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.
Everyone knows what a bad lighting job can do to someone’s appearance. Strong shadows falling in the wrong places can eliminate your chances of producers watching the tape all the way through. Lighting can also go overboard, and cause a washed out appearance that seems “lifeless.” Anything that takes away from your performance is lethal and bad lighting is one of those things. Lighting needs to be clean, and completely unnoticeable. If you are studying in a professional acting program, or taking acting classes in nyc, there should be someone who is teaching an “Acting for the Camera” class or something similar. A diagram of a simple lighting plan is something they can help you with.
Two or three small lights will do the trick. A light should be placed in front of the talent (you) one on either side, and far enough away to not cause shadows or hot spots. Then a third light can be used to fill in the background. Audition tapes online sometimes leave the background in the dark. Just be sure the overall tape is not too dark, or the contrast too great between your face and the background. A white balance feature on cameras is used to correct the color.
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.
Once the basics are set up, content becomes the focus. Preparing for a live audition is slightly different than preparing for a taped one, of course. A coach trained in the Meisner acting technique should be able to offer a lot of great tips on how to prepare. The discipline of Meisner acting is one that helps create riveting, unpredictable performances, which is what you strive for. In Meisner acting nyc, a key thing to keep in mind is what is left “out.” Of course, you can’t cram every possible emotion that a character “has” into a few moments. Leaving some elements of the character out, is one way to engage your audience immediately. Doing your job as an actor is not presenting everything and making it easy for them, but drawing them in by making them think about the work.
If asked to present something specific, of course you must. In a more general circumstance, it’s good to have a recent audition tape with a monologue, ready to send out on a moment’s notice. It makes sense to prepare something that involves your strengths. Legendary actors can present mesmerizing layers of emotion in a short time. The best comedians always have an underlying sense of tragedy, and the most dramatic performances are capable of lighter moments. Enlist the teachers of acting classes in nyc, or wherever you study, to review your practice tapes and incorporate their suggestions. Professional actors are always open to direction, certainly as an up and coming actor it’s smart to remain open to input regarding your audition tape.
The Maggie Flanigan Studio provides nyc acting classes for serious actors. To learn more about commercial acting visit the studio website.