Self-tape audition lighting: 2 x china balls & 250w 3200k photofloods, or other?

[LeoLeo]

Hi folks,

I'm primarily an actor, although I'll also be looking to film some of my own content starting later this year. For that, I'll probably be having friends with their own equipment help out, our I'll rent equipment. So right now, I *think* I should just focus on equipment & technique for the purpose of self-taped auditions. (Open to hearing alternative suggestions, however).
I'm currently filming on a tripod-mounted iPhone 6s+, using the built-in mic and using the lights that are in the room (desk lamp & overhead/room light). The results are low light levels with shadows on my face, and audio that feels a little thin, reverberant, and has a bit of hiss (due to auto-gain, I guess).

A couple of self-taped audition considerations: the quicker we submit, the better (usually), and the less distracted by setting up gear/workflow, the more focus can be put on performance.

I'm mainly going to be submitting for serious/dramatic roles, but given my skill level, equipment, and room (light walls), I think I'll have to rock a high-key approach. Currently thinking of getting 2 x 24" china balls with 250w 3200k photoflood bulbs and dimmers. In my cramped shooting space, I think/hope that there'll be enough spill from these that I wont have shadows on the cream wall that's ~1-2ft behind me. In terms of technique, I was thinking two lights in front: a key slightly above and to one side of me, with a fill at around 1/2 power on the opposite side and slightly below me.

I'd love to hear any thoughts on this (if I should be getting different equipment and/or using a different technique).

 

[Michael Carter]

If you're going to use your phone, get on Amazon and look at the iPhone mics. You should be able to find a clip-on and probably even hide it if you want (google "hiding lav mics"). Audio is (so they say) 90% of video and your voice is one of your biggest tools for what you do. Getting good sounding audio will put you ahead over anyone else doing phone vids - even at a subconscious level, good audio is more engaging and affecting and you want that to work for you. Look into apps that record the audio while you shoot video (don't know if there are any of those).

Other big problems with the phones - auto white balance, so make sure there is only one kind of light source affecting the shot - no window light if you're using tungsten, etc.

Auto exposure too, so make sure what the camera sees isn't changing (probably fine of you're using a tripod and staying in the same space). If you walk the phone around a set, you'll often see the exposure shift drastically.