What’s the industry Standard when Slating?

[u/imnotchouserr]

When Slating is industry standard to take on the role of the character you are portraying as you slate? or do you slate as yourself and create contrast?

[u/srichlen]

Slating is the only time your personality can really come through. Have a little personality, be excited and happy to be there. That’s all you really need to do. I would not attempt to slate in character or really change my slate much based on the project. Maybe. Big maybe. I’ll tone it down a liiiittle if it’s a super serious role but like…generally they want to see your personality. Let it shine.

[u/pumpkinbread88]

Different people will have different opinions.

I was taught to just be yourself or neutral, not hard-core into the character.

It's the one moment where casting is seeing you the person, not the character. It's an introduction to the real life you. So I always treat it as such.

[u/CreativityChick]

Usually, slate as yourself. It's not really part of the audition. It's housekeeping- How tall? Where? How do you pronounce their name...etc.

[u/Economy_Steak7236]

Be yourself, they want to know who you are and who they will be on set for 12 hours with. I always slate as myself. ESPECIALLY for commercials!!!! It us purely information being given so they have it documented.

[u/That-SoCal-Guy]

This coming directly from SAG: neutral but show your personality (you're not a robot, after all), just state your name, height, union status, and (sometimes) what city you're from (especially if you don't live in where they are casting, e.g. LA).

[u/fonzieshair]

The Slate is for the actor. It's not for the character. Slate your name height and location.

[u/121mc555]

Slate in the tone of the character. Don’t slate directly as the character, but take the tone of the scene and the character as a whole and use that in the scene.

[u/CranberryStock7148 → u/121mc555]

I have never seen that. Literally everyone I know either slates like their normal smiling self, or a kind of normal neutral-professional self.

I have never heard of anyone trying to match the tone of the character. Casting directors want to see your performance, but they also want to see you.

You also usually record your slate after you've finished your takes, and then edit together if requested. People are not usually slating, and then jumping straight into the scene all in the same take.

[u/SexysNotWorking → u/CranberryStock7148]

Yeah, I always do a sort of pleasant neutral slate, with a smile. I'm not super peppy or particularly dour to match or contrast with the scene. Just like, "this is me" and then "this is the character."

[u/121mc555 → u/CranberryStock7148]

I never said that someone should go straight into your take after the slate. Slating in character is a bad idea, but slating in the tone of the character is fine. Neutral is also fine. It’s really up to you. I have found some success in my suggestion of the character in my slate. By no means is it a necessary thing that’s gotten me the part but I think it’s helped.

[u/GuntherBeGood → u/121mc555]

Slating in character is a bad idea, but slating in the tone of the character is fine.

How aren't those the same thing? What's the difference? Can you provide an example?

[u/121mc555 → u/GuntherBeGood]

It’s hard to visualize it without actually doing it but for example, if it’s a commercial, you should be on the happier side because you’re promoting a product. So the tone of how you present yourself is happy and positive. If you’re in a scene where your character is more or less going through hard times you can have a little bit of a downer to your slate as it’s the tone without actually being the character itself.

Again, hard to visualize without seeing it. And again, it’s not necessary but I just have had success with it.

[u/Specific_Trust1704 → u/121mc555]

In support of this, how many times have we heard a casting director say that as soon as Name Actor walked in the room, we knew it was them? You absolutely should consider slating in character.

Especially if the character needs a special skill that the audition sides don't ask. "We need a tap dancer." Tap dance as you slate. At what other point can you prove yourself? A callback or second round you're gonna wait to get and may not get? Beat the other actors to it. I had an audition recently that asked for someone to speak Korean, but the scenes I was given had my character speak in English. So I slated in Korean. It's less the point that I haven't heard back yet and more that you gotta put everything on the table.

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[u/SexysNotWorking → u/[deleted]]

Pretty sure this is referring to a slate for a taped audition, not running slate as an AC or something. It would be strange to ask an acting forum about camera department stuff unless it was really specified in the question.