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Posted on 14. Jan, 2010 by sethcaskey in Videos

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Cold Reading vs. Prepared Scenes

Workshops are an investment in your career. They are an an opportunity for you to make a first impression to someone in the casting community. Choosing the right format for you will help you get the most out of your investment.

COLD READ FORMAT

Advantages:

• CD will usually choose sides for you. This can give actors a good idea of how a CD sees them. It’s great feedback in confirming or determining your primary type.
• The material that you will perform is usually something that the CD knows well. This makes adjusting a performance easier and more effective. If the CD knows the material and what their producers like to see from actors, it can make adjusting a performance more specific.
• Working with another actor. Depending on the skill level of the other actors taking the workshop, this can be an advantage or disadvantage.

Disadvantages:

• Actors have a limited amount of time with the material. (typically 10-15 min) This can cause dome actors great anxiety when they get up to perform.
• Working with another actor. Depending on the skill level of the other actors taking the workshop, this can be an advantage or disadvantage.
• Performing in front of a group. Cold read workshops are usually structured so that actors present their scenes in front of the entire group. Again, this can bring a level of anxiety to actors not comfortable performing in front of a large group.
• If you do not have strong cold reading skills – it will show.

PREPARED SCENE FORMAT

Advantages:

• Actors can select material that highlights their primary type. It allows actors to show CDs that they understand their primary type, and know how they are going to be cast. Note: It’s important that you find the right scene. Where can you go to do this?
  • Look at the student films or projects that you have booked  use sides from there.
  • Find a show or movie and transcribe a scene (or look online)
  • Write something original. Watch a couple episodes of the show. Figure out the tone, pace, cadence and then use your imagination to create an original scene in the same vein.
• Audition room simulator. A one-on-one, prepared scene format, reading with a reader is a close approximation to what an actual audition in the CDs office will be like.

Disadvantages:

• Making the wrong scene choice. Not knowing your primary type, or selecting a scene that does not show it can affect the impression the CD has of an actor. They may question whether or not an actor knows himself/herself and where they fit into the casting mix.
• Performing the same scene too long. Finding the right scene that showcases your primary type is great, but performing it too much can cause it to become stale. This can come across in the room as disinterested and not really listening (because you know where the scene is going). Find a couple of scenes that you can rotate through to stay familiar, but keep it fresh

Tags: 2010, acting, casting, realityofdoing, sethcaskey, video, workshops