Yul Edochie

Preparing For Audition.

This is from Nollywood Angels Magazine (NAM).

Is attending your first ever audition making you breakout in sweats, or did you just attend one that didn’t go as you have hoped? Well, fear no more, you’re not alone. Most of Nollywood’s biggest stars, at one point or the other, went through what you’re passing through right now.

You’ll be surprised to learn that your first audition may have gone even better than those of most superstars of today. Take for instance Ali Nuhu and Shan George, when you see them putting up super confident performances on the screen, many probably won’t believe they were very nervous at their first audition.

Yul Edochie is regarded today as one of the best actors in Nollywood. Yet, the star told NAM that his first audition was terrible. And if you think Yul’s own was bad wait until you hear what happened to beautiful and talented Chika Ike. According to the actress, she waited from morning until the evening before she was auditioned, and guess what — she was rejected! But trust her fighting spirit, she wasn’t discouraged.

The lesson to learn from this is never to give up. Yes…not everyone must like you, but that doesn’t mean you’re the worst. If you don’t make one audition, go home and prepare harder for another.

Here are a few things to note before going to an audition.

Dress appropriately. Look beautiful and sexy without looking cheap. Beware of skirts that are too short. You don’t want the director to think you’re a street tart, and if your performance involves a lot of movement, you definitely don’t want to be flashing any unmentionables. If anyone tells you that you’ll get the director’s attention by being half-naked, the person may be right, but you’ll only get his attention for the wrong reasons. Directors like ladies that are clean, polished, and professionally dressed.

Try to be as professional as possible in your manners. Prepare for an audition the same way you will for a job interview, because that’s exactly what it is —- You are, essentially, interviewing for a job. Always be polite to everyone you meet, including the others that came for the same purpose. Be careful not to portray yourself as a troublemaker or as being too argumentative.

When it’s your turn to audition, let your personality show. Don’t forget the director is a thespian, and is most likely just as crazy or funky as you, so don’t be afraid. After you have performed your monologue and answered any questions the director has, always say thank you.

We spoke with some Nollywood stars about their first audition and below are their answers.

Grace Amah

I joined Nollywood in Aug 1999, and the first movie I featured in was ‘CHAINS’ directed by Lancelot Oduwa Imasuen. My first audition was really an experience for me, having to show to the crowd what I could or could not act. They needed someone to play a 13-year-old girl in the movie. So I was told by Frank Ubaka to go for the audition for that role.I was shy and nervous as well, but at the end of it I came out victorious. I’ll say it was God’s strength because there were so many other people contesting for the same role too.

Shan George

I was taken to my first audition in 1996 by an already established actress as at then, her name is Blessing Eremi. It was like my first day in secondary school. I was excited and nervous at the same time. Because I really needed the job to enable me pay my school fees. Then I just gained admission into Unilag. It was a for a film titled ‘Thorns Of Rose’ produced by the late Jennifer Okere and Emeka Osai. I was paid N20, 000.

Yule Edochie

My first audition was terrible. They said I didn’t do well. I was fresh from acting school then. After reading a few lines, the director said I was a narrator not an actor. But I never gave up.

Chika Ike

My first audition was at the National Theatre, Lagos. I stood there all day and was finally called in for the audition late in the evening. At the end I wasn’t chosen, but I didn’t get discouraged. I went home, prepared and went for another one. I was lucky this time because I was chosen, even though I played only one scene in the movie.

Femi Ogedenge

My first audition was in 2003 for “TEARS OF THE GHETTO”. I employed a style which helped me a great deal. I prepared very well before leaving my house and when I got there I simply made every one my judge.

Ali Nuhu

I was very nervous on that day. It was for an NTA Jos telecast drama titled “BASED ON THE TRUE STORY”. It was like an acid test because if I had failed the audition, probably I wouldn’t be here today.

Ugo Tuvi James

It was not easy, but later I was able to conquer my fears and that was it. Try to conquer your fears and keep improving.

We’ll like to hear your own stories, send stories to info@nollywoodangels.com