Comments on: The Art of Business http://theactingroom.com/2008/02/24/the-art-of-business/ The Acting Room is a place by actors for actors. Sun, 20 May 2012 02:51:49 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.1 By: Ozzy http://theactingroom.com/2008/02/24/the-art-of-business/#comment-128 Ozzy Thu, 03 Apr 2008 17:26:26 +0000 http://theactingroom.com/2008/02/24/the-art-of-business/#comment-128 Let me chime in here any say that Casting Calls are a completely different beast from preparing for a role and actual performance. Remember to look at Casting and Auditioning as a business, a job interview. They call LOTS of people for MANY roles all at the SAME time , that they just don't have the time to "allow" actors to come in with props and tons of business. They just want you to be professional, come in on time, give a headshot/resume, be polite, READ WELL, take some direction if given, tell them a little about yourself if they seem interested, and then LEAVE! :) The truth is, as an actor, you learn very quickly NOT to walk into busy casting offices with probs and other stuff -- you'll be the ONLY ONE, and believe me, it doesn't help you at the end of the day. When it comes time for you to READ, you don't want to be worrying about sorting out all your props/business... This blog needs a few more posts on this subject *hint* *hint* Let me chime in here any say that Casting Calls are a completely different beast from preparing for a role and actual performance.

Remember to look at Casting and Auditioning as a business, a job interview. They call LOTS of people for MANY roles all at the SAME time , that they just don’t have the time to “allow” actors to come in with props and tons of business. They just want you to be professional, come in on time, give a headshot/resume, be polite, READ WELL, take some direction if given, tell them a little about yourself if they seem interested, and then LEAVE! :)

The truth is, as an actor, you learn very quickly NOT to walk into busy casting offices with probs and other stuff — you’ll be the ONLY ONE, and believe me, it doesn’t help you at the end of the day. When it comes time for you to READ, you don’t want to be worrying about sorting out all your props/business…

This blog needs a few more posts on this subject *hint* *hint*

]]> By: Caroline http://theactingroom.com/2008/02/24/the-art-of-business/#comment-127 Caroline Sun, 30 Mar 2008 21:09:08 +0000 http://theactingroom.com/2008/02/24/the-art-of-business/#comment-127 I absolutely love this entry! It is something so simple, yet it affects a performance SO much, and in my experience its rarely just talked about and put out there. So thank you! I recently saw a show where the lead character carried around a stress ball in certain scenes. He was a recovering alcoholic, prone to anger. It was an interesting touch, that many people didn't even notice. It didn't overwhelm the scenes or take attention away from the dialogue - it just completed the picture. Great great use of business. My question is this...when you are called to do a monologue for an audition - it's just you standing up there in a room or on a stage. I've heard that many directors or casting agents discourage taking props with you, so how do you create that act of "business" without using anything? I know you have mentioned things like picking your nails or things with your body, but can you do that in a way that doesn't look like it is actually just a nervous habit of your own, not the characters? I don't know if that made much sense haha, so if I need to clarify the question more let me know. Thanks so much! Keep up the great work, I love the site! I absolutely love this entry! It is something so simple, yet it affects a performance SO much, and in my experience its rarely just talked about and put out there. So thank you!

I recently saw a show where the lead character carried around a stress ball in certain scenes. He was a recovering alcoholic, prone to anger. It was an interesting touch, that many people didn’t even notice. It didn’t overwhelm the scenes or take attention away from the dialogue - it just completed the picture. Great great use of business.

My question is this…when you are called to do a monologue for an audition - it’s just you standing up there in a room or on a stage. I’ve heard that many directors or casting agents discourage taking props with you, so how do you create that act of “business” without using anything? I know you have mentioned things like picking your nails or things with your body, but can you do that in a way that doesn’t look like it is actually just a nervous habit of your own, not the characters? I don’t know if that made much sense haha, so if I need to clarify the question more let me know.

Thanks so much! Keep up the great work, I love the site!

]]> By: Kirsten Tretbar http://theactingroom.com/2008/02/24/the-art-of-business/#comment-125 Kirsten Tretbar Tue, 25 Mar 2008 22:39:37 +0000 http://theactingroom.com/2008/02/24/the-art-of-business/#comment-125 Don, Thanks for the question. Well, what might you find in an interegation room? Have you come in there right off of the pitching field, in other words, what were you doing before? What might you have on you? In your pockets? Could you be winding an old watch your father gave you, your father whom you HATED? Could you be washing your glasses slowly and carefully? Could you be cleaning your finger nails? Could you be popping a pen in and out, clicking it? Could you be playing with a lighter? (they'd probably take that from you). Maybe you find something on the table and start to "play" with that. I doubt you'd bring in some fruit. Smoking a cigarette is kind of obvious, so I'd stay away from that. But you could have one behind your ear, and you could keep rolling it in your fingers, acting like you need to smoke but not smoke. If someone handed you a drink with ice, chewing on ice would be scary. If you pick something related to the way you killed th other player, that would be scary -- not sure what I mean -- but something that tells us about you, or your fears. Maybe even just rubbing your arm, like you have pitcher's elbow, would be creepy. Business can also be related to the senses, and sensory work, like you smell something that bothers you, or you feel pain in your body, and move differently because of it, or you have something in between your teeth that you're picking at (remember, pitchers chew tobacco, and might have some still in their teeth.) Chewing tobacco and spitting it might be obvious, but also, pretty gross, and kind of creepy and cool too. Hope this helps, and good luck. Picking some unusual activities will really help this scene! Don,
Thanks for the question. Well, what might you find in an interegation room? Have you come in there right off of the pitching field, in other words, what were you doing before? What might you have on you? In your pockets? Could you be winding an old watch your father gave you, your father whom you HATED? Could you be washing your glasses slowly and carefully? Could you be cleaning your finger nails? Could you be popping a pen in and out, clicking it? Could you be playing with a lighter? (they’d probably take that from you). Maybe you find something on the table and start to “play” with that. I doubt you’d bring in some fruit. Smoking a cigarette is kind of obvious, so I’d stay away from that. But you could have one behind your ear, and you could keep rolling it in your fingers, acting like you need to smoke but not smoke. If someone handed you a drink with ice, chewing on ice would be scary. If you pick something related to the way you killed th other player, that would be scary — not sure what I mean — but something that tells us about you, or your fears. Maybe even just rubbing your arm, like you have pitcher’s elbow, would be creepy. Business can also be related to the senses, and sensory work, like you smell something that bothers you, or you feel pain in your body, and move differently because of it, or you have something in between your teeth that you’re picking at (remember, pitchers chew tobacco, and might have some still in their teeth.) Chewing tobacco and spitting it might be obvious, but also, pretty gross, and kind of creepy and cool too. Hope this helps, and good luck. Picking some unusual activities will really help this scene!

]]> By: Don http://theactingroom.com/2008/02/24/the-art-of-business/#comment-124 Don Mon, 24 Mar 2008 06:07:58 +0000 http://theactingroom.com/2008/02/24/the-art-of-business/#comment-124 I am in a play about baseball and I play a pitcher that killed a batter. I have a scene currently that takes place in a jail interegation room. There are two other actors and myself. Stage objects include three chairs and a table. I thought of peeling an orange but there is no where for me to put the rinds. I could eat an apple, not sure what to do with the core. I am thinking a ....baseball...but really such "business" would be? I can't pitch the ball in the scene so.... I am stuck . I want my performance to be excellent, could use some ideas. Thanks. I am in a play about baseball and I play a pitcher that killed a batter. I have a scene currently that takes place in a jail interegation room. There are two other actors and myself. Stage objects include three chairs and a table.

I thought of peeling an orange but there is no where for me to put the rinds. I could eat an apple, not sure what to do with the core. I am thinking a ….baseball…but really such “business” would be? I can’t pitch the ball in the scene so…. I am stuck .

I want my performance to be excellent, could use some ideas.

Thanks.

]]> By: John P Tretbar http://theactingroom.com/2008/02/24/the-art-of-business/#comment-122 John P Tretbar Thu, 28 Feb 2008 13:05:09 +0000 http://theactingroom.com/2008/02/24/the-art-of-business/#comment-122 Rock-solid acting advice Kirsten. I, too, trained in the art of Improv with former 2nd City alumni. I've been cast in just under seventy plays, four features and twenty short features, all while working full time in radio. I've had one comment come back time and time again stage, screen and radio: it's easier to pull an actor back, than it is to push them to a desired effect...and I've never had that problem. I'm a "rein-me-in" kind of actor. As a result I've won national kudos and been cast in national and regional productions, where even my small roles get noticed without stealing the show. My leading roles have won national recognition in juried competition. There's a side-benefit from working out stage and screen business early: by tying the lines to specific actions, you'll find it much easier and quicker to actually memorize the lines. Rock-solid acting advice Kirsten. I, too, trained in the art of Improv with former 2nd City alumni. I’ve been cast in just under seventy plays, four features and twenty short features, all while working full time in radio.
I’ve had one comment come back time and time again stage, screen and radio: it’s easier to pull an actor back, than it is to push them to a desired effect…and I’ve never had that problem. I’m a “rein-me-in” kind of actor.
As a result I’ve won national kudos and been cast in national and regional productions, where even my small roles get noticed without stealing the show. My leading roles have won national recognition in juried competition.
There’s a side-benefit from working out stage and screen business early: by tying the lines to specific actions, you’ll find it much easier and quicker to actually memorize the lines.

]]>