Expert: Taylor Sheppard - 1/19/2008

Question
Hello, my question to you is: i want to know what exactly are acting directors are looking for when auditioning for a part...What should be done in "making the cut?"
My reason for asking, is because i have an audition coming up very very soon and they will provide me with the scripts that they want me to read, but i want to be amazing to them...and i need to know if you have some advice/tips for me that would help me get the part?  
Thank you in advance...

Miss Liberty

Answer
Hi Liberty,

First rule, do not try to second guess the casting director.
If you have detailed knowledge on the character (which can be rare) you can try to tailor yourself toward him or her, but I would be general with it. In other words, if she is a doctor, cop or nurse, the uniform is a given, but any casting director will be bored to tears after seeing a hundred clones of the obvious, but delighted when someone comes up with an off-the-wall, but yet "not freakish" interpretation of the character. Character. Think of that word. What does it mean? It means means a person, but it also means a personality, SOMETHING THAT MAKES THEM UNIQUE AND WATCHABLE AND MEMORABLE.

If you try to second guess what they want, you can do like I did when I met director Taylor Hackford for a role in his movie about a half Hispanic/half white gang member. I thought I was too blond and needed dark eyes and a strong accent. I darkened my hair and put in brown contacts I got coaching from a friend from Mexico City.

The lead actor chosen had blond hair, blue eyes. Dang!

Learn your lines/the part several different ways: serious funny, angry, sad, apathetic, drunk....whatever! Even if it doesn't make sense. That way you can pull whatever might be asked of you out of your hat. Learn the lines so you are free to get into the character instead of worrying about forgetting the lines. DON'T PUT THE SCRIPT DOWN -keep it in hand, because it looks arrogant if you toss it like you don't need it, and worse if you end up needing it after doing so. Don't worry if you fumble a word, or need to look at the script a second while auditioning...they don't expect you to be 100% "off book".

If you learn the part several ways you will also lessen the chance of forgetting the words when asked to "do it differently".

What the directors want is you to be you and also the character. If you are what they see in their mind, they'll hire you. If they don't imagine her to be you, it's not that you suck, it's just that they saw someone else.

Best,

Taylor