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Acting classes in nyc focus on developing your skills as an actor, especially the foundational skills that are required to practice the craft. A solid auditioning technique is also paramount however and acting classes in nyc do not always include this in their curriculum. Audition tapes are the new must have, since they can be emailed instantly, and casting agents and producers can see how you are on camera and get a sense of who you are as an actor. Audition tapes need not be expensive, professionally shot videos. Enlist the help of a director friend, rent a simple camera and follow these rules.

How you appear is key, and lighting is a big part of this. Strong shadows falling in the wrong places can eliminate your chances of producers watching the tape all the way through. Looking completely washed out from lights that are too strong or close doesn’t work either. If the lighting serves as a distraction to your performance you’ve wasted your time. Lighting needs to be clean, and completely unnoticeable. A professional acting program, especially acting classes in nyc, should have someone on staff that has experience producing tapes. Ask for help creating a simple diagram that outlines a lighting scheme.

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 third source of light can be focused softly to fill in the background and highlight the talent from behind. In some instances audition tapes leave the background completely dark which creates a certain mood. This is okay as long as the overall feel is not too dark. The all important next step is the white balance on the camera.

The color temperature of lights sources can be different. Incandescent lights are yellow, daylight is very blue. If you set up lights near a window the camera must correct for that. A mix of light sources is possible but, the camera must be “balanced” to correct for these color differences. The White balance button on the camera makes this possible. Just place something white in the approximate place where you will be standing and hit White Balance. If you do not use this feature the color will be completely off, especially your skin tones. It will be evident if you forget to do this, because the skin tones and colors will all be incorrect.

Another very important thing to consider is sound. A good audition tape is only as good as the sound, because your voice is your main instrument. No one wants to sit through a tape that they can’t hear. Keep the mic as close to the talent as possible. While easy, the camera mounted microphones are usually not very high quality. Communicating character, and a sense of who you are as an actor depends on what you sound like so make it great. 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. An audition prepared for taping has some slight differences. Preparation can be made easier if you’ve studied Meisner acting techniques with trained coaches. Using the Meisner acting tools can help create a riveting audition tape that does not seem rehearsed or staged. Anyone who has studied Meisner acting nyc will understand that acting is as much about what you leave out as what you put in. Cramming every emotion and gesture into a performance will always seem false. The key to great acting is what you don’t present, but leave simmering underneath. Audiences like to work, think, and look for clues which is a way to engage them in your performance.

At times, actors are asked to include something very specific, but it should still have your own ideas incorporated. More frequently actors are asked to turn in monologue audition tapes, just to give viewers an idea of their range and abilities. Whether you have the gift of comedy, or a talent for dramatic roles, a great audition includes both. The greatest actors are well rounded and can include many layers of abilities during a short piece. Audiences identify easily with a comic figure’s dark moments, and like to laugh briefly to endure intense drama. Acting classes in nyc are led by experienced professionals who can help give constructive feedback. 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.

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.

Acting classes in nyc focus on developing your skills as an actor, especially the foundational skills that are required to practice the craft. A solid auditioning technique is also paramount however and acting classes in nyc do not always include this in their curriculum. A big part of the audition process are audition tapes. There is no need for a professionally produced, expensive audition tape. All you need to do is rent or borrow a camera and ask some fellow actors or a director friend to help.

How you appear is key, and lighting is a big part of this. 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. Lighting needs to be clean, and completely unnoticeable. Acting classes in nyc often include people who are experienced at producing tapes. A diagram of a simple lighting plan is something they can help you with.

It should involve three lights, relatively bright, or a light source from outdoors. 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. Then a third light can be used to fill in the background. Audition tapes online sometimes leave the background in the dark. While this can work you must be careful to that the overall feel of the tape is appropriate and not distracting. A white balance feature on cameras is used to correct the color.

The color temperature of lights sources can be different. Incandescent lights are yellow, daylight is very blue. If you set up lights near a window the camera must correct for that. A mix of light sources is possible but, the camera must be “balanced” to correct for these color differences. The White balance button on the camera makes this possible. 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.

Sound is another very important feature. Distracting static, muddy tones in your voice, are all ways to kill what might otherwise be a good audition tape. No one wants to sit through a tape that they can’t hear. The mic should be as close to the source of the sound as possible to eliminate stray noise. 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. Again, quality acting classes in nyc that include skills on how to be camera ready can help advise you on this.

With these basics in place now is the time to think about content. An audition prepared for taping has some slight differences. Meisner acting techniques can be helpful when preparing, especially for a specific character or role. The discipline of Meisner acting is one that helps create riveting, unpredictable performances, which is what you strive for. Keeping important elements under the surface, is something coaches of Meisner acting nyc can teach you how to develop. Trying to cram every emotion into a few minutes of an audition will seem false. Edit, put only a few ideas in at a time and let the rest emerge in the imagination of the audience. 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.

Of course, if you are asked to prepare an audition tape of something specific, some sides or a scene, the tape will consist of this. More frequently actors are asked to turn in monologue audition tapes, just to give viewers an idea of their range and abilities. It makes sense to prepare something that involves your strengths. The best actors are those that are fluid and can show quickly how capable they are of acting in any genre. A great comedian always as an underlying sense of tragedy for instance, just like the deepest dramatic performances have moments of light-otherwise it becomes hard to identify with. 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.

The Maggie Flanigan Studio provides acting classes in nyc for serious actors. To learn more about nyc commercial acting classes visit the studio website.

Developing excellent acting skills, especially in professional level acting classes in nyc, can help build a great foundation. A solid auditioning technique is also paramount however and acting classes in nyc do not always include this in their curriculum. Audition tapes are a big part of the process now. Auditioning via tape does not mean you need to spend lots of money on a professional production. Just borrow or rent a camera, enlist the help of an aspiring director friend and follow these simple 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. Too much light an you look completely washed out. Anything that takes away from your performance is lethal and bad lighting is one of those things. A well lit subject is one in which the lighting just “disappears.” A professional acting program, especially acting classes in nyc, should have someone on staff that has experience producing tapes. A diagram of a simple lighting plan is something they can help you with.

Two or three small lights will do the trick. Lights can be placed on either side of the talent to help illuminate the face. Then a third light can be used to fill in the background. Some audition tapes have chosen to leave the background dark. Just be sure the overall tape is not too dark, or the contrast too great between your face and the background. Every camera has a White Balance feature that needs to be set.

Light sources, such as lamps, professional lights and daylight all have different temperatures. Incandescent lights are yellow, daylight is 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. The white balance feature is used to make this correction quickly and automatically. Just place something white in the approximate place where you will be standing and hit White Balance. If you do not use this feature the color will be completely off, especially your skin tones. Forget to do this and skin tones and all other colors will be “off,” which is very distracting.

How you sound is also very important. 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. Keep the mic as close to the talent as possible. Renting a good quality microphone is a good idea, as the camera mounted variety are usually prone to pick up lots of static and stray noise. Let’s face it, acting is a form of communication and you cannot communicate clearly if you can’t be heard. There are plenty of good acting classes in nyc that will help guide you through this process.

With these basics in place now is the time to think about content. Preparing for a live audition is slightly different than preparing for a taped one, of course. Preparation can be made easier if you’ve studied Meisner acting techniques with trained coaches. The discipline of Meisner acting is one that helps create riveting, unpredictable performances, which is what you strive for. What you leave “out” of a performance is just as important as what you leave in, according to expert coaches of Meisner acting nyc. Cramming every emotion and gesture into a performance will always seem false. The key to great acting is what you don’t present, but leave simmering underneath. Audiences like to work, think, and look for clues which is a way to engage them in your performance.

At times, actors are asked to include something very specific, but it should still have your own ideas incorporated. More often, casting agents and producers ask for monologues not scenes. 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. Tragedy and comedy always work together, for instance and its good to include a sense of both. 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 acting classes in nyc for serious actors. To learn more about nyc commercial acting classes visit the studio website.

Developing excellent acting skills, especially in professional level acting classes in nyc, can help build a great foundation. There is one thing that acting classes in nyc cannot teach you, for the most part, and that is an auditioning technique that you can use out of the classroom. A big part of the audition process are audition tapes. There is no need for a professionally produced, expensive audition tape. Just borrow or rent a camera, enlist the help of an aspiring director friend and follow these simple rules.

Lighting is hugely important, because more than anything you want to be “seen.” Poor lighting creates deep shadows in all the wrong places. Too much light an you look completely washed out. Anything that takes away from your performance is lethal and bad lighting is one of those things. Being well lit means that the lighting should be so clean it’s 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. They should be able to diagram a simple lighting scheme for you.

Two or three small lights will do the trick. Lights can be placed on either side of the talent to help illuminate the face. The background can lit using a third light. 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. Correcting the color with a white balance feature is the important next step.

Light sources, such as lamps, professional lights and daylight all have different temperatures. Daylight, for instance, has more blue in it. If you set up lights near a window the camera must correct for that. If you use both of these light sources the color will be off unless you “correct” it in the camera. By hitting the White Balance button you can adjust the camera to “balance” the color between those two light sources. Just focus the camera on a white card or sheet of paper and it should correct for color. 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 producer or casting agent has the time to sit through an audition tape with poor sound. Keep the mic as close to the talent as possible. Camera mounted mics might be convenient, are not the best choice, renting a Lavalier would be better. You aren’t communicating with the audience if you can’t be heard clearly. There are plenty of good acting classes in nyc that will help guide you through this process.

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. Meisner acting techniques can be helpful when preparing, especially for a specific character or role. An audition tape that is engaging, riveting, and fascinating is easier for actors that have studied Meisner acting. What you leave “out” of a performance is just as important as what you leave in, according to expert coaches of Meisner acting nyc. 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. An audience (which in this case is the auditors) will automatically begin to infer and look for clues they can infer about your character which engages them in your performance.

If asked to present something specific, of course you must. More often, casting agents and producers ask for monologues not scenes. Prepare something that plays to your strengths, of course, be it comedy, drama or character driven. The greatest actors are well rounded and can include many layers of abilities during a short piece. Audiences identify easily with a comic figure’s dark moments, and like to laugh briefly to endure intense drama. Acting classes in nyc are led by experienced professionals who can help give constructive feedback. The best audition tapes are those which have had input from lots of sources with the most constructive criticism incorporated.

The Maggie Flanigan Studio provides acting classes for serious actors. To learn more about commercial acting visit the studio website.

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. Recently, audition tapes have become a big part of the process. An expensive, professional video is okay for an audition tape but, certainly not necessary. 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. Poor lighting creates deep shadows in all the wrong places. Too much light an you look completely washed out. This is distracting and will take attention away from your performance. A well lit subject is one in which the lighting just “disappears.” 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. Ask for help creating a simple diagram that outlines a lighting scheme.

There should be two or three light sources. 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. A light can also be brought in to illuminate the background. There are audition tapes that have dark backgrounds which can set a certain mood and this can work. Just be sure the overall tape is not too dark, or the contrast too great between your face and the background. Correcting the color with a white balance feature is the important next step.

This reads the color temperatures of the combined light sources. Incandescent lights are yellow, daylight is very blue. Let’s say you set up the lighting, and you are also near a window. A simple white balance button will take care of it. Just focus the camera on a white card or sheet of paper and it should correct for color. 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.

Perfect, clear sound is also critical. Distracting static, muddy tones in your voice, are all ways to kill what might otherwise be a good audition tape. No one wants to sit through a tape that they can’t hear. Keep the mic as close to the talent as possible. Camera mounted microphones are not very close to the subject, so looking into the rental of a good quality Lavalier microphone might be worthwhile. Let’s face it, acting is a form of communication and you cannot communicate clearly if you can’t be heard. Lots of good acting classes in nyc, include advice on how to do this.

With these basics in place now is the time to think about content. An audition prepared for taping has some slight differences. A coach trained in the Meisner acting technique should be able to offer a lot of great tips on how to prepare. An audition tape that is engaging, riveting, and fascinating is easier for actors that have studied Meisner acting. Anyone who has studied Meisner acting nyc will understand that acting is as much about what you leave out as what you put in. Of course, you can’t cram every possible emotion that a character “has” into a few moments. The key to great acting is what you don’t present, but leave simmering underneath. 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.

Sometimes, the requests are very specific, however a great actor will never be hindered or constrained by those ideas. More often, casting agents and producers ask for monologues not scenes. It makes sense to prepare something that involves your strengths. The greatest actors are well rounded and can include many layers of abilities during a short piece. The best comedians always have an underlying sense of tragedy, and the most dramatic performances are capable of lighter moments. Acting classes in nyc are led by experienced professionals who can help give constructive feedback. As actors we tend to be insecure and it’s best to accept direction from the outside about what makes our audition tape stand out.

The Maggie Flanigan Studio provides acting classes for serious actors. To learn more about commercial acting visit the studio website.