Tips for Conducting Auditions

Be Open to Surprise
As you scan photos of potential actors for ‘the look’ that you want, keep your mind open to meeting someone who might not meet your criterion but who intrigues you in some way.   Several of Mismo’s cast was a result of following our curiosity.

Actors are People too
As indie filmmakers, we like to run happy sets in which everyone feels valued.  Set the stage with your audition process by giving the person time to settle their nerves before you put them through their paces.  Not everyone can jump right into a When Harry Met Sally orgasm.

Be Prepared
Have a plan for how you propose to elicit the characteristics and emotions required for the role.  For each of our characters we were looking for diametrically opposite qualities that exemplified their public and private persona: Toni, the cold calculating psychologist by day became the femme fatale at night; Mitch, the spiritual artist in public was uptight and obsessive-compulsive in private; Anjelica was kind and loving, but also tempestuous and extremely sensual.

Be Flexible
If the actor is not giving you what you want, try another tack… and another.   Sometimes it’s in the way you phrase things - help the actor understand what you're looking for.  Perhaps you’ll improve your own communication skills and become a better director.

Push
Don’t be afraid to push the actor - for the most part, they are looking for meaty and challenging roles.  It’s also how you’ll discover boundaries, if they exist, and whether the person is right for the part.  Gino loves to describe oddball scenarios followed by “Would you comfortable with this?”  Often it’s meant as a joke, but can reveal a lot.  It’s how we developed the character of our gallery owner, Rene.  Unfortunately, as we made decisions about pacing and the core of Mismo’s story, the role of Rene was dramatically cut.

Be Professional
It’s a job interview, even if there's no pay involved.  Thank the person for their interest and their time.  Let them know when they can expect to hear from you and who will be the contact.  While the person might not be right for this role, they might be perfect for another down the road, in this movie or another.  We met a “damn fine actress” who we didn’t feel was the right fit for the role of Bella.  As we advanced in our process, we needed someone for the senator’s wife and she was willing to play the smaller role (and proved her point!)

Remember to Laugh
Making movies is supposed to be fun!