Unlocking Powerful Performances
A Production Company’s Guide to Authentic Reads
As a production company, we aren't just looking for someone who "memorized the lines." We are looking for the person who makes us forget we’re watching an audition and makes us feel like we’re watching a movie.
But "power" in a performance doesn't mean "loud" or "big." In fact, it's often the opposite. Here is our guide on how to unlock a performance that actually resonates from the other side of the lens.
1. The Power of the "Internal Monologue"
The camera has a strange ability to read your mind. If you are just thinking about your next line, the audience sees a "blank" space.
The Suggestion: Write out what your character is thinking while the other person is talking. If your internal monologue is active, your eyes will stay alive, and the performance will feel grounded and powerful without you having to "act" at all.
2. Find the "Undercurrent"
In most great scenes, what is being said is rarely what is actually happening. This is subtext.
The Suggestion: Identify the Undercurrent. If the scene is about two people arguing over a dinner bill, is it really about the money? Or is it about a lack of respect? Playing the feeling (disrespect) while speaking the lines (the bill) creates a layered, professional performance.
3. Stillness is Strength
Newer actors often feel they need to move, fidget, or use their hands to show "energy." On camera, excessive movement can actually dilute your power.
The Suggestion: Trust your eyes. Some of the most powerful performances we’ve ever cast came from actors who stayed physically still, allowing the camera to dive into their expressions. Let the emotion move, not your body.
4. Preparation Sets You Free
You cannot be "powerful" if you are worried about your lines. True power comes from the freedom to play, and play requires a solid foundation.
The Suggestion: This is where the technical side meets the artistic side. You need a system to break down a script quickly so that the "work" is out of the way, leaving room for the "art."
Ready to Build Your Foundation?
Unlocking a powerful performance is a journey, but it starts with having the right framework. If you're ready to move past the guesswork and start delivering "production-ready" auditions, we can help.
We’ve put together The Audition Blueprint—a free, concise guide that covers the technical schematics of a winning read. It’s the same standard we use when we’re casting our own projects.