What Were You Thinking?
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| From The Room (2003) Tommy Wiseau |
QUESTION:
Why do actors post their audition tapes on YouTube or any social media outlet for that matter? I don't get it. I really don't.
The answer would have to be ego.
Why do actors post their audition tapes on YouTube or any social media outlet for that matter? I don't get it. I really don't.
The answer would have to be ego.
Look at me! Look at what I can do!
Most actors have been saying that since they took their first steps. The problem is, videos of babies taking their first steps or saying their first words are adorable. Videos of actors acting badly in auditions for roles in which they didn't book are, well, less adorable. Truth, a lot of them are train wrecks and you watch them for the exact same reason: you can't turn away from the horror. You're transfixed by the unbelievable and unimaginable and afterwards, as you compose yourself, you mutter, "My God. That was just awful."
I've seen some pretty pathetic auditions posted online.
Let me clarify my use of pathetic.
From a technical standpoint, these auditions are subpar in terms of lighting and sound. As most actors know, these days we are judged not only on our performance, meaning our understanding of the material and general talent, but also on how well or not well lit the shot is, how bad or how good the sound is and if we followed every direction given to us by casting.
If the videos I'm seeing online are any indication of what some of these actors are submitting, then it's no wonder they didn't book the job.
In some the lighting and sound are so poor, so distracting, I stopped watching the video after only a few seconds. No acting, no matter how amazing, can make up for bad lighting and sound. In the industry these days, auditions, unless absolutely flawless, are being dismissed if there are technical issues. Every audition notice I receive has at least one paragraph regarding the subject of lighting and sound.
Directions from casting are usually specific. That is, if said casting is reputable and the production is reputable and are representative of industry standards.
If your email from casting says to just tape any old way you want and get it to us, you may want to research said company and make sure you're not getting yourself in a situation in which you will see later reported on 60 Minutes.
Technical issues with lighting and sound aside, you have to consider the acting.
This taped audition is your business card to casting. It has to represent you in the best possible light. It has to speak for you because you're not there. In other words, it has to be the best thing you've ever done.
*Side note: You should be off book when you are submitting via tape. No if's, and's or but's about it. Even if some casting director somewhere a year or two ago told you it's okay if you're holding your sides (they were probably talking about a live audition in front of the director and casting director) it's not okay. Not being off book makes you look unprepared and unprofessional. Learn your sides. Don't tape them to the side of the camera or a wall because it will look like you're reading..and...that's because you are. Learn your lines.
What was I saying? Oh yeah. The audition you're submitting as to be as close to perfect as possible.
If it's not, why are you submitting it to be considered for a role?
If it's not, why the Hell are you posting it online for the general public to see?
If you absolutely feel in your heart and soul that your audition for the role of Whoever in the upcoming feature film Whatever is so good, so must see, so the world has to see this incredible audition, despite the fact you didn't book the job, then create a private channel and invite your family and friends.
Sadly, the truth is, some of us are posting these videos because we just want to get likes or thumbs up or smiley or heart emoticons. We just want someone to tell us how great we are. As soon as critical opinion is offered, we recoil in disgust.
Look. Don't ask me if that dress makes you look fat if you don't want to hear that dress makes you fat. If you ask me for my opinion, I'm going to give it to you. How else can we, as artists, grow?
Nobody's perfect. Nobody. NOBODY.
I don't book every job I submit for but I learn from every opportunity and I sure as Hell don't post any of my auditions online. I don't post the auditions I've submitted for and booked. It's not about the audition. It's about the performance in the final product.
If you're in this business because you just want people to tell you how great you are, you better have a backup plan. Your mom's compliments aside, you better be equipped to handle the truth coming from your agent, a casting director or a director on set.
This business is all about reputation and appearance. Talent is a small piece of the pie.
Don't be the person who reeks of desperation.
Don't be the actor who just wants attention.
If you want to create a library of your taped auditions to refer back to, do it. It's a great idea. You can go back and watch them after you don't get booked. Give yourself, or someone you trust to give you honest feedback, the opportunity to watch the tapes and study them. You can track your growth as an artist. There are a lot of positive things you can do with your taped auditions.
Just don't post them on line with a Look at what I did! kinda smugness.
If you're serious about your craft, do the work to get the work. Submit, audition, and then move on to the next thing. Take classes and workshops. Read books and follow blogs. Watch movies and television shows and become aware of what is out there, who is doing it and what you should be doing.
Know who you are. Know what you can do.
Be patient. Breathe every now and then.
Don't ever give up.
Just stop posting your auditions online.
just keeping it reel
copyright 2019
all rights reserved
...
This taped audition is your business card to casting. It has to represent you in the best possible light. It has to speak for you because you're not there. In other words, it has to be the best thing you've ever done.
*Side note: You should be off book when you are submitting via tape. No if's, and's or but's about it. Even if some casting director somewhere a year or two ago told you it's okay if you're holding your sides (they were probably talking about a live audition in front of the director and casting director) it's not okay. Not being off book makes you look unprepared and unprofessional. Learn your sides. Don't tape them to the side of the camera or a wall because it will look like you're reading..and...that's because you are. Learn your lines.
What was I saying? Oh yeah. The audition you're submitting as to be as close to perfect as possible.
If it's not, why are you submitting it to be considered for a role?
If it's not, why the Hell are you posting it online for the general public to see?
If you absolutely feel in your heart and soul that your audition for the role of Whoever in the upcoming feature film Whatever is so good, so must see, so the world has to see this incredible audition, despite the fact you didn't book the job, then create a private channel and invite your family and friends.
Sadly, the truth is, some of us are posting these videos because we just want to get likes or thumbs up or smiley or heart emoticons. We just want someone to tell us how great we are. As soon as critical opinion is offered, we recoil in disgust.
Look. Don't ask me if that dress makes you look fat if you don't want to hear that dress makes you fat. If you ask me for my opinion, I'm going to give it to you. How else can we, as artists, grow?
Nobody's perfect. Nobody. NOBODY.
I don't book every job I submit for but I learn from every opportunity and I sure as Hell don't post any of my auditions online. I don't post the auditions I've submitted for and booked. It's not about the audition. It's about the performance in the final product.
If you're in this business because you just want people to tell you how great you are, you better have a backup plan. Your mom's compliments aside, you better be equipped to handle the truth coming from your agent, a casting director or a director on set.
This business is all about reputation and appearance. Talent is a small piece of the pie.
Don't be the person who reeks of desperation.
Don't be the actor who just wants attention.
If you want to create a library of your taped auditions to refer back to, do it. It's a great idea. You can go back and watch them after you don't get booked. Give yourself, or someone you trust to give you honest feedback, the opportunity to watch the tapes and study them. You can track your growth as an artist. There are a lot of positive things you can do with your taped auditions.
Just don't post them on line with a Look at what I did! kinda smugness.
If you're serious about your craft, do the work to get the work. Submit, audition, and then move on to the next thing. Take classes and workshops. Read books and follow blogs. Watch movies and television shows and become aware of what is out there, who is doing it and what you should be doing.
Know who you are. Know what you can do.
Be patient. Breathe every now and then.
Don't ever give up.
Just stop posting your auditions online.
just keeping it reel
copyright 2019
all rights reserved
...
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