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...

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

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

Join us for our Meisner Weekend Intensive on Zoom! Taught by 4th generation Meisner Instructor, Erin Burns

Let’s explore what it means to “Live Truthfully under the Imaginary Circumstance!”

Sat/Sun October 15-16th

12 -7 pm/EST, 9 - 4 pm/PST

We’ll tackle the 1st month of our 9-month Meisner intensive in 2 days

* This is intensive work for the serious, professional actor

www.eebstudios.com

There is so much pressure for Actors to grow their Social Media presence, but is spending too much time on these platforms actually killing your career?

Let's talk about ways to fight the urge to keep "scrolling" & get back to actually training for the opportunites that are on the way to us!

How do we take control of our own Happiness when we're not getting Auditions? One way is by creating our own content. 

When we're consisently focusing on a creative project that we're excited about, we're really filling our own Creative Cup instead of waiting for the industry to fill it. 

Then when we do get the audition opportunities, we're extra jazzed because it's just icing on the cake we've already made!

One of the most amazing projects I’ve ever been a part of is coming out in theaters this month....it’s called Mine 9. It’s the combination of 3 coal mining disasters that have happened in the United States  

Embarrassingly enough, I almost didn’t even go to the audition. My agent & I had decided to focus on bigger projects & it was a SAG low budget film. 

The only reason I went to the audition was to get in the room & work with the Casting Director & the Director. With Self-Tapes taking over the industry, we rarely get this opportunity anymore.

Boy am I glad I went! The stars aligned & I was fortunate enough to work with an amazing Director, Producers, Casting Director & some of the most kick-ass Actors I’ve ever worked with.

And the icing on the cake?? This was a story that really mattered. We got to bring to light real people & their real life experiences.

The Director took some of the cast members to Appalachia, 3/4...