Recently one of my readers named Sue sent me an email asking some questions about auditions, I thought they where interesting questions so after answering back I decided to post them here, with my answers (slightly expanded). These answers of course are not reality or truth, just what I believe to be true,

1. I was wondering what you might say the rejection ratio is?
This is different depending on the area and the amount of competition. In my local area I average about 3 out of 5. This summer I had a really good run, I got 4 out 5. But that was unusually good luck. In New York or L.A., I am hearing that the competition is so fierce that you are lucky to get 1 out of 20.

2. Do you feel sometimes that directors and those involved with the production often have an idea of “who” they want in the parts before the auditions begin?
Very much so. The directors have a vision of what they want the film to look like, and who the players should be. When they read the script they imagine the whole movie in their mind, and they want the reality to match the vision as closely as possible. At least that is what I believe, I am on the other side of the audition table, so I can’t say for sure.

3. Is it possible, that sometimes the best actor/actress for the part doesn’t get cast for whatever reason?
Oh Yes, you could be the best damn actor in the world, but if you look like the directors x-wife, or their most hated teacher from sixth grade you could get passed over for someone less talented. It is really a crap shoot sometimes, and talent only plays a small role. There are lots and lots of talented people. Only some get the part, and sometimes some not very talented people make it to the top. One just has to look to Hollywood to see the truth in this. I won’t mention any names, but there are some actors who are in very big movies, getting paid big sums of money, to give only mediocre performances.

4. I like your saying “fire and forget”…is that all you do? Forget the role and start working on the next audition?
This is extremely important! You can not sit around killing your self, wondering if you got the part, you must move on to the next thing, and if you get that call, it is a nice surprise. Do not treat this current audition as if it was the last. There are a million more down the pike, and many just as good as you may think this current one is. Trust that!

5. Does the rejection ever get to you?
It used too, but you must learn at all cost that getting or not getting a part is nothing personal. Like I said before you may not get it because you remind the director of someone they hate, there is just no way to tell. Better to learn from it, and move on. Your world becomes a much lighter, more enjoyable place when you stop taking things personal. This works in and out of acting.

I highly suggest a book called “Audition” by Michael Shurtleff. There is a link to it on my book recommendation section on my website. Any books in that section I highly recommend for actors to read. I also recommend any actor who is serious about becoming a full-time actor check out Bob Fraser’s You Must Act! I found it very insightful and helpful.

New York, L.A., competition, directors, production, script, actor, actress, Hollywood, Movies, talented, role, Michael Shurtleff, Audition