Remote auditions are becoming quite common thanks to 2020. It's convenient for the actor, but not as personal to let your personality shine with the coasting director. Depending on the part, you'll get maybe 30 seconds, so you really have to make the time count!
Scroll down for 10 tips to prepare you for how to make sure that you are putting yourself in the best light from beginning to end of your remote acting audition.
1. Read the Submission Notes All the Way Through
Before you even start recording, make sure that you read and fully understand the submission notes. They will tell you everything you need in your slate. It'll give you the information on if they want a closeup or a waist up. You'll be able to see what type of props they want and the personality they are looking for you to portray.
2. Prepare Your Scenes
Yes, with remote auditions there is a little more flexibility, but it's still important to treat your remote audition as if you were standing in front of the casting director. You wouldn't go into an audition room not knowing your lines, so don't hit the record button before you're ready.
3. Set up the Camera the Right Way
Most casting directors are going to want your audition to be wide not vertical. So, if you're recording off your phone, make sure it's horizontal. Make sure that it is set so that you are in the center of the frame and that it is far enough away that it shows you either from shoulders up or however specified in the casting notes.
4. Clear Your Space
You should be the only person (or thing) in the frame. Record in front of a blank wall. You can use a sheet as well, but iron it out first! Casting directors don't want to see wrinkles. If you have photos hanging in your audition space, take them down. Move anything on the floor like tables, chairs, etc. out of the frame.
5. Dress the Part
When preparing your ward drop, keep it simple. There's no need for flashy jewelry or a ton of makeup. Brighten up your face for the camera and wear something that compliments your skin tone and stands out from the backdrop.
6. Lighting is Key
It's almost guaranteed that on submissions notes you will read to record your audition in "a well-lit area." Natural light is always best, but if it's late at night or a gloomy day, use a softbox light or even a ring light to brighten up the space around you. You may need to move the light around a bit to keep the shadows at minimum
7. Lose the Special Effects
Casting directors don't need you to be fancy. They don't need a fade in before you start. They don't want your name flashing across the screen. All they want to see is you in action. Lose any video effects. Let the audition start as soon as the play button is pressed and cut it off after the last word of the scene.
8. Act Natural
Yes, I know that sounds weird. This is acting. You're always pretending to be someone else, but I always ask myself one question before an audition starts. "How would I react?" This helps me not to go over the top or perform a scene that feels unnatural. It's still you in the scene. Don't be afraid to let your personality shine. You don't want your audition to look forced.
9. Watch Your Auditions Before Submitting!
Always preview the videos you are sending before hitting the submit button to make sure you didn't upload the wrong one and that the video uploaded properly. There have been times when I've uploaded it to the submission site and my words are out of sync with my lips (ugh). You don't want that!
10. Label Your Videos
Again, this is where reading the submission notes come in. I usually submit through the same site with my talent agent, so I'm familiar with what I need to do, but if that's not the case for you, or you're submitting on your own, read carefully. Casting directors will usually tell you to submit your slate and your audition separately. They'll want them titled a certain way to make it easier for them to go through the dozen, even hundreds, of audition tapes.