We have had to make compromises, as some people couldn't attend for various reasons and so we've organised two audition times: 4pm and 6pm, as well as Skype auditions.
Originally, only one female applied to the role when Abi advertised on Starnow, so she placed a separate advert on the website: Casting Call Pro. As well as this, we have "Talent Scouted" (if you like) some people we have met and feel may be appropriate for the male role.
At the moment Abi is doing a running job on set, with a documentary company in Brighton, and so in the meantime I have helped slightly with organisation. Abi did ask the Director on the set she is running on, if I would be able to shadow her, but unfortunately it wasn't possible as they were very busy/on a tight schedule.
I have been making preparations for the Audition process by booking out a camera and tripod for Friday, in order to film the auditions, as well as by devising improvisational pieces and preparing a segment of the script to be read.
We have also informed those auditioning that they will also need to prepare a minutes monologue.
The following is an improvisational task that I created for a male and female actor in auditions.
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Audition Exercises:
Cara
You are meeting with a man called Ray, who you recently had
a one night stand with, to give him back his mobile phone which he left at your
flat. You traced him through the owner of the bar (Pete) that you met in, who
he is close friends with.
You are both meeting in a Starbucks in town, at 8am – before
work. You are early and have found a table in the corner, and have ordered tea
for both of you. You work in a nail salon around the corner, and are dressed in
your pink uniform. It’s just a job you do on the side, whilst studying for a
PHD in psychology, but people often write you off as being stupid because of
how you look, as well as your (cockney) east end accent and your tendency to
talk a lot.
You are excited to see the man again because he is very
attractive and you had a fun night together; from what you can remember. This
is, however, tinged with some doubt because when you awoke after the night
you’d spent together, he’d already left your flat.
You want to give him back his phone, and chat to him
properly to see if you connect on any level, and are excited by the prospect of
a new relationship. You think that he could potentially be the man you’ve been
waiting for.
But you also want to know why he rushed off so quickly the
morning after, and make a vow to yourself that you won’t return his phone to
him unless he tells you. You are not to be fooled around with, and need to work
out whether his intentions were good or not.
Audition
Exercise: Ray
You are meeting with a girl you had a one night stand with, to get back your mobile phone which you foolishly left in her apartment, in your haste to leave the next morning - before she awoke. Your best friend, Pete, who owns the bar you met the girl in, came to yours last night to tell you to meet her in a Starbucks in town, at 8am - before work. You are your own boss, of a small, independent record label, and you don’t normally get up before 10am- unless, of course, you’re doing a bunk from a girl’s house. You are tired and irritable and simply want to retrieve your phone and leave. You’re wearing a suit, because that will support your story of ‘having to be at a meeting in half an hour’
You can’t quite remember the girl’s name, but you’re fairly sure it’s Carla. You thought she was reasonably attractive, but very keen and talked way too much. You also remember her being a bit of an airhead, and so you especially don’t want to engage in too much conversation.
You’re (self-admittedly) a bit of a commitment phobe, but every so often, you wonder what it might be like to have a serious relationship… and then you remember that you like your bachelor lifestyle of freedom, financially stability and fun. Why would you want to go and ruin it all by getting a girlfriend?
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The improvisational task involves giving both the male and female actor this information, regarding their character and the situation in which their characters meet, and allowing them to study it separately for a few minutes. They are then put together and are expected to improvise the rest of the scene. This type of task proved successful in our practice casting session with our tutor, and so I decided to create my own version for our auditions.
I wanted the situation to be loosely based on the script, in terms of the character types and their relationship/couple dynamic, but I was hesitant in making the situation too similar to the script because I want the actors (when chosen) to read the script with little previous knowledge of it, so that they can bring a fresh perspective. I also want them to be able to read it and make notes when they do finally see the script.
I wanted the situation to be loosely based on the script, in terms of the character types and their relationship/couple dynamic, but I was hesitant in making the situation too similar to the script because I want the actors (when chosen) to read the script with little previous knowledge of it, so that they can bring a fresh perspective. I also want them to be able to read it and make notes when they do finally see the script.
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Other things that we've been organising include the location for our final film. Alexanders - our favourite location - have responded to say that we will not be able to film in their showroom. This was a big disappointment but Abi has been contacting interior showrooms further afield, in Greater London:
12:30 : Leave Brighton (everyone already having had lunch)
14:30 : Arrive in Princes Risborough
14:30 : Rehearse with actors in space
16:30 : Shop closes/start shooting
21:00 : Wrap and pack up
21:30 : Leave location
14:30 : Arrive in Princes Risborough
14:30 : Rehearse with actors in space
16:30 : Shop closes/start shooting
21:00 : Wrap and pack up
21:30 : Leave location
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