What is a good way to practice cold readings?

Question:I am primarily interested in film acting and have recently learned that at auditions for a film/on screen performance it is generally cold reading.

Does anybody know some good ways to practice cold reading? And if so, how do you do the reading the way they want? How do you know the tone you should use? Is there a little synopsis of it beforehand?

Thanks!

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: I am primarily interested in film acting and have recently learned that at auditions for a film/on screen performance it is generally cold reading.

Does anybody know some good ways to practice cold reading? And if so, how do you do the reading the way they want? How do you know the tone you should use? Is there a little synopsis of it beforehand?

Thanks!

cold reading means what it sounds like you know absolutely nothing about the scene, some times someone will give a synopsis, sometimes they won't your reading partner will give you very flat responses, so you can't really act off of them either.

If they give you five minutes to read the script before they say "go" skim look at the end of the scene, look at the beginning, take the beginning as far from the end as you can then look for the moment where the scene changes (where it gies from being good thing to being bad).

Now you got a sense of the script, now read the lines reacting to the things that are good for you as though they are postive and bad for you as though they are negative.

That is pretty much all there is to it.

Best way to practice, grab random scripts (two copies) and read them with your non actors friends tell them it is vital they don't act the scene out because it will color your choices.

These artiiles can help you out.

http://www.actingbiz.com/articles/cold_r...
http://playsandmusicalsnewsletter.pionee...
http://playwrights.suite101.com/article....

(Also learn to read from a script not blocking your face) :)

If you go to Drew's script o rama website you can get copies of shooting scripts online for free (that way you get used to the format of screenplay scripts which are significantly different from the theatre scripts)

Best of Luck to you!

The way I practise is by reading a character's dialogue from any book.

Cold reads, are looking at a script and basically reading it without memorising much of it.
It's not usually the first time you read it because they'll give you a bit of time to read it in the waiting room and get into character.

Some good tips are to memorise the last bit of the sentance so you can look down and know which sentance your going to say then look up and know the rest.

Down stare down at the paper.

They want you to read it like your filming the movie that moment, like any audition should be.

Good Luck!
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You'll get a general idea of who your character is and what they are trying to achieve in the scene. You are usually given time to read the dialogue in the room and a nice director will let you ask a question or two about your character or the scene. Sometimes you're given the dialogue hours beforehand. But you'll never be told "GO! Start reading! Don't think!" You'll always be given a chance to read it through at least once, before having to act it out.

The best way to practice for a cold reading is to find a friend to read opposite of you, find a video recorder, and practice lines from a movie or show. Watch yourself in the videos and try to see it through the eyes of a director. Is she genuine? Does she REALLY feel these lines? Try lots of different inflections or motivations for the lines.

Also, don't practice before you practice - you rarely get a chance to read out loud in the waiting room or while sitting in front of the casting people, so don't get into a bad habit of doing a 'practice run' before you turn on the camera. Imagine the feelings and tones in your head, without hearing them out loud. You need to get used to doing it well the first time.

If the lines are an argument, then try being very sad, trying to guilt the other person into agreeing with you. Try being sly, as if you're trying to trick the other person with very calculated words. Then try acting like they have offended you at your deepest and you're just letting words fly.

It's all about 'finding' the right motivation and tone. You will probably also be 'directed' by the director to say your lines in a different way. This will help them judge how well you take direction. Actors must follow the director, even if they don't agree with the direction, so during your screen test they'll try different things to make sure that you're not stubborn with your acting decisions.

Also, you need to try to be genuine - that's why a video recorder is good when you practice. "If i was watching this as an observer, would I believe this person?"

Best of luck! Practicing is hard at first, but you'll get better and more comfortable with yourself and your inner feelings that come out when you act.

Hope that helps!

I disagree with some of your other answers. A cold read is a script you have never seen before. You always ask if you can take a minute to look it over, and they always let you. Occassionally when reading for a commercial, they will just hand you copy and say read it. So you do. To practice, pick up things you have never read before, the cereal box, the milk carton, ads in magazines are best, your soda can, anything and read them out loud. Just aim for meaning as you read. You often do not know what they are looking for, so you just do it, if they ask you to do it again and give you some direction, make sure you do not read it exactly as you did before even if you did not understand the direction. Who cares about tone? Just read it. No, there is no synopsis beforehand. Just read it. Only try to do something with it when you are given direction and asked to do it again, then try to give them what they asked for.

You need to ask the what is the motivation following up to this scene. Do not speak as if you are in a theater and also you will most likely read the scene with the person auditioning you so act natural as in real life.

I find cold readings very easy to do. do not emote. do not sound as if you are acting. it should sound as real as overhearing a conversation. do not act. if your character says "i HATE YOU"
don't say it with hate. just say it. practise that. It carries much more menace. or conversely "I love you" don't gush it just say it. it is more potent. for cold reading purposes this is the approach. do not try to be impressive, just be.