In the current age of the Zoom audition, the Zoom callback, and the Zoom meeting, it’s essential for actors to master the art of the creative, professional conversation. Since casting, producers, network and studio execs, and directors aren’t meeting many actors in-person, they’re engaging more with talent using Zoom. Through these Zoom interviews and conversations, they need to experience the energy and personality that you probably exude naturally in-person without any thought or effort. But energetic, personal exchanges online take a bit more conscious thought and preparation.
Let’s look at two things that can help you prepare for and ace these important online meetings.
1. Interview Intent
Hopefully, your audition preparation has put the material in your body and heart and no matter what happens, you’ll hopefully have the ability to be flexible and adaptive to the circumstances during the reading. If that is the case, chances are that casting, producers, network and studio executives, if they’re in the meeting, will want to see more and hear more about you. So, how can you prepare for the interview portion without sounding stiff and rehearsed?
You can establish an intent for the conversation. Intent is what you want and the more you want something, in this instance to connect, the more your energy will run in that direction. Be sure to make your intent generous. For example: “to make their day better,” “to lift them up,” “to help them feel better than before they met you,” etc. The more you care about achieving a generous intent, the more you naturally get out of your own way, lose your nerves, gain confidence, and effortlessly connect to others. Aren’t we all better when we’re about helping someone else?
An Audition Teacher’s Advice for Online Casting Sessions 2. Active Listening
A good listener doesn’t interrupt the speaker. A great listener takes in every word the speaker says. An active listener does both and in addition, finds deeper meaning.
Active listening takes discipline and confidence. Your mind needs to be clear of your agenda. Most people only listen to part of what another person says and then starts planning their response. Active listening means not having to plan or interrupt so that you can appear to be the smartest person in the exchange. Active listening takes a physical and mental stillness. A still mind is a mind able to focus 100% on what is being said. A jumpy mind only hears what it needs in order to respond. Breathing is also a big part of active listening. Short, nervous breaths from the upper chest send a signal of panic up to the brain. A deep breath in the same area or in the belly send a signal of safety and stillness.
When you listen with focus, discipline, and mental stillness, you hear not just the words but their meaning, so that your responses will be deeper and more involved than most others. The person asking the question not only feels heard, but understood. This is such a rare occurrence for the listener that it’s guaranteed you’ll be remembered as a smart, connected actor and an interesting human being. One who they, and anyone else on the call, will want to see again and again.
Zoom puts the actor under such close scrutiny both during the actual audition as well as the conversations before and after, and the interviews that may follow. With a strong, generous intent and meaningful, active listening, you’ll break yourself out as the actor they want to work with and will most certainly hire.
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and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Backstage or its staff.
