COURSE SYLLABUS. Course Title: Delivering Memorable Auditions for Film and Television: A Workshop for Actors in Cold Reading and Interview Techniques

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1 COURSE SYLLABUS Course Title: Delivering Memorable Auditions for Film and Television: A Workshop for Actors in Cold Reading and Interview Techniques Course #: X Reg. # W6869 Units: 4.00 Quarter/Yr: Fall 2011 Day/Time: Saturday 10am-1pm Dates: 9/24 12/10 (no class on 11/26) TBA - Saturday 10am-5pm Location: B Westwood Center Instructor: Henry LeBlanc Instructor contact: and/or phone: Hankleblanc@earthlink.net Vm: Course Description: Become an actor who gets noticed! Delivering a memorable performance during an audition can be the key to getting parts and being called for future projects. Hone your craft and gain valuable information in this course, where you perform film and television scenes on camera for video playback and critique by the instructor. You learn to make better choices, to trust yourself to make quicker choices, to confront your fear of auditioning, to create a good atmosphere in the auditioning room, and to develop a winning audition work ethic. Cold reading techniques and exercises as well as the actor's interview also are covered. Goals & Objectives:

2 The goal of the course is to improve the actor s current audition skills, at all levels, and to provide the foundation for future mastery of cold reading techniques, and auditioning, as well introducing production set performance skills as it all apples to the television and film industry. The various parts of this foundation to be covered are: - A sound understanding and grasp of the skills, techniques and requirements in the audition process from the initial call for the appointment through booking the role. - Familiarity and practice with a wide variety of audition situations most often encountered by the actor from the Casting office pre-read session through callbacks and producers / network sessions. - Exposure and practice auditioning in the wide variety of genres of TV and Film that the actor will be expected to audition for such as Soaps, Sci-Fi, Horror, Comedy both single and four camera, Drama, and Episodic. - Development and practice of the skills required on a production set once the actor is cast in the part. - A discussion of the business aspects of the working actor including pictures, resumes, unions, demo tapes as well as agent and manager relationships. - A commitment and understanding of the level of preparation required for a successful audition. - Comfort with professional presentation of self and interview skills, including the three main parts of the audition process in the office. - The ability to relax and facilitate your best acting - The ability to act for the camera - Flexibility and spontaneity in the audition situation including how to handle the various types of adjustments often required of the actor. - What makes a great audition Recommended Readings: HITTING YOUR MARK by Steve Carlson THE AUDITION BOOK by Ed Hooks Grading: Course grades will be based the on the completion of exams, assignments, and classroom participation as follows: Breakdown of the weight for each component of the final grade: Mock Audition #1: 10 % Mock Audition #2: 20 % Mock Audition #3: 25 %

3 Attendance/Punctuality: 10 % Participation: 10 % Development of Skills 25 % Total % must equal 100 (EXTRA CREDIT Monologues 10 % ) Letter Grade % A (90-100%) B (80-89%) C (70-79%) D (60-69%) F (<59%) A grade of C or better is considered a passing grade. Certificate students must take 400 level courses for a grade. Please note that ALL COURSE GRADES ARE FINAL. Student Behavior involving cheating, copying other s work, and plagiarism are not tolerated and will result in disciplinary action. Students are responsible for being familiar with the information on Student Conduct in the General Information Section of the UCLA Extension Catalog or on the website at COURSE OUTLINE Date/Topic Assignments Readings*

4 Week One: Introduction to the Audition process. Scene 1 Work Cold Reading #1 Week Two: Cold Reading / Scene #2 Working with a Reader in the office and intro to basic scene adjustments. Prep for Audition #1 Participate in discussion about The Audition process; Acting Exercise; Scene 1 work and cold read. HW: Readings Working with a Reader and Etiquette/Dress and what protocol is expected in the Casting Office. HW: Readings Auditioning with Confidence, Etiquette/Dress Handout AUDITION excerpt Interview Handout Week Three: Mock Audition 1 Perform Mock Audition 1 H.W. :View Mock Audition 1 tape, Readings Working the Camera Week Four: Individual Audition Skills Intensive in Close Up and Conversational auditions Cold Reading session. Participation in most often used type of cold read; Closeup and two person conversation cold read. HITTING YOUR MARK excerpt Week Five: Intro to interview skills for the office. WORKING THE ROOM. Screen Test Practice Week Six: Sci-Fi Horror Night Intensive; Auditioning for the biggest actor market available for work. Cold reading session Develop the inteview and presentational skills necessary for a successful audition in the office. View selected Screen Test Scene work for Sci-Fi and Horror genre. Monsters and demons and blood, oh my! HW: Readings and film study The Audition Book excerpts Handout Week Seven: Mock Auditions 2 Perform Mock Auditions 2 H.W. : Review Mock Auditions 2 tape, Readings Audition Anxiety

5 Week Eight: Commercial Intensive. Cold readings for commercials Week Nine: Show Styles and genres; Cold Readings / Screen Tests Week Ten: The hardest part of auditions: Taking Adjustments!!! Week 11 Mock Audition # 3 Putting it all together. Practice Commercial auditions View Casting Director Interview Clips; Participate in Show Styles discussion and Cold Readings H.W. : Practice Cold Reading Skills, Readings An intense look at what it take to be a standout in the room and how to take adjustments, no matter how difficult. Perform Mock Audition # 3 And review HW : Readings Cold Readings Handout THE ACTOR S AUDITION Handout (on getting auditions) Read: Hitting Your Mark excerpts An LA State of Mind Week 12: Monologues and Conclusion Participate in Feedback session and Conclusion What makes a good monologue?