How to audition for a movie or tv show
Dreaming of making your debut on TV? Here, acting teacher Liz T. shares her tips for how to audition for a TV show…
Do you want to be on TV? You’ll first need to get some acting training under your belt and establish a solid understanding of current dramas and comedies on television. and that? here are your next steps…
how to audition for a tv show
Not only will we give you the best tips for auditioning, but we’ll also tell you how to get it right to audition for a TV show! follow these 5 steps:
- film yourself.
- criticize yourself.
- join the sag-aftra union (Screen Actors Guild and American Federation of Recording and Television Arts) .
- find your hearing.
- get ready.
film yourself
Because this is television, casting directors will want to see how you look and act on a screen rather than on a live theater stage. At home, try filming yourself on an iPhone, MacBook, or other movie recording device to see what it looks like. sometimes how we think we look on film is very different from how we actually look. When you do this, think about these questions: Do you look comfortable in the movie? Or is he making a lot of weird facial expressions, like blinking a lot, picking his nose, biting his lips, or raising his eyebrows? find out if you have any habits you can break before you walk into the audition room!
Also, we don’t recommend wearing black or white clothing on camera, as this can fade your skin tone. Wear something flattering and in a neutral color. casting directors don’t usually prefer ornate patterns or stripes.
criticize yourself
If you want to learn how to audition for a TV show like a pro, you need to criticize yourself on the following. If you’re doing an acting scene, either alone or with a partner on camera, you need to make sure your voice volume is accurate. You don’t need to speak too loudly, as the camera and microphone should pick up your normal voice, like on a Broadway stage when you’re trying to project your voice towards the back of the audience. but it also shouldn’t be so soft that they can’t hear a word you say.
Also, make sure you’re not looking directly at the camera the entire time, or directly at your scene partner. When you do your “simulated” filming experiment at home, notice where your eyes are most of the time. are they rolling, cross-eyed or stuck to something? they should look natural, with some movement, but nothing too still or sporadic.
When you watch your reading, make notes of where you should look at the camera and your scene partner in specific scenes or lines. maybe it’s a romantic scene, and you’re saying, “I love you.” you may want to try two different approaches, one directly on camera and one on your scene partner. Think about these techniques. Study your favorite actors and see how they do it and what strikes you!
join sag-aftra
Just like with movies, you’ll need to be a part of the sag-aftra (Screen Actors Guild and American Federation of Recording and Television Arts) union to start auditioning. if not, you can start by attending non-union auditions.
You will need to start working on television as an extra or understudy to join the syndicate. if a director hires him as a non-union actor in a role intended for or contracted to a union actor, he will receive an exemption each day he works, and once he receives three exemptions, he can apply to join the union. . if he is accepted, he will be required to pay a union initiation fee of approximately $3,000, along with monthly dues. it’s a very big investment, so make sure it’s something you really want to do! however, being part of the union will ensure that you are paid and treated fairly on set, and that you are also eligible for health and retirement benefits.
find your audition
Of course, if you want to learn how to audition for a TV show, you’ll need to know where to find the real auditions. try websites and resources like:
- www.playbill.com
- www.backstage.com
- www.castingnetworks.com
- www.actorsaccess.com
These sites mainly post auditions for big cities like new york, los angeles, orlando, boston and chicago. some of these websites will require a fee to join (it’s worth it!). and some can submit your headshot and resume to the casting director online, without having to audition in person.
get ready
While you don’t need to panic when you receive an audition schedule or attend an open call, you do need to prepare for the audition! You’ll need to bring your headshot and resume to the audition, and also be prepared that it may take less than two minutes, or you could be in the audition room for an hour. be prepared for both scenarios.
There may be one or more casting directors in the audition room. sometimes they’ll give you the script or “sides” a few days or weeks in advance, or sometimes you’ll get it on the spot! If you’re reading on the spot, it’s good to practice this kind of “cold reading” before your audition. Find a friend and challenge yourself by reading lines or monologues. see what your natural reading tendencies and acting options are.
when you enter the room, be very polite and be yourself. sometimes the casting directors will want to chat and have a conversation with you, but other times they just want to focus on the audition. try not to distract them. in a television audition, it will most likely be filmed. Sometimes they will send you to another casting office in Los Angeles or New York, so you should feel as comfortable as possible auditioning with a large camera or multiple cameras right in front of your face.
If you want to practice reading lines, work on your monologues, or learn more about auditioning for a TV show, working with a professional acting coach is a great idea!
Liz T. teaches online singing, acting, and music lessons. She is a graduate of the Berklee College of Music with a B.M in Vocal performance and currently performs/teaches all styles of music including Musical Theater, Classical, Jazz, Rock, Pop, R&B, and Country. Learn more about Liz here!
photo by nican45
