We’re all assigned a different job. Yesterday I directed one of the auditions. The format we use is a pretty good format for any audition.
- Slate the beginning. Have the actor slate the beginning of the tape with their name and phone number.
- Have the actor go through the scene. We would have the actor perform the scene however they interpreted it. Since you would be auditioning your own script, you might offer a little about the character or what you want before they start. Keep the camera fairly wide.
- Re-direct the actor. Give them some new direction, even if the first reading was great. You want to make sure they can take direction. At the audition countless people would read exactly the same as before. Zoom in for a medium close-up.
That’s it. We would only do the scene twice for time reasons, but you might want to work with the actor a little more.
Some audition tales: One woman sang for her audition, but when I asked her if she wanted to do another song (since I don’t know how to re-direct singing) she would talk in the lowest whisper because the camera was still rolling. Another guy was making casual conversation with me before he just jumped into his monologue, throwing me off guard. A few guys did a scene from The Bourne Supremacy, but I wouldn’t trust them to take down a Macy’s security guard. The best audition was a little kid, who after reading his scene, performed a sword fighting ballet with a sword he brought.
I’d never thought of having my sons do something like a sword fighting ballet at an audition before. That’s brilliant!
It definitely stood out. Actually, I think whoever copied the footage to DVD cut out that part. Very sad.