Zoom Auditioning 101
There you are in the virtual waiting room, staring at your computer, at your own sweaty face (should I powder? Can I go pee real quick?), waiting to be brought in to for that Zoom audition you’ve been waiting to get for like 2 years. Did you prepare enough? How do you look? Is your internet ok? Are they going to see your roommate dancing naked behind you?
The countdown begins, and suddenly you have been teleported into a virtual room with 10 producers and a casting director (with their dog), and they are all staring at you. Totally normal.
Here is what matters in a Zoom audition: It should feel just like it would if you were actually in the room with the casting director. Remember those days? Or even better: It should look like exactly like your self-tape.
Here is what I mean. Write this down, print it out, laminate it, stick it on your computer.
A good camera. Most computer cameras suck. Like it’s a lower res 720p camera. Which means you don’t look great. And it’s a weird wide lens. So the closer you get, the more distorted your face. Which means you don’t look great. So do this. Invest in a webcam that bumps it up to 1080p or 4k. It will make you look better and your field of view will be smaller, more flattering, will adjust light better, and make you stand out. I like this one from Logitech.
A tight frame. Always, always sit close to camera in a tight medium shot. It’s already hard to watch someone act in a little box on a computer screen (with a 720p) camera, so if you sit too far back your performance simply won’t be seen. Hey are those real tears? Can’t see them. Sit close to the screen, with just a little room above your head, just like you would in a self-tape.
A good computer tripod stand. Here is one I like. Cause you’re not doing this audition from your tiny phone right? Yeah, don't. This will make your zoom auditions sooooo much easier, especially if casting suddenly asks you to stand in your scene. Also wear pants.
Internet. This is probably the number one Zoom audition problem for most actors. Either set up your laptop near your router (and tell your roommate to stop watching Cocomelon for a few minutes so it doesn’t take up your bandwidth), or hook it up directly via ethernet. Here’s what you need to buy if you have a Mac. Also call your Internet company and upgrade your speed. Every little bit helps and we will be doing Zoom auditions for a while.
Wear ear buds (wired or bluetooth). It makes a huge difference! This fixes the huge Zoom delay, especially with a faster, dialogue heavy scene that has quick cue pickups (It also drowns out roomie’s Cocomelon). Much better to have good sound, and have little white things sticking out of your ears, than it is to have Zoom cut off your dialogue. You know that pause on Zoom when you didn’t hear the other person’s line and you are standing there sweating and holding a ridiculously long beat for no reason? Let’s not have that happen.
Your backdrop. Don’t ever use virtual. It doesn’t look as good as you think. Use a gray backdrop. Here is one I like. Yes, it also has a blue side. I always prefer gray and think everyone looks better in front of that color, so…look better.
Lights. Just like a good self tape, lights matter! Ring lights are not great, as they really put a weird reflection in your eyes. Overheads are terrible and will throw huge shadows on your face. Use the same two soft boxes as your self tape setup, and put them on either side of the computer, raised up, a few feet back. Put another light behind you with a bare white bulb (between you and the backdrop). This will make all the difference in the world. Here is a cheap set I like.
Beware of the “Spotlight.” Sometimes, you will be able to “Pin” your reader, so you aren’t staring at yourself while auditioning. And sometimes they will “Spotlight” you, meaning you can’t pin the reader and will be staring at your sweaty face the whole time. The fix? Either put a post-it over your face, or minimize your entire internet screen so that it sits right next to your computer camera. This will change your life.
Memorize your sh*t. You aren’t tricking anyone. Everyone knows you are doing a split screen with your script, or you have them printed out and taped onto your laptop. You know on Saturday Night Live when the cast is doing a scene and their eyes dart over to their lines? It’s like that. Super obvious. Just memorize your shit.
Relax. Everything will go wrong. Wrong sides, bad internet, sirens wailing outside, nobody hearing each other, missed cues, Bomb Cyclones, Stealth Omicron. It will all be fine. Everyone’s in the same boat, everyone’s trying to figure it out, and everyone’s on your side. Chill. This is the new norm of casting, and everyone is trying to do their best. Find a way to make this your peaceful space—light some candles, get a comfy chair, and remember “they are coming into your living room, to your home turf.” Have fun. Please don’t suck.
I love you.
-Matt