Three Different Scenes for a Self-Tape!
Is that asking for too much?
(By Javier Guerra)
(Photo: Andrea Piacquadio | Pexels)
An actor friend of mine received a breakdown for an audition recently. The ask was quite extensive. And I do mean EXTENSIVE!
The casting director was requesting that the actors submit 3 different scenes for the same audition! That effectively meant she had to do three auditions in one.
The audition was for the same project, same role. But apparently, they wanted to see actors do three different reads. It was going to be an all-day project.
My friend had an attitude about it. She knew she’d have to spend a great deal of time putting it all together, to say nothing of the fact that she had a callback for another project she had to prep for.
(Photo: Andrea Piacquadio | Pexels)
“It’s like doing three auditions. They want me to do three auditions all rolled up into one. I don’t have time for all that,” she said.
She was about to decline the audition altogether. That’s when I offered her this piece of advice:
“Just shoot the first scene and send them that. If you don’t have time to do the whole thing, then just send them what you can.”
I explained to her that:
1) You’re lucky to have been chosen to audition at all!
2) This is an opportunity to make a name for yourself, not just for this role but for future roles.
3) Casting directors are reasonable people. They know that each tape won’t be perfect. So, give them something to work with!
4) You might get lucky, if you just send them something. But you definitely won’t get lucky if you send them nothing!
Number 4 is most important. You just never know when you’ll get lucky, if you at least try.
I’ve gotten several roles that I never auditioned for. I auditioned once for a lead role. I didn’t get the role, but by showing up and doing my best, I was given the role of the “friend” to the lead character.
That role, the “friend” role that I didn’t actually audition for, paid me handsomely for the next three years!
In this business, when opportunity comes knocking, you’ve gotta answer the door! You may not be well-dressed. Your hair may not be done. You may still have morning breath. But always answer the door!
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