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SAE Magazine 12-2

3. Likeability:Ifanactorappearsduringascreentest to be a “neurotic mess” constantly needing re-as- surance or unable to relax it’s likely they’ll be a challenge for a director to have to work with day in, day out 12 hours a day, for up to 3 months on a fea- ture film set or for months or years on a TV series. Directors and crew are human too. This is another reason why it’s wise to relax and show your sense of humour when chatting with the director or cast- ing director. When casting children (juveniles are classified as anyone under 16) how easy the parents are to get along with is often a factor in the cast- ing decisions for this same reason. “Stage parents” can cause real headaches. Sometimes you may be asked a general “get to-know-you type question” at an audition just to see what kind of person you are. Remember don’t agonise over these, just say the first thing that comes into your head, as you would at a party if someone asked you this. (In some TVC casting sessions they may ask you to tell a joke. It’s worth having one up your sleeve in case you ever need it.) AFTER THE SCREENTEST – MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL. As soon as the audition or screentest is over the golden rule is FORGET ABOUT IT. Walk away confident that you did your best. Don’t “beat your- self up” if you think you didn’t and don’t agonise about whether you’ll get the job. More often than not casting these days is “by committee” and so never ask the director at the time of the audition if you have the role. This will only embarrass them and they won’t know yet anyway. Forget about it as soon as you leave the building and that way, if you get offered the part it’s a pleasant surprise and if you don’t, you won’t turn yourself into an emo- tional mess. Be glad that you’re one of the lucky ones getting to audition for roles. Keep your screen skills up by regularly getting in front of a camera. No-one is comfortable in front of a camera if they haven’t been filmed in the past six months. You can volunteer for student short films or Tropfest films or get together with colleagues to video each other. Alternatively, enrol in screen acting classes to keep improving your skills in this area. P.S. A note about terminology: the term “talent” used to be only used by advertising agencies when referring to actors, models or extras auditioned or hired for a TVC shoot. It’s a term that has crept in elsewhereintheindustrybutmosttrainedactorsdis- like being referred to as “talent”. It’s the equivalent to calling a director “genius”. Also the American term “casting agent” has crept into usage, however it is inaccurate in describing a casting consultant or casting director inAustralia, as an agent takes com- mission from an actor or model’s fee and the only person who does that is your actor’s agent or mod- elling agent. Casting directors are paid a consulting fee by the production company. A warning: Use your common sense when attend- ing screentests. No reputable director would ask you to remove your clothing in a screentest without notifying your agent beforehand. If this is to hap- pen you have every right to take a friend along with you to the screentest. Don’t do anything you feel uncomfortable about doing. Also don’t be duped by “shonky” operators offering you jobs on short notice acting in “B” grade films overseas and want- ing you to make decisions quickly (a recent scam). If you are freelance and ever unsure about some- one’s integrity phone Actors Equity/MEAA and seek their advice. About the Author: Annie Murtagh-Monks orig- inally trained and worked as an actor graduating from NIDA and completing post-grad study at RA- DA. Since a career change however, she has been a casting director & lecturer in Perth over the past 19 years, and has been involved in the casting of most screen drama shot in WA in that time includ- ing: “Rabbit Proof Fence”, “Japanese Story”, “The Shark Net” and “Last Train to Freo”, and the soon to be released feature “Drift” starring Sam Wor- thington. Annie was sessional lecturer at WAAPA over 16 years, been acting coach on 16 TV or film projects and founded PAC Screen Workshops (ad- vancedcoursesforactors,directors&writers),PAC Script Lab and has helped to found the non profit Association of Screen Professionals Inc. ■ Auditions, screentest and castings An audition is where you try out for a role but you are not filmed or videoed, a screentest is where you are filmed. Screentests are sometimes called “castings” though this term has come from the advertising industry and relates primarily to TV commercials (TVCs). n Infobox 100 Production & Know How // Screentesting Index

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