Choose your Auditions Carefully

One of my students called me the other day for a Private Coaching to work on an audition she had gotten through Actors’ Access.  It was for a short film with unknown film makers – who I attempted to check out for her.   I couldn’t find anything on any of them, by the way.  We’ll call my student Gail.  She’s in her early twenties, beautiful, and just starting out professionally.

The short centers around a rape.  And although the lead character she was auditioning for had lines throughout the script, she was told just to read 4 short reaction lines that came after the rape.    

Being an experienced Casting Director with about 150 film and television credits currently to my name, I can say that those 4 lines told us nothing, and that whoever is casting it isn’t giving actresses so much as an opportunity to audition fairly.  There were lines and speeches throughout the short that would work well for audition purposes, but they are playing the “gratuitous” card.  And glancing through the entire script, I can honestly say that “gratuitous” is the operative word here.  I strongly advised Gail to forget that audition.  She had naively believed that she could go to the audition and if they really liked her, they would work around her desire to not do nudity.  I told her that would most likely not be the case with unknowns making a short film.  She agreed, and passed.  I was relieved because this one really didn’t smell right.

Be careful, and selective  is my advice to young actresses and actors when submitting yourself for any project.  Here are a few reasons why I’m so adamant about that: You don’t want to find yourself face to face with “film makers” who are really wolves in sheep’s clothing.  In other words, there are people out there who want you to audition, flatter you about how right you are for the role, and then be told there’s nudity.  IF you’re comfortable with the idea of nudity, fine, but BE CERTAIN you’re okay with it, and BE CERTAIN that the project is a legitimate studio or credible independent project that will be properly released.  Never lose track of the fact that there really are losers and predators lurking in our business, so be vigilant, even when answering a breakdown on something as credible as Actors Access.  

Also, you don’t want to find yourself feeling desperate enough to take crap that may be offered to you.  You don’t want to start your career on a downhill track.   Another thing to keep in mind is that you should never look, act, or feel desperate when you walk into an audition.  Know that you belong there and show the producers, etc. how comfortable you are in the room.  Confidence goes a long way.   And if you arrive for your meeting and something just doesn’t feel right, go with your instincts and leave.  Again, the scenarios I’m describing are the exceptions to the rule, but don’t ever  feel that you owe anyone at that point, anything at all.   Some years ago one of my students, a former European beauty queen, was given the “opportunity” to audition for (supposedly) a studio feature.  She said there were no lines so she didn’t need me to coach her for it.  She was able to get a taped copy of her audition and she showed it to me.  I sat there quietly biting my lip as i watched her rape scene….  A man with a mask was raping her and she was nude and quite vulnerable.  I didn’t know what to say to her afterwards, and I didn’t want to freak her out, so I smiled and told her how lovely she was.  In truth, I was aghast as what I witnessed.  And of course, no film offer ever followed.     

There are good, legitimate auditions to be found online.  Student films, shorts, indies, and other opportunities can help build your reel and make great introductions to others. But be vigilant and on your guard!  That’s my advice to you!

I hope you all book your next audition and that’ it leads to more and more work!Melissa Skoff, Casting Director, Producer, & Acting Coachwww.melissaskoffacting.com