One of the best ways to bring an actor to life, and get them free from the trap of going cue to cue, is to have them do an improvisation. If you're ambitious you can have them improvise a scene not in the movie, but all you really need (and I'm sure you'll feel more comfortable doing) is to have them do the audition scene with the freedom to be loosey-goosey with the text.
Let them know they can say whatever they want, but make clear that you have no interest in their coming up with clever dialog. Tell them you want to see them live through the situation, off text, and that you'll only be doing a short version of the scene (if it goes long, because everybody's having fun, so be it). They'll paraphrase what's written and you paraphrase the feed lines.
Maybe when you're doing this you can say something early on that's kind of wacky and lets them know it's all-bets-are-off and they can have their freedom. This will also puts them on notice that they better be listening. Some actors will stay almost exactly with the lines as written, and that's okay, just their knowing they could go off the text can make all the difference. On the other hand, declaring it an improv can reveal those performers unable to vary from a canned and locked reading that indicates a shallow talent. After the improvisation you can then do it with the lines exactly as written (or maybe you won't feel the need to).
Me and my pupil, Sam Raimi.
Perhaps it would be a good idea to test how well they can take direction at some point. Especially if you don't think there's going to be a lot of time to rehearse and your actor's ability to take direction quickly, right there on the set, is going to be crucial. Bear in mind, however, that there are many good actors who don't excel at this particular talent for responding quickly to a direction, but who, when given the time, will come back and blow your socks off.
In conclusion then: accept and be open about the fact that auditioning is an odd thing to do; baby your talent; be artistic, encouraging and bold; and try to eliminate the influence of extraneous factors on your decision the best you can, but be on the look out for problem temperaments. Give trust plus creative spunk and enthusiasm high marks. Happy hunting!
D.W. Brown is the head instructor at what’s commonly considered Los Angeles’ premiere acting school, The Joanne Baron/DW Brown Studio in Santa Monica. D.W. has written a definitive book on acting, You Can Act published by Michael Wiese Productions (“Shot By Shot,” “The Writer’s Journey”), and is in post production on the feature film On The Inside, that he wrote and directed, starring Nick Stahl, Olivia Wilde and Shoreh Ahgdashloo.
