Quick Audition Tips Series-Tip #1: DON'T OVER-REHEARSE

Greetings!  It's good to be back in the real world after a family vacation in the woods of NH.  I'm excited to be back blogging about my life's passion: acting. 

As you all know, I am a big fan of Twitter and believe strongly in the importance of reaching out to the wonderfully talented professionals that are using social media to connect with actors and artists all over the world.  I am so blessed to have made some super connections with some amazing industry professionals over the life of my blog.  Looking ahead over the next three weeks, I am pleased to announce that over the next three weeks Casting Director Danielle Ezkinazi will be serving as a guest blogger and contributor for our Quick Audition Tips series.  

I've been following Danielle for some time on Twitter and have always been impressed and inspired by her insightful and helpful audition/acting information.  You can follow her via Twitter: @DanielleCasting and  Facebook 

Along with her social media prowess, Danielle has also developed two great 21st century acting services that are available to actors EVERYWHERE:  Actvice (a site where actors can submit reels, headshots and scene work for personal critiques by Danielle) and her own iPhone app full of helpful information.  Please take some time to check those sites out!  

Over the next three weeks, we will speak about three key areas that Danielle and I have agreed are essential Audition Tips for actors everywhere:

1.  Don't Over-Rehearse! (7/15)
2. TAKE & MAKE the Adjustment (7/22)
3. Make A Choice! (7/29)

Please comment away and we would love to hear your feedback on Twitter and the blog comments itself.   Enjoy! 

TIP# 1: Don't Over-Rehearse

BH: We all know preparation and rehearsal are crucial to an actor's success. It needs to happen. Practice, prep and research are huge parts of an actor's process, but like a lot of things in life: too much of anything can be a bad thing.  All too often actors fall in love with the idea of getting it "right" or "perfect." So much time is spent on reworking, repeating and refining, while the reality and realism of the performance suffers.  In many ways, the acting is noticeable and the reality and truth of the moment is stifled or neglected altogether.  Uta Hagen said that if she "could see the acting, [she didn't] like it."  This valuable insight still rings true for so many actors.  Too much preparation and not enough personality or organic truth can make the performance stand out for the wrong reasons. 

LA acting teacher Anthony Meindl takes this concept a bit further by positing that too many actors are caught up with the end result and therefore start to focus and obsess over what might happen, or what they want to happen. Essentially, this is a future focused mentality rather than one set in the present. When we worry or wonder about what might happen (will I remember lines? Will I be great? Will they like me? etc.) we have a tendency to waver and wobble when it's time to perform. Why is this?  It's because all the prep, rehearsal and research in the world cannot substitute for the beauty, richness and power of an actor who trusts the moment and is able to stay present during a performance.  Take time to prepare. Take time to practice. Just don't forget to remain open, flexible and above all else, HUMAN!

DE: This is so important: always be prepared but stay open.  The director may push you in a whole different direction and you have to be open to receiving the new information. You have to let go of what you rehearsed and be open to the directors suggestions. If there is anything that makes a good actor,  it's to take direction well.

BH: I love the "letting go of what you have rehearsed" comment.  Actors have to find ways to stop making it so much about what they think it should be and what they have practiced.  This is hard for many actors because so many have learned a very presentational style of acting that is based on controlling the scene, playing the character or forcing emotion rather than actually feeling it.  These things can take some time to unlearn, but it is possible to adjust!  Remember that CDs and audiences want to see truth, not a mythical super-polished illusion. We want to see you, not some fake characterization.
  
DE: Real personality is always more intriguing than a fake or false one.  Good information here. We want to see your authentic self.  Don't come into a casting audition as someone else. We want to see your personality and manifest into your character.  We love to see that progression.

BH: Authenticity will not only help you in your acting, it will help you in your personal life as well.  This is such a crucial part of our success as people and professionals: to find our real selves and be comfortable with communicating it in healthy ways in all that we do.  When it becomes less about the character or the success of a particular audition, and it becomes more about being the best version of yourself while maintaining a sense of openness and focus on the truth of the present moment, good things start to happen.  That is the progression that is so infectious in life and inside of the casting room. 

Find ways to keep focused on the task at hand without falling in love with your preparation and rehearsal.  And NEVER forget that CD's and audiences everywhere want to see authentic and truthful human beings, not illusions or fake automatons.  Keep up the scene rehearsals with lines and blocking.  But don't forget to rehearse bringing authenticity and realism into your work.