Show HOW TO GET A JOB JOB- I- I HOW c-HOW Theater Background Advised Before Crashing Radio Portals I 1 By EARLE GILL Casting director Columbia Broadcasting Broadcasting Broadcasting Broad Broad- casting System There are two simple rules I give any youngster aspiring to a radio acting career career First learn your business Second Second Second Sec Sec- ond know the markets for your wares Both are re rem m more 0 r e complex 1 1 than they sound fr fris Your business is acting so learn how to act As Asin Asin in any other business business bus bus- iness you need training Where 2 should you get it If possible I advise an Americ American Ameri- Ameri c can a n university In the past few years many universities universities uni uni- Mr McGill h have a v e II built up p magnificent courses In the I theater where any young actor can receive training from talented talented directors The University of Iowa for example example example ex ex- ex- ex ample has a stage which rivals any New York stage excepting Radio City Music hall hail Many of these large universities operate radio stations too An even 1 larger a r g e r number have 0 One n ne neSo e eSo courses in radio So if you are of a 0 lucky your first acting training Series may be of two varieties varieties stage stage and radio The acting profession used to offer a valuable rough and tumble training for the youngster in the stock companies almost every fair sized city boasted Today stock is almost dead and summer stock is still too scattered and casual to provide an adequate substitute Little theaters are valuable however The young actor should interest himself in a good little theater group I believe that whether you seek a career on the stage radio or In Inthe Inthe Inthe the films the theater is your best preliminary training There you feel an audience you learn how to play to it You learn ensemble work in integrating integrating integrating in- in your portrayal yal with the rest of f the cast You learn the million and one general tricks of the stage After that its it's not too hard to pick up the specialized techniques you need for radio and films By now well we'll say youre you're an adequate ade ade- quat quate actor So y you u study the markets markets markets mar mar- for your talents Youngsters Lack LacI Knowledge One serious defect among youngsters youngsters youngsters young young- coming to New York for a aradio aradio aradio radio career is their complete lack of knowledge of the structural setup setup setup set set- up of radio They dont don't understand that a network is concerned with producing only that that percentage o of are on a sustaining basis Commercial programs are produced by the advertising agency handling a manufacturers manufacturer's product They go to the networks and ask for jobs without bothering to cover the many advertising agencies agencies agen- agen agen agen- cies des producing radio programs Gives Two Auditions If yo you have hav gone t to a network for an acting job here is the process process proc proc- ess you will be following I give general auditions for new actors twice a week at Columbia In three hours of auditions a week I 1 hear 14 to 16 newcomers newcomers both both youngsters youngsters youngsters young young- and experienced stage actors who want to break into radio The actor uses his own material and I Isit Isit Isit sit in thel control room as he le e reads before the microphone In the material you use there's theres one simple hazard to avoid avoid dont don't dont try too much Several weeks ago agoa a young Auditioned before me and swung with bewildering b speed frOm a portrayal of if an 80 year-old year woran to a dramatic bit from Anne Christie B Both th of them were obviously beyond her range Next Civil service e ties |