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SAE Magazine 12-2

The Do‘s and Don‘t of Auditions and Screentests H ow do I get an audition or screentest? Usu- ally a casting director (who works on be- half of a production company, director or advertising agency) will either a) request to audi- tion you or b) will notify your agent of the project to be cast and your agent will suggest you for the role and set-up an audition time. Freelance actors are also able to get auditions or screentests but they have to do more leg-work to become known to the casting directors in their city and/or hear about au- ditions coming up. These casting directors/consult- ants are listed in the phone book and you can call to ask for a “Go See” appointment where you meet and give them your photo and CV for them to keep on file. (Australian industry standard for photos is: Actors: one 8 x 10 black and white professionally taken photo. Models / extras: colour photo(s) pro- fessionally taken, models usually have a portfolio of photos to show.) Theatre companies can’t usual- ly afford to use a casting director so the artistic di- rector or the director of a particular play will liaise with an agent. Some theatre companies hold gen- eral auditions once a year where the actor performs their own prepared monologues. Once you have a screentest: prepare, prepare, prepare. You can never over prepare for an au- dition or screentest. If you know the dialogue in- side out, have researched the character and thought about what clothes or props will help you look the part you can avoid the dreaded “S.S.” – self sabo- tage. Give yourself the opportunity to do your best audition possible. Always know your lines, inside out and back to front. It will reflect badly on your professionalism if you don’t. N.B. If you are given a script “on the spot” you would not be expected to commit it to memory, but remember the first ques- tion to ask your agent once you hear you have a screentest or audition is: “When can I have a copy of the scene(s) to learn?” (The second could be “What kind of wine do you drink?”, it never hurts to show your agent appreciation.) Once you have the scene(s), what kinds of prep- aration can you do? • For a feature film, ask if you can get hold of a copy of the complete film script to read. Your agent will usually be provided with one or more copies which you can go in and read. More common now is for you to be emailed a copy.Also ask if there are any director’s notes. • For a TV series or telemovie – ask if there is a series “bible”, (the name for the document that outlines what the series will be about and includes character breakdowns, etc). • For a role in an ongoing TV serial (e.g., Neigh- bours, Home & Away) ask if there is a character breakdown for your character. There may not be one if the role is only a guest role in one episode. In this case you should be able to obtain a copy of the script for that episode. • ForaTVcommercial(TVC):askforthescript(s) of the commercials and if there are any directors notes/casting brief. Make sure you know what wardrobe they are expecting you to wear for the casting, e.g., if it is for a Philadelphia Angel TVC they may want you to wear a white flowing dress to the casting. • Foratheatreaudition:borrowacopyofthescript from a library if it‘s readily available or ask to read a copy from the theatre company via your agent. It is very useful to familiarise yourself with the pro- ject you are auditioning for. If it’s a feature film, try to find out what other productions the director has directed, if any, and make an effort to view them be- fore your audition. Any director will be impressed if you are familiar with her or his work. If it’s for a TV show that is on air, make sure you watch some episodes before the audition so you’re familiar with the style of the acting in it. Script Analysis: Ask yourself questions about the script and the char- acter you are to portray. For example: Who?Whatismycharacter’ssocio/economicback- ground? Where did she or he grow up, go to school? What does he/she want most in life, in the film, in the scene? What might stop them getting it? What? What is really happening in each of the scenes? Sum it up in one sentence so you are clear e.g., My character wants to borrow money from her boyfriend, but discovers he’s broke. ➤ 97 Production & Know How // Screentesting Index

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