By focusing on developing a deep skill set, in acting classes in nyc or other qualified institutions are of the utmost importance. However, there is one skill you may have to develop on your own if your acting classes in nyc do not include it, and that is auditioning technique. Casting directors and producers will often ask for audition tapes, and of course you must be able to create a stand-out at a moment's notice. Auditioning via tape does not mean you need to spend lots of money on a professional production. Enlist the help of a director friend, rent a simple camera and follow these rules.
Lighting is hugely important, because more than anything you want to be "seen." Strong shadows falling in the wrong places can eliminate your chances of producers watching the tape all the way through. However, if the lighting is too strong, you will appear completely washed out and "hot" which is just a distracting. Anything that takes away from your performance is lethal and bad lighting is one of those things. Nice, bright yet completely unnoticeable lighting is the goal. If you are enrolled in acting classes in nyc or elsewhere, there is likely a teacher or professional who can assist you. A diagram of a simple lighting plan is something they can help you with.
There should be two or three light sources. Two soft lights can be placed on either side of the camera, about 10' feet or so away, focused on where you will be sitting. A light can also be brought in to illuminate the background. In some instances audition tapes leave the background completely dark which creates a certain mood. While this can work you must be careful to that the overall feel of the tape is appropriate and not distracting. The all important next step is the white balance on the camera.
Different lights sources are different "temperatures" which means they have a different color. They range from being very yellow to very blue. Let's say you set up the lighting, and you are also near a window. A mix of light sources is possible but, the camera must be "balanced" to correct for these color differences. A simple white balance button will take care of it. A pure white card or sheet of paper needs to be placed in the middle of the lighting sources. If you do not use this feature the color will be completely off, especially your skin tones. You want good clean skin tones, eye color and hair color, so you must not forget this step.
Another very important thing to consider is sound. If you cannot be heard clearly, or if there is distracting static or white noise, you have wasted your time. No one wants to sit through a tape that they can't hear. The closer the mic is to the sound source (you) the cleaner the sound will be. Camera mounted microphones are not very close to the subject, so looking into the rental of a good quality Lavalier microphone might be worthwhile. You aren't communicating with the audience if you can't be heard clearly. Acting classes in nyc sometimes have ways to help with this.
On to content, the all important piece of the puzzle, the character you are portraying, or a sense of who you are as an actor. Preparing for an audition tape is the same as preparing for a live audition. Preparation can be made easier if you've studied Meisner acting techniques with trained coaches. If nothing else, you need to be interesting, unique, and studying the Meisner acting technique can help. Anyone who has studied Meisner acting nyc will understand that acting is as much about what you leave out as what you put in. Trying to cram every emotion into a few minutes of an audition will seem false. The key to great acting is what you don't present, but leave simmering underneath. If you can get the casting agents, directors, producers to begin to infer things about your character that are being left out then you are doing your job as an actor.
If asked to present something specific, of course you must. More frequently actors are asked to turn in monologue audition tapes, just to give viewers an idea of their range and abilities. Prepare something that plays to your strengths, of course, be it comedy, drama or character driven. However, keep in mind that the best actors have developed strong skills in all of these genres and use it all. Audiences identify easily with a comic figure's dark moments, and like to laugh briefly to endure intense drama. Enlist the teachers of acting classes in nyc, or wherever you study, to review your practice tapes and incorporate their suggestions. We are not always the best judge of of our own work and being open to direction is a part of being a professional actor.
Lighting is hugely important, because more than anything you want to be "seen." Strong shadows falling in the wrong places can eliminate your chances of producers watching the tape all the way through. However, if the lighting is too strong, you will appear completely washed out and "hot" which is just a distracting. Anything that takes away from your performance is lethal and bad lighting is one of those things. Nice, bright yet completely unnoticeable lighting is the goal. If you are enrolled in acting classes in nyc or elsewhere, there is likely a teacher or professional who can assist you. A diagram of a simple lighting plan is something they can help you with.
There should be two or three light sources. Two soft lights can be placed on either side of the camera, about 10' feet or so away, focused on where you will be sitting. A light can also be brought in to illuminate the background. In some instances audition tapes leave the background completely dark which creates a certain mood. While this can work you must be careful to that the overall feel of the tape is appropriate and not distracting. The all important next step is the white balance on the camera.
Different lights sources are different "temperatures" which means they have a different color. They range from being very yellow to very blue. Let's say you set up the lighting, and you are also near a window. A mix of light sources is possible but, the camera must be "balanced" to correct for these color differences. A simple white balance button will take care of it. A pure white card or sheet of paper needs to be placed in the middle of the lighting sources. If you do not use this feature the color will be completely off, especially your skin tones. You want good clean skin tones, eye color and hair color, so you must not forget this step.
Another very important thing to consider is sound. If you cannot be heard clearly, or if there is distracting static or white noise, you have wasted your time. No one wants to sit through a tape that they can't hear. The closer the mic is to the sound source (you) the cleaner the sound will be. Camera mounted microphones are not very close to the subject, so looking into the rental of a good quality Lavalier microphone might be worthwhile. You aren't communicating with the audience if you can't be heard clearly. Acting classes in nyc sometimes have ways to help with this.
On to content, the all important piece of the puzzle, the character you are portraying, or a sense of who you are as an actor. Preparing for an audition tape is the same as preparing for a live audition. Preparation can be made easier if you've studied Meisner acting techniques with trained coaches. If nothing else, you need to be interesting, unique, and studying the Meisner acting technique can help. Anyone who has studied Meisner acting nyc will understand that acting is as much about what you leave out as what you put in. Trying to cram every emotion into a few minutes of an audition will seem false. The key to great acting is what you don't present, but leave simmering underneath. If you can get the casting agents, directors, producers to begin to infer things about your character that are being left out then you are doing your job as an actor.
If asked to present something specific, of course you must. More frequently actors are asked to turn in monologue audition tapes, just to give viewers an idea of their range and abilities. Prepare something that plays to your strengths, of course, be it comedy, drama or character driven. However, keep in mind that the best actors have developed strong skills in all of these genres and use it all. Audiences identify easily with a comic figure's dark moments, and like to laugh briefly to endure intense drama. Enlist the teachers of acting classes in nyc, or wherever you study, to review your practice tapes and incorporate their suggestions. We are not always the best judge of of our own work and being open to direction is a part of being a professional actor.
About the Author:
The Maggie Flanigan Studio provides acting classes in nyc for serious actors. To learn more about nyc commercial acting classes visit the studio website.
