I signed up for this

That's how I guess 80% of an actor's days go, well, until they make it. I had 3 auditions today, could go for only 2. One of them was a look test for Mahabharat TV series (that's when they make you wear complete costume with proper makeup and then take your audition) and the other was for a cameo in a movie.

The cameo could have gone much better. And the look test was not at all good. So down the drain the day goes.

I need to have more camera practice. Need to hone my skills more.

Let's see what went wrong in each audition:

1. Movie Audition

It was an audition for Kumar Mangat's Movie under Big Screen productions:

The guy taking the audition began with taking my still pictures.
* am not good at posing and not good at being comfortable in front of the still camera.

In the actual audition:
* I was rushing through lines,
* The character was supposed to have lots of 'Rich Brat' Attitude.
* My gaze was changing while I was looking at the camera (pretending to talk to a character)

2. Mahabharat TV series audition:

I reached there by 4 and my look test started at around 6:30, 7. I had not eaten much through out the day and was already feeling tired and low on energy.

* Keep some handy snacks in your bag (nutri bar or something like it), and if possible, don't enter empty stomach or thirsty to an audition studio.
* I was again rushing through lines.
Although this time it was intentional, because the scene was supposed to be an angry scene and I thought it went well with the flow of the scene. But since it was a period epic, I should have been slower.
* Gestured too much with my head.
* Wasn't able to portray my anger very well. It did not come across as much as it should have.


An actor's job is not just to feel something, but more importantly to communicate it.

--> Assignment for tomorrow: Start working on the asterisked points.

Another day in a promised paradise

I'd read on one of the acting blogs that an actor goes through so much rejection, blows to the ego, so many downs and disappointments, that it is an unbearable life. So one should have something exciting, something happy going on in one's life. Something which is not dependent on getting that acting job. As it is not in one's hand.

Something that you can look forward to, something to be happy about, after that not so good audition, after being returned from another audition as you did not look the part. Something to come home to, or rather, something to leave the audition studio for, the light at the end of the dark day when nothing else makes you go upbeat.

Well, today was not such a day, but as of now, this blog is proving to be such an entity in my life. After the last audition (third one!) of the day was done. I could not wait to come back and write something down. It could be that right now this is the shiny new toy in my hand. But I hope that does not turn out to be the case.

Well, since I started so early it was good to be the first person in 2 of the 3 auditions and getting done with it in a matter of minutes while at other times it used to take at least 2 hours!!

In all I gave 4 auditions today, and I think 2 of those went well. The ones that went well were a TV commercial for Colgate and another for some cold medicine I think or could be for Samsung, am not sure :-)

For this blog, I have decided that I will try to post two entries each day. One, a daily log of my activities towards my goal of becoming a full time paid actor. This will mostly be for my benefit.

And, the other, could be anything, I'd try to make it something of value to any reader of my blog, that I might eventually get.

Tomorrow, have to meet a guy for a small role in a movie. And, another ad audition. Let's see, how it goes.

Not a bad day

Well, not a bad day for sure. Gave two auditions, one for a TV series and another for a TV commercial. I think both went well. Mainly because I had practiced a bit in front of the camera before leaving for auditions (I think am quite low on self confidence, I think I look pretty good on camera, but am self conscious of my smile, and hence if I have not seen myself on camera and re-assured myself that I look good, I remain quite conscious throughout the day, stupid I know, but that’s how it is.)

Also, I think one of the main reasons of the auditions having gone well was that I went early to both auditions, in fact I was the first one there, and hence the LONG wait for your turn did not end up sapping my energy and feeling like just getting done with it. So I was fresh and actually more spontaneous.

The third TV comm audition I went to, there was so much crowd and after waiting for 30-40 minutes I left (as they are auditioning tomorrow too) because I could feel the wait and just standing around sapping my creative energy.

What sucks mostly is that girls don’t have to wait around, the guys taking audition just let the girls inside the studio (yeah, the guys have to wait outside, most of the times standing, for anywhere between 30 mins to 2 hours or so), and girls just go in, give the audition and leave. I don’t see any girl standing up for equality of sexes that time!!

Went to the gym @ 1030pm, Just came about at around 12. Had a nice workout, Chest & Biceps.

Today I resumed reading ‘How to win friends and Influence People’ am reading it on wattpad (http://www.wattpad.com). It’s a nice book, actually contains advice which looks common sense, but we usually forget applying it in our day to day life.

Things like:

1. Don’t criticize, condemn or complain to/about people.
2. Always try to appreciate people and what they do as much as possible, but give honest and sincere appreciation.
3. If you want someone to do something for you, arouse in him/her an eager want to do it for you, there are several ways to achieve that.
4. Become genuinely interested in other people, their lives, what they do, what they think about things etc. Make it about them.
5. SMILE!! (I seriously need to adopt this, I don’t smile very often and hence come across as someone with loads of attitude or proud).
6. Always call a person by his/her name. Try to remember name of everyone you come in contact with. Believe me, it REALLY makes a difference, and in fact, the other person will remember you, just because you did something which he/she doesn’t get very often from people.
7. In a conversation, Listen more. Remember, 2 ears, 1 mouth, to be used in that ratio in fact mouth to be used much less!
8. Talk in terms of the other person’s interest (I think a rephrase of no: 3)
9. Make the other person feel important (but being sincere about it). I think if you do all of the above, no:9 is taken care of.
10. The only way to get the best of an argumentis to avoid it. Or, as I say, never argue, always discuss, in discussions we keep an open mind and are not dogmatic.
11. Show respect for other person’s opinion, never say you are wrong. Well, again, if you follow prev point, this will take care of itself. Believe me, by keeping an open mind, apart from other person respecting you, it will lead to your own growth.
12. If you are wrong, admit it. (again, follow prev two points, this will take care of itself.)
13. Get the other person saying yes. (by asking questions you know they won’t say no to.)
14. Try to see things from other person’s point of view.
15. Dramatize your ideas. Be creative in describing them (doesn’t mean be dishonest)

Time to sign off now. Already 1 AM. Gotta try getting up by 5 or 6.