*********************************************************

ARCHIVE ARTICLE 13
- How To Get The Job

*********************************************************

Here are a few tips regarding the audition process. This handout is often given at during my NIDA classes - a special thanks to Gerry Sont and Max Rowley for use of the material. It is a great read! Be sure to take notice!


• GET YOUR AGENT TO FAX / EMAIL YOU A GOOD CLEAR COPY OF THE SCRIPT ASAP

• ASK YOUR AGENT IF THEY HAVE A “FEEL” FROM THE NETWORK WHAT THEY’RE LOOKING FOR!

• LEARN YOUR SCRIPT INSIDE OUT AS THE DIRECTOR WILL ASK FOR DIFFERENT VERSIONS

• DRESS EXACTLY HOW YOU THINK THE PRESENTER SHOULD LOOK

• TAKE PROPS – IF IT’S A GADGET SHOW TAKE THE GADGET OR SIMILAR. IF IT’S A MUSIC/DVD SHOW TAKE A CD OR DVD, GARDENING – TAKE GLOVES AND SECATEURS. IT’S MUCH EASIER TO WORK WITH PROPS TO PROMPT YOU. YOU MAY NOT USE THEM ON THE DAY BUT KEEP THEM HANDY.

• BE EARLY – EVEN THOUGH MOST CASTINGS RUN LATE ITS EASIER TO BE 10 MINUTES EARLY THAN RIGHT ON TIME. RELAX AND PREPARE.

• BE CALM BUT ALERT WHEN YOU WALK INTO THE ROOM. REMEMBER NAMES IF YOU CAN

• TAKE YOUR LEAD FROM THE CASTING PEOPLE. IF THEY DON’T OFFER A ‘HANDSHAKE’ HELLO THEN DO NOT EXTEND YOUR HAND

• LISTEN …LISTEN….LISTEN

• DON’T APOLOGISE OR MAKE EXCUSES FOR SOMETHING eg. I only got the script 3 hours ago. IT DOES NOT HELP MAKE A GOOD FIRST IMPRESSION

• HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY BECAUSE YOU ARE NORMALLY ASKED “WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN DOING” OR ‘TELL US A LITLE ABOUT YOURSELF”

• BE PREPARED FOR QUESTIONS DESIGNED TO THROW YOU OFF GUARD AND IMPROVISE

• BE CONFIDENT AND POSITIVE BY MAKING EYE CONTACT

• DON’T BE AFRAID TO ASK THE DIRECTOR TO CLARIFY SOMETHING ABOUT THE SCRIPT FOR YOU

• MAKE ANY SUGGESTIONS YOU HAVE POLITELY TO THE DIRECTOR AND CASTING AGENT

• YOU ARE OFTEN ASKED TO DO STUPID THINGS SO BE COURAGEOUS- GO FOR IT

• PRODUCERS AND NETWORKS SOMETIMES HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THEY WANT SO BE FLEXIBLE AND TRY TO TAKE DIRECTIONS GIVEN

• DON’T DROP YOUR HEAD WHEN YOU LEAVE. YOU MAY FEEL DISHEARTENED BUT CHIN UP.

• ONCE YOU LEAVE THE CASTING THROW THE SCRIPT AWAY AND FORGET ABOUT THE JOB. DON’T WASTE ENERGY WORRYING ABOUT YOUR SUCCESS OR OTHERWISE AS IT’S OUT OF YOUR HANDS. LOOK FORWARD TO THE NEXT SCREEN TEST.

• IF THINGS WENT WRONG THEN ADDRESS THESE ISSUES IF THEY WERE IN YOUR HANDS. eg.stumbled over lines because you hadn’t learnt them properly or you did a poor mime explaining features of a trendy new palm pilot but could have used a calculator from home.

• IF THE CASTING PEOPLE WERE EATING OR TALKING OR PHONES RANG ETC.. DURING YOUR SCREEN TEST DON’T LET THAT WORRY YOU. THESE DISTRACTIONS AND INTERUPTIONS ARE ONLY A MEASURE OF YOUR LEVEL OF FOCUS. KEEP GOING TILL THEY CALL CUT.

Exclusive audition advice can be found in the How To Be A TV Star resource 'Audition Secrets Revealed' Manual -


Available Now as a part of the How To Be A TV Star Home Study Program out now!

---------------------------------------

Copyright © 2007 by Nick Piper, Derrick Siu and Plop
Entertainment. All information, text, graphics, audio, design and software are copyrighted works of Plop Entertainment. All Rights Reserved.