Here you have a short introduction to Auditions
- being a PRODUCER and the FIRST ROUND OF AUDITIONS with FURTHER RECALLS
| Read on to AUDITIONS 2 |
| Most of the detailed advice is in AUDITIONS 3 |
| RADIO SPOTLIGHT BOOK or AUDITIONS BOOK |
| Auditions are voice tests for potential actors. It's claimed that 70% of the success of a radio play is in auditioning. |
| You develop your skill as PRODUCER - the twin job you have as well as directing radio drama. |
| The PRODUCER is responsible for the business side of radio drama production: budgets and booking the studio, auditions and casting, and making sure the actors arrive on time and with their scripts and prepared. |
| You are looking for the best radio actors. Then you are looking for the best cast - putting these actors together in a production, like the range of musical instruments in an orchestra. You go for CONTRAST. You avoid CLUSTERING (actors whose voices sound too similar.) |
| You need a range of DIALECTS. |
You work so much faster than stage auditions. There are particular skills you must develop in AUDITIONING.
Remember that you cast from these AUDITIONS - and you also need to go out head-hunting yourself - going out there and finding - you are your own PRODUCER - go out and see plays - ask around from all directors - use your friends - network. The only danger is if you restrict yourself to your own friends. YOU ARE LOOKING FOR POTENTIAL! Most problems can be sorted out in directing - once someone has potential!
| You have a FIRST ROUND OF AUDITIONS (a general call for all possible actors) and a RECALL for those you are interested in, and for particular roles. And FURTHER RECALLS. |
| It is best to have a FIRST ROUND OF AUDITIONS as early as possible in the radio course. This gives you an idea of what talent there is out there. |
| But you are also looking for talent generally. You will be developing scripts later in the course and possibly writing them yourself. It is BEST to have a clear idea of what actors are out there. |
| You have decided what scripts are your auditioning for, and you are looking for actors to fill particular roles. |
| You can always have another GENERAL CALL FOR RADIO ACTORS TO AUDITION later in the course. |
| Auditions are one of the most important skills in training as a director. Part of this is your training as a producer - that is, in the business side of directing. And especially here, in your friendly, creative and business-like relations with actors, and in the confidence you must built in your possible actors in your directing. |
| The FIRST ROUND OF AUDITIONS is really to find the talent and to weed out those who do not have the potential for radio acting. |
| It should be quite a swift process with each auditionee at this stage. You must develop the skill to spot problems instantly. And look for potential. |
| FIRST AUDITION - use an excerpt from a novel which includes dialogue (different voices). |
| It is best to audition people in their 'natural' accent. Best if you 'cast naturally' - that is if you are looking for a Birmingham accent, you cast someone from Birmingham. But few of us have that luxury. You note if they have other accents but deal with that at a second round of auditions, if you recall them. |
THE MICROPHONE RUTHLESSLY EXPOSES VOICE PROBLEMS AND DIALECT (ACCENT) PROBLEMS.
| Read on to AUDITIONS 2 |
| Most of the detailed advice is in AUDITIONS 3 |
| RADIO SPOTLIGHT BOOK or AUDITIONS BOOK |
To other training scripts on the site:
| Level One: Your first script: 'The Ark' production and script for seven actors and seven production team |
| Level Two: Your second Script: 'The Ouija Board' |
| Level Three: Acting : objective-choice-action |
| Acting : some key terms for the actor and director |
| Level Four: Creative scripting and production exercises -signposting, & montage, & music (and note also the hook - opening 30 seconds) |
| Level Five: How to produce a TRAIL & Some advice about radio drama directing as a student |
Level Six
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| Level Seven : Script: 'We Go With' |
Level Eight
| Scripts: Dragon |
| Colourlands |
| The Egg-stremists |
| Warm Up Act |
