Auditions for Film, TV & New Media
We are founded on the belief that actor training needs reimagining to better serve our current and future generations of young artists. We believe in empowering you, our students, to recognise the unique strength of your voice and lived experiences.
Using a holistic, embodied approach, we believe a balanced and healthy actor is a productive and professionally valuable one. The culture we develop demands that as students, you take ownership of your voice, your individual creative process and the path you create.
If you see yourself in this kind of environment, we look forward to meeting you.
For our BA (Hons) Acting for Film, TV and New Media programme, Bristol School of Acting will be holding all first-round auditions virtually, via a self-taped submission.
All recall auditions will be held in-person at one of our studios in central Bristol (Tobacco Factory Theatres or BSA Studios). It’s important to us that the recall experience becomes an opportunity for you to audition us at BSA as much as it is a chance for us to get to know you and your potential. We offer full-day workshop-based recalls to give you and us a fair opportunity to confidently make such an important decision.
ALL OUR AUDITIONS ARE FREE.
To keep our process inclusive and accessible, we don’t want money to be a barrier to auditioning with us.
HOW TO APPLY
We begin accepting applications for auditions from September each year and will provide exact dates on www.bristolschoolofacting.com.
As well as applying for an audition with us, you also need to apply to us through UCAS. We cannot make you an offer unless you do this.
Please note: all of our acting and performance degrees above are validated by Plymouth Marjon University, though they will be taught by us, Bristol School of Acting, and our partners, in Bristol.
What you need to prepare:
FIRST ROUND AUDITIONS
During your application, you will be asked to upload the following:
A recent photo of your head/face and shoulders as either a JPEG or PDF
A video recording of two contemporary monologues (written after 1970) from published full-length plays, each under two minutes. The monologues should be of contrasting tone, tempo, genre or style. You can record the monologues on your phone - please see our guidance notes below for advice on recording your monologues.
A 'wild card' video of anything you would like to share with us, of no longer than one minute. This is an opportunity for you to show something about yourself that we might not otherwise know; special skills, something you have produced, a testimonial, short showreels; anything you want to share.
Or it can be a simple few words that you would like to say to camera.
Please note: submitting two contemporary monologues is our strong preference, however, if you feel you have a classical piece prepared that you feel represents you well, then you are welcome to submit that in place of one of your contemporary pieces.
If you wish to audition for more than one of our acting and performance-based degrees as listed above, you are very welcome to, just let us know when you apply.
You only need to do one audition in order to be considered for both the Screen and the Stage and Screen degrees.
Within two weeks of your first-round audition, we will tell you whether you have been selected for a recall audition (see below). If you have, you’ll be asked to select a date for it. There will be a limited number of recall spaces per day so the sooner you select, the better the chances are that you will get your first-choice recall date.
RECALL AUDITIONS (In-person)
Our recall auditions take place over the course of a day, from 10am-4.30pm. You should plan to be with us for the whole day. An indicative schedule is below.
NB: Please arrive in clothes suitable to move around in (leggings, sweats, t-shirt, no shoes) and bring a bottle of water, some lunch and/or some lunch money.)
10.15am We will welcome you, get you settled and provide an introduction to BSA and our approach to training.
10.30am - 12.30pm You will then take part in two group workshops, 1 hour movement workshop and 1 hour acting workshop. We are looking for spontaneity and an openness of approach. We want to see you make individual creative choices but in a non-competitive way, showing that you can work respectfully with others as part of a team.
12.30 - 1.30pm You will have time for lunch (please bring some food with you, or some money - there are plenty of local cafes and shops nearby).
1.30 - 4pm You'll work on a duologue/scene of your choice with a reader (a current
BSA student or tutor). A selection of scenes will be sent to you before the recall. You may also be asked to present your monologue from your first round audition. You will then have a brief interview.
You will also participate in a cold reading in front of the camera. Scenes will be provided upon arrival and you will have a limited amount of time to get to know the material.
4pm The session will end with a Q&A.
4.30pm Day End
Our recall auditions take place at various times throughout the year, usually from Nov to April, though we will advise of exact dates at the same time that we invite you to a recall. Successful applicants will be notified within two weeks of attending.
Whether a first round or recall audition, we strongly encourage you to submit/book your audition as soon as you receive your invitation. Our courses fill up fast and once we have made enough offers to fill the courses, we will close them to new applicants.
DECISION MAKING PROCESS
The audition panel will score each candidate on each of the following 7 categories
Workshop
Improvisation skills
Physical aptitude
Prepared scene
Vocal flexibility and variety
Physical embodiment of the scene
Characterisation
Connection to emotional truth
Delivery of the text
Each category is rated 1-4. (4= excellent, 3= good, 2=reasonable, 1=poor)
If a candidate scores above 24 they will be offered a place, if less than 16 they will be declined. A candidate scoring between 16 and 24 will be discussed at length by the panel and a decision will be made after taking the whole audition, especially the interview and the monologue (if we have seen it) into account, and reflecting on the candidates suitability for the training.
Our advice for creating a successful self-taped audition
You do not need expensive equipment or experience to film something that represents you well. Here are some things to keep in mind to make a good self-tape that you can be proud of uploading as your first round audition.
Smartphones are ideal for making self-tapes. Please align the phone in the horizontal/landscape position rather than vertical.
Find a space in your home, school or a neutral location that is quiet and has good lighting. Natural light is great, but lamps and overhead lighting will do just fine. Please don't have a light source behind your back or we won't see your face.
Background: as much as possible, try to stand/sit in front of a solid colour background. This could be a wall that is free of posters, prints, artwork etc. Tryto avoid the camera seeing distracting furniture or household décor in the background. Position yourself approximately one metre in front of the background. Solid coloured closed curtains will suffice if you haven't got a plain wall to use.
If you have a tripod or can borrow a tripod to keep the camera still, secure the camera at neck/head level.
Framing: when setting yourself up in front of the camera, the bottom of the camera frame should be just above your abdomen/rib cage. If you're looking at the camera frame, you want to have a bit of space above the top of your head.
If you are standing during the monologue, check to see that all your movements stay in the frame. Make whatever adjustments you need to before uploading your submission. If you are sitting in a chair, it is preferable to use a simple, nondescript chair. Remember, we want to see you, not the chair.
When recording, place your gaze or eye level approximately 10cm to the left or right of the camera. If you can use a friend or family member to deliver your monologue to, it will help you to keep your gaze focused. Place them behind the camera just to the left or right.
Clothing: there is no need to wear a costume but recognise that we want to believe you as your character. Therefore, wearing clothes that are at least suggestive of your character can help. Likewise, please refrain from wearing any hoodie, headphones, AirPods, or hats that are part of your personal style and keep your hair and if possible, glasses, off your face, so we can see it.
Uploading: refer to the instructions on the site if you have any difficulties. Give yourself enough time so that any issues with uploading don't occur minutes before the submission deadline. (We will provide you with a deadline on applying.)
Remember, we do not expect you to present a professional self-tape. Do the best you can with what you have. The tips above are only intended to assist you. You do not have to adhere to every point.
Plan ahead and take your time. Send us something you believe represents you well under the guidelines we've laid out. It's your time, make the most of it.
Please contact auditions@bristolschoolofacting.com if you have any questions.
