Acting in Columbus Newsletter | March 2009: UPCOMING AUDITIONS

UPCOMING AUDITIONS

ACTORS’ THEATRE Auditions for Summer 2009 Season Saturday March 14, 2009 (10 a.m. to 5 p.m.) & Sunday, March 15, 2009 (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.) German Village Meeting Haus 588 S. Third St. Columbus, Ohio 43206 - Call 614.444.6888 to arrange 5 minute auditions. Actors’ Theatre 2009 Season: The Three Musketeers Directed by John Kuhn (May 28 to June 28) The Tempest Directed by Pam Hill (July 2 to August 2) As You Like It Directed by John Kuhn (August 6 to September 6). http://www.theactorstheatre.org/

EMERALD CITY PLAYERS Auditions for "Cliffhanger" By: James Yaffe Directed by: Linda Sopp Performances: April 24 - May 9, 2009 Auditions: Sunday, March 1, 2009 - 7:00 PM Monday, March 2, 2009 - 7:00 PM Auditions will be reading from the script. http://www.emeraldcityplayers.com/audition.htm

GALLERY PLAYERS An open audition for the final production of Gallery Players' 60th season will be held Sunday, March 15, from 5 to 7 p.m., and Monday, March 16, from 7 to 9 p.m. The Tale of the Allergist's Wife is the story of how one woman deals with her own mid-life crisis. This production will run three consecutive weekends, from Saturday, May 9 through Sunday, May 24. Please call (614) 559-6248 with any questions. http://www.jccgalleryplayers.org/auditions.php

Audition. A formally arranged session (usually by appointment through an agent) for an actor to display his or her talents when seeking a role in an upcoming production of a play, film or television project.

Callback. A second audition where an actor is either presented to the producer and director or, in the case of commercials, is filmed on tape again for final consideration.

Cold Reading. Delivering a speech or acting a scene at an audition without having read it beforehand.

Cue Cards. The large flash cards that have an actor’s script printed on them and that are read when auditioning for a role in a TV commercial.

Monologue. A speech used by an actor to demonstrate his or her ability at an audition.

Open Casting Calls. Auditions open to anyone.

Scene Study and Analysis. A pre-audition practice of studying a few pages of a script ahead of time.

Screen Test. A recorded audition to determine a person’s suitability as an actor for film or television.

Sides. Designated scenes pulled out of an entire script to be used for auditions.

Sign-in Sheet. Exhibit E SAG/AFTRA Audition Report which an actor fills out and initials upon arrival at a casting office.

Signing Out. The act of entering the time you exit an audition on the Exhibit E Sign-in Sheet.

Slate. The act of stating your name and agency on a commercial audition while being videotaped.

Typed-out. The elimination of an actor during auditions because of such obvious features as height, weight or age.

An agent is an actor's representative. Once an agent Represents you, you are his or her "client." They will submit you for roles and try to get you seen by casting directors. They will take 10% union - 20 % non-union and print work, of your gross pay once you book a job. They will negotiate your fees and your contracts, and are your greatest professional advocate.Agents represent lots and lots of wonderful actors. They're busy, and they may not even be looking for new clients. Getting any agent is hard enough, so how do you go about getting a great one?

There are three basic ways an actor gets an agent. They are:1. The agent sees your work and calls you in for an interview.2. You are recommended to the agent by a casting director, director, producer, acting teacher or fellow actor who is a client of that agent.3. The agent calls you in for an interview because of your P/R (photo and resume), which he or she received in the mail.Getting an agent to see your work is the best way to get representation, because they really need to get to know your work before they can represent you to the best of their ability. Even if you get an agent interested via another route, they'll probably want to see you have some training and/or experience before they'll represent you.

The most basic way to approach agents or managers in your entertainment career is of course the mailed-in submission, which consists of a cover letter, résumé, and headshot(s). You may also include a reel, if you have one. When it comes to assembling your packet, it's generally best to keep things simple. After all, agents and managers have seen every gimmick in the book - from food to party favors - and these gimmicks usually end up in the trash. But if you're in a play or showcase that spotlights your talent particularly well, invite reps to see you.

How important are franchised agents? Very! A talent agent can be an actor’s greatest ally, strongest supporter and best business partner. Franchised agents place the interests of their actor clients above their own. They do more than just seek out work opportunities for their clients. They also make sure actors are paid a decent wage, assist the actor negotiate and sign union contracts and help make the workplace a safe environment. Choosing a franchised talent agent is one of the most important choices a performer can ever make.