Over the last five years my weight shifted from 13stone lean muscular to 16stone wrestler muscular.My commercial model days were over!I was typecast for "baddies" most of the time and I had to find other areas of acting I could fit in.It was a rough experience but an interesting learning curve!
Now I managed to lose 2stone and trimmed again!Being a perfectionist method actor,I like to experiment and guess what, now I have different physical ranges to suit!
What are your views on that?Are we becoming like America where everybody is "Pre-Ops" or physical outlook plays a very important to get the part?Let's hear you all!
As others have said really! For TV/Commercials appearance is pretty much the whole deal. Film can be a bit easier and theatre tends to be general appearance and how good you are.
A casting Director once told me that 8 out of 10 times they don't know what they want till it walks through the door.
Kinda makes you feel like a bit of meat at times, but hey we all signed up for this way of mad life.
I think just giving everything your best shot is the right approach. At times I've been sat waiting for an audition with others. And I've wondered what the hell I'm doing there as I look nothing like people I'm sat next to? But I get in there, do my best and hope that they remember me for future jobs.
Yes - it is weird when you're at a casting and surrounded by people who look nothing like you. But it's also disconcerting to find yourself in a room of people who look like your twin brother.
But it's absolutely true about being seen and hoping to they'll use you for something else even if you don't fit the bill for that particular piece.
I would love to play Benedick. But am getting used to being cast as nerds and weirdos.
I know what you mean about being in a room full of lookalikes. But I find that strangely interesting. I begin to wonder what their parents look like or siblings. I wonder what on earth has happened to them to make 'em look like me? I mean, I know how mad my life has been. I wonder if we attract the same kind of people and also attract the same amount of interest from crimewatch casting people????
At the end of the day, I'm not much like the roles I get put up for and most of the time thats a welcome relief!!!!
I agree with most of the views so far. Particularly, you do need to get REAL friends to assess your image for 'type'. I know we're actors and therefore have been trained to 'be' any type, but it seems that casting directors are swayed by what they see as you walk in the door - hence the 'red beads' fiasco.
As you age it gets worse. How many times have I gone up for a character in my age group and been asked to wear a costume that even my 80+ dear old mum wouldn't have been seen dead in, let alone a 59+ 2006 person! They just don't get it, do they? Also, weight!!!! Well, I've been every size from 10 to 22 (currently 16 and holding) and I never seem to be just right. Thankfully I'm now happy to go for my type - fiesty, eccentric or bossy - and if they don't think I fit their image, OK. On to the next audition. Someone out there needs me regularly enough to pay the bills. Get comfortable with yourself and let the 'pretty' ones get on with it till they hit their 'problem' age - we all do sooner or later. But whatever size or age I am, I KNOW I can act some of the fluffy rakes off the screen.
Frankly I am supprised with this misconception as to what is important when going up for auditions.
Yes it's important to know your playing range, and yes it's important to look after your self(especially for the stage when stamina in everything) but thats where it ends. I dunno call me a romantic or a little old fashioned but what ever happened to simply acting. I suppose it really boils down to having your own personal integrity and sticking to it and not trying to second guess what it is the director is looking for, you can never do this. You know what they say about asumption don't you?
Here is what I say: Stay true to yourself go to auditions and castings as yourself instead of trying to get down to that myth of a perfect 10 (Monroe was a 16!. If you want to play a leading role sell yourself as the ideal leading role by believing it first yourself! 'You can't bull$+t the audience' as they say.
I know much of what I say will fly in the face of convension but looks really are not the be all and end all. It's all about creating a sense of believability.
Your training be it at Dr School, Training company ie Impulse company, College or Uni pretty much influences the way you think about the world of acting. Just Remember that there really is no such thing as normal. We can play anything we want to if we remember what true acting is all about to us. Stay true to yourself and aviod superficiality at all costs.
I wish casting directors/clients could read your posting - unfortunately, they don't see the world in the same way. It all rests on how people look I'm afraid - unless you're a name and then it's all down to bums on seats.
Cynic? Moi? :-))
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