Imagination and Connection are two of the actors best tools. And when we are in the thicks of self-taping- we must engage both of these muscles in order to achieve a believable and grounded self-tape audition. Connection is what drives us so hard to reach out scene partner - and it is what allows us to be affected in our scene work. Imagination allows us to endow our small taping room into a dynamic environment and grants us permission to invent a myriad of details to make flesh out our scenes.
IMAGINATION:
I think of our imagination as our inner 3 year old. The child who can play in the sandbox and transform anything in to anything. Imagination is the playful energy that lets us play with what could be - rather than worry about what is. This is the skill we need when we are on set or stage. It's the ability to imagine more than what is actually there. To endow wooden walls into stone or to create universes from a green screen. Imagination is how we flesh out the details of our character's backstory. Every time we invent circumstances, or add details that aren't explicitly in the script - we are using our imaginative muscle. This muscle is especially vital in our self-taped auditions. Our reality is a plain, small space with camera gear and blank walls - but it is only through our imagination that we can create a more expansive environment and circumstances.
CONNECTION
To me- this is all about being fully present. To be able to be fully available and affected by what is actually happening in the room. To be able to see a person in front of you and drop in fully. Connection is all about being able to see in your partner everything that you long for- and truly hanging on their every word. It's about finding the need to affect your partner and working off of their every move. It’s about seeing them clearly from moment and taking them in and being affected.
WHY YOU NEED A READER
We should always be training both of these muscles. But an audition scenario- we don’t want to have it feel like so much work. If we can do anything to make our self-tape easier - we should do it. And for many folks, imagining a person where there is none, is a LOT of work. So if you are able to- use a scene partner. Even if they don’t have lines- even if it is for a commercial- even if your self-tape feels like you don’t have to have a reader in the room with you. Let at least let one of these muscles work a little less. Grab a real human being to be in the room with you. Drop-in and connect to that person - let their listening and non-verbal responses affect you.
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