RECORDING YOUR AUDITION

TIPS AND TRICKS OF RECORDING YOUR AUDITION

By Dr. Mel Caudle

There is an art to producing your own audition video for online submissions.  However, you don't have to fear that you aren't a cameraman, editor, or a director of photography.  As producers and casting directors, we don't expect actors to be experts in the process of making a video.  So relax.  


Additionally, you don't need to spend a great deal of money on cameras, film gadgets, or invest in editing software.  Most actors, nowadays, have at their disposal everything they need to produce their submission video.  Actors can use:

• Cell phone camera
• IPAD camera
• Web camera on their computer                           
• A flip camera
• A consumer video camera

Research reveals that more than 92% of people from the ages of 16 - 55 own a cell phone.  So, the likelihood of you not having one is slim.  It is more likely that you don't know how to use the video camera application on your phone.  Therefore, take the time and investigate whether your phone has this application and learn how to use it.  If not, go to your Market area your cell phone service company provides and download an application.  I found plenty of free applications for every cell phone company.  This idea holds for your IPADs as well.  Lots of free applications that will meet your needs.

Flip video cameras can be purchased for less than $100 dollars and up. I purchased one for $79 dollars that was HD 1080 dpi and the quality is fantastic.  Do your research and you can find both new and used camcorders for this purpose.  It really depends on the amount of money you are willing or able to spend.   The way I look at it, that is a small investment toward your acting career.  Therefore, if that means going without a specialized cup of coffee at a coffee shop, or instead of buying a soda with your hamburger and bringing a thermos from home with juice or water it in for awhile to save up the money, then do that.  That money adds up fast if you put away your savings and not spend it until you purchase your camera.  Believe it or not, I have a "Money Jar" that sits on my credenza behind my desk.  Every time I sit at my desk, I check my  purse for loose change and sometimes even a dollar bill or two.  I put it in that jar.  I bought my first camcorder this way - a Canon XL1.    If it is important to you and your career, you will find a way.

So, how do you film yourself when no one else is available?  If you don't have a tripod, ask a friend to film your audition using your phone camera or as I demonstrated recently to a friend, prop your cell phone up high enough to capture your own audition.  


I have an actor colleague who has a special cell phone case they use for this purpose.  He attaches Velcro to the back of the cell case and then glued the matching part of the Velcro to a cheap small picture frame so it can be mounted onto the wall. That way, he doesn't ruin the wall by attaching the Velcro directly to it.  When not in use, he stores his special mount frame in his Chester drawer and hangs a picture up on the nail.  Then, when he needs to record an audition, he removes the picture that normally hangs on the wall, and hangs the Velcro "camera mount" on the wall and attaches his cell phone.  The only thing left is for him to press the record button and enter into frame and record his audition.


Another alternative is to purchase a Cell Phone Mount.  There are several available on the market for under $30 dollars.  The one I love is the RAM Mount Universal X-Grip Cell Phone Holder with the 1" ball.  It uses suction cups to mount to any hard surface and attaches your cell phone.  Another favorite of mine is the PanaVise 727-06-6 Slimline Series Pedestal Cell Phone Mount.  Also, many of the cell phone mounts, made for cars, can easily be adapted for placement on a bookshelf in your home, your desk, or on a table top.  Just use your thinking caps and improvise.

These are simple and inexpensive ways to record your own audition where you, the actor, has control without spending a fortune on a camera or a tripod.  Here is a perfect example of Susie Labry's audition recorded using an IPAD.  Direct lighting in the room was used as well as the on-board microphone included with the IPAD.  A free editing software from the market area was used to edit to include the titles.

Waitress Audition for The Keystroke Killer - Susie Labry.

    

The moral of this story is not to make up an excuse as to why you can't video your own auditions.  If there is a will there is a way.

Before you begin taping:

• Check out the lighting where you’re making your tape  - don’t stand w/your back to the window. The light should be in front of you.
• Mark your spot on the floor where you need to stand or if you choose to sit, place your chair where it needs to be in the frame once you press the record button, you will be in frame.  
• Frame yourself correctly:  1. You should be in the center of the frame, 2. Bottom of the frame should be at the center of your chest, 3. Top of the frame should be barely above the top of your head.
• Don't leave to much white area above your head.  
• Don’t walk out of the frame of the camera while recording.  We need to be able to see you.
• It is best to stand in front of a solid background: e.g. a wall, a tapestry, a sheet, a drape, etc.   NOTE: It is imperative that the background be a SOLID COLOR. No patterns be used for slating.  The reason is to really showcase you without distractions.  However, you can use a setting for the scene or shoot against a greenscreen and edit in a background.   (Refer to the article on the page The Back Lot for information on how to make a greenscreen for less than $10 dollars.)
• Make sure there is no background noise that will interfere with our ability to hear your character.
• Have your reader speak lower than you.  It is you we need to focus on and not your reader.
• Prior to the recording, please make sure the camera and microphone are ready to go. You can do this by setting it up, shooting yourself and then playing it back to make sure you are framed correctly and the audio is working.
• Don't forget to slate at the beginning of your audition tape.  Make sure you speak clearly and if you have an unusual name or you spell your name creatively, be sure to spell it out when you slate.

GETTING MORE CREATIVE

More and more actors are getting more technologically suave and learning to edit their auditions.  There is nothing wrong with this as it is important that a casting director, producer, and director not only know your name and your agents, but how to contact you.  If you don't have an editing software system to add these important elements be sure to include them when you slate.

To place your contact information or your agents, often your desktop or laptop computers come with editing programs like Imovie Magic.  These programs are perfect editing software for your audition purposes.  But, if you want to get a little more fancy with your auditions, you might want to invest in an editing software system.  Professional editors in our industry lean toward Final Cut Pro.  However, that isn't necessary.  I have edited all of my documentary films, reality shows, and short films using Pinnacle System.  I started out years ago with Pinnacle Studio 10 and worked my way up to Avid.  An Emmy award winning filmmaker friend of mine uses nothing but Sony Vegas (less than $80) to edit his documentaries.  Therefore, if you want to get a little more creative with your editing, investigate some great software for this purpose.

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