Episode #4 Charlie Sheen Acting Concept
Calling ALL performers! NTA is giving away free private Skype audition coaching to seven lucky performers. These 30 minute sessions can include anything: running audition material, critiquing video reels, talking about headshots/resume/marketing, finding you auditions/jobs, and much much more! The first seven people who email me their request will receive one free 30 minute session!
*Contest ends Tuesday Feb 22nd at Midnight! So Hurry!
nailthataudition@gmail.com
Episode #3 : “A Performer’s Most Difficult Decision!”
NTA would love to hear about your audition at the Unified Professional Theatre Auditions this past Saturday. What was your general experience like at the audition? Did you audition on Friday, Saturday, Sunday, or Monday? Any offers?
We are very excited about hearing about your experience! Before, During, and After UPTAs!
Send all stories to nailthataudition@gmail.com !
Break A Leg on your post audition fun!
:)
Stage Fright? Nerves getting to you? This feeling in the pit of your stomach tells you that everything is NOT alright and something catastrophic will happen onstage that will ruin your career FOREVER! Beads of sweat roll down your face as the stage manager calls “PLACES.” Your heart beats faster and faster as you hear the foreign sounds of people talking, laughing, music being played. This is not like the silent rehearsals where you get little to no response from the audience. It is time to put your talents to the test! Are you ready? Ready or not…HERE IT COMES!
…Don’t sweat it! Every performer has that nervous energy before setting their first steps onto the theatrical stage. Don’t worry, the nervousness wont be THAT painful as your experience grows, but it will not go away! If it ever does, your red flag should go up.
These days, I do not get nervous until about three minutes to showtime. However, once I hit the stage and the lights go up, it is time for battle, which is my way of saying “Fun, energetic, excitement!”
Which brings me to my next point. Superstitions in Theatre! Are they useful or are they just silly? Superstitions have been around for a long long time in the realm of theatre. There is the “Break a leg” scare, “Whistling” in the theatre may get you trampled by falling “objects” coming from above, and my favorite “MacBeth” (or the name we do not speak of in a theatre). We as thespians are always looking to bring the best “break a leg” while we are onstage. You even begin to develop your own superstitious behavior.
When I made my first debut onstage it was around the year of the movie “Gladiator” starring Russel Crowe. In the movie, the Gladiator bends down and collects the sand from the ground before entering into battle, whether it was during war or before fighting gladiator style. He rubs the sand in both of his hands, probably to help get a better grip on his sword.
My pre-show ritual included this type of technique. I went out center stage and collected the loose dirt and dust found onstage and rubbed my hands together. It was a kind of prayer that showed respect to the theatre Gods and I dedicated every performance to others who have paved a way for me to perform for an audience today! It really made my performance more about others than about myself. The audience, my cast mates, family, friends, and others. This is what gives me energy. This is MY superstition.
Spend some time thinking about superstitions and routines, pre-show. This will help dramatically with the pre-show jitters. No matter how terrified you may be, the show MUST GO ON. So, you might as well enjoy it!
Too many times, I have seen a performance where I was lost because I could not understand what actors were saying. Usually, these are inexperienced actors who don’t realize they are not being heard. Is this their fault? Or the Director’s fault?
As an actor myself, it is the partial responsibility of both director and actor. As an actor, it is my responsibility to never get that note because I should be aware of my projection and diction. When I am rehearsing for a show I like to sit out in the audience in the furtherist possible seat in the theatre and listen. I listen to my fellow cast mates for their volume, speed, and physicality to see if it is being lost in the balcony. That way, when I get on stage, I know when to make some adjusts vocally and physically in comparison to what I observed in the audience.
When I make this adjustment, usually the scene partner(s) will also adjust…naturally.
Some hints with projection in an enormous auditorium:
1. Say your lines as if you are speaking to the person leaning on the back wall of the auditorium. That does NOT mean yell. Usually, when I do this exercise with actors they yell. Almost guaranteed every time :) Like Singing, you have to have a support breath from the diaphram.
2. Physically open up to the audience. This one really is a slight turn our to the audience. Remember if you are talking to someone upstage with your back to the audience, your voice bounces off the back wall before being heard in the audience. So, you have to speak a little louder.
3. This one is also physical. Make strong, bold, and sharp choices. That does NOT mean jerk around on stage, making you look robotic or giving you wiplash! :) What I am talking about here is making confident choices. Any hesitation will be lost. Unless, hesitation is the choice…then make it a noticable hesitation!
4. Diction. Think about how a sentence is formed. Words made up of Consonants and vowels. Spaces in between words. Puncuation marks where needed to indicate a pause, or breath. Unexperienced actors are excited that they know their lines and just say each line as it were one word. Break up each word and catch yourself if you notice that you’re running words together.
Getting comfortable with the fundamentals of projection of voice, physicality, and diction will get you one GIANT step towards becoming a “stand-out” performer.
Like This? Check Out: How to Lose a Job in 90 Seconds.
Episode #2 : Creating an Actor’s Back-Up Plan
Good actor resources are sometimes hard to find. These - will be an incredible source of information! The more resources and feedback on the industry, the Merrier!
I have opened up a page where you can recieve answers to questions about show business. You can see this page @ http://www.nailthataudition.com/yourquestionsanswered or check the side bar on the right and click on the link. Also, You can submit a question if you click on the link ASK WESLEY right underneath my photo.
I look forward to hearing your questions and I am excited about working with every single one of you.
Thank you and help spread the word!
Wesley
