Print This List    Email to a Friend  

How to Audition for a Play or Movie  
HOW TO 

Tags: Play, Movies, Acting, Auditoning

When going for your dream role it is important to be well prepared. Here are some tips on how to audtion for a play or movie. Break a Leg!

1.	If you have the time (around 3-4 hours a night) for rehearsals, fittings, and performances, you should be okay. Don't forget that in addition to that 3-4 hours at night, it takes loads of time - outside of rehearsing - to memorize a play, monologues, and stage direction. You should be prepared, mentally and physically, to give the project more than just rehearsal time.
2.	Be aware of play types. Classics--Shakespeare, Chekov, and the Greek playwright--sometimes use very complex language structure, characterized by very long passages of text.
3.	Make sure you are a team player. There is simply no room to think you're better than anyone else.
4.	There are big differences between auditioning for films and auditioning for stage plays. Film tends to stray more towards intimate acting, close ups, headshots, and more realistic movements. For stage plays the auditions usually start out with monologues, and you may do scenes with the other auditioners for the callbacks.
5.	Usually you can find audition notices in your local university's theatre department or find your community center and see if any directors have posted a call for actors. For films, auditions are usually held in large cities. Some production companies will advertise them on the Internet, usually through casting call websites.
6.	Some of the film auditions will require you to send in a headshot/resume. Be aware that for auditions and productions you may have to travel a considerable distance.
7.	Find yourself an agent. You can find agencies in major towns and they will have larger connections than you might. But remember, agents take 10%, so if you get a paying job, you will probably take a pay cut if an agent found it for you.
8.	Once you've found a call for actors, look at the character types and see if you fit. If you are "close" then don't be afraid to audition. Make sure to write down all information (contact numbers, play name and author, directions to audition, etc.) so you aren't scrambling to find out information at the last minute.
9.	Most notices will tell you what you need for the auditions (physically and performance-wise), such as headshots, resumes, dance clothes and what to do for the audition. Usually for contemporary productions, the requirements are two contrasting monologues (comedic and dramatic).
10.	Find a monologue: The best course of action is to find a monologue that is similar to the play you are auditioning for. This will enable the director to see how well you can play in the style and not have to envision how, for example, a Shakespearean actor fits into a more contemporary style.
11.	Memorize your monologues. Most directors won't cast people who flub badly during their monologues or read off of a script during their first audition Dress for sucess. If you have to dance with your audition, bring a spare set of clothes so as not to ruin your nice ones before you do your acting audition. Bring all your copies of headshots and resumes.
12.	During Audition: Sit quietly and wait your turn. Make sure to listen; in some auditions the Stage Manager or Director will give you added instructions that weren't on the notice. Wait for your name to be called and then proceed to the stage. Mmake sure that you have their full attention. Wait til you've achieved eye contact with all of them so that they can listen to you from the very beginning.
13.	After the audition you can either stick around or leave; just make sure you know where the call back list will be posted or, if there are no callbacks, where the final cast list will be posted and when.

Lister: ListAfterList Wiki Contributors

Other lists of interest:

Epics, Comedies and Oscar Winners: Overrated Movies WORSTS  (1)

How to Make It in Hollywood HOW TO  (0)

How to Become a Stage Director HOW TO  (0)

These People Aren't Afraid of Change: The 10 Most Successful Career Changes IN THE PAST  (0)

History of the Tony Awards IN THE PAST  (0)

This list not rated yet – be the first to rate it 

There are no comments for this list. Be the first to post!