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What are some tips on creating your film reel? How should I prepare for callbacks if I am invited?
I am applying for Purchase and Fredonia for an Acting BFA. I just wanted to know about any tips I could use in preparing for auditions.
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Alexis Camins
IT Manager at Los Angeles County - Professional Actor
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Alexis’s Answer
Film reel: If you’ve done any films at all, put them in your reel. If you haven’t, you can get a friend to help you film a scene. Watch a few two person scenes in a film or TV show to get an idea of how you should shoot it. If you can’t get the perfect location or costume, make sure you at least have good lighting.
Audition/Callback: Have at least 1 dramatic and 1 comic monologue ready. If one is modern and one is more classical, even better. Know who wrote it and what play/film it is from, and ideally be able to talk about it: what do you like about the play? What draws you to this character? Read the play it’s from!
In addition to knowing your monologues, be prepared to change how you do it. Schools see many talented kids, but they want to see if you can be directed. Be ready to let go of the “performance” you’ve been practicing and go a different way, right there on the spot. And be excited about the challenge: “Oh, I’ve never thought about it from that angle, let me try”, “Do less? Okay let me see what that feels like.”,”Ramp up the stakes? Let’s go!”
You might be asked to do exercises or work with others. My one advice is to have fun and be yourself. Seriously, treat it all as a fun challenge and make big, bold, loud choices. Jump in with no hesitancy and don’t worry about editing or making something “good”. It is far better to make something interesting. And no need to make it weird for the sake of being weird. Show them who you are as much as you can and it WILL be interesting and one of a kind. Schools don’t just want good actors; they want interesting people with a unique point of view and something to say.
Break a leg!!
Audition/Callback: Have at least 1 dramatic and 1 comic monologue ready. If one is modern and one is more classical, even better. Know who wrote it and what play/film it is from, and ideally be able to talk about it: what do you like about the play? What draws you to this character? Read the play it’s from!
In addition to knowing your monologues, be prepared to change how you do it. Schools see many talented kids, but they want to see if you can be directed. Be ready to let go of the “performance” you’ve been practicing and go a different way, right there on the spot. And be excited about the challenge: “Oh, I’ve never thought about it from that angle, let me try”, “Do less? Okay let me see what that feels like.”,”Ramp up the stakes? Let’s go!”
You might be asked to do exercises or work with others. My one advice is to have fun and be yourself. Seriously, treat it all as a fun challenge and make big, bold, loud choices. Jump in with no hesitancy and don’t worry about editing or making something “good”. It is far better to make something interesting. And no need to make it weird for the sake of being weird. Show them who you are as much as you can and it WILL be interesting and one of a kind. Schools don’t just want good actors; they want interesting people with a unique point of view and something to say.
Break a leg!!
Updated
Michelle’s Answer
Hi, John !
Congratulation on choosing SUNY Purchase and SUNY Fredonia ! That is super awesome !
Just as an aside, If you choose to attend Purchase, you most likely will have opportunities to be in student films because I always see something casting for a Purchase student film.
For your acting reel, the clips should be between 20 and 30 seconds long. If you have something spectacular, however, you can use a 40 second clip. You can either use online software to put the reel together or hire a graphic artist or video editor to create the reel for you. Not sure reels are way too vital for college entry, may be, but I will bet students get accepted without a reel sometimes. Contact the colleges to double check that. Now, Purchase only asks that you submit a "video audition" which is not a reel, but is in place of a reel, so I wouldn't try to jump hoops to get a reel together just yet. If you're able to do it, do it, but they're asking for a Video Audition, not a reel.
And guess what ? State University of New York at Fredonia doesn't require a reel to be accepted, either. There are no performance based requirements to be in their Theatre Department, you just choose it as a major. However, this college Theatre Department wants what they deem as a prescreen video. It must include one contemporary monologue (written after 1900) and one classical monologue (written before 1900), both filmed according to specific guidelines. You need to get the guideline from the college, so call them. This is, more or less, what we did in the olden days when I was a theatre student in college, we did our "screening" live the second week of class. This serves to give the professor an idea of your style and skill level and get a feel for your type for future scene work selections. We just did it live, but I guess it's more time efficient to have videos or something. Again, just tape two monologues - they do NOT want a reel.
So, for both Purchase and Fredonia, you just apply and declare that your Major will be Theatre. Once you are accepted to the university(s) any information you will need as a Theatre Major most likely will be sent to you or you can e-mail or visit the Theatre Department. As a matter of fact, it would be GREAT right now to schedule an orientation with both colleges so you get a tour and all of your questions can be answered as well as the information clarified. You can compare both colleges to see which one you'd like the best.
I hope this helps and I wish you all the best !
Congratulation on choosing SUNY Purchase and SUNY Fredonia ! That is super awesome !
Just as an aside, If you choose to attend Purchase, you most likely will have opportunities to be in student films because I always see something casting for a Purchase student film.
For your acting reel, the clips should be between 20 and 30 seconds long. If you have something spectacular, however, you can use a 40 second clip. You can either use online software to put the reel together or hire a graphic artist or video editor to create the reel for you. Not sure reels are way too vital for college entry, may be, but I will bet students get accepted without a reel sometimes. Contact the colleges to double check that. Now, Purchase only asks that you submit a "video audition" which is not a reel, but is in place of a reel, so I wouldn't try to jump hoops to get a reel together just yet. If you're able to do it, do it, but they're asking for a Video Audition, not a reel.
And guess what ? State University of New York at Fredonia doesn't require a reel to be accepted, either. There are no performance based requirements to be in their Theatre Department, you just choose it as a major. However, this college Theatre Department wants what they deem as a prescreen video. It must include one contemporary monologue (written after 1900) and one classical monologue (written before 1900), both filmed according to specific guidelines. You need to get the guideline from the college, so call them. This is, more or less, what we did in the olden days when I was a theatre student in college, we did our "screening" live the second week of class. This serves to give the professor an idea of your style and skill level and get a feel for your type for future scene work selections. We just did it live, but I guess it's more time efficient to have videos or something. Again, just tape two monologues - they do NOT want a reel.
So, for both Purchase and Fredonia, you just apply and declare that your Major will be Theatre. Once you are accepted to the university(s) any information you will need as a Theatre Major most likely will be sent to you or you can e-mail or visit the Theatre Department. As a matter of fact, it would be GREAT right now to schedule an orientation with both colleges so you get a tour and all of your questions can be answered as well as the information clarified. You can compare both colleges to see which one you'd like the best.
I hope this helps and I wish you all the best !