Amy Jo Berman is a casting director with more than 20 years of experience, including 14 years as Vice President of Casting at HBO. She has held countless auditions and hired a ton of actors. Let’s waste no more time, here are five pieces of advice she gave to actors.
Zig While Everyone Else Is Zagging…
Berman said most actors are predictable, “99 out of 100 of them are doing the exact same thing.” But to stand out is easy. Just do something different. Although, Berman warned, being ‘different’ is not wearing a clown nose or standing on your head or making crazy irrelevant choices… I mean… I guess you could and you would stand out… but for all the wrong reasons…
Doing something different simply means choosing a different choice even if it is just a tiny adjustment. May it be, in character choice, transition or how you sidestep the audition trap.
Don’t Look For Validation
We heard this one before. “A real acting pro, just does their thing without the need for validation from the Casting Director, Producer, Director or anyone else.” said Berman. Looking for validation can come in many forms, asking, your gaze, or your energy. So beware of it!
Connect On A Personal Level With The Casting Director
Most actors position themselves way below the casting director in status. “I’m a struggling actor and you, the Casting Director, are the solution to my problem – the answer to my prayers — the most important person in the world — the one who can give me my big break!” An example given by Berman.
Could this be any more accurate? I mean… I can hear it in my own voice! Psychologically, it is rather normal. The thing is, you need to rewire your brain to see it from another angle. You are doing your job, so as the casting director! So, connect with them on a REAL human, personal level! Ask them, how they’re doing? comment on something they wear. Talk to them the same way you would talk to a friend or another actor.
Be A Colleague
You are both there to do your job. “you must position yourself on an even playing field with the Casting Director.” said Berman. No one is more important than the other. Without one another, the work wouldn’t happen.
“When you can make that adjustment in your thinking and believe that you are equal with that Casting director, producer, … you will treat them differently. … They will treat you like an equal… ” Berman continued. Treating them as an equal will also reduce your neediness.
Create Confidence
Berman said that the shortcut to being confident is to create a character that is a confident version of you. Practice this character in your daily life. And when you go to an audition, let this character do its work.
That’s it! 5 pieces of advice given by Amy Jo Berman on how to stand out in your audition.
Do you have an upcoming audition? If so, which technique will you try to concentrate on? Let us know!