subject: Acting - 7 Tips To Get You Through A Cold Reading [print this page] Auditioning for a theater production provides one of the best opportunities an actor may encounter. The role is specific, the dialogue is established. The actor knows what to expect, and has plenty of time to prepare for the audition.
Unfortunately, in television and film, this isn't always the case. Even though it's accepted practice to provide the actor with a script at least 24 hours in advance of an audition, this doesn't also happen. In fact, an actor will often be expected to perform dialogue he or she has never seen before.
This is referred to as cold reading and it's a common occurrence in the world of auditions.
It's also one of the most important skills an actor can develop ... the art of the cold read.
So how do you get through a cold read? Well, here are a quick seven tips to help you get through the worst of it"
1. Just as you would with any other script, glance through the scene to get a feel for it. Try to gain a basic understanding of your character's wants and needs in the scene, a sense of how your character will be interacting with the other characters.
2. Memorize as much of your dialogue as you can. Begin at the beginning and absorb one line at a time. Don't worry if you don't have it all. Just memorize what you can.
3. As tempting as it is to simply read from the script, try to avoid it. Keep track of where you are on the page, absorb your next line and deliver it as best you can. This is acting, not reading. So everything is important about your delivery ... your body language, your facial expressions, the tone of your voice, etc.
4. Pay attention. Acting is as much about reacting to the others in the scene as it is to delivering your own lines. So as challenging as it can be to prepare for your next line, you don't want to become buried in the script and oblivious to the push of the other characters or the scene itself. Listen as the scene unfolds.
5. Move. It's easy to remain stiff and frozen in place as you try to absorb the script and react to the other actors. However, if it feels appropriate to move, then do it. As mentioned above, body language is an important element in the development of any character. Use movement to add a dimension that might otherwise be lost in a cold reading.
6. Be open to suggestions. A cold reading should be like any other audition. There's always a little give and take. The casting director might want to see how you handle a scene slightly differently than you've approached it. Go with the flow. Enjoy the opportunity to present additional aspects of your talent. Take advantage of the chance to show what you can do.
7. No apologies. The casting director understands the situation. If you screw up, simply find a way to incorporate your mistake into the gist of your character. No one is expected to perform perfectly in a cold reading. However, how well you adjust and deliver under pressure is something the casting director will definitely take into consideration.
A cold reading is uncomfortable and challenging, but it's part of the acting profession. You're going to encounter them, so you might as well prepare for the inevitable by practicing how to cold read a script long before you find yourself in audition where you'll be expected to think and react on your feet without any preparation.
