HOW DO YOU SLATE IN AN AUDITION?

To slate in an audition means to introduce yourself, but in an actor's way and giving the information asked for by the casting director. The audition instructions will tell you what information the casting director wants from you. "Slate your name, height, city you live in, and if you're available for the shoot dates." It's as easy as giving this information on camera, looking straight into the lens. Ok, so now you know what the slate is, let's talk about what casting directors might look for in your slate.

What is casting looking for in a slate?

The slate is usually less than 30 seconds long. Sometimes they just want your name and height. That's it. So, what can the casting director tell from that short amount of time? Well, it depends on what they're looking for. Here's the first impression a slate can convey:

1. Your information - whatever they've asked for
2. Your essence, charm
3. Your sense of humor
4. Your energy
5. Your authenticity, warmth
6. Your professionalism, trustworthiness
7. What you look like on camera speaking as yourself
8. Your normal speaking voice

I'm sure I'm missing some other things they might gather from a slate. But in the end, all you can do in a slate is be yourself. This is where you get to connect to the person watching your audition. This is the one time you get to look into the camera, unless it's a commercial audition or a specific comedy scene.

Here's some guidelines for the slate.

I think the slate is a fun moment in the audition. You shouldn't be tense or stressed. Relax, you're just being yourself. However, keep in mind the genre of the audition you're about to perform. Try to stay in the realm of that world while you slate.

But just because it's a horror or dramatic audition doesn't mean you take your personality out of the slate. Think about every dramatic movie you've scene, at some point, there's a scene with the characters in a more lighthearted or normal moment. They're not always running from a monster or screaming in their ex-husband's face. You get my point, right? There are normal moments in the film. Slate as if you were in a normal moment, but you know what's about to happen.

1. In a comedy, keep your slate upbeat and fun, especially if your character is the fun one.
2. If your character is not the fun one, maybe the anti-fun character in the film, keep it light, but more subdued.
3. In a dramatic audition, be your authentic self. But don't be too bubbly.
4. In a horror audition, be yourself.
5. You're not acting in your slate, but don't be so contrary to the character you're about to portray that it's a total mismatch.
6. Slate as close to the personality as your character.

Should you slate in character?

There's really no one answer for this question. So the answer is, it depends. (Here's why having an audition coach is important.) But here are some things to consider when your character is very different from your true self.

How different? Well, your character might have a southern accent or speak with a speech impediment. Your character might only speak Spanish or only use sign language. You might have a physical challenge in your shoulders or neck as the character, which will be visible on camera. 

Each scenario is different. Take using sign language, for instance. I would choose to speak in my slate, but sign as I do so. If I only speak Spanish as the character, I'd probably slate in English, then say something at the end in Spanish like, "Thanks for watching." 

If I have a physical challenge as the character, I usually won't bring that into the slate. I'd leave that to the audition. They know what I look like from my headshot.

Tell us about yourself...

Sheesh! Now, I've gotta give them my life story? Absolutely not! They're looking for 30 seconds of you talking as yourself. You can pick any subject in the history of you. So if it's a comedy, pick a fun, short story about yourself. If it's a drama, pick a more subdued or factual subject. Don't get too personal where it becomes uncomfortable for those watching your audition. (Watch the video for my examples.) But don't be boring, either! You're talking about yourself and you are definitely not boring!

And I get it...funny stories are much easier to tell than non-funny. Here's a non-funny example not in my video. "When I was 7 years old, I got lost in the crowded mall while I was with my mom. We got separated and instead of staying where I was, I wondered the mall looking for her, terrified I'd never see her again. Eventually, I sat down in the middle of the mall and waited. In what felt like 3 hours, but was actually much less than that, my mom found me. To this day, as a grown woman, when I'm with my mom anywhere in public, I still hold onto her arm." Then, I'd probably end that with a wink or a grin to let them know I'm joking...sort of. 😉

And be ready to tell these kinds of stories if you're walking into a LIVE audition. They also like to see you think on your toes and might throw you a curve ball question to watch you be authentic and organic. So don't worry about it, just be yourself. That's the main message here.

What matters in the end?

The true purpose of the slate is to get the information from you. That's really it. But realize the information you're stating is already available to them. From your casting profiles on Actors Access or Casting Networks, they know your name, your height, your agency, etc. So why do they have you telling them in a video? They want to see who you are as a person, even if it's for 10 seconds. They're about to see you as the character in the audition. So be yourself.

Don't sweat it!

This is why I call it "The Art" of the slate. It's subjective. Some casting directors will care about the presentation and others just want the information. But as long as you're not rude or say something hateful during your slate, they'll move on to watch your audition. Sometimes they skip the slate altogether and just watch the audition scenes. They might only go back to watch your slate when they're interested in the audition they just saw.

So when in doubt, keep it simple. It's not a performance. It's you, being you, and you're a pro at that!

Break a leg!

-Nancy