Coordinating auditions...

What should I look for in the actor's small performance? And how can I tell if he or she can really act?

Thanks.

Before you do anything, get yourself acquainted with the auditioning talent. It is key to have the director and talent get along. Tell them what is involved in the role and how you will be working with them.

Hold a screen test. Before the actor starts his monolouge, set him (or her) in front of a camera and ask them some basic questions (i.e. Why do you want the role? How long have you been acting? ect.). Set the camera a good distance from the talent (about 10 feet). The goal here is to not only get the background of the actor, but also to get the actor used to being taped. Leave the camera unattended while doing so.

Next, move onto the monolouge. Position the actor in front of the camera in a natural postions (this may be of his choice or yours). Pull the shot out wide (so you can see the talents entire body) but keep the camera a good distance from the talent. Put an operator on the camera and set up a monitor to watch his proformance. Start rolling, mark the scene, and have the talent start his monolouge. Keep an eye on the talent to see how he's doing in person (you can review the tape later). Then have the talent do his monolouge one more time. This time pull the camera in and do a close up shot. This time keep an eye on the monitor.

After you have finished auditions, go back and review the tape. It will be obvious which ones are good at acting and which ones aren't. Once you have found your options, send the talent a copy of your script and have them look over it for about a week. Then, bring the talent back and do a mock scene with the camera rolling. Observe the talents strengths and weaknesses and choose from there. Also, have the talent interact with one another, as this is crusial to a natural proformance.