Acting - Cold Reading
In this article we're going to discuss the very difficult art of
cold reading a script you have never seen for a part. Not as
easy as you think.
In regular theater an actor may
prepare a monologue that he has spent many hours memorizing, for
a part that he will also perform at every audition. He's spent a
lot of time on this and has perfected his art and delivery. When
going for an audition he is quite comfortable with his prepared
lines. However, in a film or commercial audition the actor is
expected to perform a script given to him that he has never seen
before. This is when the art of cold reading is very important
and can be a life saver.
The technical definition of cold
reading is the auditioning for a part with a script in hand, one
the actor has never seen. The profession says that the actor is
supposed to be given the script at least 24 hours before the
audition but all too often this just doesn't happen. This is why
cold reading is so important to actors who work in film or
commercials.
So, how do you learn to cold read? Brute
force. Pick up a script, read the first line, commit it to
memory and then say the line without looking at the script.
You've just done your first cold reading. At first you may only
be able to memorize a few words at a time, but with a little
practice you'll soon be memorizing several lines at a time.
Being an actor is kind of like being an athlete. The more you
work at it the better you'll get. After you feel comfortable
doing cold reading by yourself try it with another actor. This
is when it gets fun.
When you're at your audition it's
very tempting to try to sneak a peak at your next line while the
other actor is doing his lines. Don't do this. How you listen to
your fellow actor is just as important as speaking your lines.
Wait until it's time for you to respond and then look at your
next line. Memorize as much of your line as you can in a few
seconds. Then make eye contact with your partner and say your
next line.
If you've got more to memorize than you can
with just a glance, repeat the process until you have the line
memorized. But keep your face out of your script. Never read
your lines while looking at your script. This is a sure way to
blow the audition. Make sure you stay in character while reading
your lines.
When you're actually at your audition even if
you don't get the script until you get there, try to read the
script in its entirety at once and remember as much of it as you
can. This way you'll at least have some idea what the scene is
about, who the characters are and how the conversation should
go. If you have more time try to memorize the first and last
lines. This will give you a strong start and finish, which is
what the person auditioning you will remember the
most.
When holding your script, hold with your left hand
if right handed and at chest level. Never have your head buried
in the script. Don't wave the script around like it is a prop.
Make believe it is just a natural extension of your body. The
less attention you draw to the script itself the
better.
A cold reading goes much slower and feels a lot
more awkward than a normal reading. This is normal and there is
no need to worry about it. The casting director knows this is
the first time you've seen the script. He is more interested in
what kind of personality you have as the
character.
Sadly, you may be the greatest actor in the
world, but without being able to cold read well you aren't going
to get many parts as you'll never get past the first audition.
So include cold reading in your training. You'll find you'll get
more parts because of it.