A Moment Before...

Aside from sleeping, there is rarely a time when we aren’t “Doing” something.  Even when we are sitting alone in the car or at home, we are thinking about things.  Maybe we are reading a book or singing loudly to the music.  Maybe we just got off the phone with a friend or are getting ready to call mom.  There is rarely a time when you and your thoughts are idle. I try to consider this when filming or recording auditions. Once you are on set, or in the session with a director, you have more to work with, but when it’s just you and the script, it’s your job to bring the scene to life.

I wanted to give a couple of examples as to how this is useful.  Let’s say you get a Voiceover script and the client wants a “Natural, Conversational tone. Like you are telling your best friend about our product.”  First things first, whenever they ask you to talk to your friend, really pick a friend. A very specific person.  TALK to THAT friend!  Usually I try to link this specific friend to a friend who would love this product or find it useful. Below is an imaginary script for a commercial…. 

Imaginary Script:

Being a mom is hard.  But doing laundry doesn’t have to be.  Since I started using Fresh Laundry Pods, I have saved Time and Money.  And you know those are hard to find!  Fresh Laundry Pods, giving moms their life back since 2019! 

Imaginary Script with those “Moments Before” in parenthesis.

(Girl, you know the deal) Being a mom is hard.  But doing laundry doesn’t have to be. (I’m serious!) Since I started using Fresh laundry pods, I have saved Time and Money.  And you know those are hard to find!(Right?!)  Fresh Laundry Pods, giving moms their life back since 2019!

Adding these little thoughts or beats in my head (or even out loud during the audition) allow a real, more grounded and conversational tone.  I once had a director say to me, “Add a “…Bitches” at the end of that take.”  It completely changed the tone of what we were doing, and was exactly what he was looking for. 

Have fun with your inner dialogue!

The same holds true with on camera work.  When auditioning, I always have a moment before and a moment after.  What does this look like? 

Let’s use the same script from above but add a moment before and one after.

(Act like you’re folding clothes, yell something at your kid like, “Jimmy, stop throwing your underwear at your sister!” Then go right to camera)

Being a mom is hard.  But doing laundry doesn’t have to be.  Since I started using Fresh laundry pods, I have saved Time and Money.  And you know those are hard to find!  Fresh Laundry Pods, giving moms their life back since 2019!

(“Jimmy! I mean it!” And go as if to chase after him)

If you put enough space between the moments before and after, they can be edited out before sending.  They will add some life to your audition.  And, you can also leave them in if they feel natural, and you want to give the casting director a little something different.

In this wild world of acting, you don’t have a lot of time to Wow the Casting Director.  You have to come in strong from the first note, the first look, the first feel.  Taking a Moment Before gives you something to spring off of and something to work with. 

 Go Ahead, Take that Moment!