Conflict is a state which most people find unpleasant and wish to avoid. It can lead to fear, anxiety, as well as chaos. Conflict during an acting audition, however, is completely essential if you wish to impress your auditors and obtain the role. In order to have a good audition, it is necessary for an actor to find the conflict within a story and within a character.
The majority of persons and characters have internal conflicts between desires and feelings. Persons and characters can also experience conflict externally with fate, the environment, the world, and God. Relational conflicts are yet another form of personal conflict that are in present in almost every person and, therefore, character's life. Typically, an actor is only given the dialogue, a brief outline of the character's personality, and a story overview when they are asked to read. Some form of conflict always exists in a story and personality. The actor has the responsibility of finding the conflict and demonstrating it's effects in their audition reading.
There is no doubt that conflict is interesting. Instability in a character or story adds depth and movement. After you have determined the personality, desires, and needs of the character, there is no question that obstacles will arise. That is life. Our life's hurdles must be overcome and manipulated until they become collaborators in our lives. Think about the movie, "Midnight Run". Charles Grodin plays a white collar criminal who is being sought by the bounty hunter played by Robert De Niro. Jack (De Niro) is required to track down Mardukas (Grodin) in order to collect his bounty. He experiences many conflicts in his quest including other bounty hunters, FBI agents, his insecurities, as well as Mardukas himself.
The information provided for your reading may not have all the answers in regards to the character's desires and conflicts. To strengthen your acting audition, you may need to create a character yourself, one that has conflicting desires and needs. Doing so will add more dimension and life to the character, thereby grabbing and holding onto the attention of the auditor and improving your chances of making a good impression. Even if the conflict you create is not "correct", it is far worse to have no conflict at all during your reading. If you are able to flesh out a character in this way, your auditions are sure to be more successful.
Real conflict is rarely one-dimensional. The typical person has numerous inner demons that are in constant turmoil. Using this to your advantage during an audition will make for an exciting reading. The lines being recited are not nearly as important as the character that is created by the actor.
Even though a scene may only contain your character, there is no doubt that other circumstances and persons have and continue to impact his or her life. To have a successful reading, you as an actor must know how to draw these emotions and circumstances out of the text and take the character to the next level. There is another thing to remember about conflict. Comedy should always play a role in any conflict. Levity is a part of even the deepest conflict. If you want the auditors to enjoy watching your reading, adding some comedy is essential. With the proper combination of conflict and comedy, the character is sure to come to life.
The majority of persons and characters have internal conflicts between desires and feelings. Persons and characters can also experience conflict externally with fate, the environment, the world, and God. Relational conflicts are yet another form of personal conflict that are in present in almost every person and, therefore, character's life. Typically, an actor is only given the dialogue, a brief outline of the character's personality, and a story overview when they are asked to read. Some form of conflict always exists in a story and personality. The actor has the responsibility of finding the conflict and demonstrating it's effects in their audition reading.
There is no doubt that conflict is interesting. Instability in a character or story adds depth and movement. After you have determined the personality, desires, and needs of the character, there is no question that obstacles will arise. That is life. Our life's hurdles must be overcome and manipulated until they become collaborators in our lives. Think about the movie, "Midnight Run". Charles Grodin plays a white collar criminal who is being sought by the bounty hunter played by Robert De Niro. Jack (De Niro) is required to track down Mardukas (Grodin) in order to collect his bounty. He experiences many conflicts in his quest including other bounty hunters, FBI agents, his insecurities, as well as Mardukas himself.
The information provided for your reading may not have all the answers in regards to the character's desires and conflicts. To strengthen your acting audition, you may need to create a character yourself, one that has conflicting desires and needs. Doing so will add more dimension and life to the character, thereby grabbing and holding onto the attention of the auditor and improving your chances of making a good impression. Even if the conflict you create is not "correct", it is far worse to have no conflict at all during your reading. If you are able to flesh out a character in this way, your auditions are sure to be more successful.
Real conflict is rarely one-dimensional. The typical person has numerous inner demons that are in constant turmoil. Using this to your advantage during an audition will make for an exciting reading. The lines being recited are not nearly as important as the character that is created by the actor.
Even though a scene may only contain your character, there is no doubt that other circumstances and persons have and continue to impact his or her life. To have a successful reading, you as an actor must know how to draw these emotions and circumstances out of the text and take the character to the next level. There is another thing to remember about conflict. Comedy should always play a role in any conflict. Levity is a part of even the deepest conflict. If you want the auditors to enjoy watching your reading, adding some comedy is essential. With the proper combination of conflict and comedy, the character is sure to come to life.
About the Author:
Kirk Baltz has been a acting coach los angeles for more than 15 years. Kirk helps actors of all levels get the roles that they desire. You can read more about improve acting auditions at the actor's intensive website.
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