Daily Archives: February 17, 2013

Don’t forget to book your tickets for Monologue Slam!

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Date: Monday 18th February 2013
Place: Theatre Royal Stratford East
Time: 7.30pm doors open, 8pm show
Tickets: £10 (£7.50 concessions)
Host: Jimmy Akingbola

Industry Panel
Murray Melvin – Actor (A Taste of Honey, Oh What A Lovely War)
Madeleine Charman – Agent (Hamilton Hoddell)
Sam Jones – Casting Director (Hamlet, Trial and Retribution)
Dawn Reid – Associate Artistic Director (Theatre Royal Stratford East)

To book your ticket please visit:

http://stratfordeast.com/monologueslam-uk

Or call the Box Office on: 020 8534 0310

For more information on the event please visit:www.triforcepromotions.co.uk

4 Questions Every Actor Should Be Able to Answer

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4 Questions Every Actor Should Be Able to Answer
In my profession, I have the pleasure of meeting tons of actors.  Some actors are always on their game, but others struggle to express themselves and make a good impression. When I meet a new actor, I tend to ask the same 4 questions and the answers to these questions can tell me a lot about the actor sitting across from me.

Question #1

It’s some variation of: What have you been working on?

As an actor you should always be working on something.  Maybe you’re in a play.  Maybe you just finished a student film.  At the very least, you should be auditioning and submitting yourself for projects (if you don’t have an agent submitting you.)  I’m always skeptical of an actor who is doing nothing (not auditioning, not submitting, not acting, not taking class).  Maybe it’s been a while since you’ve had a job, but you should always keep acting to keep your skills sharp and to stay connected to the community.  It also helps to show that you’ve been working on your career.  If you’ve just done a mailing, or you’ve updated your website, or just finished editing your reel it shows that you’re serious about your career.  If you haven’t worked in a while, it’s a good idea to volunteer to be an audition reader or create a project for yourself: it shows initiative.  That’s what I like to see.

Question #2

What types of projects are you looking to work on?

For this question it’s important to be specific.  Are you looking to work in TV, film, theatre, industrials, commercials, music videos, or web programming?  Are you hoping to work in musicals, black comedies, soap operas, pharmaceutical videos, full budget features, or unpaid student films?  It’s important to have a focus, and also realize with whom you’re speaking.  If your primary interest is in musical theatre, that’s good to know; however, if you’re speaking with a film casting director, talk about your interest in film.

Question #3

How would you describe your acting style?

Being able to express yourself in a nutshell is key.  It’s also important to be aware of your style: many actors are not.  For example, an answer like “comedic” or “dramatic” isn’t helpful.  I’m looking to know if your style is influenced by any of the established teachers (ie Meisner, Stanislavsky).  I’m also looking to see if you work organically or if you do heavy research for your character.  Are you the kind of actor who needs a lot of direction and preparation or do you work better cold?  Are you a very physical actor or is your work more subtle and internal?  Think about the way you approach a role, and come up with a short sound bite about your style.  It can help a director or casting director know if you would be a match for certain actors and directors.

Question #4

Which actor (or actors) do you admire and why?

Many actors hesitate with this question, which is okay.  It’s never a problem to think before you speak.  I think some actors wonder if I will judge them based on this question, and the answer is “yes”.  I will most definitely judge your taste, your knowledge of the business, and your ability to look at acting with a critical eye.  If you can’t name an interesting actor, it makes me think you don’t really keep up with the business.  If you can’t explain why you admire this actor, it makes me think you lack critical analysis skills.  If you choose a terrible actor, I’m going to question your taste level.  Don’t feel limited to choosing someone who is your same “type”.  Choose an actor who consistently does good work, and choose someone who works  in the field you are pursuing.  Also, don’t pick someone too obvious.  I adore Meryl Streep, but try to think outside the box a little bit more.