I don't know how to prepare a monolog for auditions and failing. Can you help?
Is a bad monolog or no monolog the reason of rejections in auditions?
How important is for an actor to prepare a monolog?
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How to select a monolog?
What monolog should I use for my audition?
How to prepare Hindi monolog?
How long should be a monolog?
What precautions should I take for preparing monolog?
What Is a Monologue?
If you have a friend or relative who likes to hear himself talk, you already know what a monologue is. It is an uninterrupted, one-sided conversation in which a person — a college professor, your drunk friend at a wedding anniversary party— addresses a specific audience. Dating back to ancient Greek drama, where they played an essential role, monologues remain the main feature of plays and films.
Monologues provide character development, give an explanation, or identify key themes.
Nowadays it's a trend with casting directors to ask an actor appearing for audition to give a monolog
Follow these winning tips when choosing one
Finding good audition material seems to be a pain in the ass for many actors. I began to fully appreciate how actors kill selection chances. Many actors simply choose bad audition monologs for themselves. The reality is, if you are going to audition for films and TV (also especially for theater), monologs are going to be required of you fairly regularly. You can help yourself immensely if you follow some simple tips.
1. Know your "type" and be realistic about it.
A good way of discovering this to ask other actor friends, your acting coach and people in the industry. If you choose a piece that is something you’d "LIKE to do" as opposed to something that truly suits you, you are unlikely to stand out among the competition- there will be plenty of others who are type same casting type, better looking and more experienced or better prepared for the same audition
2. Know your age range
Again, be realistic about this and ask friends, your acting coach or people in the industry for honest opinions about your screen age then stick to that age range. For example, if your screen age is 23 to 30 and if you prepare or select a monolog spoken by 60 years old man, well then you know it would be absolutely out of the place and the casting directors would notice instantly.
3. Enter the room with confidence
If hands are offered, shake them. Look the auditors in the eyes during introductions i. Introduce yourself and let them know what piece you are doing and who the source/s. Remember to smile and show off your confidence.
4. Short And Sweet
A monolog that’s between 1 minute to 2 minutes is great. More than that is beginning to push it too much. A monolog audition should work to spark the auditor’s imagination, not be an attempt to cram everything you can do with a one piece of text.
5. Imagine
Simply put, your monolog should express as if you are talking something to your scene partner whether partner present to absent. In this way, every monolog is actually a dialogue, a give and take between you and a silent, invisible scene partner.
6. Don't tell just a story
This is related to #2. So often actors create monologs which simply tell a story or reflect on a memory. These pieces become inactive 99% of the time and highlight the matter rather than you.
7. Avoid pieces that are full of violence, sex or offensive language
Remember that an audition is, after all, a job interview. Often the casting director doesn't know anything about you apart from what we see in the audition. "A lot of offensive language or pieces that contain descriptions of graphic violent or sexual acts are just in bad taste at an audition
8. Entertain auditioners
No one in the industry wants to watch an actor working really hard to impress them with their "acting" especially if the piece is boring or mediocre. Choose a monolog you love doing so we will love watching you.
9. Great Monologs often start out as dialogue
When you are looking for pieces, don’t just assume that a perfectly crafted minute-long monolog right there is going to jump out at you. Some of the best monologs I have are ones that I’ve pieced together from one story or character’s dialogue in a scene. Perhaps, starting with a question, demanding something from an invisible person or asking an opinion and then proceeding
10. Avoid the monologs that are common and overdone
Many actors make a mistake of preparing a monolog from Bollywood classic films and TV serials like from Sholay, Pyaasa, Guide, Dil To Pagal Hai and so on whether or not it suits them or not. Most casting directors are tired of listening to these pieces repeatedly and they may suddenly lose interest in you. So, be careful.
11. Reflect your good taste
This is to say that choosing monolog for its giving "shock" value or for example too dramatic irritability, bursts of anger or sexually abuse can backfire if you bring it into an audition room. Content matters of course, but not everyone loves hearing 20 bombs in 60 seconds. Not everyone loves hearing pieces about being sexually abused. Not everyone loves watching an actor rage at the top of their lungs.Take the right risks, not the cheap ones.
12. Play to your strengths
It’s great to experiment and try a wide range of monologs to practice but when it comes to what you choose to use for auditions, play to your strengths and show yourself being the best that you can be.
Choose a monolog with shifts in emotion
I'm sure you must have been knowing how to portray at least 9 types of emotions and different attitudes (In acting class or by your acting coach). The most interesting monologs to watch are the ones with changes in emotion, rhythm, and tempo. This will make it more compelling to watch and will show more of what you are capable of.
13. Don’t be a magician and hide behind tricks
Hands down the biggest mistake I see in the audition room is actors hiding behind the tricks and gimmicks of their pieces. Being showy is the easiest choice and almost always the wrong one. Tossing props, exaggerated gestures, picking up things from the casting director's table are some of the examples.
14. Do not change your accent. Stick to your own accent
You’ve been invited to the audition because of who you are, and if you deliver your monolog in a different accent, you won’t be giving them what they wanted when they called you in- which is you! The exception to this, of course, is if you have been asked to do a different accent, and even then only go for it if you are flawless.
Here is one of the best monolog, I like from Bollywood movie "Khakee"
How to prepare the best monolog.
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