The Secret Of Theatrical Space

Audition: Cold reading of a short side (single page) for the role of The Customer in an independent feature Man Push Cart.
Director: Nicolas ?
Location: People's Improv Theater, 154 West 29th street.
Date: Tuesday, October 19th, 2004, 3PM.

This was my second on-camera audition, though there was nothing technically to it, i.e., Nicolus read the part of the lead and told me to look at/respond to him, not the camera.

Positives

The audition, *I think* went well -- again, just spontaneously/imaginatively bringing myself to just a few line (though it was very interesting scene). I did manage to surprise myself, about half the time, but . . .

Negatives

. . . I may have held back, and I have a hunch this has partly to do with not breathing. I get a bit nervous -- not a lot, thank goodness, but enough that I forgot to simply breathe, and if my breathing gets shallow, I feel I'm not as "out there" as I could be.

Also -- I need an audition bag. Inside goes: headshots, monologue notes, notebook, schedule, etc., and I need to get ready each night BEFORE the audition, so I'm just ready to go (i.e., address, map from mapquest -- Christ! it's a big city!)

Solutions

With this and other problems I've had in mind, here's a check list that I'll bring with me to each audition:

Breathe deeply to help avoid holding back.

1. Read the side(s):

    - read for literal understanding, unfamiliar words, awkward sentences.
    - let the images/feel come.
    - let a point view/center/”want” emerge.
      - find a starting image/place, e.g., where am I or what am I doing before I speak. Let this emerge or come to me.

2. Between step 1 and the actual audition (e.g., walking to the stage, saying my name to the camera, handing over my headshot):

    stay with what’s emerged in step 1 above: keep my concentration & focus (e.g., be the character, stay with the piece, stay “in” step 1 above )

3. Cold reading – SLOW DOWN!

     - start with an image or place or just where I am (i.e., if I can’t “be” where I’d like to be, then just “be” where I am, connect with that).

• Take my partner in – listen, feel.
• Look down, keep connected with the moment, take in a phase as I breathe in.
• Look up, and while breathing out – don’t wait, don’t think, just speak, say what I need to say, whatever comes up.

4. Finally:

I don’t give a shit about getting this part.
I give a shit about taking risks, surprising myself, not holding back.