Photo by Eye for Ebony on Unsplash

Wendy Alane Wright is a former talent agent and talent manager in Hollywood. She currently works as an acting career coach and is the author of the Secrets of a Hollywood Talent Manager book series, which offers step-by-step guidelines for aspiring actors.

Wendy Alane Wright’s Secrets of a Hollywood Talent Manager books and their target audiences include:

In one of her YouTube videos titled How to Stand Out in Auditions, Wright speaks to performers who are just starting, sharing four tips on how to shine brightly in the audition room.

Insights From Wendy Alane Wright:

  • Always arrive early to auditions to demonstrate professionalism and respect for others’ time.
  • Memorize your lines thoroughly to show preparedness and stand out in the audition room.
  • Make bold, nuanced choices in your performances by exploring complex human behavior and deepening your character work.

1. Be on Time

Yes, it may sound basic, but punctuality is essential in show business. Arriving on time “makes you stand out in a good way—like a professional,” Wright says.

Of course, sometimes unforeseen circumstances can hold you up despite your best efforts—an accident on the 405 freeway or a flat tire, for example. However, a professional will go to great lengths to minimize those instances as much as possible.

Punctuality is a sign that you value others and respect their time; it demonstrates that you’re dependable—which is essential should you book the job and need to be a team player on set; it boosts your confidence when you know you’re on top of things; and when you’re on time—or better yet, 15 minutes early—you can take a breath and go over your lines so you can put your best foot forward in the audition room.

2. Memorize Your Sides

Wright encourages actors to learn their lines—know them inside and out. She insists doing so shows that you’re prepared and “makes you stand out in auditions.”

It is important to note that while casting directors prefer actors to be familiar with the material, many understand that glancing at the script may sometimes be necessary, provided the actor quickly re-engages and delivers a compelling performance.

3. Make Interesting Choices

Suppose the script calls for a specific emotion, such as anger. In that case, Wright encourages actors to delve a little deeper into their own experiences and imaginations to avoid delivering a predictable, safe reading.

“Human beings are complicated,” she says. “When the casting directors are watching the same thing over and over and over and over, [a nuanced delivery] stands out because it’s different.”

Wright suggests that actors read the book Building a Character by the legendary Russian stage actor and director Constantin Stanislavski. The book is the second of three volumes that make up his Acting Trilogy (An Actor Prepares is the first and Creating a Role is the third).

Building a Character discusses the external techniques of acting, including the way a performer uses their body, movement, diction, singing, expression and control. It focuses on detailed strategies and exercises to build a strong foundation for any given character, including vocal patterns, timing and rhythm.

“If you do the work as an actor, you’ll go deeper than what it just says on the page, and you’ll study human behavior,” Wright says.

4. Take Your Acting Career Seriously

Love acting and pursue it passionately. Wright says, “If it’s really your passion … it’s more than just wanting to be an actor, it’s more than just having a pretty picture with some classes on the back; it’s about becoming a great actor.”

This commitment to your craft, to the profession, and as a collaborator will make you stand out, even before you’ve refined every aspect of your performance. When you’re grateful for the opportunities to do the work you love, others will notice you for the right reasons. Here’s a quick recap of Wright’s audition tips to help new actors stand out:

  • Arriving on time is crucial, as it signals professionalism and reliability to casting directors.
  • Memorizing your sides shows that you are prepared and committed to giving your best performance.
  • Making interesting and nuanced choices in your audition sets you apart from other actors.
  • Taking your acting career seriously, with genuine passion and dedication, helps you stand out in a competitive field.

Want to get your acting career started? Sign up or login to Casting Frontier and start auditioning today!

You may also like:
How to Create a Great Self-Tape Audition
Actors: Get Cast Without an Agent in Los Angeles
Brad Pitt and other Acting Greats on the Fear of Public Speaking

Post Views: 3,512
Written by Casting Frontier