Recently, I was seen almost 90 minutes past my call time at an audition for an industrial, where when I got in the room, I slated, did profiles, and then they filmed me sitting in a chair flipping through a magazine. That was it.
Here was the takeaway though: I was really surprised at the number of people who complained to the audition runner about how late things were running and asked why they weren't being seen. In general, on-camera auditions for commercials, industrials, etc. are run like this: they see everyone for a group before they move on to the next group. It has something to do w/organizing the video files for presentation to the client. So, they see all of the 25-30 something business men before they move on to the 20's college girls and finish with them before they see the Asian grandmas.
So, you can read the waiting room and don't have to act pesky to the audition runner! If you get in there and there are a few types sitting around, figure out what group they're on - yours? (short wait). The one before yours? (a little bit longer wait). Two before yours? (go put more money in your meter now, call the babysitter, etc. - you're going to be a while). It seemed like many people at the audition didn't know this, and there were quite a few people stressed out about getting tickets, or picking their kids up. I'm sure those folks didn't give their best auditions, and asking when they'd be seen made them seem more like amateurs who didn't know what they were doing.
I know this sounds kind of sucky. No one wants to wait 90 minutes past their appointment time for anything (and in fact if this was a SAG audition, they would've had to pay us to wait longer than 60 minutes). It is yet another reminder of the unbalanced power in an audition situation. But as actors, what we have power over is our preparation and our planning, including where we park (maybe a lot where you pay on your way out instead of a meter?).
P.S. check this out! It's a commercial I shot with the awesome Scott and Tory of Two Trick Pony!!
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
who I've been: 5/17-5/23
In a week of auditions, classes, and acting projects, here are the character descriptions of who I've been:
1) scientist
2) rape victim
3) pregnant wife of mine worker
4) queen of the fairies
5) lawyer mother of teen w/cerebral palsy
6) gypsy-dressing lady who can't have kids and wants to steal one
1) scientist
2) rape victim
3) pregnant wife of mine worker
4) queen of the fairies
5) lawyer mother of teen w/cerebral palsy
6) gypsy-dressing lady who can't have kids and wants to steal one
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Dear low-budget independent film-maker
I'm an actor. I'm thinking of auditioning for your unpaid project. The character description sounds great and I love the premise. I've worked on approximately 30 on-camera projects including independent shorts and features, industrials and commercials. I'm always looking for quality footage since I'm still building a reel, and I know that some of what will move my career forward is building relationships with talented people.
However, before I commit to an audition that involves mileage, bridge toll, and commute time, I'd really like to see a script. It doesn't need to be a whole script. It could just be a sample. I'd also feel better if you could point me towards your internet presence - do you have other projects online? A website for your production company? An IMDB page? I sent you a resume, a photo, my website address, where you can see some video of me acting. Why don't you want me to know who you are and what you do? That may not be your intent, but that's what it feels like over here.
You say you'd like people to read sides at the audition, but you won't be giving out those sides until we get to the audition. I'd understand this if you were making the prequel to LOST or something, but (no offense) I don't think your project has a profile that high. What you need on set is a well-prepared actor. If you don't let me have sides in advance, how can you assess my skills at preparing? Also, I'm well acquainted w/the styles of Christopher Guest as well as Cassavetes and Mike Leigh and I know that sometimes people improvise to create a certain naturalistic style, and I'd love to do that on a film project someday. So if you want to do that too, let me know upfront, and share your resume, so that I know you know what you're doing.
I wish your project the best. I really do. But with your secrecy (that I sometimes fear is hiding the fact that you actually haven't finished your script), I'm going to have to pass on the audition. In my 15 year acting career, I've unfortunately encountered a few flakes who thought it would be fun to make a movie and didn't realize how much work there is, and the project doesn't get completed, and I've given up my time and gotten nothing in return. And I've learned through experience that the flakes tend to be the ones who won't share their script or information prior to the audition.
Sincerely,
Valerie
However, before I commit to an audition that involves mileage, bridge toll, and commute time, I'd really like to see a script. It doesn't need to be a whole script. It could just be a sample. I'd also feel better if you could point me towards your internet presence - do you have other projects online? A website for your production company? An IMDB page? I sent you a resume, a photo, my website address, where you can see some video of me acting. Why don't you want me to know who you are and what you do? That may not be your intent, but that's what it feels like over here.
You say you'd like people to read sides at the audition, but you won't be giving out those sides until we get to the audition. I'd understand this if you were making the prequel to LOST or something, but (no offense) I don't think your project has a profile that high. What you need on set is a well-prepared actor. If you don't let me have sides in advance, how can you assess my skills at preparing? Also, I'm well acquainted w/the styles of Christopher Guest as well as Cassavetes and Mike Leigh and I know that sometimes people improvise to create a certain naturalistic style, and I'd love to do that on a film project someday. So if you want to do that too, let me know upfront, and share your resume, so that I know you know what you're doing.
I wish your project the best. I really do. But with your secrecy (that I sometimes fear is hiding the fact that you actually haven't finished your script), I'm going to have to pass on the audition. In my 15 year acting career, I've unfortunately encountered a few flakes who thought it would be fun to make a movie and didn't realize how much work there is, and the project doesn't get completed, and I've given up my time and gotten nothing in return. And I've learned through experience that the flakes tend to be the ones who won't share their script or information prior to the audition.
Sincerely,
Valerie
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)