I guess I’m not officially finished in the business even though I declined the audition for Oliver Stone in Shreveport, LA.

This week has brought a second director’s read for a neat little film shooting shortly here in Austin (quirky script that reminds me IN TONE, not subject matter, of Little Miss Sunshine). I didn’t feel too good about the initial read for the director but did get a second chance to read for the same role and for an additional part as well. I’ll fess up later if I strike out or if I book a job.

Today there was a ‘reading’ for a national bank spot. I say ‘reading’ because in commercials, often there is no dialogue, thus no read. Once upon a time the actor would at least be presented with a story board to get an idea of how the spot will be shot. These days, I rarely see a story board whether there is dialogue or not.

For those interested and maybe not all that experienced in commercial auditions, here is the way things often go:

You are asked into the audition room where there will be from 1 to 10,000 people (not really 10,000…but more than 1).

You may be auditioning solo or with one or more other actors…this is the thing I hate about commercial auditions…if there are more than 2 in the room at once, unless they each have a role to play, it really starts to feel like a cattle call. Unfortunately, time constraints on the casting person often dictate that multi-actor auditions are necessary for commercials.

USUALLY you’ll be standing in front of a video camera as most auditions are taped. The tape may need to go to Dallas, or Chicago, New York or who knows where so a team of ad agency people can get their licks in before callbacks are decided. So…don’t be thrown by the presence of a camera, new actor friends.

Then, typically you’ll be asked to tell something about yourself or, like today, answer a question like: “What was your first job and what did you do with the money you earned?”.

That’s it. That’s the audition. You say your name, you do your thing. The next guy or gal does theirs and then you get the heck out of the room.

(Sermon alert)

In the very old days…when I started…there was a certain disdain among ‘real actors’ for those who stooped so low as to do commercials. Those days are gone. The best paying professional jobs I’ve ever had have been commercials, bar none. A network national spot that runs for a year or two can earn the actor some serious cash…much more than he’ll get from a handful of roles in indie films shot under one of the SAG low budget agreements. And for those who think there is no skill or acting technique required to become successful in commercials, I would disagree. (Sermon over)

The fact is this: If there is no copy to read, there is the extremely high likelihood that the actor’s ‘look’ is far and away the most important factor in casting. The client is looking for a ‘type’, a ‘face’ a ‘personality’ and they’ll know it when they see it. So…th cd crams as many actors into a session as possible. This, by the way, is one of the opportunities for inexperienced people to have a shot at a real paying gig. If you have the right face, height, weight, hair color, day job…whatever, you may have a shot at a commercial that you’d never get at a film without a solid resume of professional acting credits.

That’s it for today…gotta run…but as I go I’ll leave a couple of tips for newby actors:

Tip 1: Do you shake hands with the casting person and/or all the clients, producers, writers, etc. in the room?

Answer: No. Not unless one or all of them stick out their hand(s). Who wants to shake the sweaty hand of a nervous actor? Don’t offer it unless they do. So…be prepared to have a dry hand to offer, just in case. And if there are 10 people in the room don’t expect to shake 10 hands. Usually only one or two will offer a handshake if there multiple people in the room. Don’t worry about ‘making the rounds’.

Tip 2: How long do you stay in the room once you’ve finished your audition.

Answer: Generally, as long as it takes to get to the door. I’m not saying you bolt for the door. But don’t do like I did on my first audition back right after the Civil War (not really…I’m not THAT old) and invite the room over for dinner since they’re all in from Chicago or Tokyo. Do the audition…say thank you….leave. If someone asks you a question, don’t leave before you answer. Make the answer brief and if you’re witty, witty…then leave.

Tip 3: What about that darn camera in the room?

In commercials, you may or may not be asked to address your performance TO THE CAMERA. It depends on the spot. Take direction from the casting director or whoever is in charge of the session. If you’re not sure…ask.

In film acting you’re generally NOT looking at the camera…unless directed to do so for effect…rare, but it happens.

In commercials that is USUALLY true as well, but you never know. If this is unclear from the context of the audition, just ask “Where should I look?”.

BTW, you may be asked to stand on a ‘mark’…or not. If you are, look down on the floor and find a piece of tape or some actual mark, usually located directly in front of the line of sight of the camera. That’s where you stand. If you don’t see a mark, there is no harm in asking “Is there a mark?”. At least it shows you know what a mark is.

Tip 3A – Movement: Generally the less broad movement during your audition, the better. If you move, you run the risk of getting out of frame. That doesn’t mean you stand like a mummy. Relax. Just be careful about movement in front of the camera. If some movement is indicated, ask how they’re framing the shot and if moving ‘this way’ or ‘that way’ will be okay.

You can do this quickly and professionally without unduly extending your time in the room. If you’re auditioning for a cheerleader and you feel you need to jump…ask first…the cd will probably have already addressed these issues, but…it’s YOUR audition, YOUR time in the room. Make sure you know what is expected of you so you maximize your chances for success.

Have a good weekend everyone…;