ETHLIE ANN VARE
Producer/Writer Ethlie Ann Vare (“Renegade”, “Silk Stalkings”, Gene Rodenberry’s “Andromeda”, "Earth Final Conflict" and "CSI") makes the following observations:
MD: When an actor auditions, what interests you?
EAV: As a writer producer we have a specific image in our mind for each part. Do you happen to sound and look like the person we have in our head? That person gets the job.
MD: What turns you off most in an audition?
EAV: Being too “Actory”, asking for a moment to prepare. Meditating before reading, doing ‘actory things' like doing an exercise from actors class before reading. It’s not good to seem too actory, serious or pretentious. We have to hang out with you guys on the set, we want you to be fun.
MD: What’s the most important word of advice you have for a beginning actor?
EAV: It never hurts to do your homework. If you have an audition get on www.imdb.com. Search the producer or director, see what else they have written, directed or produced. When you go in to audition say, “I loved that movie.... how did you get that shot....”
Entertainment is a business based on personal relationships. If you know someone that has worked with them don’t hesitate to say, “You worked with my friend so and so on such and such.” or, “Hey I understand you know so and so.” That will make the people feel like you’re one of them.
IN SUMMARY
The most important point Ms. Vare makes is to be fun, be friends. Remember, the producer, director and casting director are people too, they are human beings, just like we are. As Cindy Lauper says, “We just wanna have fun.”
There is no way to know what visual image the producer, director or casting agent has in his or her head. If you are fun to be with, they will call you again even if you didn’t fit the part this time.
I personally have even been known to create a part for an actor who read well and was fun to be around. Just take a deep breath (not too “actory” remember) hang your toes over the front of the board, and have fun.
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