It goes without saying that performing is a thrill, no matter the production you will work on, or what you're seeking from it - the options are open to the range of experience you can have as an actor.
There is however a process to finding work within the arts, which starts with auditions and talent calls for casting, or perhaps even before with your training as a student at school in Sydney such as NIDA, or VCA in Melbourne.
It's not just like any other job where you can apply and find professional work as an actor - although you can apply a broad range of skills to your performing projects you will come into contact within your experience with acting and production in Australia.
School courses and training can vary too, depending on whether you want to do film and TV acting, or straight theatre or musical theatre acting. For this reason, it's crucial to think about the skills that are needed to get a callback and land roles in the industry so you know exactly what the purpose of your auditions will be.
Get the low down on what directors and other production staff are looking for and how to play to your strengths when you are at an audition.
Acting techniques can also be of great benefit when it comes to auditioning.
Being an Actor in Australia
You will find many an application of your talent as a professional actor in Australia, no matter the amount of contact you have with mainstream film, TV, and theatre.
Courses in acting, whether online or in-person, prepare applicants to the industry for how to manage themselves, both when performing and seeking work.
This involves the audition process and the range of other processes at an open call for actors you will find you have to encounter as an actor in order to find work. You may not necessarily have to understand music or dance for a role, nor will the directors or production team be seeking classically trained actors either, but you do have to know what the audition process involves in order to ace it.
For those who may not have attended acting courses at a drama, film, or theatre school, may still apply to an open casting call because talent lies within all of us.
This last point is important to keep tabs on as Australia is not a meritocracy when it comes to the performing arts industry, and whilst a network is necessary in Sydney or Melbourne to really get noticed, you don't have to have NIDA on your resume to find work.
See what it's like working as an actor in Australia.
Kinds of Acting Work in Australia
There are many different ways that the application of your skills, talent, and training can be applied in Australia beyond just what you might think.
Below we highlight some of the principal kinds of acting work across a range of projects within the performing arts, music, film, theatre, and TV industry that are actually relatively easy jobs to find and can easily be made a living from.
- TV series actor: This is quite obvious in and of itself, but can have many different applications depending on the actor. If you have an ongoing role for instance, you are set for at least a few years as this will be recurring and you can count on the fact as long as the show is on television, you will be on there. This can vary however, as your character may be written off at any time, and it needs to be stipulated in your contract how long you will be on the show for, depending on the size of your role.
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- Theatre actor: theatre companies do need bit players, as well as day players and seasonal players per production. This however doesn't discount an actor in the way a TV series going off air or killing of a character does, since the turnover of different shows is much more rapid in theatre. Thus, either you will become a company player who gets roles consistently thanks to your versatility and proven talent within the company, or you will be able to audition for multiple parts over and over again thanks to how regularly a company will put a production on.
- Film actor: Jobs like this are understandably harder to come by since there is a smaller amount of productions in Australia, despite the large allocation of government funding. The work here will be less consistent, and is something actors shouldn't rely on (moving to LA would be a smart move if you really want to break into the industry). Nevertheless, the work you will do here may pay very well, but you should piece your career together with theatre / TV and commercials or other entertainment work in-between times.
- Commercials acting: If you want to use your acting skills still, and get paid a hefty sum each time you're hired, acting in advertisements can be the way to. You get to improvise still, and it only usually involves a few days work (depending on the scope and budget of the ad).
- Extras acting: Commercials not quite close enough to the action for you? Being an extra in film or TV can also be a viable means of continuing to work, and has the added benefit of being able to be on set and mingle whilst networking with others who have similar interests. Usually this will only involve a couple of days work at a time and can therefore fit nicely with any other jobs you have, while still paying a handsome fee.
Find out about the different kinds of work that you can actually do with your acting skills.
Auditioning for These Roles
There are plenty of Australian projects going on year after year, and you don't just have to be in Sydney or Melbourne, or NIDA or VCA students to get to casting or an audition for them.
It can take up to a year, sometimes even multiple years, and video after video, and headshot after headshot being sent to production staff to even be able to get the chance to read (before any actual performance takes place) with other applicants at an Australian professional production.
But hang in there! Because finding a job throughout the course of being a student or even a staff member on a production really can take years, and constant seeking online in ads and many a casting call.
The range of projects out there is immense, and there is sure to be casting for just the perfect job for you!
Auditioning for the roles is such a daunting process sometimes that it actually scares actors off entirely, or doesn't let them show their full range of performance abilities or talent.
This is precisely why it's so important to know how to face this as it is such a key part of being an actor.
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The audition process
For theatre, you will either have to audition in a group or individually.
Keep in mind that you may have many callbacks in order to see different chemistry on stage with others, as well as to test your vocal range and presence (which is much more important in a theatre or hall than on screen).
You will need to memorise a text that you've been assigned or choose a text of your own that shows your skills and how you fit the part.
For film / TV, it will likely not be as a group initially, since you will have to have a screen test first to see that you match what the production staff and director or directors are looking for.
Then, you will have the drama component which puts you against other cast members to test chemistry and your acting ability.
Things can be more subtle here than theatre, so really being able to embody a character and show what you individually can bring to a role will benefit you greatly.
There may be a few rounds of callbacks too, and each time you will need to be able to show more and more.
How to Ace Auditions
There are a few key things to keep in mind to really shine on the day. These are quite generic and apply nicely to both film and TV, and theatre.
- Know your text, since this will not only show your ability to match what production staff and directors ask for, but also that you can dissect what it really means and find something special within it
- Show personality, since just showing classical or method acting training will not necessarily show why you yourself are such an important piece of the whole puzzle
- Be confident, as if you show that you can trust your own abilities, others will see it too
- Do background research on the project if you can because this will really help you get a sense of the context of the performance and its significance
- Be kind and engaging with everyone. Auditions are a fabulous place to network and get an understanding of how others are doing as well, and you being nice and perceivably easy to work with can put you in good stead in the future
Now learn about how much further an acting coach can take you in your career with Superprof's guide.
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