The Dangers of Acting

As the new year is off to a busy start, it's time to take a moment to reflect on some useful on-camera acting tips I learned at USC:

Auditioners, beware. We’re all too familiar with the old adage- the camera adds twenty pounds.

The risks of the camera don't lie merely in appearance, however.

The true risks lie in the loss of human connection an actor feels when auditions are solely self-tape submissions, as is the industry standard in 2023, particularly since the pandemic. How does one reach a casting director emotionally without an in-person interaction? How do you ensure that your audition has even been seen?

The experienced actor knows to let the pressure of an audition evaporate after the self tape has been submitted to casting.

But you have to put in the work beforehand to create a meaningful performance. It is important to be aware that there is nowhere to hide on-camera-

the camera has a knack for revealing your innermost thoughts.

If you are thinking about the next line, for example, instead of listening and responding to what the other character is saying, the camera shows you as a person trying hard to remember the lines. There’s another tricky component to that bit of advice - as was the biggest note I got from my acting professors at USC during scene study was to “not show” that I was listening. “Showing” that you are listening may mean a number of things. In my case, I would nod my head, raise my eyebrows, and other unnecessary gestures to prove that I was paying attention. Unless the scene specifically calls for you to pretend to pay attention to someone, listen to what they are saying as you would in real life.?

Stay tuned next Thursday for my next newsletter!