Zoom Auditions: How I Prep (and What I Learned from My Latest Callback)
I just had a Zoom callback for a great role in a TV show, I thought it might be helpful to share what I’ve learned from the process. Zoom auditions can feel strange at first, but after booking a recent job directly from a Zoom audition, I feel like I’m starting to get the hang of it.
Here’s exactly what I do to set myself up for success:
1. Set Up Your Tech for Success
Laptop placement: I always use my MacBook Air and make sure it’s at eye level. This angle looks best on camera and keeps you connected with the casting team.
Check your frame: I use the free Photo Booth app on my laptop to test my shot. This helps me adjust my lighting, eye line, and make sure there’s nothing distracting in the background.
2. Eye Lines Are Everything
One of the biggest shifts I’ve made: I don’t look at the reader on Zoom.
I cover their video window with a small piece of paper so I’m not tempted to glance at them.
Instead, I pick an eye line—usually the top right corner of my screen—and lock into it. If there’s more than one character in the scene, I’ll use the top left corner for the second character.
This keeps my focus sharp and gives the casting team the feeling that I’m fully in the scene, not distracted by the screen.
3. Lines: A Safety Net, Not a Crutch
I always aim to be fully off-book, but I do keep my sides taped to the side of my laptop—just out of frame.
This way, if I blank on a line (hey, it happens!), I can glance without breaking the flow. I even practice this in Photo Booth to make sure it looks natural and invisible to the casting director.
4. Record Your Audition (If You Can)
For my most recent callback, I decided to record my Zoom session using my phone.
And wow—game changer.
Rewatching it later (without judgment) was incredibly reassuring. I realized:
I took direction well.
I came across the way I intended.
I could feel proud of my work, no matter the outcome.
We all know how easy it is to spiral after an audition, replaying every moment in our heads. Recording mine gave me objective proof that I did the job.
5. Trust the Process
At the end of the day, whether I book it or not, I know I’ve given the casting director, director, and producers a strong performance to remember.
If you’ve got a Zoom audition coming up, I hope this helps you feel more prepared and confident. Test your tech, set your eyelines, record if you can, and most of all—own it.
Break a leg. You’ve got this.
Big hugs,
Natalia
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