BREAKALEGG

On one of my first auditions the casting director told my manager I was good, but I was "a bit green". What the hell does that mean? Well, its still not very clear. For some its a simple excuse not to get into detail about WHY they didnt like you. For others it means their lack of experience is preventing them from hiring you even though you have talent, and for others, its a matter of a lack of talent or not having leart to use it.

After this, I asked around to everyone I could: What does being green mean?. Every single actor has gotten it at some point. The beginning ones get it as soon as they hand in their resume. The more experienced ones get it when they present themselves without a certain confidence generally associated with experience.

I started re-playing the audition over and over in my head because I wanted to know exactly what was pushing this CD to say that. And then I realised I had done everything right…up until I finished my audition. I had planned in my head for days how I would walk in confidently, shake their hands and do a great job (and so I did), BUT I had never thought about what would happen afterwards. So as soon as I finished and he told me how "That was a great job"…I was cought off guard, I got nervous and said in what I can describe as an insecure teenagers’ impression: "Oh, really? Did you think so? Gee, thanks…"

In a matter of miliseconds I had transformed from my character and a confident actress sure of what she is doing in a sad puppy in need for approval and eager to please. I was doomed! I walked out not giving it a second thought until I got home. Its an old age saying that had done wonders for me in this arena after my horrid experience:

FAKE IT TILL YOU MAKE IT.

As actors we are all eager to please the casting directors, our agents..etc. After all they are the ones between us and that next big gig. But coming across as unsure, hesitant or merely wanting them to like you you are shooting yourself in the foot. Have you ever seen how cocky some of the best actors are? Not as people, but when it comes to their proffession. They dont hesitate when asked how they got into character, or how they did this and that in a scene. They dont appologize for their mistakes over and over. If you believe you are a master at your craft; You will be seen as one.

Needless to say when I returned to that same CD, I put on a brave front UNTIL I walked back to my car and never heard that comment again.

Posted on September 30th, 2009 under Actors Training, Business •  Print This Post •  Email This Post • RSS 2.0 feed • Leave a response, or trackback