Shoot, Post & Upload at the SAG-AFTRA Colorado Local Conservatory

Late last fall, the SAG-AFTRA Colorado Local launched its first conservatory workshop since merger, Shoot, Post & Upload. The room was packed with professional actors who came to learn how to film, edit, compress and upload a professional-quality audition from their home using commonly owned equipment and software for both PC and Mac, as well as the key requirements for delivering a “winning” audition. These skills are a must in today’s industry, where actors are often being cast via their digital submissions for work in and outside of the markets in which they live.
 
The workshop was conceived and presented by Colorado Local Conservatory Chair Sheila Ivy Traister, who is also an international acting coach, and veteran New Mexico casting associate Aaron Giombolini, who helps cast television series and major studio and indie films.

Sheila Traister showing conservatory participants how to properly upload their auditions

Filming in one’s home, office or while on the road is certainly a convenience that can be a “win-win” for the actor and the casting director. However, it can also be a “lose-lose.” When auditioning with a casting director, they are responsible for how you are framed, how you sound, the quality of the lighting and your performance. When on your own, despite your talent, actors without the technical knowledge or the most basic knowledge of slating, proficient cold copy techniques and how to relate to the reader or camera will miss out.

With a combined total of 35 years between them in the industry, Giombolini’s technical expertise and years in the casting room, coupled with Traister’s years as an actor and acting coach, proved invaluable for the attendees. The questions never stopped.
 
Cajardo Lindsey, a SAG-AFTRA and AEA member had this to say, “I thought I knew what I was doing after submitting online for the last four years. I was grateful for the technical information Aaron provided and for the wealth of what he offered from a casting director’s perspective. And [I] was astounded with what Sheila taught regarding performance and preparation for auditions; as an actor of 18 years, I learned what I didn’t know and what I had been doing wrong. With actors submitting from everywhere around the country for any given project, I’m now confident that my online submission will be competitive and up to the standards casting directors are needing and expecting from me in any market.”

"As a casting associate on large-scale projects, we field submissions from actors from all over the U.S.,” Giombolini said. “I’ve seen lots of submissions that are in need of help. It was great to see a room of professional actors engaging with the performance and technical steps needed to shoot, post and upload a 'winning' audition that could get them cast from their submission.” Giombolini went on to say that “It’s incredibly important to me that actors are empowered to do this; we want to see you at your best. Plus, it makes my job a whole lot easier.”

Stay tuned for information on our upcoming workshops.