How to make a good monologue video.

 Self-taped auditions can be very wonderful when done the right way as the casting directors do not get to see the way you handle the note but get to see the better view of your environment ,hear your sound and interpret your emotions. In order to make a good monologue, you need to be heard and seen clearly so that you can be understood very well. 

Most importantly you will need a good recording material and a good setting to shoot the video. In this post, we would be discussing about the key points in making a good self-taped monologue video.

1. Practice: It is very important that you study the script very well before shooting the video. You could get someone in your acting school to practice with you If the scene requires more than one person. You also need to make sure the person's voice is very low and doesn't affect your audibility. Performing in front of your family is also a great idea as this will expose you to more positive criticism that will make you get better.

Photo Credit: Backstage

2. Recording equipment: Good recording equipment is one of the factors that determine the outcome of a monologue video. You should get a good video recorder or even a very good phone that has a high video quality so that the video can be clear and also attract the judges to spend more time reviewing your video.

3. Lightening: This is very essential because the casting directors will lose interest in your videos if the lightening is very poor. Your shooting environment should be very bright so that the scene looks real and reduces distraction. Be sure to maintain a color balance when shooting to avoid making the video look blurry. You can also get more insight on this by checking my previous post on how to make a successful movie audition. 

Photo credit: Wiki How

  

4. Wardrobe: You need to choose simple clothes by avoiding those that have logo designs or distractive patterns imprinted on them. Your clothes should not be flashy as this can distract the casting directors when viewing your video because our eyes capture the brightest part of an image.

5. Setting: Your video setting should be simple and less complicated. Arrangement of scene shouldn't be time consuming as the monologue has its specific time limit. You are encouraged to use plain background when shooting your video as it's very effective for self-taped.

6. Frame: The frame is the part the camera sees till you are cut off. The frame should just be medium i.e. from your head to your shoulder unless stated otherwise. Even if someone is running the camera, the shot should be simple and kept at a close-up range but you can give it a little push as you progress. 

7. Performance: Just like in a live audition, unless stated otherwise it is not advisable to look at the camera directly while rendering your lines. This act in known as "breaking the fourth wall" in theater. You should pick a focal point just off-camera so it looks real and professional.

8. Reader: Since it’s a monologue, you will need someone to read the other lines in the script so you can flow very well. It’s better if you find a fellow actor like yourself to do it with you so that you can be prompted easily. Your reader's voice should not be heard in the background to avoid distraction.

 9. Review: After shooting your video, you should scrutinize it and make sure the above eight steps were taken note of. Also make sure you can be seen and heard clearly as this is the most important part. Thanks for reading and do make sure you subscribe to the blog via email using the web version. You can also watch examples of monologue videos on instagram by clicking here. Follow the author on instagram and facebook for more interesting videos.