Acting classes in nyc focus on developing your skills as an actor, especially the foundational skills that are required to practice the craft. However, there is one skill you may have to develop on your own if your acting classes in nyc do not include it, and that is auditioning technique. Audition tapes are becoming the norm, since the producers and agents can easily see if you are camera ready. Auditioning via tape does not mean you need to spend lots of money on a professional production. Just borrow or rent a camera, enlist the help of an aspiring director friend and follow these simple rules.
Everyone knows what a bad lighting job can do to someone's appearance. A poor lighting job will cast shadows and can make you look completely different. Too much light an you look completely washed out. Anything that takes away from your performance is lethal and bad lighting is one of those things. A well lit subject is one in which the lighting just "disappears." Acting classes in nyc often include people who are experienced at producing tapes. They should be able to diagram a simple lighting scheme for you.
Two to three smaller lights are all you really need. Two soft lights can be placed on either side of the camera, about 10' feet or so away, focused on where you will be sitting. Then a third light can be used to fill in the background. Some audition tapes have chosen to leave the background dark. Just be sure the overall tape is not too dark, or the contrast too great between your face and the background. Every camera has a White Balance feature that needs to be set.
The color temperature of lights sources can be different. Daylight, for instance, has more blue in it. Let's say you set up the lighting, and you are also near a window. A mix of light sources is possible but, the camera must be "balanced" to correct for these color differences. A simple white balance button will take care of it. Just focus the camera on a white card or sheet of paper and it should correct for color. If you do not use this feature the color will be completely off, especially your skin tones. You want good clean skin tones, eye color and hair color, so you must not forget this step.
Sound is another very important feature. A good audition tape is only as good as the sound, because your voice is your main instrument. No producer or casting agent has the time to sit through an audition tape with poor sound. Keep the mic as close to the talent as possible. Camera mounted microphones are not very close to the subject, so looking into the rental of a good quality Lavalier microphone might be worthwhile. Communicating character, and a sense of who you are as an actor depends on what you sound like so make it great. There are plenty of good acting classes in nyc that will help guide you through this process.
With these basics in place now is the time to think about content. An audition prepared for taping has some slight differences. Coaches trained in Meisner acting techniques can help you prepare for those differences. Using the Meisner acting tools can help create a riveting audition tape that does not seem rehearsed or staged. Keeping important elements under the surface, is something coaches of Meisner acting nyc can teach you how to develop. Cramming every emotion and gesture into a performance will always seem false. Leaving some elements of the character out, is one way to engage your audience immediately. An audience (which in this case is the auditors) will automatically begin to infer and look for clues they can infer about your character which engages them in your performance.
At times, actors are asked to include something very specific, but it should still have your own ideas incorporated. In a more general circumstance, it's good to have a recent audition tape with a monologue, ready to send out on a moment's notice. Let your strengths dictate your choices but you can also use your weaknesses. Legendary actors can present mesmerizing layers of emotion in a short time. The best comedians always have an underlying sense of tragedy, and the most dramatic performances are capable of lighter moments. Enlist the teachers of acting classes in nyc, or wherever you study, to review your practice tapes and incorporate their suggestions. We are not always the best judge of of our own work and being open to direction is a part of being a professional actor.
Everyone knows what a bad lighting job can do to someone's appearance. A poor lighting job will cast shadows and can make you look completely different. Too much light an you look completely washed out. Anything that takes away from your performance is lethal and bad lighting is one of those things. A well lit subject is one in which the lighting just "disappears." Acting classes in nyc often include people who are experienced at producing tapes. They should be able to diagram a simple lighting scheme for you.
Two to three smaller lights are all you really need. Two soft lights can be placed on either side of the camera, about 10' feet or so away, focused on where you will be sitting. Then a third light can be used to fill in the background. Some audition tapes have chosen to leave the background dark. Just be sure the overall tape is not too dark, or the contrast too great between your face and the background. Every camera has a White Balance feature that needs to be set.
The color temperature of lights sources can be different. Daylight, for instance, has more blue in it. Let's say you set up the lighting, and you are also near a window. A mix of light sources is possible but, the camera must be "balanced" to correct for these color differences. A simple white balance button will take care of it. Just focus the camera on a white card or sheet of paper and it should correct for color. If you do not use this feature the color will be completely off, especially your skin tones. You want good clean skin tones, eye color and hair color, so you must not forget this step.
Sound is another very important feature. A good audition tape is only as good as the sound, because your voice is your main instrument. No producer or casting agent has the time to sit through an audition tape with poor sound. Keep the mic as close to the talent as possible. Camera mounted microphones are not very close to the subject, so looking into the rental of a good quality Lavalier microphone might be worthwhile. Communicating character, and a sense of who you are as an actor depends on what you sound like so make it great. There are plenty of good acting classes in nyc that will help guide you through this process.
With these basics in place now is the time to think about content. An audition prepared for taping has some slight differences. Coaches trained in Meisner acting techniques can help you prepare for those differences. Using the Meisner acting tools can help create a riveting audition tape that does not seem rehearsed or staged. Keeping important elements under the surface, is something coaches of Meisner acting nyc can teach you how to develop. Cramming every emotion and gesture into a performance will always seem false. Leaving some elements of the character out, is one way to engage your audience immediately. An audience (which in this case is the auditors) will automatically begin to infer and look for clues they can infer about your character which engages them in your performance.
At times, actors are asked to include something very specific, but it should still have your own ideas incorporated. In a more general circumstance, it's good to have a recent audition tape with a monologue, ready to send out on a moment's notice. Let your strengths dictate your choices but you can also use your weaknesses. Legendary actors can present mesmerizing layers of emotion in a short time. The best comedians always have an underlying sense of tragedy, and the most dramatic performances are capable of lighter moments. Enlist the teachers of acting classes in nyc, or wherever you study, to review your practice tapes and incorporate their suggestions. We are not always the best judge of of our own work and being open to direction is a part of being a professional actor.
About the Author:
The Maggie Flanigan Studio provides nyc acting classes for serious actors. To learn more about commercial acting visit the studio website.
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