Power, Presence and Performance
~ The
Absolutes of the Actor’s Audition ~
Five Reasons (and Causes) Why You
May Be Giving Away Your Power, Presence and Performance in an Audition
1. You’re Worried About the Lines
a.
You fear the audition will
crash at the moment you don’t get the lines perfect.
b.
You believe the lines ARE
the audition.
c.
You close up, apologize and
self deprecate when you say a wrong word or line.
2. You’re Self Conscience of Your
Looks
a.
You are not happy with
something about your looks.
b.
You think others are
focusing on all your personal and physical flaws.
c.
You think you didn’t dress or
appear “right” for the audition.
3. You Feel Inferior to Others in
the Room
a.
You believe that the Auditors
are more important than you.
b.
You think you are not going
to meet the expectations of the Auditors.
c.
You lack confidence and
don’t own who you are.
4. You Try To Be Something You Are
Not
a.
You indicate to the camera/Auditors
a character or emotion that is disconnected from the real YOU.
b.
You try too hard to show an
emotional range that you are not prepared to emote.
c.
You perform the audition
like some other actor or character would perform it.
5. You Have a Bad Attitude
a.
You think that you’re
exactly what they are looking for and you have it in the bag.
b.
You think you are more
important than the Auditors.
c.
You have an agenda and try
to drive the casting to your favor.
Five Remedies (and Actions) To
Retain Your Power, Presence and Performance in an Audition
1. Stop Focusing on the Lines and
Focus on Being You
a. Understand
the intent of the lines and deliver them as YOU in the moment.
b. Understand
that the Auditors want to learn who you are and could care less about perfect
line readings.
c. Realize
that the lines are only guideposts to your emotions, and never apologize for
errors.
2. Understand that “You Are Who You
Are”
a. Realize
that once you walk in the room, it is impossible to change the real YOU—period!
b. Celebrate
the fact that you are beautiful and unique, and for that reason, you are very
castable.
c. You
prepared, you arrived, now you must commit fully as you are. There is no other
option.
3. Think of Everyone as Your Peers
a. Know
that you are a creative artist with the same right to be in the room as
everyone else. Now create art!
b. Understand
that you’ll never totally know what the Auditors want, so your only choice is
to be YOU.
c. Sell
yourself. YOU are the audition, and nobody else can deliver what you can. Own
your whole being.
4. Realize That the Only Thing That
Will Win the Day is Authenticity
a. Present
only what is genuinely from YOUR essence, and know that the Auditors will see otherwise.
b. Take
risk but within your capabilities, and realize that YOU, and the character you
create, are enough.
c. Be
yourself, everyone else is already taken! Realize that the role needs YOUR
unique character-nobody else.
5. Dig Deep, and Humble Yourself—You
Just May Learn Something!
a. Leave
the over-confidence in the car. It will hinder your power, presence and
performance. Be Professional.
b. Realize
that the casting process in not beneath you. It’s necessary for the Auditors to
know the real YOU.
c.
Understand that it’s not
your casting. Listen, listen, and take directions literally. Be genuine and
authentic.
Tom Jankowski
