<p>I am a longtime poster here, with a daughter in a BFA MT program, but I am currently trying to help out the son of a friend who is in the audio/technology business. He graduated from a music technology program a few years back and has set up a very professional but small scale recording/video studio in his home and is exploring avenues for work. My d and I just had a conversation about the possibilities of his trying to tap into the prescreen video avenue as it seems more and more kids are having to produce these for college admittance. Some questions I'd love some ideas on: do you know if these are required for more than MT programs, like straight theater, summer programs? If anyone has used outside help for completing prescreens, how much did it cost-what could he charge? Any ideas on how he could get the word out to start this kind of business (Portland, OR area) Anything else?</p>
<p>Hi Christie2 - </p>
<p>Summer program yes - My S attended CCM MT program this summer and had to submit an audition. in a very similar format the prescreens are in. He attended Point Parks summer dance the year before, we are local so didn’t look into videos but I know kids were there from all over the country (a few from outside the country) so I would assume there is video audition.</p>
<p>Prescreens - of the 11 schools my S is applying to 5 require prescreens. PACE, Otterbein, U of Mich, Ithaca and Penn State. All have slightly different requirements, which is a bit maddening.</p>
<p>I contacted the videographer that records all the recital/performances at the performing arts school he attends and they quoted me $300. This was way to expensive in a process that is already costing me 1 billion dollars (at least it seems that way) I also contacted the TV production teacher at his High School who said the class would do it for free but all recordings had to be at the school. It was much easier to coordinate with his coaches if it was at the performing arts studio, they all work there, so we opted not to use the HS class.</p>
<p>I’m not sure about straight theatre but I have read prescreens are required for some vocal performance majors.</p>
<p>No advice on the price, good luck to him!</p>
<p>Christie2</p>
<p>I have seen some required for acting. Also music majors many times need to submit a recorded cd for their college auditions as well</p>
<p>Dance majors as well. My friend’s daughter is in the thick of it at the moment.</p>
<p>Classical musicians applying for college need prescreens. The whole process is expensive (at least it is in the Northeast). Don’t remember how much we paid 4 years ago for recording, editing and making the DVDs but this year with my MT D we paid the recording studio $80 per hour recording time and another $80 per hour editing time because as other parents have mentioned every school seems to have different requirements so in total we ended up paying $600 for a prescreen recording session/editing just to get like 16 different mp4s.
It is definitely a booming business to go into!</p>
<p>We did my S’s two prescreens this fall (at least two more of the schools he applied to this year will require prescreens next year) ourselves using an iPad. It was stressful to do it ourselves, but we did not have the money to go professional. We did end up spending some money on a digital sound recorder, and tripod mount for iPad, but figured we’d have PLENTY of opportunity to use them again. It would have been nice to go to a reasonably priced professional videographer for this. We were repeatedly told by those who have been the “viewers” of prescreens that they are NOT looking for professional quality videos, so it seems to me that this might be “gravy” work for a professional - no sound mixing or special lighting and minimal editing. The main difficulty for us was getting correct file sizes and digital formats - a BIG headache for us. Uploading took several days, ultimately going to the upload sight for technical help.</p>
<p>We hired an accompanist and son filmed pre-screens on his laptop. Filmed the monologues at home. My son did the editing. Total cost was around $200. Other than writing the check and being the shuttle driver, I left this up to my son, who is far more tech savvy than I. He did have a separate mike to be sure his voice was not drowned out by the piano.</p>
<p>For MT last year, my son’s coach had a video day, where all of her students who were interested did their prescreens with a profession videographer, and she coached. I think it was $200 - $300. For my daughter applying for Dance BFA’s , a couple of programs required prescreens. Her Company director charged $300 for the entire session, which was 2 - 3 hours of filming (for 2 girls who alternated). The girls had to bring someone to film, but the Dance Company Director edited the tape.</p>