Although we’re right in the middle of college audition season - I figured that since the school year is nearing toward the end, I’d make a list of tips for those starting to figure out what schools they want to apply for or those who are beginning their college audition journey, especially because I literally knew nothing about prescreens when I started applying for schools. So here you go!
1. Start researching schools before/during the summer: School searching for theatre majors is a bit different from other majors because you have to take into account the various audition dates/prescreen deadlines you’ll need to prepare for. One of the biggest mistakes I made when I was looking for schools was that I started looking during the fall, and ended up running around like a maniac to get my prescreens together. The earlier you prepare, the easier it will be.
2. Pick material that fits the requirements, but also fits you: Sure there are tons of golden age ballads with a nice 16 bar cut, but don’t stop there. Remember that even with a short 16 bar cut, you’re still trying to tell a story. Pick songs that showcase you really well. If you have a voice teacher, they’ll definitely be able to help you with this. This also applies to monologues, a big part of the audition is to showcase who you are.
3. Film the dance portion in a dance studio/rehearsal place: I know this might be difficult for those who don’t take dance classes, but if your school has a dance room/ rehearsal room - that is always acceptable. My friend used a dance room at her community center for her prescreens. One of the mistakes I made when making my dance video was filming in my garage. The lighting wasn’t good and there were too many distractions in the background. Remember that if you start looking for spaces early, the easier it will be.
4. Film in front of a neutral background: Remember, you want the focus of the prescreen to be you. You don’t want the viewers of your prescreens to be distracted by anything in the background. You also want to come off as prepared and professional, filming in front of a non-neutral background could make the videos look rushed together. A simple blank wall or even a sheet is completely fine. Filming in a classroom is also completely okay (that’s what I did).
5. You don’t need a fancy camera or lighting: Of course, you want to make sure that your facial expressions are visible in order for the auditors to see you, but you don’t need a high-definition video by any means. I filmed all of my prescreens with an Iphone. As long as you’re visible enough you should be fine!
6. Wear neutral and professional clothing: This tip is similar to the neutral background tip. You don’t want to wear distracting clothing that will take the focus off of you. You also want to look presentable, prepared, and professional. I made a HUGE mistake wearing my school uniform for one of my prescreens. Again, I want to emphasize that you want the auditors to see you as prepared and professional.
7. Film only the top half of your body: This tip does not apply for dance videos, as most criteria calls for a full body shot for dance. For singing and monologues, however, you’ll only really need your torso in the shot. Another mistake I made (you can see there’s a trend here) was filming from a weird angle because I had no one to hold the camera. If you don’t have anyone to physically hold the camera, music stands are super helpful!
8. Film multiple takes!: One of the great things about prescreens is that you can film as many takes as you want. Take advantage of this! Even if you feel like you nailed it on the first try, filming a few backup takes just in case is super important. I think three takes is a good minimum, but film as much as you need!
9. PREPARE. PREPARE. PREPARE: Even if a deadline is in January, don’t wait until the last month to begin the process - it comes quicker than you think. A big part of the prescreen is showcasing that you can be prepared and professional. You don’t want your videos to look thrown together. This is why researching before your senior year begins is so important. When I was starting my college application journey, I had no idea what a prescreen was, and I made so many mistakes in starting my application process late.
Those are the tips I can think of at the moment! Honestly, if I had known these things my prescreens would have turned out much better the first time around. I hope these help you in your college journey, I might make a college audition guide in the future as well. I wish you so much luck as you begin looking for schools, and feel free to ask any questions!
