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It\u2019s a delicate thing.\u00a0 It only takes a shift of your weight, the flip of your hair behind your ear, or a glance at your sides that breaks their suspension of disbelief.\u00a0 You know – the magic that keeps them in the story, living it with you.<\/p>\n
Not to mention the competition you already have with their phone flashing text messages, the assistant coming in, the headshot<\/a> and resume<\/a> sitting in front of them. That\u2019s all they need to feel like you didn\u2019t hold their attention and say those dreaded words, \u201cThank you. NEXT!\u201d<\/p>\n Just because they\u2019re watching your Self-Tape, it doesn\u2019t make any of those distractions go away. It\u2019s worse. They don\u2019t have your physical presence to demand that they pay attention.\u00a0 So it\u2019s easy for them to just swipe to the next actor.<\/p>\n How Do I Keep Casting\u2019s Attention?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Show business is tough. There are thousands of actors vying for every role. Literally \u2013 thousands!\u00a0 Stewart Stone Casting said that there are over 2000 actors being submitted for each role. And that was before all auditions went online.<\/strong>\u00a0 Now they can take submissions from anywhere in the world.\u00a0 And they will!\u00a0 And they do.<\/p>\n Casting will do just about anything to find the perfect actor for that role.\u00a0 So, the actor that books the job has to hold the attention of casting. And not just casting, then there\u2019s the director, the producers and if it\u2019s TV, the network executives (\u201cThe Suits.\u201d) This is how you book work and it\u2019s HARD to do.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n You can\u2019t be just a good actor or even a great actor.\u00a0 You have to be undeniable!\u00a0 I cannot say this enough. YOU HAVE TO BE UNDENIABLE!<\/strong>\u00a0 The competition is too stiff.<\/p>\n What is undeniable?\u00a0 Undeniable definition: <\/strong><\/p>\n 1. <\/strong>To be incontestable\u00a0 \u2013 which means absolutely no one<\/u> can argue the fact that you\u2019re perfect for the role. <\/strong><\/p>\n 2. Unquestionably excellent or genuine.<\/strong><\/p>\n I love the second definition because that is what defines great acting \u2013 unquestionably excellent and genuine: authentic, natural, believable.\u00a0 That\u2019s what everyone wants in an actor \u2013 not only genuine on camera but when the camera is off and they\u2019re dealing with you as a business associate.<\/p>\n How do you make your Self-Tapes and in person auditions UNDENIABLE so that you hold your viewers\u2019 attention?\u00a0 All the time.<\/p>\n Have an Intention!<\/strong><\/p>\n Yeah, maybe you use different terminology – like objective or goal in the scene. \u00a0 Exactly.\u00a0 I call it intention.<\/p>\n Why Is an Intention So Important?<\/strong><\/p>\n Because most actors take their intention for granted – meaning most of the time they don\u2019t even use one in their scenes. \u00a0 In the years I\u2019ve been working with actors as a director on film and theatre and as an acting teacher in Hollywood \u2013 including working at the SAG\/AFTRA Conservatory, I\u2019ve seen a lot of auditions, Self-Tapes, and cold reads.<\/p>\n I think about 1 in 100 actors tell me that they used an intention in their performance.\u00a0 So just think – if you actually have an intention in a scene – that increases your odds of standing out in the room by 98%.\u00a0 Okay, forget the math – but get my point? That\u2019s a lot!<\/p>\n Most actors are focusing on what they\u2019re feeling, an emotion or what they want to play in the scene.<\/p>\n How weird, right?\u00a0 An acting coach in Hollywood who doesn\u2019t talk about emotions?\u00a0 That\u2019s right. Because emotions are a by-product of intention.<\/p>\n Think about it – do you believe the performance of someone who is trying to cry, focusing on themselves and their pain in the scene. No, my experience tells me that you won\u2019t believe that performance because it\u2019s manufactured and forced.\u00a0 When we \u201cplay\u201d emotions, we are forcing them or indicating the emotion. What\u2019s so powerful is to watch someone who is living in an experience, and they start to cry – but their intention is to try to stop crying.<\/p>\n That\u2019s the funny thing about acting – often the most natural performances are when the actor is trying not to do it. i.e., if you want to play drunk – work hard to appear sober. If you\u2019re having an argument in a scene – don\u2019t fight. If you follow me on IG @intentionalacting<\/a> or watch my Youtube <\/a>videos, one of the things you\u2019re going to notice is that I don\u2019t talk about emotions.\u00a0 Better yet, subscribe to my Youtube channel<\/a> and you can practice what I\u2019m teaching with a mini-acting session with my \u201cTry It\u201d<\/a> series.<\/p>\n How Do You Pick a Good Intention?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Good Script Analysis is key!\u00a0 I teach my students\u00a0The 8 Keys of Intentional Script Analysis to break down and figure out what casting, the director, writer, and producers are looking for in the role.\u00a0 This way my actors are giving production what they want.\u00a0 Remember actors just have one part. They are part of the whole, and if you don\u2019t know what the whole picture (the TV show or film) is about then you run the risk of making a choice that has nothing to do with the big picture and they can\u2019t give you the part \u2013 even if you are the most talented.<\/strong>\u00a0 Because someone, the network, the studio, the EP will contest your audition because – they didn\u2019t believe your performance.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/u><\/strong>If I Choose To \u201cPlay Something\u201d Is That Having an Intention?<\/strong><\/p>\n To act is to do something not to \u201cplay something.\u00a0 Amateur actors are \u201cplaying a character.\u201d\u00a0 When\u00a0 I say \u201cplaying\u201d I see actors who are standing on the outside of their character,\u00a0 judging their character and trying to \u201cplay\u201d an emotion – what they think is a choice.<\/p>\n A great actor lives in the shoes of their character, stands in their character\u2019s choices and believes in what they are doing. Operative word there – DOING. \u00a0 Acting is doing.\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n My definition of intention – for Intentional Acting – is: What do I need the other person to do or say?<\/p>\n How Do I Know What My Character Is Doing in The Scene?<\/strong><\/p>\n Well, it\u2019s not only about the intention.\u00a0 First you have to know what the scene is about, what the conflict is and how you personally relate to the scene before you pick your intention. This is The 9 Questions of Intentional Acting.<\/p>\n And a good intention is defined as: What do I need the other person to do or say?<\/strong>\u00a0 Just like when you were in the grocery store as a kid – you had an intention. What did you want your mom or dad to buy you or say or do?\u00a0 Well, I wanted candy.\u00a0 So I wanted them to say \u201cYes Loren, here\u2019s the candy bar.\u201d And then see them reach over and hand it to me.\u201d\u00a0 But 9 times out of 10 they said,\u00a0 \u201cNo.\u201d And that was the conflict in the scene.<\/p>\n I think acting is simple,\u00a0 but not easy.\u00a0 So, keep your intention simple. Ask yourself:\u00a0 what do I want the other character to do or say? And then fight for it in the scene.<\/p>\n Is an Action the Same as an Intention?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n I don\u2019t think so. This is an example of what I think an action is.\u00a0 \u201cI want ice cream.\u201d\u00a0 There\u2019s a want and a thing.\u00a0 But an Intention: What do I need the other person to do or say? Would be:\u00a0 \u201cI want you to give me your ice cream\u201d \u00a0 See the specificity of it?\u00a0 A good intention is powerful because it tells your body and mind everything it needs to know to –\u00a0 do it. \u00a0 There it is TO DO.\u00a0 Acting is doing.<\/strong><\/p>\n This definition of intention also includes the other person in the scene – making your intention more compelling because it connects you to the other actor in the scene.<\/p>\n How Do You Make an Undeniable Choice?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n
\n<\/strong><\/p>\nLet\u2019s Talk Acting<\/strong><\/h3>\n