Audition coming up! Help WANTED!

[mattspat]

Hey everyone,

So I have a feature film audition coming up for a horror film in a week or so. I am playing the character named Derek. I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions/ideas. Here are my sides (there are 2 reads)...

DEREK (20) – a tall slender man, although slender his body is well kept, he could easily be mistaken for a male catalogue model. His face is narrow and well defined with intense eyes. His hair is ruffled from sleeping, but normally styled with a spiky edge. Derek is very protective by nature doing everything he can to defend those he loves. He is outgoing, but never goes so far out on a limb to take stupid risks. He’ll always try and break down a situation before acting upon it.

READ #1

Derek and Ashley walk along the pathway seemingly flirtier with each other than earlier. Derek’s spirits are up and the colour has come back into his face.

DEREK
Favourite sport… baseball!

Derek chuckles.

ASHLEY
One quote that stands out in your mind that someone told you…

Derek shakes his head.

DEREK
I have no clue for that one. What’s with the questions anyway? You’re making me feel like I’m on a first date.

ASHLEY
Maybe you are.

Derek looks to Ashley with surprise.

DEREK
Oh really!

ASHLEY
No… but I’m still asking the questions.

Derek chuckles.

DEREK
Sure. But I think you know me pretty well, you’ve been friends with Lynn long enough.

ASHLEY
Yep. I still remember you being a brat when I’d stay the night at your house.



(CONTINUED)

#1 CONTINUED

Derek laughs.
DEREK
How many classic pranks did I pull on you two?

The two get closer to each other.

ASHLEY
Enough that I owe you some serious payback!

Ashley hip checks Derek playfully, it knocks him off his walking stride slightly.

ASHLEY (Cont’d)
Careful old man, don’t want to knock you over.

DEREK
Old man! Still younger than you, cougar!

Ashley laughs.

ASHLEY
I am so sure you just called me a cougar.

Derek goes to respond when a voice in the distance interrupts.

READ #2
A dirt pathway shrouded in darkness, the only light from the rays of the moon penetrating the trees. Derek continues to drag Ashley along the ground. When he feels as though they are far enough up the path away from the camp he drops Ashley to the ground crying.

DEREK
F**k… shi*…

Derek clutches at his face, brutally wounded. He breathes deeply trying to keep his composure.

DEREK (Cont’d)
This is dumb, we can’t stop. Ashley, we gotta move!

Ashley lies on the ground in the fetal position crying. Derek looks to her; he begins pacing fast.

DEREK (Cont’d)
Ashley… get up! We can’t stop… f**k.



(CONTINUED)

#2 CONTINUED:

Derek takes a few breaths. He kneels down next to Ashley taking her face in his hands.

DEREK (Cont’d)
We’re dead if we don’t move… you gotta get up!

Derek pulls Ashley into sitting position. Ashley just shakes her head crying, she is speechless.

DEREK (Cont’d)
Those things are going to come; you get the f*** up now!

ASHLEY
I can’t die… don’t want to die…

Derek winces in pain; he holds tears back trying not to cry.

DEREK
Then get up. Get the f**k up!

Nearby the sound of FOOTSTEPS CRUNCHING along dirt are heard. They grow louder and louder. Ashley screams hearing them. Derek grabs her wrapping his arms around her chest from behind.

DEREK (Cont’d)
Come on… come on… come on!

Ashley is too weak in the knees to stand on her own.

DEREK (Cont’d)
You have to stand… F***ing stand! Help me!

Ashley shrills with fear, tears streaming down her face. She struggles to hold her own. Derek begins again to drag her through the dark woods unsure exactly where he is going; just knowing he isn’t ready to die. Behind them the WHISPERS of creatures stalking intensifies.


Any help is appreciated!!

Matt

[Zak Forsman]

hi matt, welcome to the forum.

I don't see much of an emotional turn in those sides, which is usually a staple of an audition. i cant help but to think like a director, so for the first scene I would give you the objective of "use your words and actions to convince her you're boyfriend material". and for the second, I'd say.... hmmm... maybe I would tell you "she is slowing you down. she is going to get you killed. you have to convince her to get on her own two feet and save herself", until you see just how broken she is. then your objective turns to "you're going to save her. even if it means putting her life ahead of yours."

and as always, I would say to be a little loose with the words. feel free to let them come naturally, don't get hung up on using every word of every line.

[mattspat]

Thanks Zak. One question: for the second read do you think I should rush it as in go through it sort of fast or on the other hand take my time but perform it with a sense of urgency?

[Zak Forsman]

be true to the circumstances. I don't know how you play "fast". stick with something playable. this scene falls in a life or death situation, i presume. and i would expect it to be intense. but don't go in thinking "be intense". playing the result will read false and forced. play an action, follow the character's objective. you want to be in the character's head, not the actor's head.

[ConspiracyPenguin]

Welcome to the forum Matt. I am friends with Robbie and I saw the clip you did for him. It was good work.


and as always, I would say to be a little loose with the words. feel free to let them come naturally, don't get hung up on using every word of every line.

I couldn't agree more. What's funny, Zak, is I got a lot of flack for saying that same thing here a while back. But it is absolutely true. Especially for scenes like the first scene where the character isn't super defined and his behavior isn't really out of the ordinary. For a scene like that I would definitely be lose with the lines in order to give off a more realistic look (this is Nick, the actor, speaking) As for the second one, you can play around a little more. I would probably run it frantic, a little faster paced, because you are worried and you go from "I've got to get her to move." to "I've got to save her life."

I don't know if that was any help, but best of luck! :)

[mattspat]

Yeah forsure. Thanks guys I defiently played around with the dialogue and came up with some stuff that feels ALOT more natural. I was not able to get the line "Oh Really?" to sound natural one bit hahaha so I had to switch that up

thanks for all the tips though i really appreciate it

[mattspat]

I especially like the change in objective idea you guys gave for the second read I am defiently going to do that up

[ConspiracyPenguin]

Ha! That was the same line that felt awkward when I did my own read through here.

[mattspat]

haha yeah...hey Nick do you have any films I can see of you acting, or ones you have made?

[ConspiracyPenguin]

haha yeah...hey Nick do you have any films I can see of you acting, or ones you have made?

I don't have any films that I have made myself that are worth your time. I do have about 75% of the raw footage needed for one pretty good short piece, though. As far as acting, that is really the only FILM I have of me practicing the sport, I've done a lot of theatre work/improv since I don't live in LA. I do have some films that I have written but not filmed or acted in.

[Tom Marshall]

Don't forget... focus on the relationship between your character (Derek) and the other character, Ashley. In the first part, that's the most important element, really.

[Michele Seidman]

Yeah forsure. Thanks guys I defiently played around with the dialogue and came up with some stuff that feels ALOT more natural. I was not able to get the line "Oh Really?" to sound natural one bit hahaha so I had to switch that up

thanks for all the tips though i really appreciate it

mattspat

it seems you are getting sage advise but i took note that the "oh really" line was still giving you trouble. i can see why. or at least, i have my own idea of what the delivery of that line should be and the use of exclamation point was a bad punctuation choice. when i hear that line in my head and picture the guys face....i see it like this

_________________

DEREK
I have no clue for that one. What’s with the questions anyway? You’re making me feel like I’m on a first date.

ASHLEY
Maybe you are.

Derek looks to Ashley with surprise.

(we see a sly smile cross his face as it dawns on him she has the hots...and as they mention...he is surprised. so that sly smile has to be sweet, not a smirk)

DEREK
Oh really??

(His delivery here has to be playful and questioning...take note of her next line in reaction to his. That is why I added ? instead of the original !)

ASHLEY
No… but I’m still asking the questions.

Derek chuckles.
(SHE is asking the questions is the part that guides your delivery on the 'oh really')

Does that help at all? It should at least give you a few ways of trying that line.

[mattspat]

Hey Michele,

I looked it over and that seems to make a lot of sense. But when I deliver the "Oh" part of the oh really should I make it seem like I'm thinking to myself of the plausibility of it being a first date for a beat and then deliver the "really" in a playful inquisitive way?

But I'm still not sure if its meant to be a sarcastic "oh really" as in get out of here. or the type you said

ill do my best! thanks for the help guys

[Michele Seidman]

Hey Michele,

I looked it over and that seems to make a lot of sense. But when I deliver the "Oh" part of the oh really should I make it seem like I'm thinking to myself of the plausibility of it being a first date for a beat and then deliver the "really" in a playful inquisitive way?

But I'm still not sure if its meant to be a sarcastic "oh really" as in get out of here. or the type you said

ill do my best! thanks for the help guys

I don't see a single hint of sarcasm in that delivery unless the director tells you other wise. I see it as the 'oh' almost being a whisper with a tiny bit more power on the 'really'. Again..think sly yet subtle for a man. You almost want to pull the pony tail but instead wipe the stray hair from her face kind of moment. It is the gentleness I see with the line, like he is pleased to find out she is interested but afraid to say too much in case he read her wrong.

Again...if the director says other things...you may have to fuss with it more but I see that delivery.

[Michele Seidman]

PS...no beats between oh and really....

[mark_Cray]

I agree with Michele on the "oh really". I see that as a more playful question that would really come out sounding natural. think of Asheley endearingly teasing Derek when she says "Maybe you are". and a sly smile forming on his face as the line "oh really" is being given. a smirk MIGHT work, but would probably come off as entirely too cocky. kind of think of it as a quick little "cat and mouse game" of words. hope that makes sense.. I can see it in my head but it loses translation in typing..lol..