ACTING WITHOUT DIALOG

I get asked a lot about the "no dialog" audition. The question is usually "What the hell am I suppose to do?". Non dialog auditions usually break down into two categories... 1. "Just Action" and 2. "Getting to know you".

"Just action" is something like... "Ok you sit down, turn on the TV... and you're surprised at what you see, not shocked... but just surprised". The best plan of attack on things like this is to ask yourself "WHERE AM I". Yes, a standard acting approach... but seriously... "WHERE ARE YOU?" And answer it down to the most specific detail. Create a 4th wall with substance, with meaning, make it crazy real to you. Subtle is NOT easy, if you are in your head it will not feel genuine. So create in great detail the room, is it carpet, or wood floor, what kind of TV is it, is it mounted on the wall, what's around it, are you on a couch, how does it feel, is it saturday afternoon, is it late evening, ALL of this is important. Then just exist in this world you created... don't TRY to exist in it, just exist in it.

When you are at home, what is the thinking process when you walk over to the couch and turn on the TV? For me, there is no thinking process... other then maybe , "I wonder what's on". Everything else... walking across the room, sitting down, picking up the remote, is on autopilot. I don't think at all about it... that's the key.

The "Getting to Know You" is when the action is so basic, they don't even bother having you do it, rather they ask you a bunch of questions to get a feel for who you are. This is your chance to impress, and any improv training really shines here. So be ready to be personable, fun, have a story, be interesting. If you haven't, take an improv class of course.

- Scott Young

Commercial Success/ Shoot a Scene. Edit Your Reel