Acting Secrets

Acting - Cold Reading

This article shall talk about the intricate art of cold reading a script, that one has not yet set eyes upon, for a part. This is not necessarily as simple as one might believe.

In normal theatrical practice an actor may practice a monologue that he has taken many hours committing to memory, for a role that he would probably present at all auditions. This part that he has learned has taken up a great deal of his time and he has worked upon his delivery until it is practically flawless.

These lines, which he repeatedly performs at various auditions, are what the actor is comfortable with. However, at commercial auditions, such as a film, the actor is given a completely unfamiliar script to perform. In such cases, the technique of cold reading proves to be extremely useful.

Cold reading thus, to provide its precise definition, is the practice of making an actor audition from a script that he has never seen before. Technically, he should be given the script 24 hours or a day in advance of the audition, but this is almost always overlooked. In this context therefore, cold reading becomes even more significant for all commercial actors.

So how does train oneself to cold read? By sheer force. The actor simply picks up the script and commits the first line or so to his memory, saying it without referring to the script. This is his first cold reading. Initially one can learn only a few lines at a time but soon enough one starts improving and the number of lines learned this way increase.

Acting in a way is akin to athletics. Practice makes perfect. After one has achieved a level of comfort doing cold reading with self, one may practice with another actor. Free duet acting script with a second actor is when it starts becoming more interesting.

When one is at an audition reading lines from the free duet acting script the temptation of glancing at ones next lines while the other actor speaks his, is immense.

This should be avoided at all costs. When the other actor speaks his lines he should be heard, as listening to him is also of great significance. One must wait until it is time to speak again, and then look at the next line. Within these few seconds most of the next few lines must be memorized. Following this eye contact should be made with the other half of the Free Duet Acting script and the next line should be spoken.

If one has received more to remember than one can with merely a glimpse, the lines should be repeatedly read until they are memorized. One should not pore over the script. The lines should not be read while looking at the script. This can endanger chances at the audition. While reading the lines, it is of paramount importance to stay within character.

Having reached the audition and then having the first glance at the script, it is necessary to read the entire script once and then trying to remember as much of it as possible.

This ensures that one has some knowledge of the scene, the protagonists and the conversation. If time permits, it is useful to learn the first and last lines as this makes a strong impression on the person taking the audition, the first and last lines are the ones he is likely to consider the most.

If one is right handed then ideally the script should be held with the left hand at about the level of the chest. The script should never cover the head. The script should never be waved around but should be treated as something natural, almost as a physical extension of self. In fact minimum attention should be drawn to the script.

Reading in a free duet acting script takes a longer time and is more unwieldy and problematic when compared to a normal reading. This however, is standard practice, and there is no need for anxiety. The casting director also knows that this is the first time that one is seeing the script. He is only interested in what you make of the character and how you portray it.

Even if one is an accomplished actor failing a free duet acting script test and not being able to cold read well will mean that in the future one shall be unable to get too many acting parts, and one never gets past the first audition. Including cold reading within one's training is mandatory. One finds that one gets many more roles because of it.