A Quick, Mini Guide to Running Efficient, Effortless Auditions: 9 To-Do’s Before the Audition by Vanessa Daniels

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Reference: StudentFilmmakers Magazine, April 2008. A Quick, Mini Guide to Running Efficient, Effortless Auditions: 9 To-Do’s Before the Audition by Vanessa Daniels. Pages 38 & 39.

Why do you need this guide? You’ve run plenty of auditions, and they went perfectly. You had tons of people auditioning, and found absolutely best people for the roles. You had no problems with scheduling, and you all got along famously.

You’re right. You don’t need this guide.

But if you happen to be thinking, Okay, I ran a few auditions, and a few actors came. I didn’t find exactly what I needed, and we couldn’t communicate too well, but I’m getting better… And it’s not a big deal if I don’t fill all the roles with professional actors – I have lots of friends I can throw in roles if necessary. Although – I do always forget something, and none of my actors will return my phone calls now. …Wait! Help! What am I doing wrong? …Then, follow this checklist to help get you started in being more prepared the next time you hold auditions.

Things to Prepare and Do Before the Audition

(1) Place casting ads.

(2) Pick audition scenes (aka “sides”), ask for monologues, etc.

(3) Get a good reader for the audition.

(4) Get a professional studio.

(5) Make audition forms.

(6) Create a timeline for auditions, callbacks, shoot, and post.

(7) Create a sign in sheet.

(8 Get someone to monitor (run the audition).

(9) Reserve video camera and person to run it.

Place casting ads. Please proofread your ad. Please be specific about what roles you’re casting and include the dates of the auditions, callbacks, and shoot. The more information you have in the ad, the less conflicts you’ll have from the actors.

Pick audition sides/monologues. If you have a ready script, use it. Choose 2 contrasting scenes to give the actors to audition with. PLEASE give them the sides WELL in advance. The more prepared an actor is, the better their read will be. There is NO point in giving actors sides when they walk into the audition. Some actors are great at cold readings, and not so good at the shoot. And vice versa. Be prepared, be organized, be ahead of schedule. It instills confidence. Monologues are only an option if the character has few lines, or the script isn’t ready. But performing monologues well is a completely different set of skills, and they may not help you in casting.

Get a GOOD reader for the audition. Get an actor to read with the other actors. That way you can watch and listen. You want the best person. I guarantee if you, the director/writer reads with the auditioners, you’ll get 20 people who all audition exactly alike. That’s not what you want. You want to find someone who surprises you.

Get a professional studio. Nothing discourages actors quicker than coming into someone’s messy apartment in a bad neighborhood. If you MUST audition in your apartment, PLEASE have plenty of room, have other people present, and warn the actors ahead. I suggest finding an inexpensive studio to rent to show you care about the actors being safe and comfortable.

Make audition forms. These forms should contain their contact info, your contact info, dates of shoot, their conflicts, etc. And you might want to ask why they’re interested in the project.

Create a timeline for auditions/callbacks/shoot/post production. Have this information on the audition form, in the ad, at the ready, and stick to it. Remember, no surprises.

Create a sign in sheet. Make appointment times (with plenty of time for each person, plus breaks for yourself) and room for their name and contact information. This is what your monitor will use to run the audition.

Get someone to monitor. Please get someone pleasant, clean, and organized. They keep the schedule on time, answer questions the waiting actors might have, and can give you a third eye for feedback when you need it. You want to hire someone who’s nice ALL the time, not just in the room with YOU.

Reserve video camera and a person to run it. This is optional. But if you’re casting a film, it’s best to see how a person looks and sounds on camera. Do they get nervous in front of a camera? Important to know. And let someone else worry about the camera so you can focus on the actor.

Now go have a great audition! Be kind, be focused, give your undivided attention, be friendly, and most importantly, BE PREPARED!

Vanessa Daniels recently booked four national commercials this summer. Her credits include Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Boiling Point (MTV), Trackers (Oxygen Network), The Difference (Nickelodeon), the feature film, The Sandpiper, and numerous commercials, student films, and regional and off-broadway shows.

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