Chicago Self-Taped Auditions
Social media actually works! Thanks to a Facebook page I created, Steve scheduled a self-tape recording with me this morning. Great to see you, Steve - thanks for coming in! You can check out the Facebook page here.
Filming season is in full force...are you ready? Do you have an agent, or are you looking? Click here for a list of all the Chicago talent agencies you should know.
If you're not used to being in front of the camera, the best thing to do is practice. Get in class!
It's never too late to learn! Check the Resources page for studios and schools offering classes.
It was great to meet Aida today, and give her coaching for her big audition tomorrow. Break legs!
Filming season is kicking into high gear! Woot!
Ariel stopped by for another audition taping today. Great to see her again, and I'm super jealous of her hair. Happy Monday!
I love an unexpected self tape! I'm so thankful Acting Studio Chicago was open today, being a Saturday. Thanks for coming in, Colin!
Me and my Canon. :)
I'm pleased to announce that thanks to popular demand, I'll be heading up another Teen Coaching and Virtual Showcase at The Second City! July's workshop was a success - what a great group of talented kids we had. I can't wait to see where their careers take them. Agents and Casting Directors: I hope you're paying attention! These teens are going places...will you help get them there?
As an actor, you might be asked to audition for a project when you are not in the town the audition is being held. In this case, you'll need to send in a self-tape. Some might ask, "Can't I just tape my audition on my cell phone?" A cell phone certainly comes in handy for auditioning: it is small enough to fit in your pocket that you can easily pull it out to use as a prop, and it's a great tool to practice recording your auditions so you can see yourself on tape and make appropriate adjustments to your work. Depending on the project for which you are auditioning, it might make sense to use your phone to record and submit your audition as well, as long as you know how to compress your files based on the casting director's requirements. This method could certainly save you a few bucks, and might be practical if your audition is for, say, a local play or a student film.
However, for bigger projects, or for characters and scripts that you wish to have a bit of coaching, it's definitely worth spending a few dollars and having a professional take care of everything for you. You'll have peace of mind knowing the lighting will help make you look your best, the clips will sound great and the footage will be edited to your agent's and/or casting director's specifications.
“Having worked in casting...[Kate] provides a keen eye for what does and doesn’t work on camera. You won’t feel rushed and she makes sure you’ve got it in the can. She is also able to juggle any technical instructions from your agent about the files.”
So to answer the question: yes, you can record your audition on your cell phone, but do so wisely. If you have any doubts about whether or not your cell phone footage will be good enough for the project to which you are submitting, go with your instincts. If you do decide to use your cell phone, have someone do the filming for you, preferably using a cell phone stand, so your footage is not shaky. You will need to have a reader who can read the scene with you, and be sure to shoot against a plain background in a flattering color (black and white are typically not ideal).
All set up at Donny's Skybox at The Second City - ready to coach these teens!
Just coached my first workshop of teens at The Second City Training Center! I am recording their Virtual Showcase tomorrow and I. Cannot. Wait. These young actors were professional, asked smart questions and came ready to work. What more could an instructor ask for?
The gorgeous and talented Ariel came in today to record a self-tape. Thanks, Ariel - hope to see you again soon!
Happy 4th of July!
To celebrate America's birthday, I'm offering a *FREE* reel to the first two actors that email me for this deal. Whether you already have footage or you want to shoot a couple of scenes to put into a reel, I can help! And it's totally free. Keep in mind, when it comes to reels, the shorter the better. Usually one to two minutes is ideal.
Want footage to post onto your personal website? Or would you like to include a link of your work to submit to agents? A reel allows agents and casting directors to see what you've done with just the click of a button. Just email me to set up a time to go over your footage. Oh, and did I mention it's free?
