Suzie Steen Studios » travelSuzie Steen Studios http://suziesteenstudios.com Actors Creative News and Views Mon, 09 Apr 2012 01:13:55 +0000 en hourly 1 Agents & Auditions http://suziesteenstudios.com/agents-auditions http://suziesteenstudios.com/agents-auditions#comments Sat, 22 May 2010 08:10:45 +0000 Suzie Steen http://suziesteenstudios.com/?p=258

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 - read more

]]> 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!

]]> http://suziesteenstudios.com/agents-auditions/feed 0 Home for the Holidays http://suziesteenstudios.com/home-for-the-holidays http://suziesteenstudios.com/home-for-the-holidays#comments Wed, 30 Dec 2009 17:08:42 +0000 Suzie Steen http://suziesteenstudios.com/?p=144

Sydney – Metropolitan City, New York – Metropolitan City, Chicago – Windy City, Washington, D.C. – International City, Los Angeles - whatever you want, San Sebastian, Spain – wonderful, Philadelphia – old money, Florida – a slow motion movie. I’ve lived and worked in all. Peoria - read more

]]> Sydney – Metropolitan City, New York – Metropolitan City, Chicago – Windy City, Washington, D.C. – International City, Los Angeles – whatever you want, San Sebastian, Spain – wonderful, Philadelphia – old money, Florida – a slow motion movie. I’ve lived and worked in all.

Peoria – ? I grew up there. Going home for the holidays to feel like a kid again and was not disappointed. Snow at Christmas (a blizzard!!) Corn fields I used to run in…

Stuck in the mud! Was I back in High School?

My dad, still tall and handsome at 86, an ex-Marine Sergeant – called (what else) Sarge. Didn’t want to call him when I got stuck in the mud, nor did I when I was in High School stuck in the mud!

Now for a few anecdotes:

1. Dad: a bit forgetful – always asks ‘where are you’ and with me that’s okay because I go everywhere. I was staying half an hour away at a friend’s while home for the holidays.

Phone: Only reception I could get was either outside in the freezing rain or snow (did I mention I traveled from Sydney where it’s summer)?  So I decided to try the garage and it worked and wasn’t as cold and wet!  So I called my dad to tell him I had gotten home to my friend’s okay.  He said “where are you” – I said, “in the garage”. – he said, “my garage?” at which point I was on the floor of the cement garage in hysterical laughter.  I said, “no Anne’s garage” – he said, oh good I wouldn’t have wanted to lock you in my garage, it’s cold”.

2. I was going to cook dinner at Dad’s. He & his wife’s idea of a gourmet meal is choosing which TV dinner.
I insisted on marinating the chicken overnight. I found an interesting array of spices and went about spicing up their lives. I then went back to my friend’s to eat and sleep. I went back the next day to cook a spicy, awesome dinner and went looking for my marinated chicken.

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