AuDITION PREPARATION

Video Recorded Audition 

Film Horizontally

Our Casting team will film your audition horizontally. 

Where to Look

Don’t be distracted by the reader who will not be eye level with you. You are auditioning to the camera even though you are In-Person, because the casting department is recording you. The Casting Department wants to know what you will look like on camera. (This is different from Drama or On-Stage Theater.)

THEATRICAL: For film, TV, series, webseries, or anything theatrical, you should look slighting to the left or the right of the camera lense. We should still see your entire face, your eyes are just slightly looking to the left or the right. You do NOT look directly into the camera.

COMMERCIAL: If you are auditioning for a commercial, then you can look directly into the camera lense.

Know Your Lines

As with an in-person audition, with a self-tape you should strive to memorize your lines. There are times when production will ask you to paraphrase lines or to improvise, but unless you are asked specifically to do this, you should aim to have your lines to be word perfect. If you are doing a self-tape the good news is you can pause and re-record.

If you have a last-minute audition and need to keep your script in hand, try to keep your script off-camera by either taping it to your tripod or the wall so it is angled like a teleprompter. At a minimum memorize your very first and very last line so that you are looking up.

A Reader

A Reader will read all of the other character lines in the scene. You have a few options when you are given a script with other characters.

1. During the audition there will be no reader
2. A Non-Actor Reader will be Provided
3. A Virtual Call Reader will be Provided

The reader is not always an actor. The reader is not there to engage the scene, but to let you the actor shine. This read can be very basic, so don’t get distracted by the neutral reader.

Sometimes no reader is provided. Other times a reader will only read in English and not in the 2nd language. Be ready for all scenarios by knowing the last sentence of the character before your next dialogue.

Virtual Reader: Your reader could also be on a Zoom Call and virtually avaialbe.

Act Out the Actions & React to the Scene

In a script there is dialogue and there are Action Lines. An action line is written to describe people, places, props, and sounds. Casting wants to see you interact with props (imaginary or actual props). You can use Imaginary props, and pretend like a person is there, or you can use substitute props such as a hand towel used as a substitute for a bandage, or you can use an actual prop where you bring a mug and drink water out of it. It is always recommended to use water instead of any other beverage in the script.

(Note: NO, your reader does NOT read the actions out loud. Just give time and space for yourself to act out the action lines.)

If the script details that the actor walks in and out of the scene; A simple one step forward or one small step to the side is all you need to show movement, these subtle changes, really makes you look like you are really in the scene and in the world of the screenplay. Your self tape should look exactly like what you would do if we filmed you for tv or film. If someone else is talking, casting wants to see what would you do while you are listening, are you happy, are you mad, are you multitasking while others talk, are you engaged into the conversation. If we filmed you, the camera will be on you, so your non-speaking parts are just as important as your speaking parts.

Slate

If a slate is requested, you might be prompted on what to say and do.

A typical slate is simply you introducing yourself in your natural voice. We film it horizontally and frame the camera from the middle of your chest to 1 inch above your head. There is no need to turn to show your profiles if you were not asked to.

You can say: “Hi my name is ____(Full Name), I live in ____ (City, State).”

For Set on a Hill we may ask you to say: “Hi my name is _____(Full Name), I am represented by ____(Agency Name), I live in ____(City, State), I am ____(Height).

FULL BODY SLATE: If you are asked to show yourself full body, or to do a 360 turn. Keep in mind that sometimes casting just wants 5 seconds of your full body shot, which is a video of you simply standing there and smiling. Your feet should be shoulder width apart or closer. Your hands at your sides. You can smile or if your role is serious, then smile through your eyes and keep a neutral face. After those approximately 5 seconds, you will continue to the next step.

Only show profiles or do a 360 turn if specifically requested by casting.

Hair

 BOYS: For Family Friendly Projects

• Gelled back
• Curled with curling Iron
• Long Hair pulled back into a low back bun

GIRLS: For Family Friendly Projects

• There are a few options:
  • Pigtails that are front facing and curled
  • Curled hair with a curling iron
  • Blow dryed straight (If your hair doesn’t curl only)
  • Two High Buns
  • High Side Ponytail visible in the front and curled
  • Bows are great (No logos)

MEN: For Family Friendly Projects

• Edged up Beard. Please make sure your beard has clean lines and edges. Add product to your beard to make it shine. (No you don’t have to shave your beard off, unless otherwise discussed and approved before)
• Clean Shaven. If you don’t have a beard please be clean shaven.
• Hair Fully styled. Add Gell, Moose, or hair product. Your hair should impress. We need to see what you would look like if you were cast.⭐️⭐️⭐️

WOMEN: For Family Friendly Projects

• Hair Down and curled
• Hair Down and blow dried and flat ironed straight (If your hair doesn’t curl)

Makeup

MEN:

• Touchup foundation to cover blemishes, marks, and pimples.
• Please wear chap stick.

BOYS:

• Touchup foundation for cuts and blemishes.
• Please wear chap stick.

GIRLS:

• Lip Gloss with light color
• Soft lipstick colors if you have them
• Mascara and eye liner

TEENS & WOMEN:

• Full Makeup (Please include eye liner, mascara, simple eye shadow, foundation.)
• (Short lashes for Women if you have them.)