P.S. I also use one small trick: imagine you are your favourite actor/actress. How do they address others? How would they talk? Move? Smile? Act?How would their voice sound? Calm? Funny? Excited?

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.
2. DRESS AS THE CHARACTER - make it easier for the casting director to visualise you in the role, if you look the part it helps you get into character and it helps them see you as the character. Even go to the point of taking a few styles and change in the bathroom to suit. Imagine it, you are supposed to be a high level government official, you brought your pin stripe suit and the other guy is wearing paint splattered overalls – who is more likely to get the part if you are of even ability? They can already see what you look like in a suit with the other guy they are just guessing, maybe he just looks like a common laborer  in a suit… uncomfortable, self conscious, etc. But dont dress in costume! Just dress appropriately for the role.
3. BE EARLY - I don’t care if traffic was heavy and neither do they, being late to a shoot can cost untold headaches as everything is rescheduled and time is money, especially on set. If you are late you are goig to make enemies, and cost a lot of money. If you are late to an audition they will stop the problem before it happens, ie you won’t get hired.
4. If YOU MAKE A MISTAKE - do not apologise or make excuses why it was bad. If you did it really badlyand would like to retry just ask if you can do it one more time. The fact is that a casting is a short piece and you have had time to practise, so you should get it right. If you messed it it only means one thing…. you did not practise seriously
5. PRACTISE MAKES PERFECT – Do the scene over and over and over the night before, and the morning before. Do it until you hate it and it is boring, do it until you know all the lines and can recite the whole thing with your eyes closed. Get it right.

6. PREPARE 3 SEPERATE DELIVERIES – Triple your chances of getting the job, bring 3 different characters to the audition with you, on each take do a different character. This shows that you are versatile and even if you do not do the part as the director envisioned then at least he can see you are adaptable… you still have a chance for a callback. A professional actor can do a scene 15 different ways without practise, you should have at least 3 definite characters with background and motivations.
7. REACT TO YOUR IMAGINARY SURROUNDINGS – standing there delivering perfect lines with good facial expressions, you look like a schoolkid at a school play. React to your imaginary environment, pick up a drink, swirl it, contemplate the previous line, take a sip then slowly, thoughtfully deliver your answer, look around the bar before you whisper some confidential line. Imagine you are there, imagine what you would do it a normal circumstance. This is art imitating life, do it and you give a realistic performance.
8. BE CONFIDENT - prepare yourself, know your lines and the 3 characters you are going to play the lines with. Walk in there with the thought that this is your part, but do not be arrogant. Previously I told my agent to call the casting house and say that I would be there for my part at 11.00am, and that I said to say thankyou. In this case the role in question was asking for my talents exactly, I knew there was no one else that could fill the part as well as I. But do not BS, ifyou are caught exagerating your abilities you can kiss your career goodbye.
9. GO TO EVERY AUDITION - take the opportunity to practise, even if you do not think the part is suitable for you – they may rewrite the script if they like you enough. Also the more auditions you do the better you get at delivering what the casting director wants. You also get seen by more people in the industry and get known. I know a successful actor who “never had an acting lesson, I learned to act by going to 3 or 4 castings every week for 2 years”.
10. BE FRIENDLY TO EVERYONE - including the receptionist (she is the one who handles all the phone calls, she knows every job coming into the agency and can be a wealth of information). Treat everybody as a friend, even your competition, remember their names and use it next time you meet – even if you have to make notes. You never know when they will call up with a part for you. I have seen this happen on set, an extra turns out to be useless, the director calls out can we replace him now? At times there has been an emergency call go out to get someone competant in right now, at that point the director doesn’t care about anything except getting the job done on time and budget. Also if you make friends with the casting director and the casting company staff then they are much more likely to remember you when a suitable role comes in. Even to the point they will just tell the director that “I have the person for you, let me call him” and thus you can avoid any competition.

Follow these simple guidelines to increase your chances at each acting audition, and even if you do not get that particular part then the casting staff over a few times will start to remember you, if they know you, and know you are a pleasant and capable actor then there is the chance that you will start getting calls directly for parts, or better yet you get a call to come into a costume fitting (meaning they gave you the aprt without an audition).

Over time you will come to work like this almost exclusively and auditions will be a thing of the past.

Gen Yers are often ridiculed for their desire to get to the top fast. Most of us feel, however, that there is nothing wrong with being young and ambitious. But, if you’re making the choice to be on the fast track, be prepared; it’s not all fun and games:

1. It’s not easy to be on top.

Sometimes it’s easy to look at those above you and think “What an idiot! I could do so much better than them.”  or “I would never make this choice if I had the chances such and such actor has.” Well, maybe you could, but there’s probably a lot more to the situation that you don’t know. (Of course, it’s also possible that they are really are idiots.) Being on top means making tough choices. They  have to make a lot of tough decisions, including: hiring, firing, compensation, reputation; while also dealing with issues such as budgets, profits, crisis control, and a whole lot more.  Not to mention the fact that your every mistake will be seen publicly, your intimacy will be non existent, and you will be much more scrutinized. THICK SKIN is a must.

2. You’ll need a solid footing to make your way up there.

Wherever you want to get, you won’t get there alone. Before you go anywhere, make strong support network:

• Your mentors. Get at least two mentors – one inside the acting/showbiz world, and one completely outside. You’ll be thankful you have them later on.
• Your fans. I dont mean real fans who want your autograph. I mean people inside the biz who admire your talent. If you’re on your way to the top, you’ve probably earned the respect of quite a few of your co-workers. It’s best to know  who your fans are so they can help with your journey.

3. There is such a thing as getting to the top too quickly.

If you’re unprepared, this could devastate your chances at future success, especially in this industry. Make sure you’re ready and stay ready by:

• Reading up. Staying on top of your industry and role will be important to your success. Theres plenty of resources such as books, magazines, newspapers and ofcourse blogs like BREAKALEGG to help you.
• Staying educated. Sign up to as many courses, workshops or schools as your pockets allow. Also do courses on whatever skills you may lack but want.  Check out some at your city or online.
• Asking others. In Stumbling on Happiness, Daniel Gilbert, claims that the most reliable way for people to know what to expect is to ask others who have been in the same situation. Seek out those who have taken the fast track before and find out what they went through. What do they wish they knew before setting out on the journey? What would they do the same? Differently?

4. People will treat you differently.

Once you get there, one thing may become apparent to you – It’s lonely. If you’ve taken the advice from #2, you might not experience this as much. However, a lot of young starlets notice little things, like their peers no longer want to eat lunch with them.

Here are a few tips to deal with this:

• Give your co-workers a chance to digest your newfound position.
• Don’t gloat or abuse your power. (Ever.)
• Let others know that you’re still a “member of the team”, willing to learn like them,  and their interests are your interests.
  

5. Some people won’t like it.

While many, many people have to deal with envy at work, the young and ambitious actors can be a strong target. Again, if you’ve set the stage, your sudden (or even gradual) ascent to the top may not be a shock to your fellow actors or friends. However, no amount of preparation can prepare for the full range of human emotions your success might provoke.

In the most recent issue of Psychology Today, Judith Sills, Ph.D. in “When Green is Mean,” says “Envy is almost universally provoked by exceptional achievement.” She goes on to talk about her co-workers “sniping, cold, and critical” reaction to a best-selling book she wrote and how she was not prepared for that kind of reaction.

Whether it’s envy, sadness, anger, or a different emotion altogether, be prepared to accept that not everyone will be your fan. (Don’t worry – you’ll have plenty who will be your fans, too.)

Article by Angela

]]> http://www.breakalegg.com/2009/04/22/things-you-need-to-know-if-you-are-young-and-trying-to-get-to-the-top/feed/ 0 http://www.breakalegg.com/2008/09/09/perfecting-your-handshake-to-create-a-great-first-impression/ http://www.breakalegg.com/2008/09/09/perfecting-your-handshake-to-create-a-great-first-impression/#comments Tue, 09 Sep 2008 09:19:26 +0000 Admin http://www.breakalegg.com/?p=128 Its fundamentally important for an actor to present him/herself in a confident and professional manner. Specially because sometimes first-impressions are all we get with casting directors. So beside appearances, our body posture and our handshake need to match the “persona” we want to present. The perfect handshake is one that is not too aggressive but firm and made with a clear intent, with our hands clean and dry, and accompanied by a polite “hello” and a smile...

Continue reading PERFECTING YOUR HANDSHAKE TO CREATE A GREAT FIRST IMPRESSION

Its fundamentally important for an actor to present him/herself in a confident and professional manner. Specially because sometimes first-impressions are all we get with casting directors. So beside appearances, our body posture and our handshake need to match the “persona” we want to present.

The perfect handshake is one that is not too aggressive but firm and made with a clear intent, with our hands clean and dry, and accompanied by a polite “hello” and a smile.

One of the worst types of handshakes has to be the wet-sweaty-palm handshake. Arghh! I once met a charming young lady, but when she shook my hand I couldn’t believe it. All her composure, poise and confidence went out the window when I was left trying not to be rude and wipe my hand dry after she held it. Men too, actually, men tend to perspire more and emanate more heat from the palms of their hands, so be sure to wipe them down before shaking anyone’s hands.

Next thing would have to be a weak hand shake. The type of handshakes where you feel like you are saying hello to a zombie with a cold and limp hand. You know the kind? Make sure your hand has a purpose when you shake it: to hold firmly the other persons hand, motion up and down at unison, with your fingers wrapped around the other persons palm.  Don’t be overly eager but make sure the other person knows you are in the moment too.

A really good tip someone gave me once on handshakes: if you have both hands available, use both hands to give a handshake. It is more embracing, feels more welcoming and personal and at the same time, if accompanied by a smile much more sincere. Try and shake hands with both of your hands and see if the response you get from others changes.

P.S. No special step-by-step handshakes/fist twists..please.

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