Conflict is a state which most people find unpleasant and wish to avoid. It can lead to fear, anxiety, as well as chaos. However, when it comes to acting auditions, conflict is necessary to a successful reading. In order to have a good audition, it is necessary for an actor to find the conflict within a story and within a character.
Internal conflicts are rife in personalities, where the psyche struggles between certain desires. Persons and characters can also experience conflict externally with fate, the environment, the world, and God. Relational conflicts are yet another form of personal conflict that are in present in almost every person and, therefore, character’s life. Typically, an actor is only given the dialogue, a brief outline of the character’s personality, and a story overview when they are asked to read. Some form of conflict always exists in a story and personality. 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. Instability in a character or story adds depth and movement. 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. That is the way life is. All lives have hurdles which must be shaped and worked with until they cease to be difficult obstacles and become helpful participants. “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 script may very well not have all the answers you need in order to create great conflict and emotion. Improve your acting audition by using the dialogue and the clues therein to create a character full of depth and truth. Doing so will hold the attention of the auditor and make you more likely to obtain the role. Far worse than creating the “wrong” conflict is delivering a performance without any emotion and depth. With these skills, your auditioning skills are sure to improve.
Real conflict is rarely one-dimensional. The typical person has numerous inner demons that are in constant turmoil. If you are looking to make a good impression on the auditor, ensure that you portray this in your reading. Despite what many actors believe, the most important thing is creating a character not merely the lines in the script.
Despite the fact that you may be the only person in the scene, there is no doubt that invisible forces or persons are affecting both the personality and story of your character. To have a successful reading, you as an actor must know how to draw these emotions and circumstances out of the text and take the character to the next level. There is another thing to remember about conflict. Conflict should always be slightly comedic. Comedy is present even when the conflict is dark and deep-rooted. If you want the auditors to enjoy watching your reading, adding some comedy is essential. With the proper combination of conflict and comedy, the character is sure to come to life.
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.