WHAT’S NEXT?
Parents sometimes ask, after one workshop, "What's next? Is my child ready for an agent? Is he/she ready to audition?" Probably not. After one workshop, very rarely is anyone ready for the professional world. Would you let your child perform on the high beam after one gymnastics class? Definitely not. It can take years to become an actor or at least months to be ready to compete.
Children do have an advantage, though... "The Fear Factor". As adults, we have had so many "don'ts" thrown at us all of our lives that we are afraid to take a chance. Children haven't had as much time to process "don't". As a rule, they are more able to accept being open and fearless. We, as actors, cannot be afraid to become the character and take on his/her desires, goals, emotions and therefore... make it believable, real. It must be second nature to do all of this in an audition to be cast.
Agents and casting directors are recommending on-camera study more and more. The experience of being in front of the camera gives confidence so we can walk into that audition and take control of our performance, concentrate, relax and have a great time. Because isn't that what it's all about? Why act if we don't love it? If we know our craft, we can enjoy an audition, the callback and land that big job. Remember... there's always room at the top.
Audition by Michael Shurtleff
Movement for Actors by Nicole Potter
Sanford Meisner on Acting by Sanford Meisner
Voice and the Actor by Cicely Berry and Peter Brook
An Actor Prepares by Constantine Stanislavski
The Use and Training of the Human Voice by Arthur Lessac
The Invisible Actor by Yoshi Oida and Lorna Marshal
The Actor and the Text by Cicely Berry
Challenge for the Actor by Uta Hagen
Actors Book of Contemporary Monologues by Nina Shengold
On the Technique of Acting by Michael Chekov
The Ultimate Scene and Monologue Source Book by Ed Hook
On Acting: Interviews with Actors by Mary Luckhurst
The Camera Smart Actor by Richard Brestoff
Respect for Acting by Uta Hagen
The Ultimate Audition Book:
222 Monologues 2 minutes and under
Acting is Living by Cliff Osmond