Working with Actors: Part 2
(The Casting Session)
Peter D. Marshall
Last issue we discussed the importance of
knowing a "character's" personality traits and how you can use a
"character personality chart" to help you.
(To get a copy of this quick reference
personality chart, go to http://www.actioncutprint.com/chart.html and
print out the page. This chart will give you a clear understanding of
who a character is and what their motivations are - as well as help you
with the actor's interpretation of the character.)
In this issue, we will discuss the casting
session and how to quickly find out if an actor is right for a part.
But first, here is a quick guide on the casting
process.
When a director first gets a script, you read
it through several times to get a feel for what the story is about and
who the characters are. (NOTE: In future articles, we will discuss the
Director's script breakdown in more detail.)
As you read the script, you will get an
impression of the characters. You then have a meeting with the
Producer(s) and the Casting Director to share your ideas of the
characters.
(NOTE: This is an important meeting for the
Director, because it is where you find out what the Producer(s) are
thinking and if you are on the right track. Remember: television is a
Producers
medium and they have the final say in everything - including casting!)
After the meeting, the Casting Director goes
away and puts together a list of actors that fit the character traits
and specific looks discussed in the meeting with the Producer(s).
The Casting Director then has her own casting
session where she videos a "short list" of actors for you and the
Producer(s) to view.(Sometimes you will only cast from these tapes -
other times you will make a short list from the tapes and then to go to
a casting session.)
Okay - you have now arrived at the casting
session. You walk in with the Producer (usually late because you had to
get a Starbuck's latte) and you meet the cameraman (who puts the actors
on tape) the reader (who reads the script with the actors) and the
Casting Director.
You then get a piece of paper listing all the
auditioning actors and the roles they are portraying - then the actors
enter and do their thing!
When the session is done, you have a headache,
the Producer(s) don't agree with anyone you like, the casting Director
is already on the phone setting up another session, and there is a
message from the production office informing you that there is a
complete revision of the script waiting for you when you get back!
Whew!
Okay, let's back up a bit.
The Casting session (actors call it "the
audition") can be a terrifying place for any actor. It takes a lot of
guts to walk into a small, windowless room and have about 5 minutes to
"show your stuff" in front of complete strangers - some of whom could
make or break your career!
But it is just as tough for the Director as
well! How can you decide, in less than 10 minutes, who is right for a
particular part? Because you never have enough time to work with the
actors in a casting session, here are three qualities you should look
for in an actor when they audition for you:
1) do they look the part?
2) do they have range?
3) can they take direction?
Yes...I know there are many, many more, but
these three can usually give you a enough information about an actor -
in under 10 minutes!
1) Do they look the part?
I call this the "50%" rule - 50% of any role is
cast when an actor enters the room! He(or she) doesn't have to say
anything - they just LOOK like the character (they ARE the character)
when they come in!
This is especially true of a TV series. You
don't have a lot of time to build a character in Television, so if an
actor looks like the character, that is the first step in making them
believable to a TV audience.
2) Do they have range?
This is basically saying, "Can they act?" and
you need to find this out quickly. Can an actor give you both ends of
the spectrum. Are they believable when they are in a tense, dramatic
scene? Are they believable in a comedy?
3) Can they take direction?
Any good actor will make a choice when they
enter the casting room. They will decide who this character is and give
you their interpretation.
Many times, this is not what you had in mind,
BUT...they were great! So, what you need to do is give them some
"direction" - ask them to read the part again but do something totally
opposite from what they just did. This gives you an idea if they have
range, and if they can take direction.
Some actors have a problem getting through the
audition. They are very good actors but they are nervous and tend to
blow their audition. And other actors will always "give a great
reading" but
hey end up a dud on the set.
Remember - casting sessions are not perfect.
You will never be able to fully tell if an actor has the qualities you
are looking for in just 10 minutes. But these three tricks will help
you to see if an actor has range, and if they can take direction - in
less than 10 minutes.
TIP: If you are seriously interested in an
actor, ask for a "call-back" where you can work with this person
one-on-one for a longer period of time. This will help you decide if
the actor is right for the role.
A good performance happens when both the inner
and outer self are portrayed. So when dealing with any actor, remember
these three important words: Motive Determines Behavior!
Motive (what a character thinks-inner)
Determines
Behavior (what the character does-outer)
| If you are a Film or
Television professional and would like to contribute your
expertise with filmmaking articles, tips or special reports, please
email me at: pdm@actioncutprint.com |
Copyright (c) 2000-2008
Peter D. Marshall/www.actioncutprint.com
pdm@actioncutprint.com
All Rights Reserved