Auditioning

Theater veteran and acting teacher Joanna Merlin has written the definitive guide to auditioning for stage and screen, bringing to it a valuable dual perspective. She has spent her career on both sides of the auditioning process, both as an award-winning casting director who has worked with Harold Prince, Bernard Bertolucci, and James Ivory, and as an accomplished actor herself. In this highly informative and accessible book, Merlin provides everything the actor needs to achieve self-confidence and artistic honesty–from the most basic practical tips to an in-depth framework for preparing a part. Filled with advice from the most esteemed people in the business, such as James Lapine, Nora Ephron, and Stephen Sondheim, and charged with tremendous wisdom and compassion, this indispensable resource will arm the reader to face an actor's greatest challenge: getting the part.

Theater veteran and acting teacher Joanna Merlin has written the definitive guide to auditioning for stage and screen, bringing to it a valuable dual perspective. She has spent her career on both sides of the auditioning process, both as an award-winning casting director who has worked with Harold Prince, Bernard Bertolucci, and James Ivory, and as an accomplished actor herself. In this highly informative and accessible book, Merlin provides everything the actor needs to achieve self-confidence and artistic honesty–from the most basic practical tips to an in-depth framework for preparing a part. Filled with advice from the most esteemed people in the business, such as James Lapine, Nora Ephron, and Stephen Sondheim, and charged with tremendous wisdom and compassion, this indispensable resource will arm the reader to face an actor's greatest challenge: getting the part.

To win a screen role, an actor must learn to contend with an on-camera audition. Understanding how to make the crucial adjustments to one’s craft that this kind of audition requires is vital to the career of any screen actor. Auditioning On Camera sets out the key elements of a successful on-camera audition and explains how to put them into practice. Joseph Hacker draws on 35 years of acting experience to guide the reader through the screen auditioning process with an engaging and undaunting approach. Key elements examined include: textual analysis knowing where to look dealing with nerves on-camera interviews using the environment retaining the camera’s focus The book also features point-by-point chapter summaries, as well as a glossary of acting and technical terms, and is a comprehensive and enlightening resource for screen actors of all levels.

"This is a terrific guide for young actors...I read it cover to cover and then went out and bought copies for all my kids because, truthfully, it puts an experienced eye on pretty much all of life's early encounters.” – Donald Sutherland “When I was about to go into my callback with Sacha Baron Cohen, Nancy told me, 'Just enjoy the experience; you have nothing to lose,' and she speaks a lot about that in this book. She takes the worry out of auditioning and helps us see the fun and positive side of the experience. Nancy is a true champion for diversity and I am so grateful she has opened the doors for Eastern European artists.” – Maria Bakalova Auditioning for Film and Television is a must-have guide, written from the perspective of a casting director and offering actionable advice on audition technique, scene analysis, online casting and social media. Since the first edition was published in 2009, this practical workbook has helped countless actors learn the craft of auditioning for screen. Owing to the seismic changes within the industry following on from the #MeToo movement and, of course, the impact of social media and ever-advancing technology, how auditioning and casting are conducted has radically changed. This third edition of Auditioning for Film and Television addresses these issues and how they come into play in the audition room, offering guidance on areas such as: - How actors can most professionally conduct themselves in a casting situation, and on set, when there is sexuality inherent in a role - How both interviewers and interviewees can keep the relationship clear, professional and above board - What resources are available if issues arise In addition, readers continue to benefit from the author's tried-and-tested advice that will help them to succeed in this crowded and competitive industry.

Learn how to ace your acting audition from a top casting director! Casting Director Rob Decina highlights the difference between the craft of acting and the business of auditioning, and how those two worlds meet in television. Included are proven-effective preparation techniques, including asking the right questions, making specific acting choices, finding beats and beat changes, using spontaneity, and much more. Also included is advice on headshots and resumes and an examination of the difference between audition preparation and theatrical preparation as well as information on how to succeed with self-tape auditions. This updated edition will include both new and updated tips, as well as reflections on the original edition's advice. Rob's career has spanned primetime television, daytime drama, film, to casting for the one of the most prolific television studios for dramas and comedies across network, cable and streaming platforms.

Auditioning for Musical Theatre demystifies the process of giving the best possible professional audition for a role in a musical. It is the result of Denny Berry’s own experience, sitting "behind the audition desk" for 30 years of professional Broadway auditions, as well as teaching newcomers and coaching established actors. The book coaches performers on how to be their best selves—and avoid the pitfalls of nerves and poor preparation. To do so, it offers: An in-depth, practical approach to a professional audition that gives readers detailed suggestions about how to identify their vocal strengths, choose the material most suited to it, and present the entirety of their "product" with confidence. Rules to guide the actor through the audition process, along with sample homework assignments. A comprehensive list of musical material, genres, and commonly-referred-to categories of songs designed to help auditioners select the right material for any given audition. The book is intended for the talented newcomer as well as the experienced actor who wants to deliver a more effective audition. Ultimately, Auditioning for Musical Theatre takes the reader through the parts of auditioning that they can control, and helps them tailor every situation to show their individual best.

Auditioning in the 21st Century is a useful handbook for singers considering pursuing a career in the German-speaking countries of Europe. The book is a compilation of experiences, anecdotes and hard learned lessons of the authors and other contributors. Information is presented in a relaxed and simple manner, including tips about helpful Websites to how voices-types are being categorized in today's market. This handbook in a necessity for any artist who is brave enough to embrace the challenges presented in pursuing a career abroad. Good reading, and good luck!

Acting & Auditioning for the 21st Century covers acting and auditioning in relation to new media, blue and green screen technology, motion capture, web series, audiobook work, evolving livestreamed web series, and international acting and audio work. Readers are given a methodology for changing artistic technology and the global acting market, with chapters covering auditions of all kinds, contracts, the impact of new technology and issues relating to disabled actors, actors of colour and actors that are part of the LGBTQIA community.