Is auditioning from home the new normal? Actors weigh in
Nightmare or fun? Actors decode the necessary evil amid the pandemic, that’s virtual auditions. Sayani Gupta, who has done as many as three auditions in a week, says, “Humans have this amazing adaptive capability, the jugaad. We are blessed with a survival instinct. It generally happens over video call, where somebody from the casting team gives you cues on the call. It’s a little complicated as [one has to] get the timing right. But I prefer doing it at home now. You have control over how you shoot, the lighting and making sure you’re looking good.”
Sumeet Vyas, who has also given multiple auditions from home, says he quite likes the idea of it. “There are fewer interruptions. I can do my thing. In another four to five years, actors wouldn’t have to physically be present in Mumbai to sustain themselves. They can do all the preliminary activities on a video call and directly land up for shooting,” he says.
However, Rakesh Bedi says, “Mujhe toh shuru se bada ajeeb sa lagta hai ki aap kisi known ya veteran actor ka audition lete ho. [But] I wouldn’t mind giving an audition to a director who’s sitting in front of me, virtually.”
Raazi (2018) actor Ashwath Bhatt feels it’s a “difficult task” to audition from home. “It’s a nightmare. You have to be spot on, [but] how do I get the cues and the real feel? Doing auditions in this way isn’t organic. Earlier, I didn’t have a tripod. Now, I have proper mics and a background wall as well,” he says.
Doing auditions in this way isn’t organic. It’s a difficult task. ASHWATH BHATT, Actor