Audition Tips: Should You Slate in Character?
August 28, 2015
SLATING IN CHARACTER: YES OR NO?
I say it depends on the role. Overall, you want to be you in your slate as that’s what the industry is buying.
Let’s say you’re auditioning for an upbeat kinda character who’s the life of the party. I say slate how YOU are when you’re feeling like YOU’RE the life of the party.
Or maybe you’re auditioning for the guy/gal who just lost their best friend in a sudden plane crash. I say slate how YOU would feel if that just happened to you. So often I see actors slate like it doesn’t matter all that much. That the sides somehow matter more.
BIG MISTAKE.
From the moment you walk into the room we are watching you, assessing you and seeing if you already ARE that character. This is what ya call, ESSENCE, folks. And surprisingly we can tell before you even open your mouth and get to the sides if you’re right for the role. Of course there are those that surprise the hell out of you once they get to the work, but mostly we can already tell.
So do yourself a favor and have a thought before you slate. If you’re character is happy, what’s a happy thought? If she’s sad, what’s a sad thought? If he’s frustrated, what’s a frustrated thought? Have that thought, THEN say your name and watch how you start to come alive as that character right from the get go!