My daughter (7) has been asked to submit an audition video for a role in a short film. She has been sent part of the script that they have asked her to read, some of which is just setting the scene and it covers 5 characters.
These may sound like silly questions but we haven't done an audition video before...
1. Does she read the whole thing putting expression in where required?
2. Does she act too or is it to just to see her and hear her voice?
2. Does she look at the camera when reading, if not where does she look?
Any help would be appreciated as they need the video asap.
Audition Video
Moderator: busybusybusy
-
frisbee
- GRAMMY Award
- Posts: 334
- Joined: Sun Apr 10, 2011 6:57 am
- Location: Up there I think it's called North Britain
- Contact:
Re: Audition Video
Found this for you Ds did a self taping for a reputable CD recently who said the same as below.
Here are some easy, and crucial, steps to follow to create the best-taped audition.
1) Learn all of your lines and scenes. Unless instructed, you don’t have to have your lines memorized, but being extremely comfortable and familiar with them is a must!
2) Find a quiet room to tape, as well as a solid color background that you can record in front of (white or blue is best).
3) Use a tripod with your camera. Alternatively, someone can hold the camera if they have steady hands.
4) Record a test sample. Using your set up, record a snippet of yourself for review. When looking at the footage, check for image quality, lighting, and sound. Acoustics are very important, and you should be able to clearly hear yourself on the tape. Having a microphone can also greatly help. You should also make sure that you are amply lit.
5) Unless instructed, always have the camera zoomed in from your shoulder and up (medium close-up).
6) Have someone read your lines with you on camera. Grab an actor friend to help you, or just find someone who reads and enunciates well.
7) Don’t look into the camera during your audition. You should always be playing it to the person you’re reading with – who should be near the camera but off screen.
Good luck to your dd.
Here are some easy, and crucial, steps to follow to create the best-taped audition.
1) Learn all of your lines and scenes. Unless instructed, you don’t have to have your lines memorized, but being extremely comfortable and familiar with them is a must!
2) Find a quiet room to tape, as well as a solid color background that you can record in front of (white or blue is best).
3) Use a tripod with your camera. Alternatively, someone can hold the camera if they have steady hands.
4) Record a test sample. Using your set up, record a snippet of yourself for review. When looking at the footage, check for image quality, lighting, and sound. Acoustics are very important, and you should be able to clearly hear yourself on the tape. Having a microphone can also greatly help. You should also make sure that you are amply lit.
5) Unless instructed, always have the camera zoomed in from your shoulder and up (medium close-up).
6) Have someone read your lines with you on camera. Grab an actor friend to help you, or just find someone who reads and enunciates well.
7) Don’t look into the camera during your audition. You should always be playing it to the person you’re reading with – who should be near the camera but off screen.
Good luck to your dd.
Re: Audition Video
Thank you frisbee, so if I read with her off camera, out of the 5 characters do you think we just split them so maybe my dd does 3 and me 2?
Re: Audition Video
I would think she only has to read the lines of the role she is being considered for. If you would like to pm me I will give you my email address (or you can give me yours) then perhaps you could send me a copy of the script? Would that be helpful?
I'd be very happy to give advice if you think it would be helpful.
She definitely needs to "be" the character in the audition video. It needs to be as close as reasonably possible to how it would appear in the film. I don't mean that you have to do anything at all about where it is, or props or anything like that, and if it's a scene where there is a lot of movement then you will obviously have to cheat/compromise, but you need to set it up so that the camera can catch her responding and reacting to the lines spoken by others (this is often much more important than the lines she delivers). She needs to imagine that the people she is speaking to are just off camera, very slightly to one side of it: that way the camera picks up her expressions. They will not be judging how the other characters' lines are delivered, but obviously it will help your daughter to give truthful reactions if they are delivered realistically. All she needs to do is truly listen (in character) - she does not need to "show" that she is listening - the camera picks up "acting out" or "showing" and is very unforgiving!
Try to ensure that her face and eyes are easily visible and that the shot is in medium close-up (head and shoulders). Ensure the lighting is reasonable and that the sound (of your dd) is reasonably clear - it doesn't matter much if they can't clearly hear the other lines.
Hope that helps!
I'd be very happy to give advice if you think it would be helpful.
She definitely needs to "be" the character in the audition video. It needs to be as close as reasonably possible to how it would appear in the film. I don't mean that you have to do anything at all about where it is, or props or anything like that, and if it's a scene where there is a lot of movement then you will obviously have to cheat/compromise, but you need to set it up so that the camera can catch her responding and reacting to the lines spoken by others (this is often much more important than the lines she delivers). She needs to imagine that the people she is speaking to are just off camera, very slightly to one side of it: that way the camera picks up her expressions. They will not be judging how the other characters' lines are delivered, but obviously it will help your daughter to give truthful reactions if they are delivered realistically. All she needs to do is truly listen (in character) - she does not need to "show" that she is listening - the camera picks up "acting out" or "showing" and is very unforgiving!
Try to ensure that her face and eyes are easily visible and that the shot is in medium close-up (head and shoulders). Ensure the lighting is reasonable and that the sound (of your dd) is reasonably clear - it doesn't matter much if they can't clearly hear the other lines.
Hope that helps!
-
frisbee
- GRAMMY Award
- Posts: 334
- Joined: Sun Apr 10, 2011 6:57 am
- Location: Up there I think it's called North Britain
- Contact:
Re: Audition Video
Sorry I didn't get back been out all day, thanks PG wise words as usual 
.
Good luck Dell71
.Good luck Dell71
Re: Audition Video
Here are a couple of great audition videos!
Now I know quite well that few NAPM mere mortals are likely to produce anything quite like these, but I think it's interesting to see
1. Script in hand doesn't mean you can't give a good audition:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UqHh6TvGQIQ
2. just how much one learns about the character when the actor is listening rather than speaking.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_XfUUYK7Gkg
Now I know quite well that few NAPM mere mortals are likely to produce anything quite like these, but I think it's interesting to see
1. Script in hand doesn't mean you can't give a good audition:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UqHh6TvGQIQ
2. just how much one learns about the character when the actor is listening rather than speaking.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_XfUUYK7Gkg
Re: Audition Video
Thank you to both of you. You helped a lot 
We have done it now and sent it off yesterday before I saw your reply pg but thankfully did everything you have mentioned. We were happy with the result so just fingers crossed now
We have done it now and sent it off yesterday before I saw your reply pg but thankfully did everything you have mentioned. We were happy with the result so just fingers crossed now
Re: Audition Video
Great advice on self-taping here! Any chance this could have a sticky so it's easy to find when needed???
Re: Audition Video
I just wanted to let you know that following the video audition our dd was cast as the lead in the short film and she filmed it last weekend 
She loved every minute of it and received some great feedback. We can't wait to see the finished film now. Thank you to everyone for your advice
She loved every minute of it and received some great feedback. We can't wait to see the finished film now. Thank you to everyone for your advice
Re: Audition Video
Wow, wonderful news, let us know what it is and when we can see it