An Actor's Nightmare

Ding: Congratulations. You have been invited to audition for ______ project for the role of ______!

You are excited. You want to text your acting teacher and call your best friend. You submitted your headshot/
resume into the massive abyss of cyberspace and were given a chance to show them what you've got and possibly book the role.

And then you look over the email again and a sickening realization sets in. It's a self-tape audition request that's due in two days!

Cue the ominous music. The last time that you tried to tape a video audition at home, it took three days to get it done:

--Day #1: The Taping -- Setting up the space. Figuring out the camera and lights. Getting the acting right.

--Day #2: The Editing -- Moving the video to a computer. Choosing a take. Editing said take.

--Day #3: The Sending -- Getting this file to the casting director.

I am not exaggerating. I talk to actors all the time who express this scenario...sometimes with more days added in. And often, the result is not completing the audition on time which equals a missed opportunity not only this time, but possibly on future projects with the same casting director.

Actors, if you want to be competitive, especially in the Southeast market, you must not only learn how to tape an audition, you must fully embrace and master this process.

Christmas might be over, but this is a gift that you must give yourself this year...