Video Audition Tips and Tricks

The following information is compiled from industry experts and agencies around the country.


Do I Need Fancy Equipment to Record My Audition?
•    No. Use a smartphone or tablet to film your audition. If you have a friend who can film, that is great! If not, prop the device on a stack of books or something similar and take a test video to make sure you are in the frame.

Where Should I Record My Audition?
•    Keep the background as simple as possible. Items in the background can distract from your audition.
o    Record against a simple wall ... muted colors let you be the focus of the video.
•    Ensure that background noise is kept to a minimum.

What is the Best Lighting to Use?
•    Don’t sit with a window behind you. The light source should be in front of you and not in shot.
•    Avoid fluorescent or high contrasting lighting

How Do I Showcase Myself in the Video Audition?
•    It’s a fine line between being too close, where you’re just a talking head, and too far that I can’t see the expressions on your face. A mid-shot from the waist up so that we have a sense of your body language.
•    Choose whatever you are most comfortable wearing, but nothing too flashy, just keep it simple. A plain t-shirt with no logos or patterns and avoid white or black (white shirt reflects too much light and black can create a distracting "floating head" look, especially if your background is dark).
•    Your eye line should be as close to the camera as possible.
•    Perform! Just because it’s a self-tape doesn’t mean you can’t give your best audition!

Should I Edit or Do Retakes Until it is Perfect?
•    Check your self-tape. Make sure it looks good, sounds good, and then send it off.
•    Don’t drive yourself crazy. No audition is perfect! We are all human.
•    Showcase the artistic expression you love so much!