Tips from the actor's audition toolbox to keep you producing on top of your game:

Preparation. Know your character's history. Know the background story. Do your research.
Planning the arc of the scene. Have the whole scene planned from beginning to end, but be prepared (and open) to improvising. Welcome moments to stray from the plan if the scene isn't working.
Emotional intelligence. This seems to be the buzz phrase these days, but don't let your little brain take over your big brain. More importantly, if it happens, have a plan to get through it without losing your mind. Show a healthy range. Be prepared to be tested. A good director will test an actor in an audition to see if they can take direction or if they are rigid. Rigidity is a threat to the show's success.
Using the space between the lines. Silence. Don't be too eager to fill the conversation gap. Let your scene partner and the director have a moment to absorb your scene and, if working with a scene partner, let them respond in their own time. There is a power in stillness, but don't let the scene lose all the momentum either.
Listening. Listen to the other actors in your scene and play off their emotions, not the lines. Authentic communication is far more memorable than a cold, dull script reading.
Making calculated emotional risks. Here's where you can totally kill a scene or … kill a scene. Take a shot to leave a solid impression — a memorable one. Especially if there's virtually nothing to lose.
Connection. Find a personal connection to the character you're playing. Dig deep. Be open to vulnerability. There is a certain strength in emotional honesty.

'To thine own self be true'

Accepting that rejection is simply a part of the game and, most importantly, an opportunity to grow as a person is key to an actor's success as well as a producer's. Ah, the seeds from which wisdom blossoms….Ok, maybe that's a bit much!

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Producer tips from an actor's playbook

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