Conflict is a state which most people find unpleasant and wish to avoid. It can lead to fear, anxiety, as well as chaos. However, during an acting audition, conflict is essential to delivering an impressive reading. Every story and character has an inner conflict that an actor must find in order to have a successful audition and performance.
The majority of persons and characters have internal conflicts between desires and feelings. There are also external conflicts that a person takes on with the environment, fate, God, and the world. Relational conflicts are yet another form of personal conflict that are in present in almost every person and, therefore, character's life. Before an audition, the actor is only provided with basic information about the character and the story. Conflict always exists in a story, whether on the surface or hidden beneath a complicated exterior. It is the actor's job to find the hidden conflict and give it life in their audition.
Conflict is always interesting. Instability in a character or story adds depth and movement. After you have determined the personality, desires, and needs of the character, there is no question that obstacles will arise. That is the way life is. All lives have hurdles which must be shaped and worked with until they cease to be difficult obstacles and become helpful participants. Think about the movie, "Midnight Run". Charles Grodin plays a white collar negative role who is being sought by the bounty hunter played by Robert De Niro. Jack, played by De Niro, needs to collect his bounty by bringing in Mardukas, played by Grodin. Jack is met with a number of conflicts including his personal insecurities, rival bounty hunters, and the infamous Mardukas.
The script may very well not have all the answers you need in order to create great conflict and emotion. To strengthen your acting audition, you may need to create a character yourself, one that has conflicting desires and needs. In this way, you will be more likely to grab onto and hold the auditor's attention and make the performance more real for the viewer. There is nothing worse than performing a one-dimensional reading of a character with no emotion and conflict. With these skills, your auditioning skills are sure to improve.
Make sure that the conflict you create is multi-dimensional. The typical person has numerous inner demons that are in constant turmoil. If you are looking to make a good impression on the auditor, ensure that you portray this in your reading. The lines being recited are not nearly as important as the character that is created by the actor.
Although your character may be the only live person in the scene, there are doubtless other hidden forces affecting his or her life. Understanding these circumstances will allow you to improve your readings and auditions. Another thing to remember about conflict. A small amount of comedy should also be present within any conflict. Even the largest conflict will contain some levity. Neglecting to add comedy will make the reading unwatchable. With the proper combination of conflict and comedy, the character is sure to come to life.
The Robert Winsor Institute is an institution specializes in developing acting and personal improvement skills in children. The Institute is a team of top entertainment industry teaching professionals providing valuable insider tips and services to empower your craft and career!
Call (949) 679-3406 for more info today!
To read more, please click here!
