Doug Warhit's Acting Blog

Don’t let yourself be upstaged on a commercial audition or a tv/film audition when you are reading with another actor. Your job is to be camera-aware so you can be seen at all times.

When Steven Bocho, producer of NYPD was approached by an actor who told him, “My character would never say that,”
Mr. Bocho responded “Maybe your character wouldn’t say that, but he’s my character and he’s saying it right here,”
and he pointed to the script.
It’s up to the actor to justify what he’s been give to say and do, thus enabling the writer/director/producer to fulfill their vision for the project.

Specificity, research, and imagination create unique and outstanding performances. For her role in “John Adams,” Laura Linney read history books and discovered that Abigail Adams was pigeon toed so Linney played her that way. It caused her to feel less graceful which shifted her center of energy and focus, creating a subtle shift in the marriage of Linney and her character.

Jesse Eisenberg on playing an unsympathetic character in The Social Network: “Even if you’re playing Mussolini, you have to believe what you’re doing is for the betterment of Italy. You have to find some defense for your character’s actions.”

Be on time. Be prepared. No excuses. Use the time in the waiting room to focus, center, and relax. Let the work speak for itself.

If you get a redirect, make sure you’re really concentrating so you can take in the adjustments you’re being given. If you’re not really listening, you’re likely to just repeat what you did on the first take.

Is your character driven to strive for their  wants by their head? heart? gut? groin?

Work on your auditions because you love acting and love getting inside a role. Don’t waste your time doing the work to please the casting director. All that does is add pressure to your preparation and take focus from your work.

“Quit now, you’ll never make it. If you disregard this advice, you’ll be halfway to success.”
-David Zucker