How to land that plum role
By Nestor Torre
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 00:14:00 10/11/2008
Filed Under: People, Entertainment (general)
MANILA, Philippines—To make it in the biz, new talents should master the fine art of auditioning. When you audition, you show producers and directors what you’re capable of doing in terms of acting, singing, dancing, hosting, newscasting, selling products, etc. If you audition well, you impress the decision makers. If you don’t, all you’ll get from them is “Thank you . . . we’ll call you, don’t call us . . . next, please.” Sometimes, you don’t even get the “Thank you” and the “please”!
So, if you want to become a star and enjoy the perks of fame and fortune, it’s important that you know how to audition. Having auditioned thousands of talents for many productions over the years, perhaps we can be of help:
Most talents do badly at auditions because they’re shy. That’s the first obstacle, and you really have to hurdle it quickly, because it’s like shooting yourself in the foot. If you’re shy, you have no business aspiring to become a performer. Choose another, more private line of work—like beekeeping or patis-making.
Counterproductive
If you’ve been able to get rid of your counterproductive shyness, make sure you understand what the audition is all about. If it’s for singers and you can’t sing a note to save your life, don’t make up for it by showing off your cool dance moves—and vice-versa. You’ll only be wasting the auditioners’ time, and yours.
If the auditioner require you to sing a particular song or type of song, or do an assigned acting scene, make sure you comply with the instructions—to the letter. In other words, follow the rules, and don’t bend them to suit yourself.
Also very important: Realize that auditions are not really about you, or even your talent. Basically, they’re being held for the decision makers to decide for themselves if you have what it takes to do full justice to any of the roles they’re auditioning you for.
Since you can’t read their minds, you shouldn’t even try to impress them by giving the most overwhelmingly brilliant audition of your life. Being “overwhelmed” may not be what they’re after. You’ll do better if you listen carefully to their instructions, follow their lead, and give them what they’re looking for.
Following the auditioners’ lead is key. Most of the time, they’re looking for a particular skill, quality, sensibility or combination of qualities. If you can come up with those goods, your audition will be successful. If you can’t, not all of the determination, passion, guts, volume and sweat you summon up can make the slightest difference.
Combination of qualities
That “combination of qualities” element is generally difficult to come up with, since it is most often pegged to the requirements of a role that has already been written. So, all you need to do is your very best, and pray that your mix of performing attributes comes closest to what the role up for grabs requires.
Then, there’s the matter of attitude and understanding of the production process. While auditioners keep an eagle eye and eager ear out for the best performing talents, they realize from experience that talent isn’t everything. Quite a number of talented individuals are self-centered, lazy, undisciplined and like pushing co-workers around. So, even if they’re big stars, some directors refuse to work with them.
Genuine artists
That’s even truer when it comes to new, gifted but undisciplined talents. So, auditionees need to realize that they’ve got to have more than talent working for them; they have to be genuine artists who know that they aren’t important, and what everyone should focus on instead is contributing to the quality of the entire production, and the welfare of the audience that everyone should be working hard to serve.
If auditioners see this rare combination of talent, focus and correct attitude in an auditionee, he or she stands a better chance of landing that prized role—and getting his or her performing career started in a truly creative and dynamic way.
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