2023-1: Ace the Audition

Dates/time: Wednesdays, 18 Jan - 22 Feb 2023, from 6:30pm to 9pm

Director: Jonathan Briden

DOP: Rush Jopson

Cost: $195^*
* = We can provide a discounted rate for those experiencing genuine financial hardship. Please let us know if this applies.

Venue: Edgar Room, Risingholme Community Centre, 22 Cholmondeley Avenue, Opawa - more info

Enrolment: class has ended

About this block

Auditions can be tough, but there are steps you can take and techniques you can learn to help you land that dream role.

At the end of 2022 we asked for feedback, and the most requested item was more work on audition technique - so that's what we're doing! We'll do lots of work, getting in front of the camera, practising rehearsed scripts, cold-reading, and... improvisation!

Outline of classes

Our focus for this block is about getting comfortable in the audition environment, but we'll also work on other aspects.

Audition Script Preparation

We'll look at how to prepare a script for an audition. You want to bring something to the audition, but at the same time you need to be flexible to take direction from the casting director.

Presentation

How you come across on camera is the #1 criteria for many casting directors. You need to present yourself confidently and professionally.

Taking Direction

As an actor, you need to be able to accept and respond to direction in a professional manner. This is an area casting agents put a lot of weight on. It's their job to weed out the "awkward" actors right from the start. If you can't accept and incorporate their direction your chances of passing to the next stage are slim.

Cold Reading

Some casting directors like to see how adaptable you are. One way to do this is by doing cold-reading. You need to be able to be handed a script and within a couple of minutes, deliver a reasonably authentic performance to camera.

Improvisation

US casting directors been asking actors to improvise in auditions for a long time, and it's becoming more popular down-under. You need to be able to improvise. It's not as hard as it looks.

Filming

We will capture some footage throughout the course, to help you see how you present on camera, and to see the improvements by the end of the course.