How To Tell If They Are A Good Actor
Good actors are, of course, hard to find. Here's how to find them.
We all want to have good actors in our films. They are the frontmen. They are the people who represent the film in a physical and emotional way. It's a Tom Cruise film, it's an Eddie Murphy film, it's a Marilyn Monroe film. You want to find someone who's appealing to the eye but not someone who is only appealing to the eye. This is where some directors go wrong.
Here is a checklist of things to look for when your actors are auditioning.
1) Attire. They should be somewhat dressed like the character they are auditioning for. If they aren't, they should at least be dressed in casual business wear. They should look professional and take the role seriously. This attests to their drive to be an actor.
2) Preparation for the role. They should know their sides and have practiced the sides more than just once. This means they will be prepared on set and you won't have to wait for them. This is important because when all is said and done, you don't want the camera crew waiting on the actors or any other department for that matter.
3) The questions they ask. Actors should be ready with questions. This also means that they have gone over the role a few times and they are dedicated to their craft. They want to play the role as well as they can and want to know as much as they can about being this character.
4) The ability to take direction. This one is a biggie. Taking direction is the most difficult thing for really bad actors. They don't know how to change their tone of voice or how to change their expressions. Good actors can change on cue. They might have to take their time but when they get back on the "stage" so to speak, they'll be able to do what you've asked.
5) Taking criticism well. When you want something different from an actor, they should not be offended. They should be grateful that you told them what you wanted. Good actors like to know what is good or bad about their performance and can switch it up when told to do so. This industry is about learning on every single set. Trained actors need training for a reason. Not all actors are fantastic right out the box. They should want their performances to be just as good as you want them to be.
6) The ability to change up the role or play different roles. This a little different from taking direction. If you have a gangster role and your actor is playing him too typically, you can tell him to play the gangster as if he is in a light-hearted musical. This could be a different take on character never seen before. But this shows the range of the actor.
You could also tell them to play a different role in the script. Give them a few minutes to read over it and have them come back in to read it. If they can play a different character in a small amount of time and become that character, it shows their versatility and they ability to change spots quickly.
7) The eyes. The eyes are the window to the soul. And in photos or in a film, they are the actors' most prized possession. Seriously, they are the best assets an actor can have. You remember the look in Renee Zellweger's eyes in Jerry Mcguire when she says "You had me at hello". You remember the eyes of Jack Nicholson in The Shining when he screams "Here's Johnny!". And you just remember Christopher Walken's eyes in general.
The eyes are so important because they have to convey more than just what's on the surface. They have to convey the inner feelings of the character and subtlety's of the most distinctive moments in the film. Acting in film is not about expressing emotions, it's about letting your eyes do the talking.
8) An attractive voice. This is self-explanatory. The voice doesn't have to sound sweet or nice. It can be the gruffest voice on the planet Earth. But it has to sound appeasing and distinctive for the character they are portraying.
9) The projection of their voice. Actors, along with singers, must learn how to control their voices. They need to be able to yell without busting people's ears and speak in a whisper so that people still understand what they are saying. It has a lot to do with breathing exercises, speaking exercises and keeping their voice in shape. Actors who have worked hard at this will show it in their performance.
10) Their posture and movement. During a performance, an actor has to carry the character inside their own body. They should carry with them distinctive characteristics of the role they are auditioning for. They should also have the ability to stand up straight and slouch if it calls for it.
11) Physical ability. Going back to movement, actors should have the ability to be flexible. You never know what you might ask them to do. During an audition, look for the actor to take chances. If he's a police officer, watch him pose with a gun. If he's an army man, watch the posture and the way he walks. If he's a fugitive, see if he can stop, drop and roll cinematically. If he's a fry cook, see how fast he can move when handing out plate orders over a counter.
In the end, just make sure that your potential actors are prepared for their auditions, they are motivated to be there, they have a voice that captures our attention, they can take direction and criticism without argument, and they know how to pull you in with their eyes.
Links:
www.lacasting.com
www.nowcasting.com
www.actorsaccess.com
www.backstage.com
www.imdb.com
www.peoplemagazine.com
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