We get auditions that ask us to drive, fight, fall down, kiss, & so many more physical challenges.
I often see actors get confused & half commit to it because they're scared of looking silly or just simply don't know how to approach these things simply & clearly.
The short answer is:
Commit 100%
If you get punched in the face, how would you react/feel in your body in real life? You can't moan or half grunt to "pretend" it's happening, that's when we feel silly & inauthentic. You have to commit fully to the physical reaction.
Watch a fight scene & see how truthfully the actors put their whole body into it.
Now a way to simplify our physical work in auditions is to:
Adjust the physicality by 50%
So if you're supposed to fall to the ground (you'll fall out of frame if you do that) then just fall halfway back against the wall or backdrop.
We'll dive deep into all of this at the Self-Tape Workshop: Physicality on Saturday, April 15th on Zoom. No...
First off, let me tell you this is a skill that can be developed. To read this blog & expect to do it in tomorrow's audition is highly unlikely.
I learned how to do this by studying the Meisner Technique. Sanford Meisner teaches you to create an Imaginary Circumstance & place the most important person in your life (or even yourself) in the middle of that Circumstance.
Step 1: Create or "craft" the Circumstance
Step 2: Fill in every single detail
Step 3: Close your eyes & Visualize it
Step 4: Believe it
That last step is really the key. Your Imagination is the most powerful tool you have as an actor, but if you don't believe your own circumstances, it won't evoke your nervous system to allow the emotional life to come to the surface.
I love Meisner because we never drum up trauma from the past (which is another way of crying on cue), we don't bring in today's life challenges into our work.. it's totally separate, using our...
I often hear actors debate the question of whether to sit or to stand in an Audition. As a coach, my answer is to them is often "What will you do when you get to set? Do that."
When we get away from the mindset of auditioning, & get into the mindset of creating a scene, we'll no longer ask that question of ourselves.
I recently attended an Agency Showcase in a hotel conference room where actors from various markets presented a scene to the agencies. Imagine a hotel conference room.. the lighting isn't great, the walls are sorta bland, the room is big.
I noticed that the actors who chose to stand & create a scene that had a real beginning, middle, & end were exceedingly more captivating than the actors who chose to sit. In this case, the space played a major part in the end result.
So keep the idea of "playing the space" in mind if you're still wrestling with whether to sit or to stand in your audition work. You may also err on the side of "which...
We all know Self-Taping has taken over our industry in the past few years. So how do we actually stand out from the 100s of actors submitting for the same role?
I'm teaching a Free Self-Tape Class where I'll share 5 ways that I use to help my students tapes stand out and book. Today, I'll share 1 of those ways with you: Physicality.
I see actors nearly every day with scripts where there is some type of a physicality that they need to adopt in order to truthfully pull off the scene, but their fears take over with what is too much. "I don't want to be over the top," they'll say.
To that I say, please stop listening to your teacher. Many actors are getting coached in ways that make them feel limited in their ability to thruthfully live out the scene, and that is precisely what Casting wants to see.
Learn how Bill booked 53 National Commercials & experience his full Level 1 Course in 1 day!
Saturday, Dec 10th
12 pm/EST, 9 am/PST
6 hours
$150 to participate, $50 to observe
https://www.eebstudios.com/adults
We all dread the "So what have you been in lately?" question from friends & family. Let's arm ourselves with a few positive responses this holiday season.
Script Analysis Workshop
Saturday, Dec 3rd, 1 pm/EST, 10 am/PST, 90 min, Zoom, $27
1-Day Commercial Workshop with Bill Coelius
Saturday, Dec 10th, 12 pm/EST, 9 am/PST, 6 hours, Zoom, $150
How can we FALL in love with our work whether we're booking or not?
Let's learn how not to analyze a script & instead how to visualize & trust our instincts & impulses with short 2-3 page Film/TV sides.
Sat, December 3rd
1 pm/EST, 10 am/PST
90 min
Zoom
Let's learn how not to analyze a script & instead how to visualize & trust our instincts & impulses with short 2-3 page Film/TV sides.
Sat, November 5th
1 pm/EST, 10 am/PST
90 min
Zoom
Join Kris Carr for her Intro to Voice Over Bootcamp Sat, November 12th 1 pm/EST, 10 am/PST where she'll take you through her full Intro Course in 4 hours.
Upon completion of the Bootcamp, you'll be eligible for her Advanced Course in January.
There is a simpler way to break down 2-3 page Film/TV sides. We'll dive deep into that at our Script Analysis Workshop Sat, November 5th 1 pm/EST, 10 am/PST.
Join Kris Carr for her Intro to Voice Over Bootcamp Sat, November 12th 1 pm/EST, 10 am/PST where she'll take you through her full Intro Course in 4 hours. Upon completion of the Bootcamp, you'll be eligible for her Advanced Course in January.
Grab your seat for these Workshops here!
https://www.eebstudios.com/adults
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