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Posts Tagged ‘Auditioning’

Auditions Of Well-Known Actors :: New Page

Posted by Dana Kaminski on 15th November 2009 in Auditioning

Today I added a new page to Hollywood Actor Prep, called ‘Actors Audition’.

If you look up, almost to the very top near the logo, you’ll see it.

Click on those words, and the new page opens.

I put five there, but call it a tease…I’ve got a list of lots more videos. I’ll throw some more up soon.

actor-kristen-bell

Today I posted:

Dustin Hoffman, in drag, auditioning for ‘Tootsie’.

Kristen Bell auditioning for ‘Forgetting Sarah Marshall’.

A very young Miley Cyrus auditioning for ‘Hannah Montana’.

And two videos of Julia Roberts auditioning for something long before there were professional eyebrow groomers.

I l-o-v-e these!

I hope you do too.  Please let me know…

In case you feel it’s too athletic to scroll to the top of the page, here’s a link: Hollywood Actor Prep Actors Audition Page.

Best,

;~Dana

Share share share, please,  at least with one person who may like this. That’s the only fee. Thank you.

Boy With Absolutely Terrible Stagefright

Posted by Dana Kaminski on 4th July 2009 in Funny Stuff, Uncategorized

If you are an actor, you know this feeling.

YouTube Preview Image

Please share Hollywood Actor Prep with other actors.  I thank you.

Acting + Auditioning Advice From A Casting Director

Posted by Dana Kaminski on 11th November 2008 in Auditioning, acting business

About The Acting Profession, From A Casting Director,  Executive Producer …

I did an interview with David Tochterman, who was a casting director when I first met him, in New York.  Once I moved out here to Hollywood, I found myself auditioning for him out here…He had moved out to Los Angeles also.

He cast the highest quality productions, only, in theatre, film and television.  I always remember him as kind, and bright.  It was clear that he saw acting as an artform, and understood the actor’s process.  Respected it.  I remember he was kind to me, at all levels of my career.  This may have helped: I knew that he thought I had talent…I could tell by the way he ran the auditions that I did, and he seemed to know my capablities.  Not only did I think he “made room for them”, in the audition; but when I was nervous or, for some reason, thwarted from giving my best, he would give me another opportunity, another read. First, a casting director and Exec Producer at Carsey-Werner (from which came shows such as “Cosby”, “Cybill”, “Roseanne”, “Third Rock”); then he moved to  Overbrook Entertainment, Will Smith’s company.

RIght now, David Tochterman is off on his own, as an independent television producer.  Like many, he has expanded his expertise to the internet, and is a consultant for internet companies…

David obliged me by doing a chat about the business, free-form.  I was doing it as almost a “rehearsal” to give me a grid from which to pull together a few choice questions.  I felt he had offered quite a bit, on the chat, so I am copying it, straight. (About a third of it is missing, it somehow disappeared off the top!  I do remember what was said, though…)

Just before the following part, Tochterman had remarked that there were always so many talented people that would come to each audition.  One after the other.  He told me that he enjoyed the work so much, because of that.  And that he really loved actors, the depth, the artistry, how serious they were about their craft…

Here’s the transcript, the portion that was able to be saved:

Dana

you know i saw work in ACTING CLASS in new york that was amazing

11:53am

David

then you must realize that it’s also often a numbers game

11:53am

Dana

yeah.

11:53am

David

so many talented people, someone catches your eye, a directors fancy etc

11:53am

Dana

i was a volunteer at ENSEMBLE STUDIO THEATRE

11:54am

David

when i taught, i always told the actors in my class not to think about being cast, just to think about doing great auditions and moving on to the next one

11:54am

Dana

and i got really incensed one day when someone there who wasn’t an actor

in casting or someone i don’t remember who, director

said cream always rises top and i spoke out and said no it doesn t! there are many shy but brillint actors out there…welll…

i think actually what you just said about auditioning is the only way to really succeed

if you are trying to be good, you will suck and sink your audition

and if you keep trying to up your game, as far as using it to practice your craft + up yr skill level. then bravo

okay you have more to say

?

11:57am

David

you’ll never know the intangibles, just get as many at bats as you can and do your best…i’ve heard just as many stories about actors thinking they blew auditions and getting the job as stories about actors thinking they nailed it and never hearing back

11:57am

Dana

that is so true!

11:58am

David

someone once told me that if everyone got all excited during their audition and acted like they were going to cast them, they knew they’d never hear from them again!

11:58am

Dana

nailed it and wanted it in the worst way were big disappointments because expected to get it and shine.

yeah,

i had an audition for voice of betty boop and was sure it was me

11:58am

David

it was like a jinx, the more excited they got in their audition, the lower their odds of being cast

11:58am

Dana

they told my agent i seemed angry

angry?

11:58am

David

lol

betty boop is angry??

11:59am

Dana

i though i was being “confident”–

11:59am

David

well you’re a girl so its hard to tell the difference you know (joke)

just ask hillary-liked hillary

11:59am

Dana

actually angry betty boop is a funny character-didn’t matter anyway-it went to Victoria Jackson

yeah. i was just saying that to someone yesterday–same thing

hillary didn’t know WHAT to be, she thought she was being a confident professional

when she was 1st lady she was slammed for being too tough and for having bad hair, then when she made cookies

 

12:01pm

Dana

she got reeemed for that and then when she stuck by her cheating hubby she got reemed for that

she couldn’t win. so the way she did it was off putting

i thought she would have been the best choice myself but

it is kind of like an actor who hadn[‘t struck a hit for some time…

her “persona” wasn’t an authentic person

it wasn’t appealing

it was kind of a front

protective too

too bad.

12:02pm

David

yes

12:03pm

Dana

do you wish to talk about anything else–how is producing for you

12:03pm

David

whatever you like and think will be helpful?

12:03pm

Dana

oh wait one more auditioning ques

12:03pm

David

k

12:03pm

Dana

about the interview–part one is always schmooze a little, and then part 2 to flip into the read

the interview–any insights

12:04pm

David

emphasis on “a little”

12:04pm

Dana

oh don’t spend too much social time there?

or in self “sales”

?

12:04pm

David

you have to follow the convo but if someone wants to get to the reading quicker than you wanted to, just go with it

12:05pm

Dana

does anyone ever come “in character”

12:05pm

David

lol that’s very rare…

again, risky choice

12:05pm

Dana

and then do you think they are a nut

12:06pm

David

in general, i would strongly advise against it if you want to be taken seriously

12:06pm

Dana

i think it’s best not to do anything that may make you appear unstable. right:

12:06pm

David

yes, dont brandish weapons

dont kiss the casting director or reader no matter what it says in the script

or punch them etc

12:07pm

Dana

look at my blog! i have a screen test of james dean and he is holding and flipping a knife! i thought oh my! acting mistake number 1

12:07pm

David

“indicating” was invented for those moments in an audition

how am i doing so far?

12:08pm

Dana

wow. yeah, i guess after you do it for a while, you know the “ettiquette” –that sounds absurd to me

you are doing great!

and saved me some time from something i would have rushed to edit to put up, because i like to be very productive in regularly putting up content, and often;

we can even quit now if ya want.

does it matter if they learn the copy

12:09pm

David

well i have a lunch meeting, we can continue later if you want?

12:09pm

Dana

yeah , just tell me this

the lines, do they need to learn them completely

12:10pm

David

only if they specifically request it, otherwise i always advise to hold the sides even if you memorized them in case you forget or lose your place…it’s an audition not a memory test

12:11pm

Dana

 

weeeoooh

12:11pm

David

is that good or bad lol

12:11pm


Dana

 

everything you said is golden, tochterman.

 i will copy and send the transcript in email, have a delicious lunch…

12:12pm

David

coolio, will look for you later 

12:12pm

Dana

 

that was just an unexpected delight, by the way!!!!

 

bye ..talk later!

12:13pm

David

i agree, i enjoy talking about it…i loved those days..

12:13pm

Dana

 

me too

12:13pm

David

k see ya lata

12:13pm

Dana

 

lata gata

 

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