You arrive at the audition. You walk in and you know what you are looking for; someone who is completely focused. Someone who has given this audition their all. You want to see someone who has done their homework.

How do I know? Because this is exactly how I feel when I am casting a project. The goal of an audition is to book the job. In order to do that, you must give an audition your absolute best effort by being prepared and focused.

How do we prepare? First, by learning our lines and bringing them to life. Remember that the script is not about the words on the page, it’s about the story being told and the relationships between characters. By reading a script and understanding what it says about each character, you can begin to create a character of your own within those guidelines. The next step is to do whatever research necessary in order to make informed decisions about your character and their actions within the script; research not only of your character but also of the world they live in.

The next part of preparation is physical — using any tools available to create a character that we believe in: voice, body language, expression, etc… This will also include wardrobe choices that help define the character, where their place is in society

“Do you want to be on a hit TV show?”

“Mmm, yeah… I guess so.”

“Well, do you want to audition for the lead role?”

“Uhhhhh… Ok.”

Ok, maybe it wasn’t quite like that. But that’s how it felt. I was sitting in my living room with a casting director who had just called me out of the blue. I was already on a TV show, but only as a guest star. The opportunity to read for a lead role on one of the most anticipated shows of the year was both exciting and terrifying. This was going to be my first big audition in front of real executives and producers, and I didn’t know what to expect.

What you have to do to land a role depends on the role. What could get you an audition for a role in a TV show like “House” is completely different from what would get you an audition for a role in “American Idol.”

But I can tell you what works every time, and it might surprise you: It’s the simple things. Don’t try to be cute or clever or think too much about what “they” want to hear. They want to hear something that sounds real and honest, not something that sounds like it was written by someone trying to sell themselves. You don’t need to embellish your story or make it seem more dramatic than it was; just tell them the truth.

It’s funny, I’ve been in the industry for over 20 years and I still get nervous before an audition. But it’s a good nervous, the nerves that make you excited for the opportunity to perform and show off your skills.

If you’re new to auditioning, here are a few tips:

1. Prepare

Even if you only have a few days to prepare, or even hours, do as much as you can. Look at the sides (the script excerpts) and get a feel for who this person is and what they want. Then figure out how you can bring these things to life. If you have any time left over, learn your lines!

2. Research

Find out as much information about the project as possible. If you know it’s set in London in the 1960’s, then maybe don’t come dressed in your hipster wear! Look up the director and see if they’ve done any interviews on what they want from their actors. Watch any of their other work so you can get a feel for their style, whether it be comedy or drama or somewhere in between.

3. Create your character

This is where you really get to play and use your imagination! Build a backstory for this person and figure out why he/

You know the feeling. It’s the night before your big audition, and you’re lying in bed, staring at the ceiling, your mind racing a million miles an hour. What are they looking for? Do I have what it takes? Will I ever get another chance like this?

You can’t sleep, but you don’t want to get out of bed either. That would mean facing the reality of what you’re about to do: something that could be the beginning of everything you’ve ever wanted, or a crushing blow from which you may never recover.

Now you start to wish you had never taken this audition in the first place. Do they really need to see me? Can’t they just give me the part based on my headshot alone? But it’s too late now; there is no turning back.

The hours pass by as your panic mounts. The next thing you know, it’s morning and time to face the music.

Calling all Actors!

365 DAYS is looking for a lead actor to play a role in the upcoming short film.

If you believe you have what it takes, please send your headshots and resume to 365dayscasting@gmail.com.

Auditions will be held on Sunday, April 10th at 2:00 PM. Please arrive 15 minutes early with your headshots and resume.

Date: April 10th, 2016

Time: 2:00 PM (Please arrive 15 minutes early)

Location: The Studio Hollywood

1220 N Las Palmas Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90038

If you have been out to an audition recently, chances are you have been asked to prepare something from a piece of material. This is called “sides.” Sides are the individual scenes or monologues that will be used at the audition.

The director and/or casting director may have given you sides at the audition, or they may have emailed or faxed them to you in advance. The sides may be for just a few lines of dialogue (the “call-back” audition) or a scene that may run several pages.

In any case, “sides” are not a script! They are taken from the script and are intended to give you the minimum amount of information about your character and your scene that would enable you to make choices for your performance.