If you want to become part of the next season of The Great Food Truck Race, Food Truck Face Off or other food truck reality show, then a casting tape is the first step in reaching that goal. Most television networks want to see a casting tape before they invite individuals or teams for a live audition. If you are producing your own casting tape, then there are a few things that you will have to do.

Fortunately with advances in technology, making a casting tape is actually fairly easy. It’s also relatively easy to get very good results even if you’re using standard equipment. The key is to sell yourself so that the casting director knows exactly what you can offer and why they should consider you for their program.

The following steps will help anyone put together a casting tape for submission to any type of reality show…

How To Make A Casting Tape For A Reality Food Truck Show

Needed Equipment

  • Video recorder (this can be as simple as your smart phone)
  • Video editing software (all Macs and most PC’s have basic editing software pre-installed)

Prep Work

Just as any food truck has to do at the start of every business day, the most important thing is to prepare everything.

Character Acting

According to reality show producers, casting departments will use this video to see how engaging and watchable you are. But they’re also looking for “characters”: people with a great story, who audiences can root for – or against. Basically, you’ll want to project an extreme version of yourself.

Your Goal

Chances are, the show’s casting instructions ask you to tell them why you want to be on the show. Think of the first 5 reasons you want to try out for this show – and forget about them. Your reason should be unique, personal, and tied to your character.

The Studio

You need to have all of your material ready so that you can do your audition in front of the camera properly. It’s essential that you record your video somewhere that’s quiet and that you won’t get disturbed. Make sure that it’s as quiet as possible. Computers, TV’s and refrigerators all create noise. You should make your recording room as quiet as possible.

Camera Setup

Set up the camera by putting it on a tripod and aiming it exactly where you are going to sit or stand. Also, you should ideally stand in front of a white or blue wall. Try to remove anything that is on the wall which could be a distraction. To avoid shadows, try standing at least 2 feet away from the wall. You can mark where to stand by sticking some tape on the floor.

You also need to ensure that the lighting is adequate. This is important as it helps the viewer to pick you out from the screen. You can use lighting from window lights, flood lights, floor lamps and table lamps.

Now record yourself for a few minutes. Then, play it back to check the lighting and the composition of the scene.

Recording

Once you have completed all of your prep work, it’s time to start recording your video. Start by giving your age, experience and name. Make sure that you speak in your natural voice and are calm. Keep your energy and charm on high, and speak directly to the camera. A great way to show you’re not nervous is to make eye contact with the camera and smile.

Additional Scenes

Now you need to tape the scenes that you have prepared for your video auditions. Normally, this can be done in your kitchen showing some of your cooking prowess. We suggest you use at least one separate cut in scene of the team members.

Editing

Now it’s a matter of loading all of the files onto your computer and editing them. There will be lots of bits that need to be cut out of the videos to make the audition video as professional as possible. Once the video is edited, it can then be compiled and burnt onto a DVD or saved as a computer file. This makes it possible to send it easily to casting directors.

When you’re done, remember to check your video. It doesn’t have to be high art, but you must be visible and the sound must be clear.

Submitting Your Casting Tape

The final step in the casting tape process is to send it in, and you’re done. Make sure your submission is sent in prior to the deadline. The easiest way for casting directors to eliminate competition is to hold firm to their submission deadlines and not even bother to click play on the video you spent so much time putting together.

RELATED: Video Ideas For Your Food Truck YouTube Channel

The Bottom Line

If the producers like what they see, you’ll be contacted for a face to face audition, while this process may seem like a lot of work and jumping through hoops, that’s just the casting process. Mobile Cuisine wishes you the best of luck and we hope to see you on the next season of The Great Food Truck Race or any of the other food truck reality shows.

Do you have any additional tips for creating a casting tape? Share your tips in the comment section below or on social media. Facebook | Twitter