Parts of an Audition
When an actor states their name and the character for which they are auditioning to the camera.
What is slating?
A solo acting speech
What is a monologue?
Singing a song with just voice, no instruments or accompanist
What is a capella?
Fingers are spread with high energy.
What are jazz hands?
The person in charge of finding talent for roles in film, television, theater, and commercial work.
What is a casting director?
The part of an audition in which you are asked to read a section of the script with little or no time to practice
What is cold reading?
Where an actor is looking while they perform a scene.
What is eyeline?
Full piano accompaniment, with voice and lyrics included
What is sheet music?
Shoulder shaking: alternating in a rapid motion
What is a shimmy?
A piano player hired to play with you on your sheet music
What is an accompanist?
A second or subsequent round of auditioning after the initial audition indicating that you are moving ahead in consideration for the role.
What is a callback?
A subsequent round in the audition process where actors read with other actors who are contenders for roles that have a strong relationship with each other to see how the actors associate with one another.
What is a chemistry read?
A slow song from a modern musical
What is a contemporary ballad?
Kick with one leg followed by two quick changes of weight from one ball of the foot to the other
What is a kick ball-change?
A person, usually separate from the casting director, who reads the other lines in the script in an audition when an actor is playing the opposite character.
What is a reader?
An open audition, meaning both non-union and union members can attend
What is an open call?
The selections from a script that an actor is provided as material for an audition
What are sides?
Your binder of audition repertoire, which should be brought into the audition room in case they ask for additional material
What is a book?
Taking three consecutive steps while turning in one direction
What is a three-step turn?
A person who helps run the audition process (signing people up, calling names, etc.)
What is a monitor?
When actors are put in a room, and based on appearance (height, age, weight, hair color) are asked to stay and audition or leave
What is typecasting?
Video clips (usually no more than 10 minutes) of you in your favorite performances, sometimes required for an audition
What is a showreel?
Music written before 1970
What is a classical/traditional repertoire?
One foot steps in front and then the body turns (without replacing or moving the feet) to face the opposite direction.
What is a pivot turn?
The writer, the director, and the producers.
What is the creative team?