“People are desperate for you to be great. So be great.”
Auditions are tough.
You are going in to a room, usually meeting strangers, knowing that the stakes are high and the next ten minutes could make a huge difference to your career.
The pressure is on, your nerves are high – and all this time you are expected to be able to deliver your best!
No wonder we hear such audition horror stories and we all probably have a few of our own anecdotes about times when we have ‘fallen short’ at a casting.
It’s good to remember that even big names share in our audition worries – I rarely meet an actor who doesn’t feel some kind of nerves at an audition or casting.
The one thing which gets me through most auditions is to remember that the panel, the casting director, the clients, the director, whoever it is that you are meeting – they are on your side
Here is what Hollywood actor Matt Damon has to say about what he learnt from being on the other side of a casting table when he was casting his Oscar winning movie ‘Good Will Hunting’
Its tough, auditions are different.
I mean, I would say this though, when we did Good Will Hunting I remember it was the first time that I sat on the other side of the table.
And I always went in with a real chip on my shoulder thinking, like you know, feeling because you get rejected so much go kinda go like ‘alright you’re gonna reject me’ and you kind of walk in with this chip on your shoulder.
It wasn’t until I sat on the other side of the table that I realised you want the actor to be great, you want the actor to take the part, because that solves all your problems.
If an actor walks in off the street and blows your doors off then you know that’s a big big win for the for the production, right. So, I think understanding that might be useful for people to know going in that, like that, people are desperate for you to be great.
So be great.
I mean, I would say this though, when we did Good Will Hunting I remember it was the first time that I sat on the other side of the table.
And I always went in with a real chip on my shoulder thinking, like you know, feeling because you get rejected so much go kinda go like ‘alright you’re gonna reject me’ and you kind of walk in with this chip on your shoulder.
It wasn’t until I sat on the other side of the table that I realised you want the actor to be great, you want the actor to take the part, because that solves all your problems.
If an actor walks in off the street and blows your doors off then you know that’s a big big win for the for the production, right. So, I think understanding that might be useful for people to know going in that, like that, people are desperate for you to be great.
So be great.
Matt Damon offers audition advice to aspiring actors.
When promoting the movie Invictus Matt Damon was asked to share his advice on auditioning.
Similar Posts from Actor Hub
-
From Guest Author – voiceover actress and comedian Nicola Redman – So, here are my favourite tongue twisters that I use every day. Picked up from various eccentric voice teachers and acting coaches over the years – “Ah hmmmmmm ma ma”… and other classics. -
Working as an actor on a filming job is a completely different kettle of fish to acting on a theatre job. Here are our top tips for surviving your first day as an actor on a film set. -
There is such a thing as audition etiquette and it isn’t taught at drama school. Here are ten tips which I have learnt from experience and from talking with Casting Directors. -
Auditions can be daunting affairs and the nerves can pile on, especially if you are doing it for someone else: the director, your agent, your parents, your peers. Next time do it for you, have a go at ‘trying on’ the role. -
If you have been asked to attend your first pantomime audition, here are Actor Hub’s top tips to help you get that part! -
Often making the chnage from theatre acting to screen acting isn’t as easy as just telling your agent! You need to learn the skills of a screen actor and chnage your style. Here’s how to start the journey at home. -
Making a safe choice at a casting will make you a competent actor but will it get you remembered? Why not take a chance and make a more interesting choice. -
You can learn so much from watching actors at work – visits to the theatre, netflix, the latest blockbusters can all be great research. I’m choosing some of my favourite movies which I think actors will learn from. Here is the 1976 film Network. -
Your headshot is always going to be the ‘first stage’ of any casting process. Here are some tips from Actor Hub on getting that perfect headshot. -
Watching great actors at work is always a good way to improve your own technique, here are a few scenes I have picked out as great examples of screen acting.
