By Chuck Whiting
MCAU Editor
Some
of Nashville's most successful actors provided invaluable insights to fellow
actors during a special interactive session ("The Art of Auditioning") during the Nashville Film Festival.
Leading the panel were moderator Susannah Devereaux, JesseJames Locorriere, Christopher Close, J.Karen Thomas, Jason Marsden, and Robin Dougherty.
Following is an overview of what we learned (in their own words):
* Before the Audition:
"Don't
over-rehearse." -- JesseJames Locorriere
"If
you are preparing for a period piece, they might ask you to use a foreign
accent. Conduct research to know what the scene is about. IMDb is an excellent
online resource for information and trailers." -- Christopher Close
"Take
it seriously, and be prepared (but find a back story so you can be playful).
When I rehearse, I read the script five to 10 times. It's important to
understand the relationship between the character you're portraying and the
other characters in the story. Know who's going to be there, learn more about
them, and understand the style of the movie or show. That helps you build
relationships." -- J.Karen Thomas
"Don't
obsess." -- Jason Marsden
"Your
agent's reputation is on the line, so be accountable. Do your research. You
don't want to be seen in a bad light. Don't share audition news on Facebook.
What if you don't land the part?" -- Robin Dougherty
* When You Audition:
"Sometimes
casting directors have pet peeves. Some hate things like flip-flops and
smoking." -- Susannah Devereaux
"Know
why you're being seen for this role. They want to see who you are. You aren't
competing. The stakes are higher when you're auditioning live in front of a
casting director. Always go 'live' if you can. When you're nervous, you often
do better. Taping can make you lazy. Show them your easy-to-work-with
side." -- JesseJames Locorriere
"If
they say do it bigger, then go bigger. Otherwise, don't. Be natural. Sometimes
the casting director knows if you're right for the part the moment you speak.
Don't shake hands when you come into an audition (unless they extend theirs).
Use your nerves to make your audition better." -- Christopher Close
"In
the movie 'The Identical', I portray a poor, uneducated black Southerner in
1936. It's important to allow the muse or emotion to flow through you. During
rehearsal, I spoke her line with a crack in my voice. The crack came naturally.
I used it again during the audition and landed the part. Don't change the
words. Stick with the text. But be prepared if you're instructed to ad
lib." -- J.Karen Thomas
"Nashville
auditions are warmer than LA, which can be brutal. The only thing you should
pay for is gas (and occasionally a meal). Never review your audition." -- Jason
Marsden
"Listen
to what they tell you to do. Always follow directions (don't do it your way).
Don't go to the audition in character. An agent once had an actor go to an
audition with cow udders, and it was a disaster." -- Robin Dougherty
How to Handle Rejection:
"When
I get a part, it means others have been rejected, too." -- JesseJames
Locorriere
"Sometimes
you know (if you got the part) right away, but most of the time you don't.
Don't stew if you don't land it. It's a one-in-a-hundred kind of thing. Most of
the time, you're not going to get it. When I don't, I just tell myself they had
poor judgment in not casting me. Don't take it personally. Go canoeing. Then
get back to your job. You can't get it right every time." -- Christopher
Close
"I
take the Zin point of view: Do your best, and let it go. Remember that you've
made an investment. Something even better will come along. Enjoy the
process." -- J.Karen Thomas
"Sometimes
you think you did everything right, but you still don't get the part. You have
to move on." -- Jason Marsden
On Self-Taping:
"You
will need a 6-foot tripod. You can buy them at Consumer Depot for only
$13." -- JesseJames Locorriere
"If
you have to shoot with poor quality (when you're on the road), then do it.
Performance is the most important thing." -- Christopher Close
"Don't
worry about outdoor scenes (most of the time). They like an even playing field,
so taping in a room is fine. The set is not as important. They are looking at
the acting." -- J.Karen Thomas
"Have
a good agent, and be able to self-tape. Don't use an iPhone (if it's unsteady).
You will need decent lights and clamps to hold them. You can find painters'
lights at low prices at area hardware stores. You will need a good camera with
quality sound. Dollar Tree sells smaller tripods. Wax paper can be used to tone
down the lights. Shoot 'tits up' (not the whole body)." -- Robin
Dougherty
Other Tips:
"The
Internet is huge. It's important to have a great site." -- JesseJames
Locorriere
"I
have agents in both Nashville and Atlanta." -- J.Karen Thomas
"It's
a good time to be an actor with an affectation (like a stutter). Embrace it. Be
endearing with it." -- Jason Marsden
