Is there a difference as far as preparing for each type of audition? Apparently there are actors out there that feel there is little to no preparation necessary for Commercial Auditions. I often see actors talking, on their phone, and the best to date cleaning out their purse in the lobby while waiting to audition for a commercial.
However at a Theatrical Auditions, actors rarely make eye contact, let alone speak with one another. Presumably, they are working on their script, making substitutions, preparing mentally and physically for the upcoming audition.
I have been auditioning for 38 years in Los Angeles for Television, Film and commercials and I do the same prep for all three. It is my firm belief that acting is acting and preparation is a part of my tool kit. Who , what , where and why are the questions I always ask… and then dig further for more info to personalize as much as I can with the time allotted.
· Who am I talking to? Who is this person to me? How do I feel about them right now? What is our history?
· What is my motive? What is my Objective? What do I want from this person? What is my point of view? What am I feeling right now about the situation?
· Where am I? Have I been here before? What do I see around me? Identify something that I can focus on and create the 4th wall.
· Why am I saying what I am saying? Why is it important? Why am I not saying anything? Why am I present in this situation?
When I ask myself these questions and make decisions I feel equipped to fully commit to the text and the scene as a whole. If asked to do it another way which is almost always the case, I am ready with options, choices, because I have thought about it, and rehearsed it several different ways. I am able to take the direction and employ it with ease.
I would much rather leave an audition knowing I gave it my all and left them with a sense of who I am, than kick myself in the car all the way up the 405, wishing I had prepared.
From my interviews with Casting, their number one complaint about actors is that they are not prepared. They often say, the actor who gets picked or called back is always the one who comes in with a solid choice. It may not always be the choice they had in mind, but they made a choice, backed up with thought and conviction. These are the actors who consistently work because they take the craft seriously.
If you are struggling with how to prepare, how to make these choices at your auditions, check out Mastering the Theatrical audition at KEEP IT REAL ACTING STUDIOS.