Auditions- Not To Worry
“The only failure is not to try” – George Clooney
Your dream is to become an Actor par excellence. You want to sit on the discussion table with the Producer and Director. You will reach that stage only when you excel the Audition phase and are Shortlisted for the role. However, this discussion will not be the final audition but yes, this will decide your fate. Let’s talk about reaching the Shortlisted List by Auditioning perfectly.
It starts by meeting the best Casting Directors or the Casting Coordinators from the Industry and enrolling for Audition information. There are several Audition groups on Whatsapp and Facebook to get updates about the Auditions. Once you know about the Auditions, you need to follow certain important points which are I will explain in simple words.
1. Confirm Audition Details- Before finalizing the Audition you need is to know the details of the Audition like Character traits, Age group, Role, TV/ Film Production, Director, Producer and the Audition Venue. This will help you understand if you want to Audition for this role and your eligibility for the same. If you are eligible, check the Character and judge if you can portray that Character or No. For Ex- I have always known that I am not a good Comedy Actor, so I never auditioned for one. If you decide to audition for it, you must research about the Director and understand his expectation by viewing his previous work. This is your Audition Homework and will help you present yourself Confidently.
2. Script, Memorize and Practice- The script is you best friend, so till the audition forget everything and concentrate. Request your Casting Coordinator to provide you the script a day prior, if possible. If the script is not provided early, in that case you need to reach the Audition Venue before time so that you get enough time for script detailing. Understand the emotion of the dialogues as you have already checked about Character traits i.e, dialect, speech, clothing style, etc. Divide the dialogue in different sections, memorize the dialogues section-wise. Practice the dialogues with emotions, voice modulation, correct dialogue delivery and without fumbling. Your voice/speech should be clear and loud.
3. Schedule Early- The audition takes place for the entire day mostly, however it is better that you know the schedule (eg-11am-6pm, etc) . Schedule early for the audition. This is important because the Director and casting team will be tired after first half as they will be listening the sme dialogues for a long time and might have shortlisted few; also they might not offer 2-3 retakes due to lack of time and tiredness. Always schedule yourself pre-lunch. Avoid being late and be Punctual.
4. Presentation- Be the 3Cs Comfortable, Charismatic and Confident. Decide your attire a day prior, it will be good if you dress-up as per the Character. Wear comfortable cloths and the ones which make you feel Comfortable. Walk in the Audition room with a smile and greet the team members with grace. Look and sound Confident. If the Director or casting member asks you any question, answer confidently, be true to yourself and to them; do not fake unnecessarily as if you know everything. Over-confidence can ruin the entire hardwork. Present yourself as a good team member so that they want you to be a part of the there team.
5. Audition Regularly- “Practice makes a man Perfect” that’s the mantra. You must give as many auditions as possible to gain experience. Ensure that you give direct contact number/email address to the Audition team so that they can contact you when required. Regular auditioning will make you confident and polish your art. You can also try giving Mock Auditions to your Mentors, friends and Casting Directors; ask for the honest feedback. Work on your weak areas as improvement is a journey and we all must walk through it.
Do not give up on your dreams; your dreams will keep you motivated from within. Only and only you know the imperative of achieving it.
By- Kiran Sharma