How Do I Slate?

Book From Tape February 18, 2019 4:32 Commercials Auditions

How to pitch your slate so it fits the scene you just played, what information to include and why it should never take longer than the audition.

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6 Things Actors Should Know About Slating on a Self-Tape

Drawn from what is actually said on camera, so you can decide whether to spend the 4:32 watching it.

Slating standards vary, so stop chasing one right answer

Some casting directors care a great deal about the slate and others do not care at all, and nearly everyone has a slightly different idea of what it should be. Actors often report that slating is the hardest part of the tape, mostly because of the conflicting advice coming at them. Treat it as an introduction of yourself rather than a test with one correct form.

Match the slate to the emotional temperature of the scene

If you just played a mother learning her missing son is dead, a bright and perfectly composed slate will pull the viewer out of the audition. If you just played a spirited teen in a high school sitcom, a flat recitation of your name, height and city will not help either. Aim for a middle register that does not contradict what they just watched.

Give the facts they asked for and nothing more

A standard slate is name, height and agency, delivered as plainly as needed. On a lighter scene it can carry a smile. On a darker, more emotional scene, let the facts lie and simply state who you are and who represents you.

Drop the dialect, but do not swing to your chattiest self

If the character has a British, Australian or Southern dialect, do not carry it into the slate. Also avoid snapping straight into a casual "hi guys, my name is Jordan" if that is your natural speaking voice. Return to a neutral actor presenting facts, which signals you can take on a variety of roles.

If the slate takes longer than the scene, rethink it

Spending more time on the slate than on the audition itself is a sign that you have loaded it with meaning it does not carry. The slate is your chance to show you are an actor, state your name and thank the casting director. That is the whole job.

Casting can find you without a perfect slate

The information is usually requested because another part of the creative team needs it, or because they are checking a specific age range. If they want you, they have your contact details, they know your agent and your file name typically includes your name. There are always ways around a slate.

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Full transcript (802 words)

[Music] hello and welcome back to book from tape where we are empowering actors with the tools that they need to book directly from your audition tape my name is Jordan with Robinson and today going off of the tools on how to book we're talking about sliding because slaving is one of those things that is important to some casting directors it's not at all to some other casting directors and everybody seems to have a slightly different idea of it Plus from working with actors I see this on a daily basis that people say to me slaving is the hardest part of this and I think it's because there are so many different ideas coming at you of how to slate or should I even slate or should I be myself or should I be the character from my experience in this here's what I would like to break down into throw your way the slate is an extension of you it is an opportunity to get to introduce yourself when you're not in the room it's important to have some of your personality there without directly contradicting what had just happened before in the audition for example if you are a a woman who just answered the door and there are police officers there who tell you that your son who has been missing for two weeks was just found and he's not coming home and you just had a very emotional scene no one expects you in your slate to be a perfectly put together hi i'm jordan with robinson thank you so much for watching and i'll look forward to hearing from you that doesn't happen right that that would actually take I would think draw them out of the audition and on the flip side if you're playing a spirited teen in a high school sitcom comedy and then during your slate you go hi I'm Jordan Robinson and I'm 511 and I live in Orlando Florida that's not gonna help you either what I personally do is find a happy medium you don't have to be over-the-top or completely subdued in order just to be professional at the end of every audition sometimes if it's if it's a smiley audition sometimes I go hi I'm Jordan Robinson I'm 511 I am with this talent agency or if it's a darker more emotional scene then I will just let the facts lie and I'll say I'm Jordan with Robinson I'm five-eleven and I'm with this talent agency and also if your character in the scene has a dialect a British dialect an Australian dialect a southern dialect do you continue that into your slate I'd say no again think about the character if you're playing a posh English aristocrat don't go back to your hi guys my name is Jordan if that's your real speaking voice find a happy medium go back to just being a neutral actor that is presenting the facts before you and saying this is who I am and I can take on a variety of roles you know that that's what they want to see in you and that's it and so don't think too much about your slate this is just information that they need because it's been requested from other parts of the creative team or they are looking for a specific age range or any such thing there are always ways around this if they want to find you they will find you they have your contact information they know who your agent is your file name usually has your name in it so if they really want to find you they will and in the meantime if it takes you longer to get a slate done than it does to get your scene reevaluate what the slate means to you this is your opportunity to show that you are an actor and this is your name and a way to say thank you to the casting director that's it for this time thank you so much for tuning in if you want to check out our web site at book from tape comm we have lots more tools there including more videos like this we offer online coaching we offer group classes if you're nearby one of our studios we offer an online book club in which we meet monthly online in a video room and talk about a book that we all read together as a group and it's a great way to connect and to also inspire yourself to read some new stuff I also and subscribe to our Channel and you'll get notified whenever these new videos come out at least monthly thank you so much I am Jordan woods Robinson and continue being awesome