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Today is:
Congratulations!
You've made it through your MFA/BFA program. Just a few short months and you'll be on your own, feet planted on the road to stardom and artistic success. Here's a short list of tips for the most important 3-5 minutes of your career (so far).
1. If you haven't been hitting the gym, you've got a few months to shape up. DO IT! In the short period of time you've got to perform, a physical impression will be as strong as ANY other one you can make. We want our new clients to be appropriate for the roles that are out there which are almost uniformly leading roles. For more information in this check out the PYRAMID OF DESIRABILITY.
2. Unless you're another Kenneth Branagh, avoid doing a Shakespeare scene. Such scenes are usually not as appropriate or as effective for an audience as contemporary material. And we assume that you can handle the classics, doing a scene raises the possibility that you may prove us wrong.
3. On that note, avoid Moliere, Chekov and other classics like the PLAGUE. Outside the context of the plays these scenes come off as DULL DULL DULL.
4. Shorter is better in regards to scenes. Most people make up their minds about you in the first 20-30 seconds. Don't drag it out. No scene should be longer than 2-3 minutes.
5. Funny is better than anything, if you can handle comedy. We sit through a lot of scenes, laughter makes us oh so grateful.
6. Try to avoid scenes that are done every year. The "Are You a Homo" scene from Angels is so overdone. Aren't there other scenes in that play?
7. If you're going to do a scene from a film (which is fine) try to avoid scenes with are linked inextricably to certain performances. Doing Travolta or Jackson from Pulp Fiction, or Brando from Waterfront is bad. Why? Most of you aren't going to be able to compete with our memories of the original. Look at John Sayles films, tons of great stuff in there.
8. Dress simply but to flatter. Guys should wear jeans or slacks and t-shirts or oxfords to show off their physique. Women should wear skirts or dresses and heels to do the same.
9. A showcase is NOT the time to explore your ethnic, racial, sexual or gender identity. Don't do material just to shock or to tell us about the inner you. It more often than not comes off as amateurish and polemic.
10. Finally, remember why you're there. It's not about art. It's about getting people to like you, to want to hire you, to want to sign you.
And a special guest tip from my boss Jim:
11. Make us feel something. Good acting has the power to make us laugh or make us cry. In 2-3 minutes, those are the buttons to push.
GOOD LUCK!
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