Acting Tips Page For
Actors and Performers
“We don’t know who we are until we see what we can do.”
-Martha Grimes
WHO ARE YOU AS AN ARTIST?
Successful American author Martha Grimes has it right. I think as artists it can be difficult to know what you represent… how you are affecting your audience…until you have the opportunity to get out there and do it!
It takes experience, hard work and practice to define who you are and what you bring to the table.
You may be powerful and remarkable with your monologue when you rehearse alone in your living room… but, what happens when you are in front of an audience or camera? Can you do the same performance with hundreds of eyes watching?
The video camera can be a great tool to help you understand your work. There is a big difference between what you are feeling as an actor, and what you are projecting in your acting. You must understand both.
I think preparing, practicing, and the right acting classes are important to keep learning your craft and experiencing what acting means to you as an artist.
But, so often we find reasons not to do it! Too busy, too broke, can't find the right teacher, don't feel like going out... now you have no excuses!
Even if you think you’re the best actor in town (which I hope you do)… Michael Jordan worked out on the basketball court everyday of his career!
A lot of auditions are video taped or digitally transmitted now. Directors and producers are making decisions, hiring actors from tapes ONLY! You better know how you are looking on camera… are your intentions reading how you want them to? You can’t just expect them to go hand in hand… you need to study yourself and get feedback from objective sources.
For your best audition... read these tips!
I have had some of my most important acting “moments”… learned the most about myself as an artist… during playback of something I’ve taped during rehearsal.
I’m excited to offer you this outlet. Do it as often as you like… I will do my best to help you and offer you my best advice to succeed!!
Ideas for tape (remember, keep it to one minute!):
You can:
- Do a monologue
- Perform a Scene (please have someone read the other lines)
- Rehearse Commercial copy
- Show me how you “slate” – state name, height, role, and agent (if any)
- Show me your performance art
- Show me how you would walk into an audition room
So, go ahead!
- Grab a digital video camera!
- Make sure you are well lighted
- make sure I can hear you!
- tape a minute of yourself with your chosen material
- edit it into a QuickTime format (no larger than 2mb)
- upload it to my email
A few notes:
- Your eyes are the window to YOU! I HAVE to see them! If you are working on “cold reading”… or if you need to look at your material… make sure you know it well enough to make eye contact with or near the camera. Make a choice: either look into the camera for your audience … or choose a spot close to the camera lens.
- Make every effort to look as you would for an audition or performance. Make choices about your hair, makeup (if any) and clothes that make you feel best. Remember, performance is also about look and image.
Together we can decide on your strengths and make sure you are using them to the best of your ability! It's time to book the job!
When you are ready to show me what you've got! click on the link below:
Evaluate me!
Books every actor should read...
How are your auditions going? ... read this article!
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