I just uploaded a YouTube video for the first time in my life. Not that YouTube has been around long enough for that to be a remarkable statement, but you know what I mean.
Anyway, it’s a video clip I’m not extremely proud of, so when I had to fill in the field called “Tags”, I only typed “Qiaoyun” because I don’t want the clip to be searchable and watched by strangers. I’m assuming that nobody would ever do a search for “Qiaoyun” in YouTube because it’s a weird sort of word to begin with.
So. This is a one-minute video of me giving a meaningless self-intro.
You see, I had to e-mail a production house a showreel so I can be shortlisted to go for an audition. But I don’t have a showreel because I’ve been having trouble editing my mpeg2 files (direct recordings of my TV shows) and rendering them into a compressed and viewable form.
To cut the boring technical story short, I had to quickly record an emergency video of myself using my digital camera. The casting lady said I could just shoot a quick-and-dirty self-intro because they just want to see my “video presence”.
So here’s my quick-and-dirty.
If you’re planning to offer up some constructive criticism, please bear in mind that this video isn’t meant to be the least bit entertaining. It’s meant to show how I look on video.
If you’re watching only so you can laugh at me, well, okay, that’s allowed. I do that to other people all the time so I suppose I deserve some retribution.
Have I mentioned how I hate doing self-intros? Yes, I have.
I think I’d drop dead and die if I ever got to watch all the millions of self-intros I’ve done in my life, at production houses and studios. Okay, few hundred is a more accurate number, but the point is that I’ve been doing self-intros all my life and I have yet to reach a point where I feel comfortable giving one.
I just don’t like talking about myself, you know. I mean, verbally. I don’t mind writing about myself, you realise.
Anyway, self-intros suck. Unfortunately, they’re a necessary occupational hazard.
They’re a hazard to me because, like I said, I’d drop dead and die if I ever have to watch any one of them.
Vincent told me he’s watched one of my audition tapes. I think I should kill him for that. You think?
hehehe
you are so cute :)
like a little girl (a compliment .. ok ?)
Monster,
You know I love you to the bits, right? Well, this video is a little kiddy. It’ll do well if you’re auditioning for Hi 5 or something like that. But, I think you look great knowing since I know your real age! Not telling anyone! And you don’t even splurge like me on ridiculous and expensive skincare…me a little jealous now! But I still love you!
eh want me to upload ur audition? :P
Hmm.. I would suggest you to start for audition in children shows. Many started out from there and build their fan base. Anyway you did a not bad job @ it anyway.. :)
Oh my!
poor Toadstool got roped in to be calahfare (is that what you guys term it?)
vincent, PLEASE upload it! ;p
you look like a shy teenager! I don’t understand how come you always got the auntie roles. tsk, blind casting people. You look like a shy teenager loh… maybe less shameless than most of them. ;p
SC: OMG haha… ok…. thanks, I guess. :P
Monster: You’re the greatest! Love you to bits too. Well, this video clip is for trying out for a 18-23 yr old role, so I think it’s suitable?
Ruok: You do that you’re really dead!!
passerby: Hmm… I would go if they had auditions for kid shows. But so far no luck! :P
Nanny Wen: It’s MUSHROOM. And he’s not a CLF, he’s a co-lead ok? lol.
RN: Ack, I think it’s bad if I look like a shy teenager. I don’t think I’m supposed to look shy. I should look confident and outgoing on video. OH NO. I need to make another video. O_o
QY: Not that bad lah considering that it wasn’t scripted nor rehearsed. Naturally will appear slightly less polished lor. Yes? No?
ruok: Got more videos to upload? MAI TOO LIAO!!! :P
you look very cute! :) love the expressions.
JayWalk: Well, it was rehearsed in the sense that I did many takes until I felt it was ok, so I did have some practice :P And stop asking ruok to upload videos. He’s a busy man. especially right now~ ! :P
nadnut: thank you! wheee~~ :) >hugs<
QY, I’m dead now anyway (cuz no longer have my heart)…. So you can’t kill a dead person right? :P
You can’t look at it this way. Because I believe very strongly that one day, you will live again, and that’s when I can get you. :P
Haha I love how you started the clip with the video cam falling over! LOL
You just reminded me how I dislike (x 10) doing self introductions for auditions too!!!
Just had a thought… since you feel more confident writing about yourself, why not write your self-intro as a sort of script first, then use that as a guide for your self-intro video? :P
Hope you land a great role!!!
Hehe, thanks. I guess no actor likes self-intros! I dunno why they torture us with it, sigh. I LOVE production houses that just go straight into script reading, hehe. :P
Actually, I HAVE written many different self-intros for myself and used them in auditions, thinking that I’m damn brilliant and creative. One casting director even laughed at a joke I threw in, which was great. But I didn’t get the job leh.
Also, after using a “brilliant” written intro once or twice, I’ll then think that intro is corny and sucky and wonder how I could ever have thought of it. Then I’ll be back to square one and give boring, unrehearsed, stock intros for the next few weeks or months.
I think I’m just hopeless at this!
Haha yeah, it’s the bane of an actor’s existence indeed…
Quite a few times I have been tempted to just blurt out, “for more information, go read my blog!” LOL
Haha… you could do that, you know. Why not? :P
u do know u look like a IMH patient in this video rite. buahahhaha…
Hi you, my favourite critic. Where have you been? I miss your witticisms. :)
Somehow I think you’ll fit in nicely in children’s shows… Thinking of giving it a shot in that field?
Well, I don’t exactly have the luxury of choosing which “field” I want to be in. :P If there’s an audition for a children show, I go for it. If there’s no audition, I can’t “give it a shot”. So, it’s all really based on luck, timing and opportunity, and very little to do with what I want. :P
lol… cute vidz!
The camera was made for you, Q!