On Camera Acting Audition Tips : What Is Slating in On Camera Auditions?

[flspy]

Dany DeVito famously came in to the audition as Louie Depalma for "Taxi." He even went so far as to to demand "who wrote this crap?" He was hired on the spot. Lori knows what she is doing. She's the real deal folks.

[quatroboy]

I totally DISAGREE with her suggestion of auditioning "in character." As a former casting associate, I can assure you that the director, producers and/or the client watching your slate want to see who YOU are, not the character. Go into character AFTER the slate. If your character is serious, you CAN give a simple, low-key serious slate. If your character is fun and friendly, then give a pleasant slate. Difference: it's about TEMPERAMENT not the character during your slate.

[shtfprepared]

@quatroboy I AGREE! My daughter Has been taking acting and theater classes for 5 years now and that's what she learned also. Never enter as a character but as yourself and to "slate" as yourself. The character starts when the audition starts.

[wwwBixxTk]

@quatroboy No there are two kinds of slating.The one is to talk with the director/producer/client and tell him all the necessary things about you and the secound is to slate as your character while you standing on the mark^^

[quatroboy]

@wwwBixxTk I'm not sure how long you've been casting, BixxTk (no offense), but when I was casting (both as a CD & associate - I stopped last yr, but still work in the industry), the ONLY time we wanted an actor to slate in character was when we instructed them to do so. Producer/director want to know who YOU are & how YOU present yourself. We need to see u as an ACTOR who is courteous, professional, able to listen & take direction -- all indicators as to how you'll be on set should you get cast.

[nateactor4899]

i guess the less transtion the better.. I think the best advice would be if your playing a mean and serious mob boss you might not want to slate like a happy go lucky immature goofy man. Just play to the camera on slate the level of your character.

[nateactor4899]

things have changed people are casted more of being that person in life then actually pretending to be character. If you have an accent you should use it when you walk in to the room and slate to give the image that you are that person. If the role your portraying isn't to extreme then you can slate regular and do a slight transtion..

[nateactor4899]

what she means is that when you slate if your character is extreme then you should act like that when you slate..so to give the impression that your not acting that your that character or person. You can slate as yourself and go into the character but then your labeled as acting in the eyes of the viewer.....

[NestiGee]

no, what is she talking about, You dont slate in character, slating means being yourself for 10 seconds before you get in character, I dont understand what shes talking about.,

[LiriWho]

Do you remember the audition scene from Mulholland Drive? she did the slate thing as herself (betty)...

[Bravething20]

Why should you slate in character? Isn't that just confusing, saying your name but as your character?