What kind of information should you ask of a casting director before auditioning for a film role? What techniques do you use in preparing to audition? How does a film audition differ from a stage audition?

Well, here’s what I do; perhaps others could weigh in.

I try to have a monologue ready that’s similar to the role for which I’m auditioning. Often the person doing the casting will just ask for a cold read, but it’s good to have it in case you’re asked.

I ask if there's any back story on the character - where they live, what they do, what's the emotional relationship to the other characters - and if I'm expected to use an accent or dialect. Often your contact will give you that in advance, but if not ask - ask for all the information you can get that will help you get a sense of the character before you're in front of the camera.

If I’m not getting the sides until I arrive, I plan to arrive several hours early so I have time to go over the lines and have some sense of the scene. (If you’re a SAG member, I believe it’s required that you be given the sides 24 hours in advance.) I take a half dozen headshots with my resume pasted on the back, even if I'm told to only bring one or two.

What to wear can be an issue. I go for neutral in what I wear to the audition and take two changes of clothes – one more dressy and one more casual – including shoes. Same with makeup. I wear a fair amount of makeup usually. For auditions I tone it down to what I call “natural” and take makeup with me in case I need to pump it up. I throw in the mix a couple of scarves, simple jewelry and three different pairs of glasses.

I also put together a “prop kit” of general items that might conceivably help me with the scene. In my last film audition, the kit included these items: a newspaper that included a crossword puzzle, a note pad and pen, a desk telephone, a plain coffee mug, a pack of chewing gum, a pack of cigarettes (although I don’t smoke). I pack the shoes, small clothing items and props in a carry-on bag with wheels.

For that audition, I did the scene with just my “neutral” outfit, a pair of glasses, and the newspaper crossword and pen. But knowing I had other options at hand made me feel more relaxed and able to concentrate on delivering the lines.

Once in front of the camera, I ask that the person reading the other part stand next to the camera so that I'm facing into the lens without looking directly at the lens. If I make a mistake, I ask to start the scene over and, most important, ask the camera person to rewind the tape to the beginning of my audition (to erase the error). I don't want a good performance on the second try marred by evidence that I flubbed it initially.

Thanks for the information, I found it very helpful. When carrying the extra clothes, when do you evaluate when to change into them and do you have the time to?

That's why it's important to arrive a couple of hours early for your audition appointment. Once you have the sides you have a better idea of the scene and the character. At that point, slip into the restroom and adjust your look as necessary. It doesn't have to be perfect, but if the scene is in a boardroom you don't want to be reading the lines in a T-shirt and jeans.

A piece of advice that I can give, is when I've had people audition for me I never want them to face the camera. The reason for this is that during a cold read, actors will sometimes raise the sides to far, blocking their face.

Joe makes a good point.

As is common with those over 40, I need reading glasses to read the sides so I prefer to quickly memorize the scene rather than read it with glasses perched on the end of my nose, which I find distracting - also they cover part of my face.

If reading glasses isn't an issue then all you really need to memorize are the "in" line and the "out" line so that your face is up at the beginning and end of the audition. In between you can read the sides, being careful to hold the pages down and away from you face.