Expert: Taylor Sheppard - 1/6/2008

Question
okay thankyou!(for answering my other Q)
I'm going to try to find classes around my area(Monsey, NY) and try to start acting. I know I won't be able to get an agent for a long time because I'm so far behind but if I do get one, would we have see eachother often?, how often do they usually get auditions, and also, would they be able to get me auditions for some major shows or movies or will they be minor ones? Also, how far would i live away from them? Would it affect school? Do you have to go to every audition they book you for? and how long do auditions last for a person? I want to know around how much we have to memorize and act for an audition. Do you usually audition with another person at the same time( acting w/ eachother). Also, how many people usually audition for a major show or movie?  Sorry i am asking soo many questions!!!  thanks soo much!!!!!!

Answer
Hi Jen,

I see my agent about twice a year because we communicate through emails or through ActorAccess messaging. I wish I saw her more often. We usually have a spring/summer get together and a Christmas open house. I love seeing my actor friends who aren't in my age/looks category. When you audition, you are seen with like actors, and you don't generally see actors coming in for other parts. Also, you really shouldn't socialize at auditions because it makes too much noise and disrupts the auditions for other actors. Talk outside if you have to, is the rule.

You would get a mixed bag of auditions. I recommend going to every one if you are able. Even if you don't really like the spot. The reason is, the more you go to, the better you get at auditions. Auditioning is way different from regular acting. Its a skill set of its own! I don't go to every one due to work commitments and because I have to make a certain amount of money to justify doing the job. My agent in Dallas knew to not call me for less than $500. jobs because I'd drive 3 1/2 hrs each way and if there were callbacks, double that. It would be pointless for the low amount. I once drove to Dallas three times in one week for a commercial that only paid $300., and THEN they cast the dad from the dark haired kids and I was out! 21 hours of driving for $0.00 dollars!
You have to live within reasonable driving time from where the work is. You should be able to be there the next day. That's why I get tired of the "Disney Kids" who ask if they can be on Disney when they live 1,000 miles away from California. Kinda pointless if you don't live in Los Angeles or can't stay there for a few weeks at a time.

Auditions can be 2 minutes to 20 minutes...not counting waiting to audition. My record wait was two hours. The casting director could not have cared less to audition me. I won't say what I thought of her!

As far as school, you would have a time to arrive at the audition and you would want to arrive 15 minutes early, then you may be asked to return to audition a second time and in rare cases, a third time. Auditions can be on weekends or in the evening, but usually are not. Auditions are scheduled to fit the needs of the casting director and production schedule.

You usually memorize a couple paragraphs of "sides" or lines of a script to audition if you are lucky enough to get them. Sometimes you are walking into the casting location cold, with the lines on sheets there to quickly look over and recite without time to memorize. You basically have to hold the script and try to grab a line or so and look at the other actor to speak them. The trick is to look at the script and try to figure out quickly what the character wants. You can also get clues as to what kind of person you are playing by the words she uses. It's a different talent, auditioning.
Sometimes you will audition with another actor, often someone will read the words to you (a reader) while you play toward the camera as if someone else is there. That is harder, because you have nothing to react to but your imagination.

How many people will you see at an audition? It depends on the casting director. It's kind of a mixed bag, really. You see, if there are lots of people, that's good for a beginning actor, because the casting person is giving new talent a chance. That is what is we call a "cattle call" because you feel like so many head of cattle being moved around. For an experienced actor, we prefer a smaller group because that means the director is specifically looking for someone like you and that they believe you have the qualities needed to pull off the job. It's less hassle and let's face it, it makes you feel good to know they see you in that light.
Sometimes there will be hundreds of people seen for a part. That is often a "star search" where they advertise they are looking for an important role and are doing a public search. They usually go on the radio or announce it in the newspapers as a nationwide search. They are usually a waste of time because they already have an actor to do it. They are just trying to call attention to the film. They did that a few years ago with the film "Selena" -they already had J-Lo slated to star in it.

Hope this clears things up for you...

Best,

Taylor