SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY 3-week On-Camera TV/Film Unit Mondays, September 17, September 24, October 1, 2018 6:45 PM 10:00 PM Instructor: Jen Rudin jenrudincasting@gmail.com www.jenrudin.com BOOKS AND RESOURCES Confessions of a Casting Director: Help Actors Land Any Role with Secrets from Inside the Audition Room by Jen Rudin (HarperCollins) is a requirement for this class. There is a Resources section at the back of the book with lots of helpful information, listing and websites. GOAL OF THIS UNIT To introduce students to fundamental on-camera audition technique for TV and film auditions. To provide a solid basic foundation of essential TV/film tips and techniques.! 1.
To understand the differences between theater audition technique versus TV/film. To understand how to audition for TV/film in the golden age of network TV shows and streaming channel content. THE BASICS This is a ground-up 3-week unit, going from basics to TV/film audition prep to mock auditions with feedback from a working casting director. DEADLINE You must upload your assignments to our shared Google Folder no later (preferably earlier) than THURSDAY night before our Monday class, by 11:59 PM. I will create a Google Folder and invite you all to access the folder. YOUR NAME MUST BE IN THE DOCUMENT TITLE. PDF documents please. Hand your work in on time. Show business is a deadline medium, it s one of the first things you will be judged on as an actor, before you even begin your audition. It s rude and unprofessional to be late to an audition or show up late to the set. MANDATORY! 2.
EVERY class you must have a hard copy of your scenes. NO READING SCENES OFF YOUR TABLETS OR PHONES. Devices will fail you in the audition room. Light reflects from the screens to the camera, and your device may go to sleep just when you need to glance down at your lines. EVERYBODY turns off their phones in class. No text messaging unless you have a family or personal emergency. AN IMPORTANT NOTE: You are expected to attend all three classes. And not be late. CLASS ONE - September 17th Meet & Greet Intros, Syllabus LECTURE: CASTING OVERVIEW Jen s introduction, working in casting, seven years at Disney, Jen Rudin Casting! 3.
Differences between casting director v. agent What is a Casting Breakdown? How the actual casting process unfolds for a role Favorite Casting Stories TV TODAY, IN 2018 Differences between half hour and 1 hour Network versus Streaming multi camera versus single camera within 1 2 hour length tone script layout/format - show two different scripts audience ON CAMERA BASICS Slating Camera framing for auditions Practice Slates name, height Wardrobe for on-camera Hair/Makeup BREAK Jen will cast and give out TV/film scenes SCRIPT WORK! 4.
Go over scripts Using p. 68 from Confessions of a Casting Director, we will go through and mark up scripts. Format Slug Lines Action Dialogue Grammar Script is your road map from the writer Highlight your characters lines FORMAT COLD OPEN VERSUS TEASER INT/EXT ACTION PARENTHESIS PUNCTUATION TAG Read a sample script with punctuation. Answer the following questions: What are adjectives to describe my character? What is the problem in the scene and what is the solution? What does my character want and need, and what/who is the obstacle? Then, everyone should find a scene partner and practice their lines. Assignment: - Read Chapter 4: Pilot Season Panic on p. 61 of Confessions of a Casting Director -Answer the following questions and UPLOAD PDF to the Google Folder: 1. What are the differences between auditioning for TV/film versus a theater audition?! 5.
2. How can you use some of your theater training for TV/film auditions even though they are different genres? 3. Share a success story from an audition and then share a story where the audition did not go as well as you had hoped? 4. Who is your current favorite actor on TV and what about their performance keeps you engrossed and watching? Why do you think they got cast in the role? Be specific about your reasons why. -Memorize your scene for next week. -Watch the following fun YouTube clips: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3kixwnwpxtm https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nkcl-pg5p60 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=shtoe2ray6u CLASS TWO September 24th LECTURE: THE POLITICS OF THE WAITING AND AUDITION ROOM Discuss waiting room, other logistics Distractions in the waiting room Audition Etiquette in the audition room Go over papers from HW assignment and discuss answers MOCK AUDITION TIME! 6.
Everyone gets a chance to audition and Jen will give adjustments on scenes. PLAYBACK AUDITIONS Audition Critique Jen will assign new scenes for last class. Then, everyone should find a scene partner and practice their lines. Assignment: -Read Chapter 3: Leave Early and Bring a Raincoat in Confessions of a Casting Director -List the various steps you will need to do to prepare for a TV audition. --What do you need to prep? Wardrobe? Hair/makeup Scene Memorize --Write the steps down in list form and UPLOAD to Google Folder. CLASS THREE October 1st LECTURE: LEAVE EARLY AND BRING A RAINCOAT Best Practices for Best Preparation for Auditions DON T TWEET US, WE LL TWEET YOU: THE BUSINESS OF SHOW BUSINESS! 7.
Agents Networking Headshots/Resumes Social Media MOCK AUDITION TIME Everyone gets a chance to audition and Jen will give adjustments on scenes. PLAYBACK AUDITIONS Audition Critique Jen will assign new scenes for last class. Then, everyone should find a scene partner and practice their lines. FINAL THOUGHTS/Q&A Wrap-Up Sign Books! 8.