I learned a valuable lesson today. Once you identify your castable look(s) as a day player actor, the next step is to identify your character's motivation(s) when auditioning. Day players may have a single line or a few lines, so there's nothing really there for you to draw upon, and that is why "motivation" is key.. Motivation Example: You're character is happy that day, because s/he is about to go on vacation. And once you know "motivation" you have creative options when auditioning. I think moving forward, I may provide casting directors 2 or 3 different readings based on unspoken motivation choices.
Acting : The Key To Day Playing Roles? Motivation! by Matthew Gross
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Thanks for sharing the lesson, Matthew Gross. I'm sure it's going to help actors. I don't act, but I like to give every character a motivation even if it's a delivery man who shows up for a few seconds. Knowing the motivation helps me write the character and scene.
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Matthew Gross thanks for this tip which opens up a lot more possibilities for me when I think about being a day playing actor. What was the process by which you learned this lesson? Were you doing a day player gig and if so which one, i'm curious?
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Alexandra Stevens My very first big role was a short film in 2022 titled "Bertie the Brilliant". It was financed by Warner Bros and it turned out to be a pilot. Last year, it was broadcast on PBS. It is still on their YouTube channel. I got that job with a lot of luck. I self-taped a single line, and that night the director and producer called inviting me to act in their film. After this experience, I decided to pour myself into an acting career. I started auditioning and I noticed something was missing. That's when I made the connection that I need to find my motivations to give my characters real dimension. Maybe my character is tired because he didn't get enough sleep last night and now he's at a cash register taking customers orders when he'd rather be home in bed. Bringing that mindset into an audition changes how the lines are delivered.
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Matthew Gross, motivation is the heartbeat of every great performance, no matter how big or small the role. It’s what gives a line weight, subtext, and truth. Whether it’s a single sentence or a multi-page monologue, if the character’s motivation is clear, the audience feels it. The same principle applies to writing, too. When we understand a character’s motivation, every action, every piece of dialogue becomes more purposeful. Motivation is the key to authenticity across the board.
Looking forward to hearing how this approach plays out for you, keep us posted!
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Ashley Renee Smith The big breakthrough for me was deciding motivation, because day player characters are mainly functional. They exist to move the plot forward, and therefore they lack development on the page.
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I have been waiting for two actors and one actress from the day-players to STAR in my new feature film MALIBU SUNRISE, which is a PG-13 romantic comedy, which takes place entirely on Malibu, California beaches. So email me if you'd like to star in it. Thank you in advance.
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Vic Alexander I sent a network request. If you add me to your network, I can send you my email and we may discuss your project. Thank you for thinking of me.