After a brief hiatus, I am beyond excited to return to the GRAS classroom. Not just because I get to jump back into learning this craft but because my new instructor is making their return. Ellen Jacoby, a legendary casting director, will guide my class this month.
Ellen was excited to be back, and her energy was palpable. The class's first portion excited me for the weeks to come as Ellen morphed into a motivational speaker. She began by asking each person what they do for fun. It was a simple ice-breaker on the surface, but Ellen expanded on the idea by explaining that we have to do exciting and fun things in life. No matter what they are or how odd they may seem to someone else, you have to pursue that goal. Not only will it help you add to your toolbox of acting abilities, but it can lead to a more fulfilling life.
Ellen continued to push a positive outlook onto the class. As a casting director, she has come in contact with thousands of actors over the years. Unfortunately, she is often tasked with casting a singular role, which means even if all of the final candidates are superb talents, only one of them can get the job. The reality of auditions is that you will get that no more often than a yes. However, how we frame this outcome can directly impact our future success. Don't think of the no as not being good enough of an actor but simply not being suitable for that role or creative direction. Ellen put it so eloquently when she said, sometimes you win, sometimes you learn. Everything we do in this industry is an opportunity to learn and grow. I know from experience that it can be easy to forget that and feel like not getting a role is a failure rather than an opportunity.
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The scene we performed this week was short and straightforward, which can be a breath of fresh
air as it gives you more room to play with your performance. I mentioned before in other entries how the landscape of auditions has shifted since the pandemic, causing more of them to be done over Zoom. While this allows us to audition more often, it removes the ability to use traditional physicality in our performances.
This is where Ellen's biggest lesson came into play. While we must adapt to our virtual climate for the foreseeable future, the actors nailing auditions are using the space like they are still in person. If your scene has you talking to multiple characters, map out in your space where everyone is oriented. That way, when you speak, you make your Zoom box feel as lively as possible. Ellen had each of us do something simple: give her an item she asked for. It is serviceable to just say, "here you go," but it adds to the scene to do something as easy as leaning forward and extending your hand off camera.