auditions

• Auditions and the Rashomon Effect

  Posted by gmadmin   |   August 31, 2010

  In Akira Kurosawa’s film Rashomon, four witnesses give four radically different accounts of an event. The film is about the subjectivity of perception and memory. In other words, we all see things differently.

  The Rashomon Effect is huge in theatre auditions. The producer, the director, the music director, and the choreographer can see the same audition and reach completely different conclusions.

  “Wow, what a great voice!”

  “Are you kidding? I thought she sounded awful. But her acting chops were solid.”

  “No, she couldn’t act for beans.”

  Etc.

  So how do you reach an agreement? First of all, someone has to be the boss. Whether it is the director or the producer, someone must have the final say, and the rest of the team needs to respect that decision. Good leaders listen to their team and weigh all arguments before making a decision.

  On the other side of the audition, actors can take heart knowing that just because you didn’t make the cut, that doesn’t mean you weren’t good enough. When you realize how subjective the casting process truly is, it helps you understand that there is rarely one “best choice.” It’s quite possible someone on the production team was lobbying passionately for you.

  

  

  

  

  

  

  
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