RELATIONSHIP
The actress in this picture with me, Joy Sudduth, was auditioning for the part of a lawyer. In the scene, she was speaking to the Judge, the jury, the witness and the other lawyer. And the Casting Director was reading all those parts. It is the actors job to define the relationship of each person they are talking to in the scene and get a specific visualization of each person. Not a generic “this is my boyfriend”, but who specifically in your life brings up the correct emotional response to the character. So when the actor is reading with the Casting Director they are not seeing the Casting Director, they are seeing their boyfriend…or seeing the Judge, the witness, the other lawyer or the jury.
It is imperative that you have a specific person in mind for each character that you are speaking with in the scene. You also need to place the various characters specifically in the room so the viewer believes you are speaking with different people. This is especially important when you are being taped, as the viewer needs to see the other people you are speaking with through your eyes. Always make eye contact and use the Casting Director or reader as the main person you are speaking to in the scene. If someone else enters the scene it’s fine to look off and “see” that person as they enter. If you only have one or two lines with that new person, directing your line to “thin air” is fine. But, don’t get caught doing the entire scene to thin air. Bring the focus back to the Casting Director or reader. So visualization is key.
Remember, “Relationship” is not only who you are talking to, but who you are talking about. An entire scene can be about discussing someone who is not present. And if you don’t have a clear understanding of what your relationship is with that person and a clear visual image of them, your audition will be lacking in specifics. You will only be saying the lines really well.
So even if you have the sides for a short period of time, get clear on what your relationship is to the person or people you are talking to in the scene. This will save you when the Casting Director is reading multiple parts.