Any Tips on How to Audition Actors with Minimal Dialog?

L

Lee Stokes

Member
Hi...
I have auditions this Sunday (8/22) for my short dramatic film I am making.

The script I have has very little dialog in it, and even the minimal dialog itself is more throw away lines, ie the characters involved are in an awkward situation and pretty much only talk to break the tension.

Anyways, I have sent my prospective actors an excerpt from the script, and have asked them to bring their own short dramatic piece to share, but I was wondering if any of you out there have any particular tips on auditioning actors when there isn't much for them to read from the actual story?

The characters are a 40yo man, and a 40yo woman. The movie will be more about a moment & mood than story or characters.

Thanks
 
Maybe you could write an alternate script based on your original with extra lines.
Get them to read it in different ways so you can see their range
and to see if they are willing to take your direction.
 
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J Davis hit it on the head... With a project like this you need to know if they are "workable" actors. You will be doing alot of directing with this sort of style of film. I would think it is imparitive to be auditioning their flexibility as much as their talent. Make sure you have actors who "get" your vision. Because believe it or not, some just dont. Makes for a rough shoot
 
I'd recommend auditioning them for how well they internalize direction. have them play the scene, each following one set of objectives, then again following a different set. if they play it identical, there's going to be a problem on set as you try to shape the performances. you'd be surprised how many actors can only play something one way.
 
oh and I don't know that you necessarily need more dialogue for the auditions. couldn't hurt. but I've held some auditions where the actors are given opposing objectives but can't speak to each other. it reveals quite a bit. usually save that for callbacks so we can pair up actors we like.
 
If it were my project... I would be very interested to see how they perform "my script"... even if it doesn't have much dialogue. Do you have a vision of what the characters will look like and act like? Any quirks or tendencies? I'd be very interested to see how they handle themselves during the tense exchange when they aren't speaking. This is what will carry this films scenario.. or so it sounds to me. Body language, facial expressions and persona are different with every individual. l'd be looking for the people that bring a piece of themselves to the character, and own the scene. Of course they must do a good read... but acting is more than just dialogue... I look for the people who fit my vision and will bring the characters to life.
 
An axiom I live and work by:
"The camera loves to see you think. It doesn't really care what you say or how you say it."

Obviously. How it's said matters. But too often the focus is on that and not on the inner life, or inner monologue, or turning gears behind the eyes. So I spend a lot of time trying to get actors to do less work on the way it sounds or less thinking about that and to do more work on really thinking the thoughts and going through the mental process of the given circumstances and the reality of what they're playing off of - the other actor, what the other actor is giving them, etc. When that lines up, how it sounds will take care of itself if you've cast well.

It sounds like the heart of your scene takes place everywhere but the lines. So knowing they can play lines well by giving them more lines to do doesn't sound like it will really serve you.

You want to see two things.
- Can they play (act, communicate, be present, alive) without dialogue. Especially since that's the important part of your scene.
- Can they take direction

Just have them play your scene and give them some adjustments to see if they can take them.

And make sure you review the audition via tape. Because that's what your looking for - does this actor have an inner life that reads and has a spark on camera.
 
Also - theater directing trick.

Give them each two pieces of text to read but watch the one that's not reading. See how he/she listens. The idea being that your looking for the actor that listens to the other actor, willing to maybe flub their own line, vs the actor that ignores the reading actor while mentally rehearsing his/her own bit.

As with anything this is one tool. Don't read too much into it. There's plenty of fine actors that might be rehearsing their own part because they want to "get it right" and please you. But you might have a real winner on your hands, especially for the type of scene you're describing if you find an actor whose first impulse is to listen / be generous to the other performer in the room.
 
Wow, thanks everyone... a lot of good stuff here. I still don't know exactly what path I will be taking, but I certainly have some better ideas now.

Keep 'em coming. I am busy so I can't respond to each individual suggestion, but eventually, I will read all of them before my auditions.

THANKS!!! I am very excited.

Lee
 
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