Good morning all - at least from where I'm sitting. :) The work that I've done thus far - my peers express that I've done well and the quality of acting is good. After receiving a request for a video audition for a large budget film - and not getting the part - I gave the tape to a fellow actor who commented "You don't look like you were there" and "you looked like you were trying to memorize lines", when in fact I was so 'there' it took me a little while to come down and much of the dialog I allowed to improve - while keeping the key elements of the dialog. I would love to hear any comments as to why that may not have translated on camera. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATQwXJS2W2U&list=UUMTyRGqsptUERd2RxJtUU1g All my love, PLM
Anything Goes : Love to hear your input. by Pamela L Mabry
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Hi Pamela. I felt like the acting was a bit forced, not a natural rhythm of the words coming out. And every time you took a step back - I felt like you fell out of character a bit. I liked your enthusiasm, and some of your hand gestures were convincing. If you are going to be angry, and do a scene yelling at someone - FULLY commit to it - BECOME the character - don't just "Play" the character. If you can't commit - take it down a notch, and do it a little less angry - but STERN instead. Watch your eye movement - they sometimes looked around kind of out of place. Place an object where the person is you are talking to off camera - a pillow or lamp, and really talk to that - always in the same place. Also you may just want to fix the sheet behind you - so it is covering the whole space, not just part of it. Best of luck! And I hope that helps you. :-)
And here lies the problem. I was fully committed and I truly believed I was her. I set two focal points a chair in from where he was sitting and an object atop a shelf which was the interview door. Often, when I'm angry, my mannerisms step back to 'recharge' like cocking a gun. Yet, still - this did not translate on camera. Thank you so much for your time and comments!
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What I could recommend is that you do the monologue again in a complete different direction. Do it sincere, but stern, but offer more sympathy to the person you are speaking to - instead of anger. Tape that and see how different it translates to camera. And take a deep breath - don't rush it... and don't think about the camera, I also felt you were a little nervous. Take your time. I'd love to see that version.
By that time, I had done the thing 50 times. :) It's curious that you say I look nervous. :) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7dM5fJx9sVw&list=UUMTyRGqsptUERd2RxJtUU1g
Hey - for me this is way better. Especially around the :56 mark, you seem way more natural. Your speech patterns are still a little choppy - with emphasizing the right word within the context. Like when you say, go home to him... you have emphasized both Home and Him... pick one. It doesn't sound natural to do both. And then when you say, "I don't care what you have going on with your mother"... choose the emphasis again - you have said it chopped up with a weird pause/break in the middle for some reason. WAY better eye contact and control. I loved your reactions - they seemed really natural. I could also understand this better, instead of you with the angry voice. I'm not sure if you are from the South, but you do have some southern accent coming through. (I'm from N.C.) I don't know if that matters, but sometimes it does. I still think you have room for improvement. But really good job!
Texas - Guilty. It comes out every once in a while. He wanted the scene more intense. This was the first one I sent. I also think it came down to 'look'. The person he chose appears to be a sz 4, 5' 10" with blonde hair. Similar to a combination of Poppy Montgomery and Sarah Michelle Gellar. :) All of your comments are taken. Thanks again!
You can only get better with taking criticism like a champ and working on your acting. Yeah sometimes you have no control over it - the director may have a real specific look in mind already too, like blond hair/blue eyes... or a red head... Good luck