My first audition...

PS Keaten...you asked why everyone has to look in to everything....this is the web...people do hide behind screen names. Don't you think we would be stupid to NOT check further?

Besides..how can we really help you if we are not 100% sure what you need. I really tried to help....Doc tried to help a bit...jon posted a clip that was a joke on auditions...and I tried to give you as much as I could with as little info as you gave. others piped in later...

With MORE info...we can help more. If you don't want it public, send a private message!


sighh...

Doc..you asked me why I seldom come on here anymore....I get tired of trying to be straight up and help people for free when I get paid for it without hassle by people who thank me for taking their money and saying I don't charge enough. Then I try to do something here and 5 out of 10 times someone gets angry at me for questioning the details!

I'll just go moderate the biz of acting panel at the film festival this weekend and try to keep some working actors, agents and union folk from going off track when answering questions from those in training. I enjoy it a lot more than getting fussed at here giving it away for free!
 
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Keaton,

I know right now, you are probably thinking people are picking on you and attacking you. That is sooooo far from the truth.

It's that we have been EXACTLY where you are now. And let's face it, you have not told us everything about this role. So we see what info you have given and we make judgement based off that info.

And right now, here are my impressions:

1. Sunday audition: screams "Indie/Student film". Nothing wrong with that, but your initial post, was a bit shaky about that. Feature film, or however you want to describe it, if a real feature with a major house, well, auditions are not held on Sundays. Hence the "Indie/Student" label. Again, not a bad thing. But be honest about it. I have an audition coming up soon for a lead role in a "feature" and yes it is a "low Budget Indie". See, it's not hard to say.

2. New, inexperienced actor asked to audition for Lead: Extremely rare for a Major house. Not impossible, but extremely rare. But very common for a, well, "Student/Indie". Make the best of it, learn the craft, get what experiences you can from it. Again, it's not a bad thing working a "Student/Indie", there is a lot of value doing it, especially if you are new to acting (this is your first audition, right?) But not saying exactly what was going on may have made people think one thing, when you meant another. That audition I spoke of earlier, if this was a big house, do you think I would even be considered for the role? Hell no. I am going to be the armorer on set, and the Director, maybe as a way to sweeten me, asked me to audition. What does that say to me? "Hey we want your services for weapons and training our actors. If we give you a shot at the Lead, will you cut your rate?". So am I going Ga-Ga over this? Hell no. Do I pass on the Audition? No, still going to do it. If anything, gives me more experience in auditioning. I learn a lot from just going to an audition (300+ now). As an actor, I look for roles I feel I would excel at, whether a free role or a paid role. I love being an actor. But in all honesty, my experience is just experience and a few workshops. Am I good at what I do? I want to think so, but the reality is I cannot compete with truly trained actors. It would be foolish of me to think so. So I take what I can get, and gain everything I can from it. Sure, I have had decent paid roles, but is there an Oscar in the near future? LOL, probably not. All I am saying is just be honest, man. You are talking to actors that know more than just what you think we do.

Keaton, as friendly gesture, please tone it back a bit, and I think you owe an apology to someone here. That person is extremely knowledgeable in what advice they have given you, and believe me, that person has been a Godsend for my acting career. They tried to help you out, and you just took offense and basically said they were a liar. Most of the members here really want to assist and give their professional advice freely, whereas you would have to pay a lot for elsewhere. Take this in consideration when someone says something that you do not agree with or dislike. If we all said "Cool, good job, Great", what value would this site have other than just stroking your ego? Absolutely no value.

I am not going to sugarcoat this for you, I took some offense to your response to a certain member here. And, I am trying to be nice here, this is a pro site. You never know who you are talking to (hint, hint). If you plan on acting as being a real profession for your future, I suggest making amends quickly, yet honestly and privately. DVX has some real major players as members, and you are not putting your best foot forwards.
 
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It's a hard thing to tell tone of voice over the internet guys. I really do appreciate the advice and I am using it trust me. My tone in my last post happened to be sarcastic. By know means did I mean any harm. I love this place and the knowledge I have learned over the years on here. I do know nothing about being in an actors shoes for an audition. I wish I could give more information on it but really I don't have any. That's why I came here. Being I am a director/dp I would never never hold an audition like this. But hey these guys got money behind them and lets face it we all could use it especially right now in this economy. Plus as a director I really need to get better at understanding each actor and By taking an audition (even if it is on a sunday) I will walk away knowing more since I will have been there once now.

I really appreciate all the feedback and time everyone has taking to give me. Truly I do. And Michele thank you for the youtube advice. Truly brilliant. I never even thought about that!
 
"Am I nuts or is this a bit like what the Blair Witch folks did with giving the actors notes each morning in film canisters?"
I think its a little different process in that B.W. project was mostly improv (I could be mistaken) and Fishtank had a fully developed screenplay by an Academy award winner (best short Wasp) but chose to shoot chronologically and hold back much of the screenplay from the actors until a day or days before the scene was to be shot. This might be what the filmakers that Keaten is auditioning for might be going after. I just think its interesting and might be the filmakers reasoning in this case.
 
lambert thank you for that info. nice to be caught up with some of the new techniques some are going for. i have a hard time reading all the trades and news items! thanks for filling me in.

keaton...glad the dust settled on that...now tell us how your audition went? was it good? what ended up happening? would love to be filled in!
 
Your welcome Michele. Unfortunately it probably will be employed by filmakers who probably should be using more traditional techniques instead of every once in a while by highly talented writer/directors.
 
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