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\u2019s waste no more time, here are five pieces of advice she gave to actors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Zig While Everyone Else Is Zagging\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Berman said most actors are predictable, \u201c99 out of 100 of them are doing the exact same thing.\u201d But to stand out is easy. Just do something different. Although, Berman warned, being \u2018different\u2019 is not wearing a clown nose or standing on your head or making crazy irrelevant choices\u2026 I mean\u2026 I guess you could and you would stand out\u2026 but for all the wrong reasons\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Don\u2019t Look For Validation<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We heard this one before. \u201cA real acting pro, just does their thing without the need for validation from the Casting Director, Producer, Director or anyone else.\u201d said Berman. Looking for validation can come in many forms, asking, your gaze, or your energy. So beware of it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Connect On A Personal Level With The Casting Director<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Most actors position themselves way below the casting director in status. \u201cI\u2019m a struggling actor and you, the Casting Director, are the solution to my problem \u2013 the answer to my prayers \u2014 the most important person in the world \u2014 the one who can give me my big break!\u201d <\/em>An example given by Berman.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Could this be any more accurate? I mean\u2026 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\u2019re doing? comment on something they wear. Talk to them the same way you would talk to a friend or another actor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Be A Colleague<\/p>\n\n\n\n You are both there to do your job. \u201cyou must position yourself on an even playing field with the Casting Director.\u201d said Berman. No one is more important than the other. Without one another, the work wouldn’t happen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhen you can make that adjustment in your thinking and believe that you are equal with that Casting director, producer, … you will treat them differently. \u2026 They will treat you like an equal\u2026 \u201d Berman continued. Treating them as an equal will also reduce your neediness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Create Confidence<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That\u2019s it! 5 pieces of advice given by Amy Jo Berman on how to stand out in your audition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Do you have an upcoming audition? If so, which technique will you try to concentrate on? 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