Self Tape Auditions – Buying Equipment
In this video, I am going to go over my personal recommendations on purchasing lights, camera, and mics for your self-tape auditions. I will also link a few tripods down at the bottom. Now, this isn’t the cheapest; but it will leave you with a camera that you can also shoot photos on and shoot your own videos and sketches on, which you should be doing as an actor! Don’t wait around for someone to discover you! This is 2017, not 1980.
Throughout this blog, you can shop any of the photos and/or links by clicking on them and it will direct you straight to that item.
Buying a great camera for Auditions
Canon T3i
So the T3i, featuring Canon’s newest DIGIC 4 Image Processor and an 18.0 Megapixel CMOS Image Sensor – plus cutting-edge technologies like Full HD video recording, live view shooting, wireless flash photography and even a Vari-angle 3.0-inch LCD monitor – the EOS Rebel T3i, offers the best of EOS photography in a compact package. What that means for you is beautiful auditions with awesome photography capabilities, as well.
Buying a great Mic for Auditions
Movo Photo VXR100
Professional 11″ Supercardioid Condensor Shotgun Video Microphone Kit for DSLR Cameras and Camcorders. This mic also comes in a 15 inch; but I recommend sticking with the 11 inch, as the less you have to deal with the easier.
The Movo Photo VXR100 Microphone kit includes the following:
-VXR100 Microphone Capsule
-Aluminum Handgrip
-Furry Outdoor Windscreen
-Foam Windscreen
-Stand Clamp
-Shock Mount with 5/8″ mic stand and 1/4″ tripod and camera shoe mounts
-26′ XLR Male to XLR Female Cable
-11″ XLR Male to XLR Female Cable
-XLR to 3.5mm Cable
-3.5mm jack to 6.3mm jack adapter
Buying a great lighting set up for Auditions
Includes
- Three 16″X24″ Softbox
- 3 x Lightstand 7′ tall (One Boom Arm with Sandbag)
- 3 x Light head able to hold 4 bulbs each
- 12 x 45watt photo video flourescent bulbs 5500k Daylight Balance Bulbs
- Free Deluxe Carrying Case Included Able To Fit the Whole Kit In One Bag
TRIPODS!
Here are two different tripods in a few different styles and prices.
Nothing fancy, but it does the job. The one you go with will depend on how much traveling or how much shooting you will be doing. If this is just for the audition room and you are not a Tasmanian devil, then I think you are safe with the Amazon one. If you are hell on wheels, then go ahead and spend the extra money to keep your tripod around a little longer. The Neewer tripod also comes with some neat functions and doubles as a mono-pod.
Don’t forget Cards!
If you don’t already have an SD card, I would recommend something like this. 
The 90 mb/s means 90 megabits per second. The higher this number, the more information the card can recieve from the camera. If it’s low, then the camera may stop recording from time to time. We don’t want that because, of course, it will be on your best take!! 🙂
I also don’t think you will need more than 16GB for auditions; but I will link the 32 gig, as well, as once I render my video, I usually save it to the card so I don’t have to slow down my computer. Then I can re-format the card when I am done! I use the 32 for the extra storage.
The package!
Now, remember, these are my recommendations. You don’t have to get all these at once and you also don’t have to start shooting this level of professionalism right off the bat; however, the better the video looks, the better chance it is going past casting to the directors. Altogether, you are looking at about $750 for this whole package; but, stay tuned, as I will be showing you how to shoot on your iPhone, how to make up for not having soft boxes or lights, and the best way to use windows when you can! I hope this was all very helpful and feel free to leave comments, tell me what works for you, or let me know if you have any questions!
by: Dean West
AWESOME ADVICE!