However you decide to do it, take it seriously and do the best you can. While some schools may use them to separate the delusional from the can-carry-a-tune for pre-screen purposes only, others will use/review them as refreshers when they are deciding who to accept into their program.
^ Yes, last year Pace said they would re-view the pre-screens after auditions, though not sure if they are doing that again this year.
Also - if there is a significant weather event and an audition has to be cancelled, that prescreen video may become an actual audition video. Not likely this would happen but it is possible. So do your best but don’t go overboard with production. It is the actual performance, and not the video’s production value, that most interests them.
Is there a list posted somewhere of the schools that are currently asking for pre screens?
Don’t rely on this year’s requirements. These are quite dynamic and probably even more will have them in place by next year. You can get the info on school websites.
Last year, many of us heard at auditions that several schools who previously did NOT do prescreens WERE going to do so this year. It seems that only a handful of those added prescreens for this year. A thread on this WAS started last year (did someone else bookmark it?), but it changes from year to year, so not sure how useful it will be for upcoming years. Best plan is to get familiar with the websites of the schools you are interested in now, then start really scrutinizing late spring/early summer. That seems to be when programs update their admission requirements.
Elon added a pre screen this year.
Bare minimum that your kid will need: a ballad, an uptempo tune, a dramatic monologue and a comic one. All of these will be requested at different lengths by different schools (32 bars, 16 bars, 60 seconds, 90 sec, 2 minutes, and so on). In many cases, one of the songs will need to be from the classic Broadway repertoire (before 1965, 1960 and like that).
Some schools will also want a dance clip, and others request a verse monologue with an emphasis on heightened language (Shakespeare).
Your kid will benefit from having as much material ready to go as s/he can prepare well. Schools may ask for a third monologue, an art song, a song with a contemporary pop/rock edge etc. Your child will never suffer from having too many monologues or songs. The specific lengths and the like will be revealed in the fullness of time (or the Fall). S/he he should read plays and listen to musicals.
So basically we will have to video each prescreen seperately for each school…yikes . Then if some schools make you apply before you get accepted by prescreen this is going to get a bit crazy . Especially If the school rejects your prescreen and you already applied…that makes no sense
Welcome to the BFA rollercoaster!
Here’s the thing; if your kid is really planning to give professional theatre a shot, s/he will benefit from having all this material prepared. S/he will need it. It’s a great learning experience and foundation. Shoot a cut of each piece in all lengths and piece them together as needed. Usually the 60 and 90 second songs line up well with 16 and 32 bars so that doesn’t require additional taping. There will also be “tell us why this school” and “wild card” elements to tape when they are revealed. It’s like some nightmarish advent calendar.
@theaterwork - be glad you are becoming aware of this now - rather than in September of senior year as many others will. Winter/spring of Junior year student should be looking for/working on material. Summer before Senior year should be devoted to gathering together information, working on pieces and planning for prescreens. Late summer start scheduling video work. As others have said if you wait longer your child will inevitably get sick/injured/be involved in a show; the accompanist/coach/dance studio/chosen videographer will not be available; parent/child relationship will be stressed; large amounts of snow will fall from the sky. . . Start as early as you can, but keep breathing.
Ditto what Vocal1046 said. This is their future. My S is in the process for auditioning for summer stock, many initial auditions have the same type of requirements (16, 32 bars, 90 seconds etc) but once you get to the call back it can all change. So its best to have a diverse book for sure and the sooner you start the better off you’ll be in the long run.
Oklahoma had far and away the most specific requirements (including a snarky threat in ALL CAPS):
The “single take with closeup/wide pan” requirement means that you have to do an “Oklahoma only” take. What a pain.
And this requirement:
I was not aware and I have yet to find a theatre professional who agrees that there is such a thing as a “classic theatre” period that lasted from 1930-1969.
Not a fan.
Isn’t it also a Michigan thing that if your video is one second over the allotted time (including slate I think) you are automatically rejected from prescreen?
My thoughts on prescreens… They matter! A lot! Make sure your child’s material is polished and game ready. I don’t think the technical quality is as important as your childs skills and personality shining through that camera are. I took this for granted. We were more concerned with hitting ‘submit’ to meet deadlines. Many people were telling us, ’ they just want to make sure you can sing/act’… Blah, blah, blah… But let me tell you … They REALLY matter… My poor kid, had one of her best auditions at Unifieds, the auditor appeared to love her, told my ‘D’ she was a perfect fit for her program and that she had a ‘great audition’…But then… She said ’ I just need to run through your prescreens with my colleagues to make sure they agree’… My heart sunk when I heard this, I knew how mediocre she appeared in them…Two weeks later our account was enabled… Not even in the running…
*disabled! (Ha)
Keep in mind that some schools use prescreens to find the specific type of students they are looking for that year, not just a talent filter, and so try not to freak out so much if you or your S/D doesn’t pass some. It doesn’t mean he/she “can’t hold a tune” or isn’t wonderfully talented! We happen to know for a fact that my D didn’t pass one because she is very young looking, and the program head wants an older, sophisticated look that she doesn’t have.
Prescreens are likely the first impression an auditor has, and if they replay them, may be a last impression as well. I agree with @pookiesunshine they are not to be taken lightly. And in the event of inclement weather (as occurred this year) they may be the only thing certain faculty “see” of you, if they don’t make the live audition.
I would also say, its probably NOT a good idea to change your look between prescreens and auditions. No going from blonde to black. Short bob to long curls. They need to “know” you and if you look different everytime they “see you” uploaded headshot/prescreen/audition/headshot they are going to get confused.
ok so did most of you get an accompanist or just use a backtrack CD? Does it matter or do the schools usually specify or do they care? Seems like if the piano player should not be in the pic anyway then it shouldnt matter. I sometimes found with live piano accompaniment that the person was sorta drowned out and you can always adjust a CD volume to get it right.
We did use an accompanist, but in hindsight it probably would have been much easier to use recorded music.