NIDA. I recently, in December, went for an Audition at NIDA, the National Institute of Dramatic Arts. We were asked to commit three pieces to memory, with a possibility of performing all three. I learnt Henry V by Shakespeare - Crispin's Day Speech. Probably Shakespeare's most famous Historical soliloquy, and for good reason. It a beautiful section, written with confident delicacy, as well as rugged inspiration. I chose the piece because it is such a serious, but incredibly warm and personable speech. Secondly, I learnt Rowan Atkinson's Welcome to Hell. Possibly the funniest and most violently sarcastic monologue I’ve ever heard, this piece, although slightly dated, still rings true. If you run a quick YouTube search for it, you will find many versions, both subtitled and otherwise.
Do it.
Now.
Bask in it's goodness.*
The third piece was a monologue for the character Ray from a play and film called Dead Heart. Quintessentially Australian, it struck me with great rhythm, and a timelessness for racism. I advise anyone with the possibility of viewing it live to do so, it is such a powerful play. Otherwise, the film is just as good. Bryan Brown is fantastic. Slow to begin with, but mounting with increased dips and swings towards a final climax, the film is well done.
Anyway, I went along to my audition, only to find I would be sharing the pleasure with my beautiful friend Romy. Romy was a fellow actor/actress in the 2008 HSC course I did at NIDA. We became close friends, and, despite a lack of communication, remain so.
So, this was soothing, to see a familiar face in a somewhat nervous situation.
We went into the audition room, did a number of warm-ups, asked questions, Like "Why does NIDA only hire people that look beautiful." To which we were returned "We Don't."
Then the auditions started. Went through well, without mistake, confidently, and assuredly. I brought up the audience for my first piece, to interact with them. The second piece went beautifully, with desired laughs and smirks in full. The judges said they loved my voice, and the way I had presented the characters, in a different, and engaging manner.
And then the inevitable. For those unfamiliar, NIDA has a very sly culling system, whereby if you are not asked to perform a third piece, its a nice way of saying "We don't want you."
I wasn't asked to do a third piece. This was expected. I am 18. NIDA is very big on Life experience, and rightfully so. The older you are, whilst often less marketable, the more you have experienced. If acting is anything, it is the ability to represent any situation, with realism and empathy.
Of the fifteen people in our audition group, the three people who went onto the next of four stages were all over 25 years of age.
The judge’s general, “Goodbye, Thanks for coming” was that whilst we all showed great promise, we needed to pull our emotion from a deeper field, one that would come from time and more ‘life experience.’
All in all, this was pretty much what I had expected, with a bit of praise thrown in on top, so all is well! Try again next year.
Onto the next big thing, University. That’s another story. Tomorrow perhaps.
Peace.
Olive.
* - Today, with help from two close friends of mine, Nicola and Emily, the term Gooder was coined. Gooder was described as being "Better than Good." It was first used in reference to "Daniel," by Lior.
