It's true;
auditions for film can be very intimidating. Everyone is
staring at you, waiting for you to do something. And there's a gigantic camera
pointed in your face.
But in reality,
movie acting should be done with ease. Just stay relaxed, and practice a couple
of simple tips and techniques as per Byron Booker which we'll talk about. Are you ready? Then here
comes your close-up.
Relaxation
The greatest thing you can ever learn about movie acting is relaxation. Why? Because the camera picks up every little thing that you do. Every blink of the eye, nod of the head, and every sound you make.
Another reason you
should stay relaxed: it helps you listen and react to your scene partner. Any
film actor will tell you that he earns his living by listening and reacting
to what's being said.
Staying relaxed
might seem easy, but when the director is behind schedule and running
out of daylight, the pressure falls on you: the actor.
Never mind all
that. Stay cool and take your time. Relax.
Ignore
the Camera
For the rest of
your career as a film actor, the camera will be right there. (Sometimes, really
close.) But you are going to ignore it. It's not there. It doesn't exist.
In fact, when the
camera is rolling, only you and your scene partner exist. Everyone
else disappears. The crew, the director, the producer, the camera man,
everyone. They all disappear.
How do you, the
actor, accomplish this? You hang on to your scene partner's eyes.
The most important facial feature on film. (After all, the eye is the window to
the soul.)
So when you look
at your scene partner, you look them in one eye. Literally. Don't switch your
focus from eye to eye. Instead, pick the eye that's closest to the
camera lens.
Always
Hit Your Mark
A mark is
an indication on the floor of the film studio. (Usually done with black tape.)
It tells an actor where to stand.
Why is this
important? Because a movie camera is set to focus at a certain depth. If you're
standing too far away from the lens, you're blurry. If you stand too close,
again you're blurry.
In auditions for
film, do your director at favor and always hit your mark.
Screen
Tests
A screen test is
an audition for a movie role. The director will have an actor prepare one of
the more challenging scenes from the script, and then perform it while being
filmed.
So what can you do
to prepare?
First, do your
actor's homework. Where are you? Who are you with? How do you feel about them?
What do you want from them? How are you going to get it? And so on. Just
because we're no longer on a stage doesn't mean we're finished with basic scene
study. See the article on acting techniques to learn more.
Another great
resource is YouTube. (Search: screen tests) You can find screen tests
all the way back to Marilyn Monroe and James Dean. If you they did something
you like, steal it.
That's right. We’re
telling you to steal from the greatest screen actors of our time. Why not? They
stole from their idols. Besides, it's not really stealing; it's
flattery.
It's okay to steal
from the best, as long as you make it your own. Let your own personality shine
through on camera.
Again,
Relax
I hope all this
talk about screen tests didn't make you nervous. You're going to be fine.
Relax.
If you can stay
calm and listen to your scene partner, you'll be able to react to what
they're saying. And movie acting is simply listening and reacting. That's all.
But while it takes only a minute to comprehend, it's a lifetime to make
perfect.
And if you're
looking for a way to break into the film industry, you might become a movie
extra. It's quick and easy to do.
Armed with this
information, let's hope you can get out there and ace your auditions for film.
