Accent Training

Accents are a funny thing. Some actors feel that walking into the auditioning room after having prepared the role with an accent (whether it is required for the part or not) liberates them creatively and allows them to fully enjoy the moment, thus living up to the saying "have fun with it" every single time. Almost as if putting on a mask that disengages them from the reality of an audition setting.

For most others, its baffling and severely hindering because unless you are confident enough in said accent; your mind wont allow you to focus on anything but GETTING IT RIGHT. Let alone being honest and listening to a Casting Director or the reader. The worst part about this particular problem comes when the role strictly requires a certain dialect. Obviously NOTHING, not even a casting director you says they want a Standard British Accent should make…

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The worst thing an actor can hear: He’s too GREEN.

 

Picture 1On one of my first auditions the casting director told my manager I was good, but I was "a bit green". So, 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 didn't like you. For others it means your 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 learnt 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 someone of their experience.

I started re-playing the…

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Sometimes it pays to be multi-talented…

As actors we are stuck with alot of “in-between gigs” periods. All that time when there arent many auditions and bills still need to get paid. When your career seems at a standstill sometimes you need to find new ways to CREATE opportunities. The most common and well known example of how this works is Sylverster Stallone, who wrote “Rocky” with the intention of creating for himself a good role that would showcase his talents. Im not saying your next script will be a big hit, but isnt it worth a try? It might even open up a new side of you that you werent aware of.

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Some key points to keep in mind for an audition…

 

In this video, professional voice instructor Jennifer Rutherford of International School of Music, and private teacher in Bethesda Maryland, describes how to prepare for a competition like American Idol, or any other audition. Some tips on preparation, vocal health, song choice, and audition etiquette are covered. Warm ups are also suggested and demonstrated with student and model, Mair. The video assumes that candidates will have some level of training or natural ability, but would also be useful for the amateur interested in pursuing training for a career in singing.

 

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Character Build series: Imagination (week 4)

At the end of the day, a character is fully created when it is no longer seen as a character, but a person. But how do we make this change? Where do we get the necessary information and tools to make this possible?

A)from our own experience.
B)from observation.
C)from research.
D)from our imagination.

This is the last of a four week series in which we will look at all these tools: today we look at imagination.

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Character Build Series: Week 3 (Research)

At the end of the day, a character is fully created when it is no longer seen as a character, but a person. But how do we make this change? Where do we get the necessary information and tools to make this possible?
A)from our own experience.
B)from observation.
C)from research.
D)from our imagination.

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Reader Mailbag: Michael

Here at breakalegg we dont usually do reader mailbags but this particular question has come up several times and I wanted to answer in a way that might reach other people in a similar situation…

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MONOLOGUE: “Deliver me the key” (male,classical, comedic)

Like every week we post a monologue for you to enjoy. This week it’s from Shakespears’ “The Merchant of Venice” Let me say this is one of my favorite plays, and there are just so many monologues worth while. Funny enough, they arent as used for auditions as they could be so they still seem refreshingly unexpected. This one is by the Prince of Morrocco as he deliberates which chest to open: gold, silver or lead. :

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Character Build Series (Part 2: OBSERVATION)

Picture 1

At the end of the day, a character is fully created when it is no longer seen as a character, but a person. But how do we make this change? Where do we get the necessary information and tools to make this possible?

A)from our own experience.

B)from observation.

C)from research.

D)from our imagination.

This is the 2nd of a four week series in which we will look at all these tools: today we look at observation.

OBSERVATION:

When experience is not enough, observation comes into play. The main problem though, is that we see, but we don’t really look. This routine has made us superficial. Since seeing is an activity that requires no effort, its results are passive and blurry, but looking requires an effort to appropriate oneself with a reality through a voluntary act. To look to really look, gives us a…

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MONOLOGUE: “Collaboration” by Kellie Powell (female, contemp.)

Like every week we post a monologue for you to enjoy. This week it’s from Kellie Powells’ play: Collaboration. It is a contemporary female role.

Kim confesses to her friend (and sometimes-lover) Shanehat she has been in love with him for several years.

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Character Build Series: (Part 1: EXPERIENCE)

At the end of the day, a character is fully created when it is no longer seen as a character, but a person. But how do we make this change? Where do we get the necessary information and tools to make this possible?

A)from our own experience.
B)from observation.
C)from research.
D)from our imagination.

This is the beginning of a four week series in which we will look at all these in due time but today we focus on the first tool: our own experience.

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MONOLOGUE: “CAPTAINS MONOLOGUE” By August Strindberg (male, Dramatic, 1916)

Like every week we post a monologue for you to enjoy. This week it’s from August Strindberg play: The Father. It is a senior male role. Enjoy

CAPTAIN: Come in, and we’ll talk. I heard you out there listening. It is late, but we must come to some decision. Sit down. [Pause]

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THE ART OF ACTING…

<br />The art of acting has 3 requisites:

a) The genius to transform oneself.
b) The talent to showcase such transformation
c) The inspiration to do both things in the conditions of time and space given.

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MONOLOGUE: “Manhattan” By Woody Allen. (Male, contemporary)

Ike: “Chapter One. He adored New York City. He idolized it all out of proportion.” Uh, no, make that: “He-he…romanticized it all out of proportion. Now…to him…no matter what the season was, this was still a town that existed in black and white and pulsated to the great tunes of George Gershwin.” Ahhh, now let me start this over. “Chapter…

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HOW TO NAIL YOUR AUDITIONS

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Here is a list of things that will get you a good head start on your fellow auditioners;

1. LINES - learn them. If you do not you will have no chance ofbeing picked, it shows you are lazy and incompetant. Learn your lines and the lines of the people playing with you too, so when they forget you can then remind them – and sometimes the agent asks you to stand in and read the lines with the rest of the ‘contestants’ – if this happens guess who has a better chance of getting the part.

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HOW TO USE SENSE MEMORY…

Susan Giosa writes an article on what sense memory is and exactly what we can use it for. Remember all the techniques are tools, so use them to your best advantage… For other opinions on sense memory...Click Here.

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MONOLOGUE: THE LOWER DEPTHS by Maxim Gorky (Female, dram.)

NASTYA: At night he came into the garden. I had been waiting for him quite awhile. I trembled with fear and grief–he trembled, too . . . he was a white as chalk–and he had the pistol in his hand . . . and he says to me in a dreadful voice: “My precious darling …

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MONOLOGUE: THE ROMANTIC YOUNG LADY by Gregorio Martinez (Femae, comedic, 1920′s)

DOÑA BARBARITA: I was jealous of every woman my first husband looked in the face … and he was a portrait painter, do you remember? My second husband suffered tortures from his own jealousy … of your grandfather. That was premature, but prophetic, for your dear grandfather was our neighbor in those days and he used to stand and look at me from his balcony. And then he in his turn tortured himself…

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SIR MICHAEL CAINE: ACTING IN FILM

His book has been a success due largely to his familiar tone and approachability. Here is a snippet of an interview:

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METHOD ACTING BASICS FOR NEWBIES

So for all of you new actors starting out who dont exactly know what it means when people say “I’m a method actor!” ModernTimes has a little page on the basics. Even so, I strongly reccommend you familiarize yourself with all of the techniquies and schools available to the modern actor (Stella Adler, Meisner, Stanislavski…etc) and then figure out what teachings are most in tune with your personal beliefs and will easily tap into your creativity… For the full article….Click Here

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