Motion On Screen - Instincts

Last week I had an auditon for a Casino. I was to create a Character with no dialog, then 'freeze' frame for the characters signature. Motion on screen with no dialog. As an actor, your instincts have to be reliable. Sometimes you may take a risk and fail, but overall you need to know you can trust your gut. Only thing is, you have to use them (instincts) to keep them reliable. You have to learn to think and turn on a dime. My best advice for this flexablity is IMPROV! I'm not a big fan, but... it does help hone that inner judgement. If you don't have an improv class offered in your area, I suggest you invite some of your acting buddies over for some improv games. You will learn to use your inner promptings for all the characters you create.

How to handle Rejection - CELEBRATE !

Ok. So last week, I get a call from my agent late Thursday night. A Casting Director has requested me for an audition for a State chained food store. I'm thrilled! I drive to Austin, elated! I've worked the copy over and over, but it's quite a tongue twister! I arrive, wait to be called in. "Kay, you're next!" ... I was about as fluent as Elmer Fud! Being kind to myself, I was a little rusty. See, I've been booked out for a little more than 4 months. This was my first audition since early Sept. '08.

Today were the call backs, of course I didn't get one. I started to imagine what the C.D. must be thinking of me. 'She's was suppose to be good, I wonder what happened to her!' And on and on the game goes.

Then I thought of all the things I have. Hope, a vision, plans, dreams, a beautiful daughter, lovely home, a place in life that I can actully persue my craft and career. Before I knew it I was CELEBRATING!!!

I bet she'll call me in again! Yipee!!!!

It's NOT about the WORDS

As actors the first thing we do is read the script and deal with the Words. But when the author writes the script the last ingredient are the words. He first thinks of the character through experiences, thoughts, ideas, observations and emotions. The last thing is putting those things into words on paper. So as an actor we have to work backwards. As the actor we add our body and voice, the only thing we are capable of creating externally. Internally we have to go back to the Character Backstory to determine how this individual forms thoughts and feelings. Human behavior trumps the words everytime.

I've been working on honing my skill with the Audio (ear) Prompter. Even there, Who am I? What do I think and feel about what I'm saying. Practiceing and rehearsing is all about exploring and tweaking through improvisation and choices. Then the WORDS.

It's

Character Suggestion for Audition

Character Breakdown

This blog will help you do a Character Breakdown and will be the beginning of your Character Study. Be thorough and excellent. Use a large vocabulary, useing 3 to 5 sentences for each topic. Pay close attention to emotion. Every emotion comes from either being loved or unloved. Build the character as your best friend. If not, you'll do YOU every time, this will limit you. This system allows you to build a character thats unique everytime, which will bring success and longevity.

1. What is your first positive childhood memory? (Should be early years between 4 or 5, maybe sooner.)
2. What is your first negative childhood memory?
3. What is your greatest hope?
4. What is your greatest fear?
5. Your greatest strength?
6. Your greatest weakness?
7. Your vice? (Anything complusive or addictive that is a hindrance to your life.)
8. What kind of sense of humor do you have? (How does it affect others responce to you?)
9. What are your good habits?
10. What are your bad habits?
11. What is your favorite color?
12. What is your favorite song? (It has to fit the year of the script.)
13. What is your favorite book? (This is very important in Period pieces.)
14. What is your favorite holiday?
15. Who is your favorite parent?
16. Your siblings?
17. Who were your grandparents?
18. Any pets?
19. What is your favorite food?
20. What is your most hated food?
21. Are you Heterosexual or Homo-Sexual?
22. Who do you admire most, Men or Women?
23. Are you sexually active?
24. Are you an Optimist or a Pessimist?
25. Are you conservative or liberal?
26. Are you spiritual?
27. Are you benevolent?
28. Are you moral?
29. Are you sane or insane?
30. Do others like you?
31. Do you like yourself?
32. Do you night dream? (Are they mostly good or bad?)
33. What are your goals?
34.What are your natural given talents?
35. What will you be like when you are old?
36. What will your Obituary say?

When you go in to audition wear clothes that make sense for the character. Never wear a costume. Always wear the "shoes" the character would wear.