Monologue
Preparation
Be prepared to pull something out of your pocket
Often when your child lands an audition, the casting director will provide you with a monologue or sides to prepare. Occasionally, however, you will be asked to prepare your own monologue or brief commercial script.
Additionally, it is not uncommon for agents and managers to ask your child to perform something during an interview.
This
possibility of having an on-the-spot performance creates a need for
preparation by every actor, no matter what the age. Parents should help
their children locate, develop and memorize a few age-appropriate
pieces that they can "pull out of their pocket" when needed. We've
also heard that having a joke or one-line factoid is helpful during
interviews.
Jonathan Lipnicki, who is famous for his role as
"Ray" in Jerry Maguire, was said to win casting directors and Tom
Cruise over when he was the only child to audition a second time after
the original "Ray" didn't work out. We all know that Lipnicki
presented a charismatic personality even off camera. On the set, Jonathan showed up saying, "the human head weighs eight pounds." Cameron Crowe liked it so much he wrote it into the script.
Industry
professionals like to see a child that is engaging and real. If a
child comes in with something to talk about, anything really, it
provides a platform from which to work.
"My best advice for kids/parents when choosing a monologue or
a scene is to pick something that suits their personality and that best
displays their talent," explained casting director Paul Ruddy of Champion Casting. "Write your own monologue if you can't find a good
one. And [monologues] don't need to be overly dramatic. Comedy often works
well and holds the audience's attention better."
Here are some tips for helping your child prepare:
Choose age-appropriate scripts: The subject matter of the script should always match up with your
child's age. It should be a role that your child could conceivably
play. Your child should also be able to fully grasp the subject
matter. If he or she does not understand the script, it will not be
believable when performed.
Choose practical pieces: Selecting a script from a popular commercial works well. Commercials
are short (30-60sec) and usually provide simple, practical situations.
Commercial scripts also provide the opportunity for a quick bit of
humor.
Length and type: For younger children, monologues do not need to be especially long.
For most situations, a one-minute monologue is sufficient. One comedic
monologue and one dramatic monologue are usually enough to cover an
audition or meeting.
Practice in class: Once you've chosen a few pieces to work with, consider improving your performances by using them in your acting classes.
Looking for sample monologues and 30sec commercials?
|
