Accents

Hey - could you please help me out with tips and hints on perfecting
accents? All I can do is imitate them, but they are too exaggerated! I NEED
HELP!

Accents aren't my specialty. I think the best way to perfect them is to imitate them until they sound right. That's probably not the answer you wanted to hear. Once I had an audition for an Irish play and I could imitate the accent like you're doing but I didn't feel confident in it. So I went to a bookstore and in the Performing Arts section found a book--I forget the title and I really wish I remember it, for both oursakes. Anyway this book gave very detailed descriptions of the accents and how to position your tongue in your mouth. The note on where to put the tongue in the mouth was very helpful. The book also recommended finding the rhythm of the language and just focus on the rhythm while you're learning the accent. Of course you're going to have to find places to hear the accent as well to get a grip on it. I recommend watching the news of the country where the accent is that you're trying to copy or documentaries made in that country. I wish I remembered the name of that book. Maybe go to a performance arts bookstore and ask if they have a book on accents that gives detailed descriptions on how to form your mouth. You might feel weird, but if they work in a performance arts bookstore they're probably used to it.

Monologue Suggestions

Hi Jeremiah,
I am a person with no little or no experience in the field of acting. I send my CV and headshots to a lot of agents and by sheer luck one of them responded. They asked me to come to an audition on the 1st of April. They asked me to come prepared with an audition piece. This is taking place in London.

Would you have any audition piece with you that I would be able to perform with relative ease bearing in mind that I come from India and have an Asian accent.

I look forward to hearing from you. Please help me.

Thanking You
Sanjay

Hi Sanjay,

I hope you get this in time to be helpful. Congratulations on getting the call from the agent. First of all, the big question is do you want to do a comedic or dramatic monologue. Secondly, you should identify which type of parts you want to play: Leads, character roles, the sad boyfriend, the angry drill sargeant, etc. I would go with something that is at least a little funny if you chose a dramatic monologue because if you can make someone laugh that's a good way to hook them in an audition. Also, don't choose a piece where you're yelling. Nobody likes to be screamed at, especially agents in their offices. And I would also recommend getting a monologue from a play you have read and seen. If you can't think of any plays you know that you want to take monologues from I'd consult a collection of one acts by various authors. Actually, I think the best thing to do is to go to a bookstore that specializes in plays and the performing arts. Tell one of the bookstore people that you're looking for a monologue. Ask if they recommend an anthology of one-act plays that have good monologues. The person will probably ask you what type of monologue you are looking for. Tell them what type of roles you see yourself being good at and ask if they know of any monologues that would be good for those parts. I know you probably wanted me to mention a specific monologue but I can't think of one. Some people think that collections of monologues are a bad source, I don't think so if you can make it sharp. But you should know the play. I hear a lot of people recommend the Humana Play Festival Anthologies for monologues. It's a one-act play festival done by the Actor's Theatre of Louisville. Best of luck!

Jeremiah