Self taping an audition

Oh gee... I seriously hate self-taping for an audition because you have time to analyze and stress. The worst thing about self taping an audition is having one day to do it...

I had one day to self tape an audition for a short film because the actual audition was a good while away and I had somewhere to be that night which was extremely important for me. So I got my sides and realized straight away, this is something I can't do on my own. So ensue another dilemma... My boyfriend who is doing media studies is in Wexford, I'm in Dublin... so he's out. My brother had just returned to Wexford the day before.. so he's a nope too.. I couldn't exactly get my grandmother to do it so my last and only option was Dramsoc...


Oh let me tell you there are not a lot of people willing to give up their day to help you. That's a fact!! Luckily I had a good friend in Dramsoc who would read with me and hold the camera... but only after 6pm... My audition needed to be done and uploaded by the next morning at the latest.

So fine, it was the best I could hope for. But doing a scene is so hard when you self tape because you can't just relax. You're gonna do the scene, then watch the play back then do it again and again.. it's really time consuming! and Then you feel bad for taking up other's time.  But I got it done after about 4 hours... (4 scenes in total) and I uploaded and sent it off.

I would totally prefer to go to the audition but sometimes that's just not possible.

My only advice so far is so find a very well lit room and use a good camera. If you need to hire a studio for an hour or two then you should do it, if you get the part it could be worth it. I'm not sure about filming it in the context that the script states, e.g., if it's a kitchen scene, film it in the kitchen. I will ask a few casting directors about this and see what they come back to me with.

Have you ever self-taped? any advice?

Peach out.

what to do in an audition (from experience from audtioning in ireland)

So I thought I'd start making more of these posts that a lot of people want to know about. so if anyone has any questions they'd like answered please tweet me @appeleyes2 and I'll put up a post or I will reply to your tweet with the answers.

So let's begin with, what to do in an audition and in this post I will include the preparation and the actual audition.

Scenario 1:
Ok, so lets presume you were asked to attend an audition, and lets presume they have asked you to prepare a monologue:

Find a monologue that suits your age and your characteristics. So if you're more into comedy do something funny. And likewise if you think dramatic monologues are more comfortable for you to perform then choose a dramatic one.

There are plenty of male monologues out there, and there is loads of ones for women too. Males I'd suggest anything from Shakespeare's plays (likewise women) but also some good monologues can be found in Howie the Rookie and Terminus (Mark O'Rowe-irish actors), also there's Enda Walsh's Disco Pigs and Conor McPherson's Rum and Vodka.

Women there are two characters in Terminus (Mark O'Rowe) a young(B) and older character (A). Also there are good monologues in Brian Friel's Faith Healer. But I'd definitley recommend Sarah Kane's works (mostly 4.48 psychosis) and also Caryl Churchill. She rights brilliantly for female actors. and Billy Roche too writes amazing female roles.

Those are just a few suggestions.

Then read the monologue and learn it off.

Do it in the mirror. 100 times. or a 1000 times. however long it takes until you stop acting and actually start being the character.

The most important thing I can offer here is to learn your lines. Know your character. Read the whole play. This will help greatly!!!

Your audition starts when you walk in the door. Be confident. Find something in your character that you can identify with and so you will be that character. The director/casting director will introduce themselves then they will chat a bit and then they will ask you to start in your own time.

Do it. Do it with confidence. Do it with Style.

and then they will thank you. and you will leave. that is the end of your audition!!

Good luck!!

Scenario two: Getting sides from the script.

if you have an agent they will no doubt have sent you sides (pieces of the script with your character's lines on it for the audition).

learn your lines! always always learn your lines!!!!

Then it's pretty much the same as above. Practice loads and do it with confidence!

90% of auditions you will go on will reject you. For not being the right height, weight, body type, hair colour, eye color, anything at all!!!

This game is all about rejection. The best thing to do is to stay positive, relax and enjoy your experience. Try feel good after your audition and put it to the back of your mind, maybe even treat yourself afterwards! I find this helps loads! get yourself a lil desert or ice cream or whatever you want. you've earned it after all that work!!


Best of luck!!!!!


Peach out!

What make up do you wear to an audition??

So guys I have had a few questions about what make up to wear to an audition and my advice?

none....or barely any

The idea behind this is that if they wanted to see you in eyeliner and red lips they will hire a make up artist to do that! They want to see you and your natural look for the part, no matter what part it is. Your natural beauty is always better!!

So what I suggest:

I'm quite fair-haired so I use a little eyebrow filler and some Mascara (Christian Dior Extase).
My foundation routine is very simple too, I use MAC Face and Body in the colour N1. It's the lightest and honestly I've never had a better foundation. I will most likely do a review on this soon as I think it may just be in my list of Actor's Essentials (new blogpost coming soon!)

So keep it simple. If you have dark hair then all you might need is just a small bit of foundation (DON'T CAKE IT ON!!!... use more of a tinted moisturizer to even out your skin tone), and possibly a little bit of concealer.

I always wear as little make up as possible because they can always change it with their own make up artists.

(In terms of hair, just wear what you are most comfortable with, I prefer my hair up, but my hair is strawberry blonde and curly so I quite like to show it off as I think it sets me apart from a lot of dark haired actresses out there, so I'd compromise and put the hair around my face and just clip it away and leave the rest really natural. I would always just recommend that you go in as natural as you can be. They can always change it.)

Comment below if you have any more questions on how to go or approach and audition.

Thanks for reading!! xx

Peach out!

Total Recall

So I was lucky enough to get two tickets to the Total Recall Premier in Dublin!! Oh the stars looked absolutely wonderful!

We were given the opportunity to walk the red carpet or just sneak in. Of course there was a big part of me that wanted to walk the red carpet but I didn't want to be the one that nobody knows and is just walking the red carpet because she can. When I walk the red carpet I want to do it as a known and recognised actor not some shmo...

Anyway! we were escorted in and asked to take our seats as the stars arrived. It was very cool. Once we were all seated the lovely celebs (Colin Farrell, Jessica Biel, Kate Beckinsale and her husband Len Wiseman) came down to the front of the cinema to talk a bit about the film and say that you all for coming. And then.. they left. So that was all the exciting hollywood glamour about the event!!!!

But the movie was really great. It was action packed and extremely well interpreted from the original script, with just a few in jokes (not nearly as much as I would have liked). There's a really specific sequence in it that really reminded me of Naughty Dog's UNCHARTED... ha!

So all in all it was an extremely fabulous event! I was so excited to see Kate and Jessica! Stars that I totally admire and aspire to be as successful as! i couldn't get any nice pictures so I'll  just rob some here off the internet from the papers!!!

Oh so fabulous!!!

can you be an actor with tattoos?

Ok so I thought I'd share my thoughts on actors with tattoos as my brother is trying to be an actor (much like myself! What can I say, twin see twin do) and he's got a large tattoo that covers some of his upper left chest and his shoulder down to his elbow. So it's kind of half a sleeve. Now don't get me wrong the tattoo is pretty cool and I actually really like it. But does this affect his chances as an actor?

In short yes. But if the movie is modern enough then no not really. I think the acting business seems more lenient to tattoos nowadays and it doesn't seem to be a problem. The only time it would be a real problem would be in period films.

Now in ireland unfortunately the only things (well mostly) that are filming at the minute are period pieces such as Vikings and Game of Thrones. But tattoos are easily covered with clothing, and if it comes down to it, there's always make up. I've heard it could take hours to cover it up but I think that if you're the right actor for the part then of course they won't hesitate to hire you and sort the tattoos out later.

Are any of you actors with tattoos? have you come across many problems?


*update

if you're looking for a good make up product to cover tattoos check this out. you can always say this to the director who is casting you, that you would have your own products to cover it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9mIBKifOOQQ


Peach out! x

Tweet tweet?

Hey guys! Anyone wanna follow me on twitter? It's @appeleyes2. Stay tuned for another beauty post and also a vlog coming soon!!!! Xxx where I'll be reviewing all things acting, beauty, fashion, technology, gaming whatever I wanna talk about really!! Xxx Thanks for staying true!

NDA

Ok lovelies... so I can't disclose what happened on set on Monday and tuesday but I will say these few things:

Being a special extra doesn't mean you have to wait around less! You'll still be hanging out on a dining bus for about 8 hours of your day!

The casting of Andre 3000 as Jimi Hendrix is magical and that casting agent deserves a medal!

The actors were extremely cool and sound and didn't mind hanging out or talking to us if they weren't busy

It's a very small world and you'll be surprised at how many people you know or have seen before on set!

Andre's hairstylist is the loveliest person! I want to keep him for my own!!

Hair and make up were lovely but sheesh the back-combing and high hairstyles and hairspray can be very sore!

and finally, the food on a movie set is amazing! and there is plenty of it!

Overall it was great fun hanging out with everyone and chatting and meeting new people!!



Thats a wrap!

(sorry there wasn't much in this post but I signed an NDA which is a nondisclosure form and basically says i'm not really allowed to talk about what went on or what we filmed. understandable for a big film like that. but all extras will need to sign an NDA on any film so expect to be filling in forms when you're an extra!)

Peach out!
x