“Yay! Christmas break is finally here. My day is free to do whatever I please, all day long”. Like every other teenager in Vancouver, I went and checked my Facebook page first thing in the morning. Little did I know that I would be assisting one of Vancouver’s top casting directors in just a couple of hours.
To be honest, before I entered Shoreline, I was full of nervous butterflies. Especially because when I was little I used to audition in this very building. It truly felt surreal to be standing outside of Shoreline on my way to work there as a teenager!
My day consisted of signing in actors, organizing people in to different groups for the audition room, photocopying hundreds of forms, helping Jill Kabush, and lots and lots of stapling. For some people this might sound super boring. But I was in my element! It felt like I was walking on cloud nine. I couldn’t stop smiling the entire day!
In between groups of auditioning actors, I was brought in to the audition room to meet Jill Kabush. I had heard many different things about Ms. Kabush; especially because the acting community here in Vancouver is so small. Thankfully, I was met with a bright smile! It turned out that Jill was very welcoming as well as understanding, since it was my first day on the job. We got along quite nicely.
As actors we always assume that whomever is sitting in a “big black chair” behind “the table” is dangling our career in front of us on a string. Well, there I was sitting next to Ms. Kabush in one of those “big black chairs”. I felt like giggling or pinching myself!
Experiencing the audition room from casting’s perspective was incredible. It was like I was a fly on the wall gathering up all of this information to share with you, my fellow actors.
As an actor I used to imagine the audition room as a small cramped space, with people lurking in the shadows that you can’t see very well. With white lights blinding your eyes while you try to make some sort of interesting conversation with the casting director. For me during an audition I felt like a mannequin on display in a store window.
Now, after being a shadow myself, and seeing the auditioning process from the other side of the table. I feel like there’s ever more reason to embrace the coziness of the audition room. Because everyone in the room wants you to do well and succeed. It’s true! They are rooting for you and they will try to help you as much as they possibly can. As actors we feel like we have to prove ourselves in the audition room. When actually your individuality will secure the job for you. That’s why they say “bring yourself to the part”. When you add a pinch of your personal touch to your work, that’s when you stand out from the crowd. “You have to trust that you are enough”.
Another thing that really stood out to me, was the way that the actors presented themselves and interacted with casting. Some were tense and nervous, where as others were too relaxed. For you, try to meet the happy medium. If you are a working actor please don’t forget your manners! You should still keep that professionalism between you and the casting director during your audition. If you don’t, you look very full of yourself. Casting does notice how you behave when you’re in the audition room. Just a reminder! Always be sure to say thank you after your audition. Gratitude separates you from other actors.
Do your work before the audition. Know your part well enough so that if casting asks you to improv the part you will be prepared. Breathe. If you are breathing big deep breaths it calms you down and makes you look more confident. Take your time, don’t rush. Ground your feet and feel rooted to the floor. Enjoy yourself and come to play!
Written by: Heather Leavoy
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