Suzie Steen Studios » industrySuzie 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.

“Arthur” – Russell Brand vs Dudley Moore?

Suzie Steen — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 02:41:46 +0000

I can’t wait to see Russell’s version. Here’s what he thinks…

What a great idea and wonderful casting with Russell Brand playing ‘Arthur’ in the remake of ‘Arthur’. Brand certainly has his own fast-paced wit and sense of humour.

He says:

“I am hoping that I too will get an Oscar nomination,” he told MTV News when they visited the “Arthur” set. “What I did is, I’ve pretended to be Dudley Moore for a lot of this film, because I was thinking perhaps they just might think, ‘He’s almost the exact same as him. Let’s nominate him for an Oscar.’”

Ha! I think Russell can hold his own with this character (“a loveable drunk”), by tapping into his past when he was a drunk, but is still certainly loveable. I do hope filming is over soon so he can grow back his facial hair!

Who’s this?? That is the cloned child of Russell Brand and Johnny Depp. I call him my son because I was there when he was created and born. Check him out at djsteen.com

Film opens April 8th in the USA! I’m in Australia, so maybe I’ll get to see it for free on the plane!

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!