Ah, the audition. The moment of make or break, do or die. All eyes on you, critiquing, judging, whispers behind hands, head nods, head shakes. You are a specimen under a lens, vying for your fifteen minutes against hundreds of other hopefuls.
And the best part? It's all on tape.
Audition tapes are one of my favorite things to watch because you see actors in an environment you aren't used to seeing them in. We're familiar with these faces only once they've become celebrities - the red-carpet gowns, the aviators and five o'clock shadows as the paparazzi catches them jaunting around NYC or cruising through LA. The audition tape shows you prepubescent faces wracked with nerves, vulnerable and anxious to impress. You see butchered haircuts (yes, Rachel McAdams, we're looking at you). You see awkward outfits (sorry, Ellen). But most of all, you see who can really act (Natalie), who falls flat (Scarlet...) and who hasn't developed at all (Blake......)
Blake Lively's audition for Gossip Girl.
She IS Serena - Serena in Season 5 is not an eye-roll different from Blake in her original audition.
Ed Westwick auditions to be the infamous Chuck Bass. While his hair has certainly changed for the better, it's his acting that gets our praise. Here we see the shallow, spoiled playboy private school kid from Season One - compare that to the Chuck Bass of Season Five, who has developed a darkness, vulnerability, and complexity far superior to Serena's character. Give this kid a real script post-GG and I think he'll bring something to the table.
Rachel McAdams auditions for The Notebook. Despite the very 90s haircut, she shines. Compare this to Blake Lively's tape above and you see one blonde bombshell and one blonde bomb...
Ah, ScarJo. A 9 year old Scarlet auditions for Jumanji. Pretty girl, but not surprised that Kirsten Dunst beat her out for the role.
Natalie. Need we say more?
My main man De Niro!
Aaaand last but not least, Ellen Page looking a tad dumpy but ever so talented...
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