs of nervousness, you might not be the leading actor they’re looking for. The moment you walk into that audition every part of you is being judged, from the way you move your feet when you walk to the first words you say when you open your mouth.

It sounds scary, but is nothing a little practice won’t help you solve. In your day-to-day life try to stay aware of how you walk and talk, and it won’t just help your auditions – it could very well improve your social life, too.

When you interview you should let your personality come through. Don’t just answer the panel’s questions – have a conversation! You should let them know who they’re getting the chance to work with. On that note: while confidence is fantastic, arrogance is not. Your conversation should be friendly but above all, respectful.

As in an interview for any other position, you should have questions prepared.

Lastly, don’t forget: smile!

 

Audition Mistake 3: The Role

It’s possible you’ll have only one scene or monologue to show you can play the role in all its complexities. Don’t overact to show your range; instead, make it clear that you know the character. Close read the scenes you’re performing and learn everything you can about your character. Here are some questions to ask yourself:

If your scene doesn’t let you explore more than one or two motivations/emotions, ask questions about the character. This will tell the casting director that you are prepared to fully live it. Alternatively, you could go full method and walk into the audition performing and interviewing as the character. However, few people can pull this off in a way that doesn’t seem arrogant.

Showcase a few techniques if you have enough context. It’s worth reading up on the director and what kind of acting they like, or even past iterations of your character. Is your Peter Parker written in the 1960s by Stan Lee, or directed by Julie Taymor on Broadway? You should take a fresh approach to everything, but it can’t hurt to incorporate techniques you know work.

Acting is to do, not to read. Stay dynamic in your scene, and try to communicate the character through its physical behaviour as well as through your voice.

Stay vulnerable and open to emotional change; this is easiest done if you are a method performer, truly feeling what your character is.

 

Audition Mistake 4: The Material

In all the excitement, it’s easy to forget that there might be strict rules or guidelines regarding audition material. A small checklist to use is:

These are very basic – but a basic mistake is the most likely to cost you the job!

Now that you know what you can work with, it’s time to choose material that best showcases your abilities.

If performing multiple scenes, try to portray contrasting emotions – but don’t make an entirely new character each time. Directors want range, but in an audition they also need to see consistency.

It should go without saying, but: learn your lines. Don’t just memorise a speech or scene, but actually know the lines inside out. There is a good chance you will be asked to deliver a line in a way you haven’t practiced: if you memorised a speech instead of a paragraph, your muscle memory might make this hard to do.

The best way to know your lines whilst maintaining flexibility is to practice them in a few different styles, so cadence and rhythm don’t play into your memory.

The great method actors sometimes go further: they will physically and emotionally embody the character for some time, and only learn the lines a short time before performance. This lends an authenticity to the words as they’re spoken.

 

Audition Mistake 5: Practice

Practice is important not just before an audition, but also in between them: your art, like your muscles, must be exercised to stay in top form. You can take an extra acting class or join a community group – whatever helps you stay in shape.

When practicing for a specific audition, it’s often helpful to record your performance. By doing this you can time the length of your speech, check your technique, or even get someone else to watch it and help you build a better performance.

 

Whether you’re starting off in the industry or you’ve been on the scene for a while, we have a course to help: we have one-off classes, a three-day boot camp, or the much longer Ultimate Acting Programme, which runs from October this year.

All of our courses will expose you to industry professionals and help get your foot in the door: the Ultimate Acting Programme even includes meeting a Hollywood casting director.

If you want to learn which of our numerous courses is perfect for your career, don’t hesitate to get in touch.

5-Common-Audition-Mistakes-Actors-Make

If you’re struggling to land your dream role – or any role – it might not be because you lack the “X factor”. What makes an actor stand out in an audition isn’t always their talent or looks – it’s their professionalism.

Even big names have to audition or do screen tests. If you really want to be an actor, this process isn’t going end any time soon – so start getting it right!

It’s unfortunate, but small audition mistakes could cost you the role of a lifetime. Lucky for you, I’ve seen them all.

 

Audition Mistake 1: The Basics

Ok, this one’s for those of you new to auditions.

Try some calming techniques beforehand to help you walk in without the jitters. You could meditate, pop to the gym, or play a quick game of Sudoku: whatever sets your mind at ease.

If you (like many actor types!) lack an “inner serenity,” you can find comfort and relaxation at the audition itself by socialising with those around you. A friendly face and some small talk can work wonders for an extrovert’s sense of confidence.

When you walk into the room, there should be an ‘X’ marked on the floor – this is where you stand. It’s a good starting point for your performance, but don’t be afraid to move around: you should be dynamic with your whole body, not just the upper half!

If speaking to someone in a scene, do not address the panel. Look slightly downstage of them. This is because they’re here to watch your performance, not partake in it! Unless, of course, you’re doing a scene with a reader – feel free to look in their direction.

Don’t signal the end of your scene with a flourish and a “ta-da!” Just relax, stand still for a moment, and then look to the panel. Perhaps say “thank you”.

When interviewing with the directors after performing, don’t stay in character – I know it’s the method way, but the show is over! Ask questions. Show the panel you’re familiar with their work and admire it. You need to demonstrate that you’re a professional, and easy to work with. You can be difficult to work with when you’re famous.

 

Audition Mistake 2: Communication

Confidence is key everywhere, but especially here. If you show physical signs of nervousness, you might not be the leading actor they’re looking for. The moment you walk into that audition every part of you is being judged, from the way you move your feet when you walk to the first words you say when you open your mouth.

It sounds scary, but is nothing a little practice won’t help you solve. In your day-to-day life try to stay aware of how you walk and talk, and it won’t just help your auditions – it could very well improve your social life, too.

When you interview you should let your personality come through. Don’t just answer the panel’s questions – have a conversation! You should let them know who they’re getting the chance to work with. On that note: while confidence is fantastic, arrogance is not. Your conversation should be friendly but above all, respectful.

As in an interview for any other position, you should have questions prepared.

Lastly, don’t forget: smile!

 

Audition Mistake 3: The Role

It’s possible you’ll have only one scene or monologue to show you can play the role in all its complexities. Don’t overact to show your range; instead, make it clear that you know the character. Close read the scenes you’re performing and learn everything you can about your character. Here are some questions to ask yourself:

If your scene doesn’t let you explore more than one or two motivations/emotions, ask questions about the character. This will tell the casting director that you are prepared to fully live it. Alternatively, you could go full method and walk into the audition performing and interviewing as the character. However, few people can pull this off in a way that doesn’t seem arrogant.

Showcase a few techniques if you have enough context. It’s worth reading up on the director and what kind of acting they like, or even past iterations of your character. Is your Peter Parker written in the 1960s by Stan Lee, or directed by Julie Taymor on Broadway? You should take a fresh approach to everything, but it can’t hurt to incorporate techniques you know work.

Acting is to do, not to read. Stay dynamic in your scene, and try to communicate the character through its physical behaviour as well as through your voice.

Stay vulnerable and open to emotional change; this is easiest done if you are a method performer, truly feeling what your character is.

 

Audition Mistake 4: The Material

In all the excitement, it’s easy to forget that there might be strict rules or guidelines regarding audition material. A small checklist to use is:

These are very basic – but a basic mistake is the most likely to cost you the job!

Now that you know what you can work with, it’s time to choose material that best showcases your abilities.

If performing multiple scenes, try to portray contrasting emotions – but don’t make an entirely new character each time. Directors want range, but in an audition they also need to see consistency.

It should go without saying, but: learn your lines. Don’t just memorise a speech or scene, but actually know the lines inside out. There is a good chance you will be asked to deliver a line in a way you haven’t practiced: if you memorised a speech instead of a paragraph, your muscle memory might make this hard to do.

The best way to know your lines whilst maintaining flexibility is to practice them in a few different styles, so cadence and rhythm don’t play into your memory.

The great method actors sometimes go further: they will physically and emotionally embody the character for some time, and only learn the lines a short time before performance. This lends an authenticity to the words as they’re spoken.

 

Audition Mistake 5: Practice

Practice is important not just before an audition, but also in between them: your art, like your muscles, must be exercised to stay in top form. You can take an extra acting class or join a community group – whatever helps you stay in shape.

When practicing for a specific audition, it’s often helpful to record your performance. By doing this you can time the length of your speech, check your technique, or even get someone else to watch it and help you build a better performance.

 

Whether you’re starting off in the industry or you’ve been on the scene for a while, we have a course to help: we have one-off classes, a three-day boot camp, or the much longer Ultimate Acting Programme, which runs from October this year.

All of our courses will expose you to industry professionals and help get your foot in the door: the Ultimate Acting Programme even includes meeting a Hollywood casting director.

If you want to learn which of our numerous courses is perfect for your career, don’t hesitate to get in touch.

The-importance-of-being-yourself

 

“The person you are is a hundred times more interesting than the best actor you could ever become…..” – Konstantin Stanislavski

 

Many actors make the mistake of believing that they have to fake a performance in order to create a character. They simply ‘become’ the character, or hide behind it and let their own true personality fade into the background.

This is not what great acting is about.

 

Exposing The Authentic Self

The most successful actors realise that in order to give an outstanding performance, they need to bring as much of themselves as possible to the role. Each actor comes to the profession with their own baggage full of emotions, experiences and uniqueness. This combination of attributes forms their authentic self. From the moment that we are born, we live a completely different life to anyone else on the planet. We form our own opinions and perspectives about people and situations. We experience various sets of emotions such as love, hate, sadness, anger, despair and happiness. Each person has a completely unique and individual collection of years behind them and it is this background of memories and feelings that can be tapped into to create some excellent performances.

 

Why Being Yourself Is A Necessity In Your Acting

 

“Acting deals with very delicate emotions. It is not putting up a mask. Each time an actor acts, he does not hide; he exposes himself.” – Rodney Dangerfield

 

Being yourself and exposing your own personality when you create a character can summon up vulnerability. You might feel uncomfortable expressing your own emotions or crying in front of your fellow cast members and the audience. You may even feel a little embarrassed at first. However, revealing the vulnerable side of your personality is an enormous strength if you can bring it to your acting work. If you draw upon your own experiences and emotions when relating to other characters on stage or set, then you will be able to create some truly convincing performances. By doing so, you will also encourage your audience to dig deep and get in touch with their own emotions. Audiences understand vulnerability. If you give them something that they can relate to, then this will allow them to make an intense connection with both the character and your performance.

 

The Challenges Of Being Yourself

Of course, it is not an easy process to bare your authentic self during your performances. We have all been conditioned not to show vulnerability as it is a sign of weakness. Peoples past experiences will vary but generally speaking cultural or familial conditioning provides us with personal inhibitions. Being yourself is something that most of us find hard or even unacceptable when it involves freely displaying certain sets of emotions in public.

Luckily, the Method utilises a tried and tested process which removes these restrictions in behaviour and takes away an actor’s social mask. This allows the true self to shine through.

 

Character Development

Of course, we don’t just possess one true self. In fact, we all have several versions of our character which are based on various events and experiences that we have faced. This is an asset when it comes to acting as it allows you to play around with the creation of a character until you feel that you’ve found his or her personality. If you feel that the role requires you to be jealous, then remember a time when you were overwhelmed with this unpleasant emotion. The Method will teach you to recall these feelings and sensations based on past experiences and then be able to express them without fear in your performances. However, it is important to keep an open mind when developing a character. Don’t rush in and assume that you know how they would respond in a particular situation. Instead, keep searching your own self to find new ways to play the character. This organic way of letting a character evolve both emotionally and physically from your own set of background experiences will allow you to merge seamlessly into the role.

If you’d like to learn more about how to create truly believable characters and deliver utterly compelling performances that your audience can relate to, then consider taking some Method Acting training. Our 3 day ‘Introduction to Method Acting Bootcamp’ will throw you in at the deep end. You will take part in exercises that utilise the sense in order to activate your own personal memories and connect with a character at a deep psychological level. If you’d like to learn how to create fully believable characters, then apply for our next bootcamp today.

The-importance-of-being-yourself

 

“The person you are is a hundred times more interesting than the best actor you could ever become…..” – Konstantin Stanislavski

 

Many actors make the mistake of believing that they have to fake a performance in order to create a character. They simply ‘become’ the character, or hide behind it and let their own true personality fade into the background.

This is not what great acting is about.

 

Exposing The Authentic Self

The most successful actors realise that in order to give an outstanding performance, they need to bring as much of themselves as possible to the role. Each actor comes to the profession with their own baggage full of emotions, experiences and uniqueness. This combination of attributes forms their authentic self. From the moment that we are born, we live a completely different life to anyone else on the planet. We form our own opinions and perspectives about people and situations. We experience various sets of emotions such as love, hate, sadness, anger, despair and happiness. Each person has a completely unique and individual collection of years behind them and it is this background of memories and feelings that can be tapped into to create some excellent performances.

 

Why Being Yourself Is A Necessity In Your Acting

 

“Acting deals with very delicate emotions. It is not putting up a mask. Each time an actor acts, he does not hide; he exposes himself.” – Rodney Dangerfield

 

Being yourself and exposing your own personality when you create a character can summon up vulnerability. You might feel uncomfortable expressing your own emotions or crying in front of your fellow cast members and the audience. You may even feel a little embarrassed at first. However, revealing the vulnerable side of your personality is an enormous strength if you can bring it to your acting work. If you draw upon your own experiences and emotions when relating to other characters on stage or set, then you will be able to create some truly convincing performances. By doing so, you will also encourage your audience to dig deep and get in touch with their own emotions. Audiences understand vulnerability. If you give them something that they can relate to, then this will allow them to make an intense connection with both the character and your performance.

 

The Challenges Of Being Yourself

Of course, it is not an easy process to bare your authentic self during your performances. We have all been conditioned not to show vulnerability as it is a sign of weakness. Peoples past experiences will vary but generally speaking cultural or familial conditioning provides us with personal inhibitions. Being yourself is something that most of us find hard or even unacceptable when it involves freely displaying certain sets of emotions in public.

Luckily, the Method utilises a tried and tested process which removes these restrictions in behaviour and takes away an actor’s social mask. This allows the true self to shine through.

 

Character Development

Of course, we don’t just possess one true self. In fact, we all have several versions of our character which are based on various events and experiences that we have faced. This is an asset when it comes to acting as it allows you to play around with the creation of a character until you feel that you’ve found his or her personality. If you feel that the role requires you to be jealous, then remember a time when you were overwhelmed with this unpleasant emotion. The Method will teach you to recall these feelings and sensations based on past experiences and then be able to express them without fear in your performances. However, it is important to keep an open mind when developing a character. Don’t rush in and assume that you know how they would respond in a particular situation. Instead, keep searching your own self to find new ways to play the character. This organic way of letting a character evolve both emotionally and physically from your own set of background experiences will allow you to merge seamlessly into the role.

If you’d like to learn more about how to create truly believable characters and deliver utterly compelling performances that your audience can relate to, then consider taking some Method Acting training. Our 3 day ‘Introduction to Method Acting Bootcamp’ will throw you in at the deep end. You will take part in exercises that utilise the sense in order to activate your own personal memories and connect with a character at a deep psychological level. If you’d like to learn how to create fully believable characters, then apply for our next bootcamp today.

The-importance-of-being-yourself

 

“The person you are is a hundred times more interesting than the best actor you could ever become…..” – Konstantin Stanislavski

 

Many actors make the mistake of believing that they have to fake a performance in order to create a character. They simply ‘become’ the character, or hide behind it and let their own true personality fade into the background.

This is not what great acting is about.

 

Exposing The Authentic Self

The most successful actors realise that in order to give an outstanding performance, they need to bring as much of themselves as possible to the role. Each actor comes to the profession with their own baggage full of emotions, experiences and uniqueness. This combination of attributes forms their authentic self. From the moment that we are born, we live a completely different life to anyone else on the planet. We form our own opinions and perspectives about people and situations. We experience various sets of emotions such as love, hate, sadness, anger, despair and happiness. Each person has a completely unique and individual collection of years behind them and it is this background of memories and feelings that can be tapped into to create some excellent performances.

 

Why Being Yourself Is A Necessity In Your Acting

 

“Acting deals with very delicate emotions. It is not putting up a mask. Each time an actor acts, he does not hide; he exposes himself.” – Rodney Dangerfield

 

Being yourself and exposing your own personality when you create a character can summon up vulnerability. You might feel uncomfortable expressing your own emotions or crying in front of your fellow cast members and the audience. You may even feel a little embarrassed at first. However, revealing the vulnerable side of your personality is an enormous strength if you can bring it to your acting work. If you draw upon your own experiences and emotions when relating to other characters on stage or set, then you will be able to create some truly convincing performances. By doing so, you will also encourage your audience to dig deep and get in touch with their own emotions. Audiences understand vulnerability. If you give them something that they can relate to, then this will allow them to make an intense connection with both the character and your performance.

 

The Challenges Of Being Yourself

Of course, it is not an easy process to bare your authentic self during your performances. We have all been conditioned not to show vulnerability as it is a sign of weakness. Peoples past experiences will vary but generally speaking cultural or familial conditioning provides us with personal inhibitions. Being yourself is something that most of us find hard or even unacceptable when it involves freely displaying certain sets of emotions in public.

Luckily, the Method utilises a tried and tested process which removes these restrictions in behaviour and takes away an actor’s social mask. This allows the true self to shine through.

 

Character Development

Of course, we don’t just possess one true self. In fact, we all have several versions of our character which are based on various events and experiences that we have faced. This is an asset when it comes to acting as it allows you to play around with the creation of a character until you feel that you’ve found his or her personality. If you feel that the role requires you to be jealous, then remember a time when you were overwhelmed with this unpleasant emotion. The Method will teach you to recall these feelings and sensations based on past experiences and then be able to express them without fear in your performances. However, it is important to keep an open mind when developing a character. Don’t rush in and assume that you know how they would respond in a particular situation. Instead, keep searching your own self to find new ways to play the character. This organic way of letting a character evolve both emotionally and physically from your own set of background experiences will allow you to merge seamlessly into the role.

If you’d like to learn more about how to create truly believable characters and deliver utterly compelling performances that your audience can relate to, then consider taking some Method Acting training. Our 3 day ‘Introduction to Method Acting Bootcamp’ will throw you in at the deep end. You will take part in exercises that utilise the sense in order to activate your own personal memories and connect with a character at a deep psychological level. If you’d like to learn how to create fully believable characters, then apply for our next bootcamp today.

The-importance-of-being-yourself

 

“The person you are is a hundred times more interesting than the best actor you could ever become…..” – Konstantin Stanislavski

 

Many actors make the mistake of believing that they have to fake a performance in order to create a character. They simply ‘become’ the character, or hide behind it and let their own true personality fade into the background.

This is not what great acting is about.

 

Exposing The Authentic Self

The most successful actors realise that in order to give an outstanding performance, they need to bring as much of themselves as possible to the role. Each actor comes to the profession with their own baggage full of emotions, experiences and uniqueness. This combination of attributes forms their authentic self. From the moment that we are born, we live a completely different life to anyone else on the planet. We form our own opinions and perspectives about people and situations. We experience various sets of emotions such as love, hate, sadness, anger, despair and happiness. Each person has a completely unique and individual collection of years behind them and it is this background of memories and feelings that can be tapped into to create some excellent performances.

 

Why Being Yourself Is A Necessity In Your Acting

 

“Acting deals with very delicate emotions. It is not putting up a mask. Each time an actor acts, he does not hide; he exposes himself.” – Rodney Dangerfield

 

Being yourself and exposing your own personality when you create a character can summon up vulnerability. You might feel uncomfortable expressing your own emotions or crying in front of your fellow cast members and the audience. You may even feel a little embarrassed at first. However, revealing the vulnerable side of your personality is an enormous strength if you can bring it to your acting work. If you draw upon your own experiences and emotions when relating to other characters on stage or set, then you will be able to create some truly convincing performances. By doing so, you will also encourage your audience to dig deep and get in touch with their own emotions. Audiences understand vulnerability. If you give them something that they can relate to, then this will allow them to make an intense connection with both the character and your performance.

 

The Challenges Of Being Yourself

Of course, it is not an easy process to bare your authentic self during your performances. We have all been conditioned not to show vulnerability as it is a sign of weakness. Peoples past experiences will vary but generally speaking cultural or familial conditioning provides us with personal inhibitions. Being yourself is something that most of us find hard or even unacceptable when it involves freely displaying certain sets of emotions in public.

Luckily, the Method utilises a tried and tested process which removes these restrictions in behaviour and takes away an actor’s social mask. This allows the true self to shine through.

 

Character Development

Of course, we don’t just possess one true self. In fact, we all have several versions of our character which are based on various events and experiences that we have faced. This is an asset when it comes to acting as it allows you to play around with the creation of a character until you feel that you’ve found his or her personality. If you feel that the role requires you to be jealous, then remember a time when you were overwhelmed with this unpleasant emotion. The Method will teach you to recall these feelings and sensations based on past experiences and then be able to express them without fear in your performances. However, it is important to keep an open mind when developing a character. Don’t rush in and assume that you know how they would respond in a particular situation. Instead, keep searching your own self to find new ways to play the character. This organic way of letting a character evolve both emotionally and physically from your own set of background experiences will allow you to merge seamlessly into the role.

If you’d like to learn more about how to create truly believable characters and deliver utterly compelling performances that your audience can relate to, then consider taking some Method Acting training. Our 3 day ‘Introduction to Method Acting Bootcamp’ will throw you in at the deep end. You will take part in exercises that utilise the sense in order to activate your own personal memories and connect with a character at a deep psychological level. If you’d like to learn how to create fully believable characters, then apply for our next bootcamp today.

Building_Your_Acting_CV

 

For actors, a great CV is just as important as it is for any other profession. Your CV (or ‘resume’ for our American friends) should show off your skills and experience and is a key tool for landing auditions. Knowing what agents and casting directors are looking for can help you recognise the assets you already have and point you in the direction of any gaps you need to fill. That way you can soon have a CV that will start opening doors and help you take your first steps into a professional acting career.

 

Acting training

A list of acting training on your CV instantly shows people they aren’t dealing with a total amateur who doesn’t even know the basics. It also shows you’ve committed time and money to making this your career and are not just applying for roles on a whim and therefore likely to end up wasting their time.

Whether you take a short course, evening classes or a more in-depth programme of study, acting classes will make you a better actor, boost your confidence and give you the chance to network with other aspiring actors.

 

Acting experience

If you’re just starting out, you might not have much (or anything) in the way of professional experience to put on your CV. However, chances are you already have a fair bit of “in training” professional experience.

This shows that you have trained professionally and are serious about acting as a business.  The experience of the roles played whilst training helps convince people you’re worth giving a shot.

If you haven’t got any of this type of experience yet, then you really do need to get out there and get some as soon as possible!

 

Headshots

One key difference between an actor’s CV and any other kind of CV is that potential employers need to know how you look. This doesn’t mean you have to have “movie star good looks” but the way you look will have an impact on the type of roles you are likely to be offered.

It is therefore absolutely vital to include a full set of professional-quality head shots with your CV. There are a lot of dos and don’ts for actors’ head shots, but they key thing is that they need to be taken by a professional who specialises in head shots (not your mate on their iPhone) and they need to actually look like you.

 

Showreels

One thing that will instantly make you stand out is including a showreel. This is a video showcasing the highlights of your acting career so far. Screenwriter and director Daniel Johnson specialises in creating showreels for actors and defines the role of a showreel as:

 

“to show the actor acting well in as many ways as I possibly can, in the shortest amount of time.”

 

If you can put together a well-filmed, well-edited showreel that highlights some of your best acting, it will show casting directors and agents exactly what you have to offer and leave nothing up to their imagination. Aim for around 1-3 minutes made-up of clips of your very best work to instantly jump to the front of the pack.

 

CV distribution

You will usually have two main targets for your CV – agencies and casting directors. In both cases it’s important to understand that each agent and casting director is different. They will usually handle different kinds of actors and projects and each is likely to have their own preferred ways of being contacted. Increasingly people prefer being contacted by email and may see phone calls as a nuisance.

Do your research and make sure you are approaching only people relevant to your skills and the kind of roles you are interested in. Make clear in your cover letter why you have targeted this person specifically so they do not think you are just spamming everyone in town. Remember too that getting a response is often about timing as much as anything, so if you haven’t heard back after a couple of weeks it is always worth sending a follow-up email.

 

Don’t forget your CV basics

An actor’s CV is just like any other kind of CV in that presentation matters almost as much as content. A badly formatted CV looks unprofessional and there’s a good chance it will simply end up in the bin without being read.

There’s a whole host of advice out there about the best ways to format your CV but the basics are fairly easy to get your head around.

 

Learn to navigate the business of acting

Understanding the business side of acting is crucial to build a successful acting career. Putting together a professional-quality acting CV is just one of the skills you will need to make you stand out from the crowd and start getting paid acting work.

Our Ultimate Acting Programme is not only the UK’s top method acting course, it also includes a full career-support package covering everything from CV writing to providing you with a set of professional head shots. To find out more, including dates for our next round of auditions for the Ultimate Acting Programme, please get in touch.

Building_Your_Acting_CV

 

For actors, a great CV is just as important as it is for any other profession. Your CV (or ‘resume’ for our American friends) should show off your skills and experience and is a key tool for landing auditions. Knowing what agents and casting directors are looking for can help you recognise the assets you already have and point you in the direction of any gaps you need to fill. That way you can soon have a CV that will start opening doors and help you take your first steps into a professional acting career.

 

Acting training

A list of acting training on your CV instantly shows people they aren’t dealing with a total amateur who doesn’t even know the basics. It also shows you’ve committed time and money to making this your career and are not just applying for roles on a whim and therefore likely to end up wasting their time.

Whether you take a short course, evening classes or a more in-depth programme of study, acting classes will make you a better actor, boost your confidence and give you the chance to network with other aspiring actors.

 

Acting experience

If you’re just starting out, you might not have much (or anything) in the way of professional experience to put on your CV. However, chances are you already have a fair bit of “in training” professional experience.

This shows that you have trained professionally and are serious about acting as a business.  The experience of the roles played whilst training helps convince people you’re worth giving a shot.

If you haven’t got any of this type of experience yet, then you really do need to get out there and get some as soon as possible!

 

Headshots

One key difference between an actor’s CV and any other kind of CV is that potential employers need to know how you look. This doesn’t mean you have to have “movie star good looks” but the way you look will have an impact on the type of roles you are likely to be offered.

It is therefore absolutely vital to include a full set of professional-quality head shots with your CV. There are a lot of dos and don’ts for actors’ head shots, but they key thing is that they need to be taken by a professional who specialises in head shots (not your mate on their iPhone) and they need to actually look like you.

 

Showreels

One thing that will instantly make you stand out is including a showreel. This is a video showcasing the highlights of your acting career so far. Screenwriter and director Daniel Johnson specialises in creating showreels for actors and defines the role of a showreel as:

 

“to show the actor acting well in as many ways as I possibly can, in the shortest amount of time.”

 

If you can put together a well-filmed, well-edited showreel that highlights some of your best acting, it will show casting directors and agents exactly what you have to offer and leave nothing up to their imagination. Aim for around 1-3 minutes made-up of clips of your very best work to instantly jump to the front of the pack.

 

CV distribution

You will usually have two main targets for your CV – agencies and casting directors. In both cases it’s important to understand that each agent and casting director is different. They will usually handle different kinds of actors and projects and each is likely to have their own preferred ways of being contacted. Increasingly people prefer being contacted by email and may see phone calls as a nuisance.

Do your research and make sure you are approaching only people relevant to your skills and the kind of roles you are interested in. Make clear in your cover letter why you have targeted this person specifically so they do not think you are just spamming everyone in town. Remember too that getting a response is often about timing as much as anything, so if you haven’t heard back after a couple of weeks it is always worth sending a follow-up email.

 

Don’t forget your CV basics

An actor’s CV is just like any other kind of CV in that presentation matters almost as much as content. A badly formatted CV looks unprofessional and there’s a good chance it will simply end up in the bin without being read.

There’s a whole host of advice out there about the best ways to format your CV but the basics are fairly easy to get your head around.

 

Learn to navigate the business of acting

Understanding the business side of acting is crucial to build a successful acting career. Putting together a professional-quality acting CV is just one of the skills you will need to make you stand out from the crowd and start getting paid acting work.

Our Ultimate Acting Programme is not only the UK’s top method acting course, it also includes a full career-support package covering everything from CV writing to providing you with a set of professional head shots. To find out more, including dates for our next round of auditions for the Ultimate Acting Programme, please get in touch.