Expert: Kenneth D. Plonkey - 3/1/2011

Question
QUESTION: Thank you for your past answers I apprechiate them! I appologize for bugging you for another answer but my mind just will not stop spinning with questions. When auditioning for a film you mentioned before that performing a monolouge is not done. Do they only have you do a cold reading then or is there more? I also live in a small town in Indiana I've taken all the programs that are offered that will help me along from plays to musicals to classes and I was wondering if their was anything else I could do to improve what I like to call my discoveries! :)  I am interested in the filming process and would apprechiate your advice. Again thank you!

ANSWER: Hi Randi, No need to apologize, I am here to be of service.  It is not usual to ask actors to perform monologues for film auditions, but sometimes it is done. Cold readings are the norm, but you get a chance to read it before the audition.  I am not sure what your interest in the filming process is. Is it as an actor or as a film maker? I recommend that you go to http://tao-of-acting.org and read my ebook, The Tao of Acting, then get in touch with me again. God bless, Doc

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QUESTION: I am interested in acting and making the charactors come to life. To turn words on a peice of paper into the real deal. :D Im not going to delude my self so if I can't ackomplish this professionally then i would like to write the scripts and playwrites so i can create the emotion and actions, possibly a director too. I read your ebook and enjoyed it alot. esspecially the K.I.S.S. part. Early on it said that you cant learn from classes or things that are written but by experiences. Since I dont have any film experience i was wondering if you could fill me on a majior no no to avoid. One last question i was scheduling for my junior year of high school and signed up for my 2nd year of tv broadcasting and a group disscusion class will any of these classes help me or are they a waste of time? Will they actually improve my chances of landing a role? This week I will be auditoning for ANNIE and was also curious as to wether potential employers will recieve theature work will be well recieved when wanting to convert over to film acting. Thank you so much for your time I apprechiate it alot! :)

Answer
I did not say you can't learn from classes.   I said talent cannot be taught and that experience is better than training. It does not take film experience to be a film actor.  It takes being an actor. Major no no to avoid -- avoid acting. Good actors do not act, they react. TV broadcasting is good. I never did like discussion as a class. Your theatre work is fine for future film work.  Read all of my blog, back to the beginning. God bless, Doc