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Art of Auditioning: Techniques for Television
A network daytime casting director highlights the difference between the craft of acting and the business of auditioning, and how those two worlds meet in television. Included are proven-effective preparation techniques, including asking the right questions, making specific acting choices, sitting versus standing, finding beats and beat changes, using spontaneity, and much more. Also included are interviews with top daytime casting directors and actors, advice on headshots and resumes, and an examination of the difference between audition preparation and theatrical preparation.
224 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 2004
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
August 9, 2022
Very informative!!
March 29, 2022
The Art of Auditioning is an informative guide for actors written by casting director Rob Decina. It offers helpful advice for aspiring actors on how to ace their auditions, break down a script, and more. Decina offers more than a taste of what to expect for behind the scenes auditions and the preparation involved, he also details his own experiences working in the industry.
This was a great read, especially for someone like me who’s fascinated with the film industry. The information provided was helpful and straight to the point. I believe this guide would be incredibly useful for those who are looking to perfect their art and skills working as an actor. Thank you to NetGalley and Skyhorse Publishing for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.
This was a great read, especially for someone like me who’s fascinated with the film industry. The information provided was helpful and straight to the point. I believe this guide would be incredibly useful for those who are looking to perfect their art and skills working as an actor. Thank you to NetGalley and Skyhorse Publishing for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.
September 18, 2024
I really thought this book was helpful — I didn’t agree with everything, but I can’t wait to begin to apply more of these aspects of the technique to what I am already doing!
June 30, 2022
This is a revised edition of a book about how to audition for television shows. The first edition was written in 2004 by a successful casting director (now VP for Casting at CBS) and teacher of casting, and the revision includes industry changes due to technology and the pandemic. For example, it explores the post-COVID shift toward more self-taped auditions and the best practices for them. It also has a few new notes about how the author’s perspective has changed on an issue or two with his new experiences.
This book is niche. Except for a chapter on how to become a casting director, it’s all about preparing actors to audition for a television series. While it might seem that auditioning would be auditioning, apparently television auditioning is quite different from stage auditions and even a little bit different from other on-camera auditioning (e.g. for movies.) To a neophyte, such as myself, the book might be expected to present teachings about acting, but one of the major recurring themes is that acting and auditioning are separate (if related / overlapping) skills and that the latter presents a number of additional considerations. It’s these considerations that are explored in the book – e.g. how to plan and determine your own acting choices (being undirected,) how to behave before and after the audition, how to know what are good or poor investments for a new actor, and how to not be unappealing or ridiculous with your attempts to distinguish yourself.
The book is honest and direct, to the point that the most frequently repeated advice is to not expect to get the job. That’s probably also among the book’s most controversial advice, but the author feels it helps new actors to get out of their heads, to deal with the tons of rejection all of them will face, and to not fall into the bad behaviors that some novice actors think will help to separate him from the pack [while such behaviors often only serve to annoy the casting agent.]
As I said, it’s niche, but if you want to learn how auditioning works or how the sausage is made in the entertainment industry, it’s a quick and well-organized read.
This book is niche. Except for a chapter on how to become a casting director, it’s all about preparing actors to audition for a television series. While it might seem that auditioning would be auditioning, apparently television auditioning is quite different from stage auditions and even a little bit different from other on-camera auditioning (e.g. for movies.) To a neophyte, such as myself, the book might be expected to present teachings about acting, but one of the major recurring themes is that acting and auditioning are separate (if related / overlapping) skills and that the latter presents a number of additional considerations. It’s these considerations that are explored in the book – e.g. how to plan and determine your own acting choices (being undirected,) how to behave before and after the audition, how to know what are good or poor investments for a new actor, and how to not be unappealing or ridiculous with your attempts to distinguish yourself.
The book is honest and direct, to the point that the most frequently repeated advice is to not expect to get the job. That’s probably also among the book’s most controversial advice, but the author feels it helps new actors to get out of their heads, to deal with the tons of rejection all of them will face, and to not fall into the bad behaviors that some novice actors think will help to separate him from the pack [while such behaviors often only serve to annoy the casting agent.]
As I said, it’s niche, but if you want to learn how auditioning works or how the sausage is made in the entertainment industry, it’s a quick and well-organized read.
February 23, 2018
Rob Decina’s script breakdown method has been really helpful to me. For years I “understood” what different beats are in a script, but it turns out I had no idea. Rob’s aproach boils down script analysis to pristine simplicity. I love the use of subject words and feel words. The book is a bit outdated that it has soap operas as the main focus, which do not really exist anymore. Unless you count This is Us or those Freeform shows. I also do not think they do screen tests anymore, they didn’t do it to me atleast. I am a huge fan of Rob Decina’s and his technique. Looking forward to purchasing the second edition (audition ha!) of this book! Bravo!
November 3, 2021
An excellent little book. Practical, clear, helpful. I got it from the library, but I’ll be buying a copy of this one.
March 15, 2022
What an interesting and informative book! It was neat that it was from the perspective of a casting director. Puts a new point of view and spin on it. Good informative read.
March 18, 2021
Reread in 2021 as a refresher course for my co-star auditions. Highly recommend again! ** A must read for any working actor or actor trying to bridge the divide from commercial to legit on-camera auditions. Although some paragraphs are a bit dated, the approach and concepts are extremely applicable. If you’re in the NYC area, take his three week class. Also, this is currently out of print (thank you e-bay), but Rob has said he is currently working on an updated version
March 17, 2012
A decent book for beginners in the tv/film world.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews