Posts Tagged ‘be on TV’

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Prop Awareness: On-Set Etiquette

Tuesday, February 1st, 2011

Let’s assume you’re fairly new to the acting game. You’ve passed the auditions stage, and now it’s time to get on set and perform to the masses.

On a production of any size, prop care and respect is incredibly important. Smaller productions generally can’t afford to lose or break props, whilst larger productions definitely need to keep a close eye on their comprehensive, high quality set and prop inventory.

Whatever the reason you’ve got into the acting game – to be on TV, to be an extra, to give the already-established film stars a run for their money – there are a few on-set manners to do with props you should be putting into practice no matter how great a star you may become.

•    Ask before touching or picking up any prop – no matter whether or not you think it could be yours. The job of a prop assistant is stressful, and made no easier by people picking up the props and misplacing them.
•    Safety first. If you’re unsure about how to use a prop, just ask for a little advice and direction. It might slow production for a moment, but better that than halting it thanks to injury or a broken prop.

No matter how great your on-set manners, you will need to be 18 years or over to use our service. The cost to receive up-to-the-minute information detailing all the latest acting, extras or modelling auditions is £1.50 per text, with a maximum of three texts per week.

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I’m A Reality TV Applicant – Get Me In There!

Wednesday, January 12th, 2011

Whilst ground-breaking reality TV programmes have graced our small screens in various forms almost since the dawning of television, never have they been as dominant as in the past decade. The first series of Big Brother proved to be a phenomenon that made instant celebrities out of everyday members of the public and other reality TV shows since have continued the trend. They have also been career-enhancing to both minor celebrities hoping to gain much needed exposure and those on the way down from previous heights.

Fifteen minutes of fame are now desperately sought by thousands of applicants looking to make a name for themselves via the medium of reality TV, by which they then hope to consolidate their popularity and secure TV careers. As with acting auditions, places are heavily contended and 90% of audition tapes received by TV Executives are discarded in the first part of the selection process.

Whilst the quality of audition tapes is key to reality TV applicants in order to make the all important first impression, applicants must be aware of playing by the rules in respect of running time, labelling, lighting, sound and editing. The auditions themselves are the time for applicants to really let rip and go for broke, as, by this point, TV executives have a clear picture of the types of larger than life characters they are looking for.

At Audition Now, our text alert service covers reality TV auditions, and also gives you news on othe auditions and casting calls.

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Get Real

Friday, September 17th, 2010

We’ve all seen the Big Brother outtakes of reality TV casting calls and auditions. How do these people think they’ll get through?

The simple fact is, we can never know exactly what the casting director is looking for – except age (we only accept those aged 18 and over at £1.50 per text with max of 3 texts per week).

Perhaps you’re unique, but perhaps they’ve already cast your particular brand of “unique”. The trick is to be as “you” as possible in the hope that there are some shoes waiting to be filled by you.

First of all, don’t lie. If you’re not happy with yourself on a two minute tape or through a ten minute audition, how do you expect to perform and enthral viewers for potentially weeks and weeks? Lying about things like hobbies, background, career and so on will get you nowhere – it all comes out in the end, as we have all seen so many times.

Reality TV casting calls contain one key word – reality. The casting team is interested in you plus reality equals entertainment. An offbeat take on reality is what gets you noticed, but if you have to try to find an angle, you’re maybe preparing for the wrong kind of audition.

As far as appearance is concerned, use your head. A little research should set you in good standing as far as what the best direction is when it comes to clothes and general presentability.

Reality TV casting calls and auditions can be pretty rough going. Think about the emotional pressures before entering into something that could, potentially, alter your entire life.

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On-set Terminology and Etiquette

Wednesday, September 8th, 2010

For those embarking on an assault of the TV industry in the guise of TV extras, here are a few bits of lingo you’re likely to hear as you amble about the set, stand in the queue for sandwiches and generally try not to be in the way until you’re needed.

TV extras are handed the difficult job of being adaptable, invisible, and also visible. It’s really quite confusing at times, and tends to vary from job to job. To be an extra you’ll need to be able to respond quickly and perfectly to a barrage of instructions, be ready at a moment’s notice, patient and basically provide as little stress as possible for the rest of the staff on-set.

Star struck? Keep it to yourself. The stars you’re surrounded by are working, as are you. The importance of networking cannot be underestimated, but use your head to decide when a situation is a little closer to harassment or irritation than it is to furthering your career through charismatic and well-judged banter.

On-set nobody wants to explain a thousand terms to you, so here are a few to help you out.

Shot – One run of the camera
Scene – Made up of several shots
Sequence – Several scenes
AD – Assistant Director
PA – Production Assistant
AC – Assistant Camera
Dolly (Tracking) Shot – A shot filmed from a moving dolly.

To be an extra is to be stealthy; invisible until needed.

We can only provide a service to you if you’re 18 or over (£1.50 per text, no more than three per week).

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Acting: An Education or On-the-Job?

Monday, September 6th, 2010

The ambitions of an arts practitioner are likely the driving force behind their career choices, education, methods and success. To be an actor is to tell stories, to become a model is to become the paint in a painting, and to be in musical theatre is to have an incredibly energy reserve.

Chips down – between the auditions, call-backs, casting calls and interviews, there could be drought of work when you’d kill to have a fall-back skill.

The most straightforward education standard has to be the path to a university bachelor’s degree (BA) in the arts. However, on-the-job experience can give you insights no professor could explain.

Movie and TV Acting

The most unpredictable fields of the performing arts, where anything can happen. If you read well in your auditions and casting calls, casting directors aren’t likely to reject you for your lack of ability to provide a high standard critique of Beowulf! Conversely, a deeper understanding of acting tools and techniques via study can prepare you for the frenetic, chaotic lifestyle so often resided by actors.

Theatre and Musical Theatre

This tends to be where your BA can stand out. An education in theatre-related subjects can be the best way into this intellectual, feisty brute of a business. In this case, education trumps on-the-job.

Modelling

In modelling, you need to be able to walk, pose and express on command. On-the-job wins hands down every time.

To use our service you must be 18 years and over (£1.50 per text, maximum of three per week).

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Making Acting Auditions Work For You

Friday, August 13th, 2010

If you are starting out on an acting career, you may be in some doubt about choosing which acting auditions to go to. There are many different types of work, from extras work for which you will be paid, but which may not be as fulfilling for you, through small-scale profit-share projects, up to one of the major theatre companies or even the West End.

The old maxim of the stage is that you judge projects by three tests. Whether they are interesting or fun, whether they bring you glory or fame, and whether they pay well. Traditionally, any project you consider should answer ‘yes’ to at least two of these tests. Therefore, it would be a mistake to reject out of hand the possibility of work on a small-scale project, and certainly you should try to get to audition for such work. After all, a long West End run can end up as stifling and tedious as a 9 to 5 office job, so even if it does offer financial security, it may not be the type of work you want to do.

You should keep your options open till after you have auditioned. You can learn a lot about the people and the credibility of a project in the audition itself.

Here at Audition Now we keep you up to date with all the latest acting auditions, texting you direct to your mobile phone, we help you access all the most varied and interesting stage, film and TV work on offer.

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Stage Or Screen For Acting Auditions?

Wednesday, August 11th, 2010

A trained actor has little difficulty in adapting his or her performance style to suit the medium of stage or screen. The trick of minimising a performance to make it ‘fit’ the screen, or of getting used to the portrayal of a role through hundreds of short ‘takes’ is easily learned, and if you have had the right training opportunities, it’s a process that you should be used to.

To make the most of your acting auditions, and to increase your opportunities for work, you should be ready to try for both stage and screen work. Very often film and TV companies require their auditioning actors to have a screen test, by which they can assess a performer: usually you will be given just a few lines, perhaps as part of a dialogue. You will rarely be asked to perform something of your own.

If you are auditioning for film or TV, then you should have a chance to find out about the project, and this will mean you can prepare yourself: be ready for your audition panel to ask you to change your appearance, as a way of their exploring your potential for the screen.

Being adaptable to different performance media will give you more chances to get work. Here at Audition Now, we offer a comprehensive range of acting auditions that could get you work in TV or in film or onstage. If you have the talent we can help you exploit it to the full.

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Controlling Your Nerves For Acting Auditions

Thursday, June 24th, 2010

If you suffer from pre-audition frigh,t you might get help from commercially available courses or instruction. But beware – what you feel about auditioning may be what you feel before you go onstage. You can’t just buy your way out of that difficulty at auditions.

Usually the dread is to do with the unknown. An actor is constantly alive to the possibility that the unexpected will turn up, whether they are at theatre auditions or they simply want to be on TV, and that the control he or she has over the scene or the audience will be lost. There is also a fear of just failing. As Orson Welles said, ‘Every actor in his heart believes everything bad that’s printed about him’, and many performers become obsessed with the need for praise, appreciation, or even adulation.

None of that makes the actual acting auditions any easier. What does help, on the other hand, is a methodical approach to your craft. Know your pieces for auditions to perfection, and know how to modulate them so that different emotions can be expressed through them. Keep trying them out on friends and family. Keep looking for new material.

It also helps to know about the project you are auditioning for. Google the people or company involved and see what else they have done. Gear your presentation to what you think they are looking for. Keep a record of past auditions. Above all, keep trying.

Here at Audition Now, we keep you posted about all the latest opportunities for auditions, so you can maximise your career prospects…and keep your nerves under control.

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Extras Work – How To Prepare

Friday, June 18th, 2010

If you take a part in extras roles, there are very few demands made of you on the set. What is expected of you is that you blend into the background, and make the main action of the scene look as though it is happening in the real world. It will make a considerable difference, however, if you turn up to the shoot as prepared as possible.

In the interests of the production company, if you are to be filmed in your own clothes, do not wear items with obvious logos, avoid bright or fluorescent colours, and steer clear of close stripes and checks – especially if you are going to be on TV. Some extras turn up with a spare set of clothes so that the costume department has a choice. Obviously if you are appearing as an extra in a period costume drama, then your clothes will be provided by the costume department.

For your own sake, remember that you may be outdoors for most of the day – particularly if your fortay are film or TV auditions. Much of your time will be spent sitting around waiting while the crew set up the next shot, so come prepared to withstand the weather. Also, be ready to fill the time. It may be literally hours between takes, so having a book to read, or music to listen to is a good idea. Most importantly, check where you are meant to go, and when. Turning up late could cost you dearly.

Here at Audition Now we can get you all the latest extras work opportunities, and text them direct to your mobile phone.

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Getting The Detail Right At Acting Auditions

Wednesday, June 16th, 2010

When going to acting auditions or casting calls, actors devote most of their energy to their audition pieces or script sample. It is true, that unless you are totally confident with your material you will never convincingly acquit yourself in the audition.

However, there are additional factors that may seem trivial, but could also have an effect on the outcome. These include:

- Your manner, not only with the panel at the auditions, but also with fellow auditionees. Whether you are successful at this audition or not, it pays to never ‘close the door behind you’, and a positive, relaxed and friendly attitude creates as much of an impression as your acting skill.

- Your interest in the both the current project, and in the work of your audition panel. It doesn’t take much effort to learn a bit about who you are auditioning for: your interest in their work is a simple courtesy, but gives a lasting impression.

- Your punctuality. It sounds banal, but reliability is an asset in any actor, and a clue to that is if you turn up in good time for your auditions.

- What you wear. A choice of clothing that is sensitive to the demands of the role not only helps to show your aptitude for the part, but also demonstrates your imaginative understanding for the project.

At Audition Now we specialise in getting the best audition opportunities to our clients, whether they want to be on TV or star in a theatre production, and help them to make the most of their career potential.

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