The Psychology of Acting
Wednesday, October 14th, 2009 | Uncategorized
Really, someone should write a book about it. There might be some behavior/thought patterns that a lot of actor’s share when they are auditioning. I’m still trying to get over the ones that torture me sometimes. I had an audition a couple days ago, a long wait open call sort of thing for a non-paid play. Lots of nervous actors waiting around, some sitting on the couches and chairs in the waiting rooms, some standing in the hallway like statues and a couple pacing around outside rehearsing the material, which included me. I can’t sit the entire waiting time, it drains my energy and feeds my anxiety. I felt pretty confident, took some time to develop a character and soak in the material. There was about a 45minute to 1hour wait. The director called in people in pairs so they can read off each other. I got paired off with an older lady. We read for the same part. My understanding was there were a lot of female parts, but everyone auditioning was reading for the same part, then would be called in to read for a specific part at the call back. The director asked us each about one credit on our resume and told us to keep up the pace, and not be taking our sweet time reading the stage directions and leave him waiting. I guess a lot of actors were doing this, I don’t get it. But why was he complaining about the other actors to us right before we went into a scene? He certainly didn’t seem like he was enjoying himself. So I did my thing. I thought I did well. The director said “great’ then asked if I was available for callbacks and if day or evening would be better. He sure did make it sound like we both had callbacks. But I didn’t hear back. So then comes the psychology. I start saying all sorts of things to myself like “maybe the callbacks were postponed”, “maybe I booked it without a callback”, maybe, maybe, maybe! Trying to stay positive right? It might actually drive you crazy I think. Then the “why didn’t I get a callback?”, “Could I have done something different to get a callback or book that project?” Not to mention going over the scene in my head about 10 times after the audition is over, like I’m still rehearsing it. WTF? I know it’s hard to just leave the audition and forgettaboutit. But it’s like, this is my passion, this is important to me, opportunities to perform breathes life into me and then there’s the audition process that can be so jacked up. At least I had fun performing for those few minutes, whatever the outcome was. Now I just have to keep practicing to break the insane questioning and worrying and anxiety about the whole process. Yeah, so easy. Right. Someday I will be the Zen Auditioner. Maybe that would be a better book for someone to write.
Here’s a great article on the pains of auditioning from Leslie Mann’s veiw point. http://theinneractor.com/607/leslie-mann-audition-anxiety-and-rude-people/ I love this excerpt “I remember the people who were rude and dismissive; I would watch the TV show or movie they cast, and it was always a piece of shit. Always. And the people who responded to me or were kind to actors, they always made the good stuff. So when people are being assholes, you might as well not waste your time and walk away..” I should ingrain that into my head, it will help me get over the rude, pointless auditions in the future.
I have another comedy Christmas Play audition this coming Monday and I already feel like “why bother, you didn’t even get a callback for the first one?” Ridiculous, I know. Of course I’ll show up and do my best while trying to make that stupid little voice in my head just shut the F up.
Cheers!!
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