I have an audition, which is going to be via video because I can't make the time. All my prompt was to literally "cry because my father missed my graduation."
I have had to cry before, but generally I had glycerin and was acting a scene and could get worked up. Crying is kind of foreign because I have been through some hard times and generally do not cry very often.

I'm leaning towards acting it without tears. Any suggestions?

quote:

Originally posted by Hillary511:
I have an audition, which is going to be via video because I can't make the time. All my prompt was to literally "cry because my father missed my graduation."
I have had to cry before, but generally I had glycerin and was acting a scene and could get worked up. Crying is kind of foreign because I have been through some hard times and generally do not cry very often.

I'm leaning towards acting it without tears. Any suggestions?

One thing I have heard over and over: If the script calls for it, you do it. You're there to serve the story.

There is no script. It is an audition.

And there are no sides for this audition? The ONLY thing they've told you then, s that you're supposed to cry.....and you don't think you should cry?

Even if there isn't a script or not. You have the direction to cry, and you must follow that. Once gain; you're serving the story, not your own ideas about what the story should be.

quote:

Originally posted by Hillary511:
I have an audition, which is going to be via video because I can't make the time. All my prompt was to literally "cry because my father missed my graduation."
I have had to cry before, but generally I had glycerin and was acting a scene and could get worked up. Crying is kind of foreign because I have been through some hard times and generally do not cry very often.

I'm leaning towards acting it without tears. Any suggestions?

What acting classes have you taken? Maybe you should read a book like Ivana Chubbuck's "The Power of the Actor." You have to figure out the character's main objective and then scene objective (if you don't know what it is, then you make it up.) Personalize it and make substitutions since you can't relate to the father missing your graduation. What is an emotional trigger for you? If you don't ever cry, then maybe acting isn't for you...

From what I've heard from some child actors they use tear sticks.

A good director will never ask an actor to produce an emotional result. And I have yet to read a good script that calls for "crying on cue."

Please do not mistake me for saying that crying has no place in acting. It absolutely does. But it's a RESULT that occurs when you develop a deep emotional connection between the script and your personal life. And on some takes it happens and on some takes it doesn't - a good director knows this.

You can't force it. It won't look truthful, you'll strain, and it'll be painful and awkward to watch. There's nothing about "painful and awkward acting" that'll serve the story.

However, if the director says do it - no matter how stupid - you kind of have to do it. So good luck. Just take solace in the fact that if you don't get the job, it probably wasn't worth your time in the first place.

If you need to reference painful and awkward crying in order to know what NOT to look like when channeling emotions, just watch Neve Campbell as Julia in Party of Five.
Blatantly forced crying is beyond uncomfortable to watch.

I agree with the others...you really need to find an emotional trigger and connect with your character - It should then come naturally.

Emotional triggers aren't easy. Takes a lot of work. But it's definitely doable if you take the time to work on it.

quote:

Originally posted by MrShinGun:

quote:

Originally posted by Hillary511:
I have an audition, which is going to be via video because I can't make the time. All my prompt was to literally "cry because my father missed my graduation."
I have had to cry before, but generally I had glycerin and was acting a scene and could get worked up. Crying is kind of foreign because I have been through some hard times and generally do not cry very often.

I'm leaning towards acting it without tears. Any suggestions?

What acting lessons classes have you taken? Maybe you should read a book like Ivana Chubbuck's "The Power of the Actor." You have to figure out the character's main objective and then scene objective (if you don't know what it is, then you make it up.) Personalize it and make substitutions since you can't relate to the father missing your graduation. What is an emotional trigger for you? If you don't ever cry, then maybe acting isn't for you...

I have the same question for you? Or have you already completed your acting lessons class? I am not being rude here, I am trying to help as well. Find a moment in your life that really makes you sad and if you remember it, it makes you somehow cry. Then THAT my friend, is your emotional trigger.

Hey Hillary511,
I know this is a late response to your question, however I took a great class (30+ year Veteran in Film/TV/Commercials.

His technique is great. In a nutshell you force yourself to *NOT CRY*. How he does it (and works for me). Is to imagine your feelings as if they are a beach ball in a pool. Each time you feel yourself (your BODY speaking to you--that you want to cry)---push harder on the imaginary beach ball. Keep doing this counting up to 10.

If you do this right, around 5-6 you'll start to feel your eyes "burn" (like they do in a "real life" cry)...around 7-ish...you'll get the sniffles, eyes will really "burn" (like what happens when you cry)---by the time you get to 8-9ish---tears will be rolling down your face (if you were not in an audition---and in public with a friend..this would be the time you would "apologize" for crying. Once you hit 10---the water works will open you'll be crying, sobbing and sniffling.

Obviously, you do the "counting" in your own head (and should take less than 10-seconds)--once you perfect it....but if you can---you will always be able to "cry on cue" (HOWEVER---as was said above---"crying" should be natural expression of the character coming through you. It should NEVER be forced and the beach ball analogy does not look "forced" (because as your struggling with yourself *NOT* to cry--it *IS* a real emotion---quite literally the "VISCERAL" emotions you feel when starting to cry....you'll feel using this technique.

F.Y.I--My coach said "Most Men" tend to not "sob" when doing this (just typical way men are raised to hide emotions, etc.). "Most men"--will simply have tears rolling down their face, very anguished, and not really real to "sob" unless it's a REALLY POWERFUL scene---Father missing Graduation does not sound "that powerful. You know, a best buddy, combat veteran dies...might qualify for a male to "sob"

I watched the teacher perform it for us in class...and literally (myself)---wanted to cry along with him. He was that good at it.

I know there's 100's of schools of thought (to the "insane" in my book---pulling a nose hair)--to the not always Practical--ie "old memories"..for me personally "old memories" won't work, as I tend to put them to bed over time, and can't pull from those to create powerful enough emotions.
I took a Meisner class (the scene required us to think of something emotionally intense (didn't have to be crying...but 99% of the class went there)--When ii was my turn---I pulled on my Emotional trigger (one of THE MOST tragic incidents in life---just 3-years ago)---I was tearing up and "anxious" but just not "there" (and my Teacher said "My advice to you is to pick a different emotional Trigger. And trust me, don't have one as emotional as that one to pull from. (and surely don't want to "turn it into one" for life.


I'd say, try this technique. It works. Sorry, my explanation was a big "long"--but the short answer is TRY NOT TO CRY--and you will do so--the harder you try NOT TO---the more you will. (exactly like in "real life").


Oh, and by the way, someone already asked this (NOT HATING)---but why would you make a choice NOT to cry, when your audition notes specifically indicate to "cry because your father missed your graduation"--I mean, I've NEVER been given such "explicit" instructions.

Typically, mine are "you're father missed your graduation" (and I gotta figure out the guy's back story and "take a chance" at what I do.
Don't look a gift horse in the mouth and go against what's asked of you.. :-)

Thinking of a "tragic event of my own past" is crap. Stanislavski, himself, dropped that because time heals.

If you listen and react with your partner and make everything else in the scene real then a natural emotion should come out. So what if you don't shed a tear? tear or no tear, it can get obvious when a tear is forced or faked.

Truth, only thing I'd add is to try my teachers method..it's *REAL* emotion (I mean to the BONE/VISCERAL)--like whatever "triggers" your body to cry under depressed circumstance--that's the primal emotion this "Try not to cry" works.

Try it, it's very cool, but give it an honest shot...fist 5-6 times I tried could only get to the "sniffles" and a bit of burning eyes..nothing else...

About the 10-15th time...I got tears...so as long as I keep practicing...think I'll be able to do it in a much much shorter amount of time.

Mine took min or two mins (Last practice)--and I know for a Director..that's too long...so I really need to "get this" down to lower than 10-seconds--because I kept having to wait for the next "wave" to wash over me and try HARD to push back.

Again, I know there's 1000's of schools of though...and if this was a REAL acting job---I feel a "real" Actor could get it through the emotion of the character.

But things like she's doing (where she needs to turn QUICK)--this works really well.

Truth, try it, think you'll surprise yourself. (you know how something cracks you up--and you say, o.i. o.k. I'm done laughing..but you bust out again)--same principle...but with crying.

Just sit or lay (whatever) quietly (to learn it)--completely empty your mind..THINK OF NOTHING but trying NOT to cry--follow the beach ball example.(if you need that)--I guess (Teacher didn't say)..but I guess you could use anything of "force"--that you have to try 2-3x harder to force back.

I'd be willing to bet you tear up/get the sniffles....

Just remember, each time you feel the emotion coming...push back 2-3x as hard as it came at you....amazing how it works...(and you don't have to mess up your Psyche thinking of bad past memories...I surely don't want to--thus why they were "put to bed"

(sorry if have any bad misspells...my sleeping pills are FINALLY kicking in my time 7:30 a,m GO FIGURE (and took them at 10pm.)--*sigh* hope this post legible when I read it when I get up...*Grin* and I'm a "One eyed pirate trying to write it...

There was an article in Backstage about this some time ago, anyone recall?

I remember when i went to an audition in the email the director made a point that everyone auditioning should know how to cry.

While on the train to the audition I was listening to sad music, thinking of sad things and yes i was crying on the train to make sure things worked - the problem with that was that you have to be aware of the elements your using to make you cry because you might not be able to have that same setting at the audition.

when i got to the audition the director fully described what the story and just because of his description i started crying and that was the audition...

it will come naturally

What I do for crying scene is right before I know it time to do the scene or audition I have this place I go to that is sad.

Usually its my dog dying or a family member...its a bit morbid but whats come out are real tears not fake.

Once I have that in my mind I can act being happy in a scene but once its time to cry I had that emotional build up earlier and tears can just come out.

Maybe try doing that.

Although now I can just cry by taking a deep breath its weird I kinda trained my body to do it.

I think crying on cue is the most overrated acting schtick ever.

But if you're absolutely desperate, you can resort to the Joey Tribbiani method:
http://youtu.be/wsVqP4_kAT0

Truthteller, I'm a Meisner, not Method actor, but you can't play off your partner's emotions in a video audition because there is no partner in a video audition... if you're submitting via video, I mean, like the original poster is. But yes, it's hard to play off of OLD experiences. Example: remember when your grandmother died. Sad. But then you say oh! She lived til 90 so she really had a good life. Not sad. That method technique can make you change how you feel during a scene. I prefer Meisner.

quote:

Originally posted by TRUTHTELLER59:
I think crying on cue is the most overrated acting schtick ever.

SSHHHHH!!! Don't tell everyone! It thins out our competition