Do you love making films? Or maybe you just love watching and thinking about films, and want to learn how to create them. Students in the NESA Cinema program spend two class periods every day learning how to use film equipment, how to analyze films, how to write screenplays, and the history of film. They work in groups to produce silent films, music videos, short films, documentaries, and all types of video content.  Prior experience in filmmaking is NOT necessary for admission to this program.

Please be aware that our Cinema program puts students behind the camera, not in front of it. This is not a program for students who are interested primarily in acting in films.

AUDITION PROCESS:

Cinema program auditions are conducted through an online and in person process. 

If you are invited to audition based on your application, you will receive an email with instructions for completing an online writing prompt and video submission of a 30 second - 2 minute video edit of an option of your choosing below.

A) Creative Tik Tok Video

B) A Creative Smartphone Nature Video

C) Creative Original Choice Video

Please send all application correspondence to Creative Writing Director, Amie Charney at acharn@neisd.net, or contact by phone at (210) 356-1033.

Interview:

The interview will consist of a writing exercise, panel interview, and discussion of portfolio. Student portfolios are to be a digital work submitted to acharn@neisd.net following the guidelines below. Proof of submission of the digital portfolio must be submitted at the time of the application (see guidelines below).  Portfolios will be read/evaluated by the Creative Writing Director and a panel of her choosing. Note: You may bring in a hard copy of your portfolio but it is not necessary.

Digital Portfolio:

• 10 pages of original writing (poetry, prose, screenwriting, playwriting, fiction, creative non-fiction, and experimental writings) Note: Please do not submit any writing tied to school assignments, as these do not reflect originality of conception.
• If you are submitting a novel or lengthy works, submit only 10 pages.
• Organization that includes cover page, table of contents, and titled pieces.
• Include any original artwork, photography, or videos you feel should be included in your portfolio. Note: Do not submit stock photos (found on the internet) with your portfolio. Original works only.

Submission

• Submit one digital portfolio to acharn@neisd.net
• Subject line to read: portfolio/last name/date of submission

Example: subject: portfolio/Pool/08.25.20

• Brief professional email that includes, major, school year, and any additional comments.
• Make sure your email has the attachment prior to submitting
• Submit proof of submission to the NESA office with your application.

Note: acceptable proof in the form of a printed screenshot, or print out of the email is acceptable.

NESA Dance Audition Requirements:

1. Prepare a 1 minute choreographed dance in the style of your choice. It should be the style that best showcases your strengths as a dancer. Emphasis will be on performance ability, technique, and interpretation of the music. A sound system will be provided.  You can play your solo music from your phone, tablet/ipad using the AUX cord. 

2. There will be a short interview before you perform your solo.  The panel will ask questions pertaining to school, dance training, other artistic interests, and life in general.

3. A short ballet and jazz combination will be taught at the audition and evaluated by the panel of judges.

Dress in the following attire for the audition:

Women: leotard and tights (sweats, t-shirts, and half tops are prohibited)

Men: dance class attire

Please bring all of your dance shoes to the audition.

PRE-SCREENING REQUIREMENTS

LIVE AUDITIONS

Live auditions for the Instrumental Music Program are held on campus at the LEE Performing Arts Center. The audition contains 4 components:

1. Prepared Music
2. Sight-Reading
3. Musicianship Evaluation
4. Interview

Applicants should prepare music on the instrument with which they are most proficient. For the prepared music, applicants should prepare the following for the day of the audition:

 - A 1-minute excerpt of a technical piece (solo/etude/etc.)
 - A 1-minute excerpt of a lyrical piece (solo/etude/etc.)
 - 3 extra copies of the music you have prepared.

Music does not need to fall into a particular genre. Applicants are encouraged to perform the music they are the most successful at communicating.

Sight-reading will be provided by the director on the day of the audition.

The Musicianship and Interview portions of the audition are brief and will be carried out by a panel.


All questions about the audition process for Instrumental Music should be directed to Connor Towns at ctowns@neisd.net

The Musical Theatre program auditions students currently enrolled in 8th, 9th, and 10th grades. We do not accept current 11th grade students into the program. 9th and 10th grade acceptances are limited, based on current class sizes.

MT VIRTUAL AUDITION GUIDELINES:

PRESCREENS –

NESA MT requires that you provide us with a Prescreen Video audition due ONE WEEK prior to the NESA Audition date. You will video your song and monologue, upload it to YouTube, and email the link to Mrs. Bryant and Mr. Everidge via their email addresses at jbryan@neisd.net and deveri1@neisd.net. Students who pass their Prescreen audition will be scheduled to perform a live audition and interview with us on the NESA Audition date. All students who provide Prescreens will be notified whether they have passed onto the live Auditions. Prescreen Videos that have been submitted later than one week before the NESA Audition date will not be accepted for consideration.

The song/monologue audition is limited to two minutes: a 1-minute cut from a musical (song) and a 1-minute cut from a play (monologue). Students should seek guidance from a performance teacher/coach to ensure that the material chosen for performance is fitting for the student’s age and experience.

Prepare one minute of a song from a musical theatre work and perform it from memory. Avoid songs from Wicked, Les Mis, Hairspray, and Hamilton; they are overdone. The vocal portion of the audition will be sung with a recorded accompaniment. The accompaniment can be a recorded audio track, since we understand having a live accompanist is now impossible. You may also hire an accompanist to record a piano track for your vocal audition cut. If you would like to hire an accompanist to record your song’s piano track, we can recommend Lyn Rousey at 210-843-0632.

There are many suitable songs from Broadway musicals in anthologies available at the library or for purchase at RBC Music and musicnotes.com. Please pick a song that you are comfortable singing, and that you feel you can express convincingly. Avoid trying to sing something extremely difficult or from the "latest" show. You must make sure your music is in the key you have been practicing. Please get with an accompanist prior to your audition so you are familiar with the piano accompaniment.

Prepare and memorize a one-minute monologue from a published play. Do not use poems or monologues from musicals. The audition panel will be looking for naturalness and evidence of a true understanding of the text. Avoid overdone monologues from St. Joan, You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown, and The Wizard of Oz. Be sure your monologue choice is appropriate for your age; that is, don’t perform a monologue written for a 40 year-old adult.

Prepare this introduction to your audition: "Hi, my name is (your first and last name). First, I'm going to perform (name of your song), from the musical (title of show). Then I'll present a monologue of (character's name) from the play (play title)." You can present your song and monologue in whichever order you prefer.

Contact info:

For questions about song performances:  Jordan Bryant at jbryan@neisd.net

For questions about monologue performances:  Daniel Everidge at deveri1@neisd.net

Be prepared to present a portfolio and/or examples of your technical accomplishments, any creative artwork, photos of work accomplished or performances you have worked, and photos of scale models you have built, if available. This is optional, and students should not be discouraged from auditioning because of a lack of experience in the technical field.

Please send all application correspondence to Visual Art Director, Jessica Jones Gonzales at jgonza120@neisd.net.

Interview

The interview will consist of a panel interview and discussion of home test artworks, portfolio, and sketchbook. Student home test artworks, portfolio and sketchbook artworks are to be submitted via email to jgonza120@neisd.net 

Home test artworks, portfolios and sketchbooks artworks will be evaluated by the Visual Art Director and a panel of their choosing. Note: You may bring in your physical artworks, portfolio, and sketchbook to the interview but it is not necessary.

 Home Test

The home test consists of three drawings, outlined below, that the student will complete in advance of the interview. All home test artwork must be completed by the student auditioning, be wholly original - not copies of famous works or published images, and from direct observation - students may not work from photographs. Students may use the black/white drawing media of their choosing.

1. Still Life - a  drawing of inanimate objects. The still life should include objects with a variety of surface textures - smooth, rought, plush, hard, reflective, transparent. 
2. Self Portrait - students should draw themselves using a mirror as an aide.
3. Architecture - a drawing that explores a manmade environment. This may be an interior or exterior scene. 

All drawings should exhibit a full range of values. Students should not rely on contour line to define the edges of forms, but use value contrast instead. Drawings should capture highlights, shadows, cast shadows, and reflected highlights, while using value to describe color. 

Portfolio & Sketchbook

The portfolio and sketchbook should consist of ten artworks created by the student auditioning. These artworks should address the criteria listed below:

• Strong observational drawing skills
• Created in class, under the instruction of an art educator
• Demonstrate personal voice
• Technical excellence in the handling of media and technique
• Use the elements and principles of design to create original and engaging compositions
• Demonstrate the student’s ability to transform an assigned project into an artwork with original vision and creativity

Digital Submission 

All artwork images, including home test drawings, portfolio and sketchbook artworks should be sent via email to jgonza120@neisd.net and must be received at least one week prior to the audition date.