Heartfelt or Different... What Are Some Memorable Audition Scenes in Movies?

Jjang-gu's 109 audition attempts. The film's English title is 〈AUDITION 109〉. In other words, it concisely depicts the title character 〈Jjang-gu〉 (played by Jung Woo), an aspiring actor who fails numerous auditions yet keeps trying. In particular, the film drew attention when director Jang Hang-jun made a surprise appearance as an audition judge. As such, audition scenes in any film are bound to be memorable. The sight of real actors acting within an acting scene combined with the tension of the audition situation leaves a deep impression. Let's look at a few audition scenes from films.

La La Land - Emma Stone's solo monologue song

This might be the scene most people think of when they hear "audition in a film." In the movie 〈La La Land〉, aspiring actress Mia (Emma Stone) balances part-time work while tirelessly auditioning. But reality is unforgiving. Despite her versatile acting, things do not go well — an employee even walks in during an audition — and it turns out poorly. Then comes the film's contrasting climax. The scene in which Mia performs the musical number ‘Audition’ focuses entirely on her and tells her story; it feels completely different from the film's earlier tone. With this performance, Emma Stone swept the Venice Film Festival, the Golden Globe, and the Academy Award for Best Actress.

Anywhere But Here - An Audition That Has to Fail

If an actor is shown at an audition, you'd normally expect them to give it their all. However, the audition scene in 〈Anywhere But Here〉 is the exact opposite. Anne (Natalie Portman), who is auditioning here, performs in a way that doesn't suit her and creates an awkward atmosphere. Anne's mother, Adele, who watches secretly, returns home not just disappointed but feeling betrayed — because it is actually Adele's dream for Anne to become an actress. Anne has repeatedly said she wants to go to college, yet Adele still sent her to the audition. Anne apologizes to her mother, saying she was improvising, but their relationship can't go back to how it was. While other audition scenes in films may be memorable for "perfectly fitting" or "realistic" performances, 〈Anywhere But Here〉 lingers precisely because it shows a teenage girl, pushed by her mother, giving a performance that is clearly the wrong fit.

Record of Youth - Park Bo-gum's Growth Story

To exaggerate slightly, Park Bo-gum is one of those actors who seems never to have had a period of obscurity. His striking looks attract attention, and anecdotes about him suggest he has a personality that gives people no reason to dislike him, which likely helped as well. Therefore, when he played Sa Hye-jun — a model turning full-time actor — in the drama 〈Record of Youth〉, viewers may have cheered for both Sa Hye-jun and Park Bo-gum. The drama follows Sa Hye-jun's story and shows several audition scenes; among them is an audition tape featuring a scene from 〈The Terror Live〉. In the actual film, that scene was performed by Ha Jung-woo, but here Sa Hye-jun — that is, Park Bo-gum — reenacts it, and the difference in the two actors' styles and images, along with the fact that it's "Park Bo-gum playing Sa Hye-jun," gives the original a fresh feel. There are many other scenes in which Sa Hye-jun displays various performances throughout the drama, so if you only recently became a Park Bo-gum fan, this is a good time to catch up.

Kiss Kiss Bang Bang - Robert Downey Jr.'s Life-Changing Reversal

This inverts the usual scenario of an actor auditioning to become a star. In 〈Kiss Kiss Bang Bang〉, Harry (Robert Downey Jr.) is fleeing after committing a robbery with a friend. Trying to escape, he hides in a crowded place — which happens to be an office holding auditions. Unable to leave because he is being chased, he impulsively pretends to be an applicant and auditions; when the other actor delivers the line "My partner is dead," Harry is reminded of what just happened and gives a powerful performance. The scene in 〈Kiss Kiss Bang Bang〉 is a short, punchy introduction, and later Jon Favreau — who directed 〈Iron Man〉 — said he saw this film and cast Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man, which became the life-changing turning point for Robert Downey Jr., much like it was for Harry in the movie. Perhaps for that reason, Robert Downey Jr. has said it is one of the films he is especially fond of.