Suzie Steen Studios » adviceSuzie Steen Studios

“Performing for the Camera”?

Suzie Steen — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 05:57:00 +0000

When I say to some of my newer actors in class “stop acting”, they often respond that they are, indeed, in an acting class — so?

“If you catch somebody ‘acting’ in a movie, that actor is doing it wrong. The moment he’s caught ‘performing’ for the camera, the actor has blown his cover. He’s no longer a private character in a private world. Now he’s a highly paid actor on contract to speak these lines for the public. Good-bye illusion. Good-bye career.”

– Michael Caine

So? Stop acting even in acting class!

STOP THINKING

Suzie Steen — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 08:53:21 +0000

Yup, the “intellectual actor”, you can get too far into your head and your thoughts. It kinda works better if you lose that intellect and just feel the feelings. Hence, jump in Fully..without monitoring, editing, or checking. You will be stunned at your inner self coming to the character. A note to you young actors….I lived in my ‘intellect’ for so long….and believe me, I was a stitched up human being. Letting go is awesome! Freedom, I keep screaming that at you. Freedom to do what comes to you. Wonderful!

Do it, don’t do it, just be……………………xx

An Actor Prepares…

Suzie Steen — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 23:42:27 +0000

PREPARATION: Why do I always seem to comment on this?

Because: Preparation allows for SPONTANEITY – freedom of EXPRESSION, CREATIVITY, VULNERABILITY and ACCESSIBILITY!

If you are prepared, know your lines, are aware of your character and the situation, you will then be FREE to be DIRECTED and EXPLORE more. Once you are ‘off the page’ and not in your head, but into the FEELINGS of your character and the ‘Given Situation’, you will be amazed at how much further you can take your awareness!

More information on this at: www.audition-secrets.com

more Audition Secrets…….

Suzie Steen — Sat, 17 Mar 2012 17:06:34 +0000

P R E P – R O A R – F I N (These 3 words will WOW your audition technique!)

Auditioning? Love it or Hate it…it’s necessary to Audition to get a job! The more you audition,
the better you get at it (hopefully) and the less nervous you get.

Three things from the book “Audition Secrets…” are right here and seem simple:

PREP – Preparation
ROAR – Own the Room
FIN – It’s over, don’t beat yourself up or think it’s “in the bag”.

These tools are explained in more detail in the book, which can be found at

www.audition-secrets.com

You MUST prepare. Casting Agents and Clients name this as their No.1 annoyance – when an
actor has come unprepared.

When you go into the audition room, these are the 2-5 minutes of acting you may do all week, so
make the most of it!

When it’s all over, it’s over. At least enjoy the fact that you got SEEN and hope for the best. Just
because you don’t get the job, doesn’t mean YOU were bad. You know, it’s the old – ‘they wanted
a different color of hair in the end’. Give yourself a break.

Please remember that those people casting you are “not out to get you”. Actually, they are out to make you
look as good as possible – so help them out! They have clients to please too.

So, as I always say, get out there and HAVE FUN and BE PREPARED.

SAY NO TO BULLYING DAY – AUSTRALIA

Suzie Steen — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 17:42:12 +0000

SAY NO TO BULLYING DAY – Friday, 16^th March in AUSTRALIA

To honor this, we have been asked to wear something Orange.

I have really opened my eyes to the horrible harm caused by bullying. I have volunteered and ‘worked’ with underprivileged and abused kids most of my life. All the time I was thinking how lucky I was not to have been bullied nor had any of my friends. Also realizing that most of the time these kids (and teens/adults) believe this to be ‘normal’ as they have never experienced anything different.

WELL! After over 50 years on this earth, a friend of mine realized she had, indeed, herself been bullied and is still being bullied. It HURTS! It hurts really badly. It’s frustrating and when a person feels there is no way out, it just adds to the pain.

As bullying comes in many different ways, you may not think her experience is as bad as others. It may not be, but when you are on the receiving end, it’s pretty much paramount.

Rebecca’s story, which she has just been able to put into chapters in her life now goes like this…..

Her brothers made fun of her, called her names, got her in trouble with her parents, punched her, tortured her cats and humiliated her when she was young. She had lots of very good friends (one of which was me), a loving mother and father; so she thought, “this is just what boys do”. She left home when she graduated from High School at 17.

Now more than 40 years later, she is still being bullied as she let her brothers back into her life hoping love would be there. She is still tormented as they are keeping her from seeing her father who is in a nursing home slowing succumbing to the disease of dementia.

She wants him to remember her as long as he can – but how can he when she is not allowed to see him? She was hit, punched and tossed around by one of her brothers just recently. That’s what she gets for leaving home? Her brothers might say this, but NO! These men are the same boys who bullied her when she was young. Does it hurt? Yes. Will she survive and overcome? Yes! She has me and her loving friends who now know what she went through and is going through now.

I hope all of you who have been bullied or who are being bullied in ANY WAY can share your pain and overcome. I will be wearing ORANGE on Friday. I hope you do too.

Agents & Auditions

Suzie Steen — Sat, 22 May 2010 08:10:45 +0000

Hi guys! Being an American and now from both Continents, I know how difficult it is to find a Good agent who will take you and is right for you, here are just a few tips!

1. Ask other successful actors who have had the training and experience that you have in common.
2. Get referred by one of them.
3. ALWAYS make sure your Biography and Headshots are in tip-top shape (NO EXCEPTIONS).
4. In Los Angeles, you can go to a company called GLOBAL P.R.E.P. They have an amazing knowledge of the industry and I can attest to the fact that they have integrity.
5. If you get the interview with an Agent, interview them too. You need to know that they are the agent that will work for you — as long as you have the ‘goods’ to sell.
6. Never under-sell yourself. “Oh I only did” etc. Better is: “I did a play….” and it was a real eye-opener and I feel so much more confident…..” etc.

I use the word “sell” rather loosely as I don’t like to think of us as merchandise — however, aren’t we? If
you are buying a shirt/skirt and they cost the same, won’t you pick the one that is displayed better?

Here is a page from my book “Audition Secrets”. This passage is really more about Auditioning for Casting Agents, but don’t Talent Agents want to know HOW to handle audition situation?

Accept/Adapt
Accept what is going on in the room, some like a chat, some like to say hi, do your bit, bye – so adapt to each situation as it arises. It’s their party. You may be the star, but they invited you.

 Take your cues from the room

 As above, accept that you may have 2 minutes (in and out), if the auditioners ask questions you don’t quite understand…..ask and adapt to it.

 Accept that you may not be reading with someone you like, but adapt to it.
 It’s you’re time to make an impression. Please make it a good one!

I once went into an audition and no one really spoke to me. They sat back and talked to each other, told me to talk to the camera and said bye. Hmmm – really all they wanted to see was if I was pleasant, professional and looked right for the character on camera — which they would look at later!

I also once auditioned for the Director (big one) myself. The Casting Agent did not even speak to me, so away I went and just talked to the Director about my life in Hollywood and Australia — dropping, of course, all the names I could think of. Well, I got the part! And it has just been released in Australia to rave reviews. I’m a lucky American in a ‘foreign land’. It’s all a foreign land isn’t it?

So chin up, be happy, HAVE FUN, and good things can happen. Go to www.imdb.com/name/nm0824800/ to find out more about me. I am your American in Australia. Love what you do!