I had a print audition for a cracker ad where I smiled with a perfectly arranged, glue-gunned down tray of crackers. yum.
Category Archives: Auditions
Audition
I had an SOC “mom” audition today for a mom/baby ad. They asked me if I had any kids, and I said no….I’m wondering if I should have said yes!!
Audition
I had an audition today for “Project Art” with Jigsaw casting. Nice to be able to memorize some lines again! Ir was quick and painless – in and out!
Print Audition
I have a print audition today at Westside Studios, I’m glad it’s a comfortable/casual look so I can zip off to class later looking good!
Wish me luck 
Antici………..pation
I killed an audition yesterday. Like, blew it away. The casting director worked with me on both scenes, he laughed at the appropriate funny parts I has planned, and asked if i was available to travel to Montreal for the summer where the TV show is filming. At the end of the audition he said “Thank you, that was excellent.”
I kind of wish he hadn’t said anything at all. Cause today, every time the phone rings or I get an email I am hoping for the word that I got a callback , or (highly unlikely) that they loved me so much I am being offered the part!
AGHGLHGHGH! I normally do what every sane working actor does when it comes to auditions: do my best then promptly forget about it…that way when I get a callback or book a job I am pleasantly surprised about it! It keeps me sane and not on the edge of my seat.
BUT this part has me salivating for a few reasons:
1. It’s a primetime show on a cable network in the US. If I get it, it will up my credibility as an actor tenfold.
2. I get to travel to Montreal to film it. Woohoo! Work-related travel!
3. It’s a recurring role, so I would be seen for two or more episodes.
4. It’s a comedic role and I always secretly thought that I would be well-suited for comedic roles. This could open the door.
5. I would be playing an 18-year-old. I’ve been having a wee “am I too old to play a college kid?” mind-melt lately, and this would be a welcome change to going out for roles that are 5-7 years older than i actually am.
Ok. So I never usually get so worked up….but just this once, im going to relish the feeling of waiting to hear about a delicious role that I know I nailed in the audition room. If I don’t get it, it’s for a reason that does not have to do with my acting ability or my audition room technique. and im ok with that!
But just this once, I’m gonna pray to those audition gods:
PLEASE LET ME GET THIS PART!!!
:p
No More Auditions!!
It’s decided. After two very busy and productive months, its time to overhaul how I go about spending my day:
1. No more unpaid work.
- Now this is a lofty goal, but one I will be working on for the next few years. I’ve decided that although there are lots of great unpaid projects out there, i am going to be very selective about the amount and quality of unpaid work I take. Therefore, I will be going on less auditions but will have more time to focus on the ones that matter.
- Doing unpaid work has given me lots of experience and great footage to use for my reel, but it can be draining emotionally and time-wise, especially if the footage turns out to be unusable for my reel (bad sound, bad picture, bad makeup, etc)
- My new mantra ties into this quite nicely: “I am a professional working actress, I deserve to be paid for what I do”
2. Accept work if it fulfills two out of three three requirements I have set:
- For the connections and people I will meet, forming great relationships from the project
- If it fulfills me creatively and I am excited and motivated to work on the role given to me
- If I am paid as an equal member of the crew and project.
* so you see there is a bit of a loophole in this statement….if a project comes along with great people and a fantastic role, I will obviously take the job, for the experience and for the love of it.
3. More time on the Business side of things.
- I need more time to focus on building relationships with casting directors, re-cutting my reels, doing photo shoots, updating my blog, etc. If I accept less unpaid acting work which keeps me hopping around the city and cuts into my precious time, then I have more time to spend working on these very important other aspects of my career.
So. SO LONG STUDENT FILMS! Buh-Bye to your indie film project where I will work for “exposure” alone!
If I want to make a living in this career, its time to start acting like a pro and asking for what I’m worth.
DISCLAIMER: To all the people just starting out, unpaid work and student films are the way to go, they build up your confidence and experience on set. I have had fabulous experiences on unpaid sets that have brought me up to this point, so make sure you have exhausted this route before you move onto the paid stuff!
HUSTLE
I HAVE BEEN SO BUSY! I booked a national print ad for Esso, saw screenings of two student films I worked on this winter and have been auditioning/getting called back quite a bit! It’s been a challenge to find some time to sit down and blog about all the crazy stuff that’s going on!
I wanted to quickly touch on the word HUSTLE, cause that’s how I’m feeling about my life right now. I am busy running from auditions to promo gigs and to set then rehearsal and class and a hundred other places, but when I get home from my day im not exhausted, im energized! Doing what I love all day gives me a sense of joy and accomplishment from the simple work I am putting in. I’m still not making much money, but it’s coming slowly and there are lots of positive signs on the way (booking jobs, getting noticed, etc).
As an actor, there is always going to be an element of “hustle” in my career. I am responsible for promoting myself, looking for gigs, being professional, networking, blogging, my fan page, taking care of myself, and all the things that come along with this profession. It’s good to be busy because work begets work. If you’re not busy, then get working! More jobs will follow as you build momentum
I’ll be back to my regular blogging schedule next week!
Back in the Auditioning Game
I have two auditions this week! Both through my new agent! This makes me excited for a number of reasons:
1. My agent only sends me out for paid work. When I find auditions for myself on the many casting listings in Toronto, they are usually for student films and indie films with no money. My agent has exclusive access to casting calls from reputable commercial and film projects though breakdown service and casting workbook. The breakdowns in these services are only available to agents, therefore you must have an agent to be considered for these types of jobs
2. I don’t have to be the only one looking for auditions for myself! Now my agent is helping me with the work, and I would much rather fill up my time with auditions my agent books for me vs. ones I find for myself. Note: don’t stop looking for work now that there’s an agent in the picture! I am just more selective about what I apply to and what i realistically have time to do.
3. These auditions get me face time with casting directors. These people work in casting for a living, they hold the “golden ticket” to casting you in your first breakout role, and if you’re up in front of them all the time it’s very motivating and is another piece of the puzzle as I put together my casting director packages.
4. Real auditions happen at real casting studios. I love the hustle of these places, the interacting (and judging, I cant help it) with other actors, finding out assistant’s names and which quirks each CD has; this is my job and now I get to do some on site sleuthing around! Note: NO INVASIVE SLEUTHING. Just perk up as you wait for your audition and listen, watch, learn from the people around you.
5. The FEELING that I get when I get that “You have an audition” email! I get a wee little rush every time I see that email in my inbox….I greedily take in all the info, read and print the script, and rearrange my schedule to make room for the audition. Then I get to work, memorizing, breaking down the script and rehearsing! Or if you have no lines, think about what you are going to wear.
After all, the key to all of this is going out for as many auditions as you possibly can manage….the more you audition the more you book, the more you work and the cycle continues!
Today I am celebrating the fruits of my tiny baby steps. 6 months ago I landed in a new city with my dreams and my ambition. Now I am a working actor with an agent who is sending me out on a regular basis. yes!
“Do You Have Anything Else to Show Us?”
I had an audition this evening for an indie film. Cool flick, cool guys making the film, fun audition. I had to play an astronaut who had been mistakenly ejected from the ship, contemplating all the things I havent done with my life now faced with sudden death. Whew.
I did my audition, and was expecting to wrap up, and one of the guys asked if I had anything else to show them. Huh? Did I misread the email?
Of course he just was wondering if I had any other monologues ready to go, or anything else I wanted to share. Luckily, I do have some “back pocket” monologues specifically for occasions like these; peices I know like the back of my hand.
As an actor, it’s your job to realize that you might be called upon to perform something additional in an audition situation. It’s been a while since someone threw me a wrench at an audition, but It’s good to stay on top of these things. I booked a gig once because I could follow beats with my eyes to the rhythm of the director’s clapping.
Bottom Line: If someone asks you if you have anything else to show them during an audition, you’d better have something to show! Try to keep a few backup monologues memorized and fresh, as well as a song or two a capella if you’re a singer.
Headshots – What to Wear to Your Photoshoot
What an actor is wearing in his/her headshot is super important for the mood of the picture. It can tie everything together nicely, or distract the viewer horribly from the pictures real purpose: to land you an audition.
I brought about 25 tops to my shoot, even though I knew I would eventually end up in two or three outfits…better to be overprepared than to waste a bunch of money cause I didn’t have the right clothing on in my photo shoot!
Here’s a quick cheat sheet on what to bring to your headshot shoot and what to leave behind.
DO WEAR
- monochrome, all one color tops that fit snugly and show off your body
- jeans that FIT you and your look
- collared, well ironed shot and long sleeve tops with cute jackets in boring colors (grey, black, cream)
- Jewel toned tops (royal blue, dark purple, turquoise) that compliment your skin tone and hair color
- tank tops with thicker straps, no spaghetti straps
- slightly generic clothing that fits well and is wrinkle free
DONT WEAR
- jewelery
- wrinkly tops
- frilly tops or ones with messy seams
- lingerie or lacy tops
- anything too revealing or too baggy
- don’t show your bra straps, or your thong straps for that matter…
Bottom line? The picture is about your beautiful and interesting face. The clothes are there to create a character and present a well dressed and professional image. Skip the jewelery and frilly dress…wear a nice t-shirt and wow them with your sparkling personality radiating from the picture!!
