Conflict is typically avoided by the majority of people. It can lead to fear, anxiety, as well as chaos. However, when it comes to acting auditions, conflict is necessary to a successful reading. Every story and character has an inner conflict that an actor must find in order to have a successful audition and performance.
Internal conflicts are rife in personalities, where the psyche struggles between certain desires. There are also external conflicts that a person takes on with the environment, fate, God, and the world. Relational conflicts are yet another form of personal conflict that are in present in almost every person and, therefore, character’s life. Before an audition, the actor is only provided with basic information about the character and the story. Every story and character has interior conflicts, with some being harder to uncover than others. It is your responsibility to locate the conflict and express it in your reading.
Instability is always exciting regardless of how uncomfortable or stressful it may be. Conflict provides an element of depth and movement to a story and character. After you have gotten a handle on the personality of the character, there are naturally going to be difficulties and obstacles that that character must face. Life is always this way. All obstacles in our lives must be manipulated or overcome until they cease being hurdles and become collaborators. “Midnight Run” is a perfect movie to consider. Charles Grodin plays a white collar criminal who is being sought by the bounty hunter played by Robert De Niro. Jack, played by De Niro, needs to collect his bounty by bringing in Mardukas, played by Grodin. Jack is met with a number of conflicts including his personal insecurities, rival bounty hunters, and the infamous Mardukas.
The information provided for your reading may not have all the answers in regards to the character’s desires and conflicts. Improve your acting audition by using the dialogue and the clues therein to create a character full of depth and truth. In this way, you will be more likely to grab onto and hold the auditor’s attention and make the performance more real for the viewer. There is nothing worse than performing a one-dimensional reading of a character with no emotion and conflict. If you are able to flesh out a character in this way, your auditions are sure to be more successful.
Real conflict is rarely one-dimensional. The average character will have several different desires and feelings that are in constant struggle with each other. If you are looking to make a good impression on the auditor, ensure that you portray this in your reading. Creating a character’s personality is far more important than the lines that are being read.
Even though a scene may only contain your character, there is no doubt that other circumstances and persons have and continue to impact his or her life. Being able to bring these hidden elements to life is what will separate you from the other actors and make your audition a success. There is another aspect of conflict to keep in mind. Conflict should always be slightly comedic. Comedy is present even when the conflict is dark and deep-rooted. It is essential or the audition will be far too dark for the auditors to watch. In short, conflict and comedy are both an integral part of a successful and impressive reading.
Kirk Baltz has been a acting coach in los angeles for more than 15 years. Kirk helps actors of all levels get the roles that they desire. You can read more about improve acting auditions at the actor’s intensive website.