The Character Breakdown Audition Trap
Why Most Actors Are Solving the Wrong Puzzle
The biggest mistake I see actors make in auditions?
Trying to deliver a breakdown.
Here's the thing: the moment you get called in to audition, the breakdown has already done its job. It got you in the room (or on the Zoom).
Mission accomplished.
Most breakdowns deliver very little useful information anyway. My favorites are the ones that literally state what the character does in the scene with a couple of adjectives thrown in:
"This producer on the late night show is frantic as things spiral out of control." (this is one I actually got for one of my auditions)
Like WTF... how do you even play that with nuance?
What Most Actors Do Wrong
So what happens?
Actors play "frantic" for the majority of the scene without carving out a moment-to-moment journey while also abandoning who they are. They end up delivering a generic version of "frantic" - what they think "frantic" looks like - instead of their unique take on this particular circumstance.
The Director Hat Approach
This is why before I even glance at the breakdown, I go straight to the logline first, then the sides.
Not with my "actor hat" on, trying to figure out HOW to play this character, but with my "director hat" to GET CLARITY on how the scene fits into the story arc and what it's asking of the character to make that journey as clear as possible.
Why Traditional Actor Training Falls Short
It sounds simple, right? Many actors think they're already working this way. Then they take one class with us and realize they're missing vital tools in their audition toolkit.
Most traditional actor training isn't designed to teach you HOW to solve the puzzle of the audition. It teaches you to stretch the expression of your instrument and create characters, but not necessarily how to be an effective auditioner.
The audition is its own art form - one that requires you to identify the puzzle on the page and bring your authentic self to solve it in your unique way. Especially in self-tape and Zoom land.
A Level Playing Field
One of the many reasons why I love self-tapes is because, in many ways, they have leveled the playing field for ALL actors—no matter what level they are at.
From actors who've been series regulars on multiple shows to those who haven't booked their first co-star yet - everyone has been adapting to this new way of auditioning. Everyone's stumbling with the tech and struggling to identify the story on the page.
Before self-tapes, getting that story clarity was often a privilege reserved for actors who could secure in-person appointments and had already established relationships with casting directors.
The New Audition Landscape
Now? We're all figuring it out together. The actor who's been working for 20 years is dealing with the same lighting issues and script analysis challenges as someone fresh out of acting school. The playing field isn't just more level - it's completely reshuffled.
This shift means opportunity, but it also means we all need to up our game. The actors who master the art of solving the audition puzzle - who can find the story, bring their authentic selves, and make strong choices in a 10x10 room with their iPhone - those are the ones who will thrive in this new landscape.
The breakdown was never the answer. The story always was.
Now we just have to be better at finding it on our own.
And I’m here to help if you need support ❤️
Want to learn how to solve that puzzle? Our annual Slaytember class focuses on pilot auditions (talk about puzzles with no reference points!) and features insights from casting directors Victor Vazquez (featured in video above), Danny Gordon (Beef), and Jaime Castro (Inventing Anna). We dive deep into the virtual casting process from self-tapes to chemistry reads.
Motivational