Audition for Your Career, Not the Job: Mastering the On-camera Audition

by Tim Phillips, Stephanie Gunning (Editor)

A complete guide for actors on how to craft auditions for film and TV, from Los Angeles-based master acting coach Tim Phillips, creator of the Sherlock Holmesing the Text® method.

"Those who read this book will find that there is much to learn from Tim Phillips. Read it. Digest it. You'll be very well informed and find yourself a better student of the subject at the end."
—Robert Duvall, Academy Award-winning actor, Tender Mercies, Emmy Award-winning actor, Broken Trail, writer, director, and producer

"An instructive, no nonsense, passionate cry to the actor: Bring your intelligence and humanity to the audition not your desperation."
—Larry Moss, author of The Intent to Live

You've got a big audition lined up for a role in a film or on a television series. What do you do now? This book covers steps you can take and specific skills you can put to use right away so that you will feel more confident about your performance in your next audition and make a great and lasting impression on casting directors and producers. If your work is consistently first-rate and memorable, every on-camera audition like this one becomes an opportunity to advance your acting career.

The quality of your work is the only thing under your control, and it's important to approach your work in a way that feels fun and rewarding. If you learn the habits described in this book, the possibility of not being chosen literally won't be able to shake your confidence before, during, or after an audition.

Audition for Your Career, Not the Job will positively change your on-camera auditions by teaching you skills that improve your ability to read and interpret the sides quickly, helping you to trust your instincts and make strong, bold, specific acting choices, and setting you up for an active and profitable career.

274 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 4, 2011

Reviews

[Klatann Thomas]

Masterful. This will change the way you prep going into any audition. Sadly, Mr. Phillips is only via Zoom, to those of us in LA. This was recommended by a respected coach and worth every penny. What a way to weaponize auditioning. Pistol versus a sniper rifle... most definitely a combat multiplier. Up your game... Get this in your auditioning DNA.

[Tom McIlwain]

game changer

Really good useful and practical information about the audition process. I have a big audition tomorrow and this book has been a huge help. I will use the techniques I've learned here from here on out.

[E.T. Rook]

Great advice for aspiring actors, this is the type of book you want to read more than once, and keep reading till you've met your goals!!

[Danny]

I had the pleasure of meeting Tim Phillips a few years back in class, and purchased one of these gems that same day. I skimmed through it, but never completed. A couple of weeks ago I picked it up again, and read from beginning to end. I'm surprised my highlighter hasn't run dry. This book came to me ( again) at such a perfect time, as I'm in back to back on camera audition classes preparing for the real deal. If you're an actor, and want to do GOOD WORK on camera.. real, genuine, honest work.. get this book. My goal is to not just get on camera, but when I do, Be great. He teaches how to get the most use from the sides, before your audition. To be the most prepared you can be before you walk into that room. The more information you have, the better performance you will bring. Most actors ( in my opinion obviously).. just get the sides, and perform. But Tim teaches to do all your work, your " investigating", " sherlock holmsing the text", and then being real in these imaginary circumstances. Whenever I get sides now, I touch back into the book and refresh. It has become a staple of mine and I'm so glad that I have read it. I encourage any one who is serious, to read it. It's inspiring, informative, and very well written. Encouraging and smart. Thank you Tim!

[Robin]

There isn't anything ground-breaking in this book, but audition technique is clearly spelled out and arranged in an easy-to-digest manner. It's filled with tips and tricks and is worth reading whether you are new to the game or a seasoned professional.