INSTRUCTIONS FOR FILMING YOUR OFFICIAL COMPETITION RECITATIONS

State champions are required to have their three official competition Poetry Out Loud recitation videos filmed in collaboration with 5:00 Films & Media using a remote production kit that will be shipped to you. This kit allows our team to remotely connect with you on the day of the shoot, help you to adjust your setup, and capture your video in high quality. Recitations for use in official competition must be filmed using this remote production kit. A member of the Poetry Out Loud Team will be proctoring your recitation. Please take time to thoroughly review the instructions here:

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KEY RECITATION REQUIREMENTS

• Begin each recitation with only the title of the poem and the name of the poet, and the translator, if applicable. Please see pg. 8 of the Poetry Out Loud Teacher’s Guide for detailed information about introducing your poem.
• Do not introduce yourself or add any editorial comments.
• Poems must be recited from memory, and will be filmed in one single take from a single static angle.
• Poems must be read in the order submitted in your registration.
• Before beginning your official competition recitation you may briefly practice to acquaint yourself with the process. No more than one stanza from each poem may be said aloud. When ready to begin say “I am ready to begin” and the 5:00 Films team will indicate for you to start at the appropriate time.
• At the beginning and end of each recitation, we will ask you to quietly pause for five seconds, which will help us with the editing process afterwards. We encourage you to take your time, pause between recitations, take a sip of water, etc.
• A representative of Poetry Out Loud will be virtually present for the remote recording session to prompt you if needed. If during your recitation, you need a prompt from the proctor, verbally say “prompt”. If you need other accommodations for the prompt, please let us know prior to your recording date.
• In the case of a technical error or unforeseen interruption during filming, we will pause, work with you to resolve the issue, and allow you to start again from the beginning. You may not begin again if you stumble or misspeak during the recitation. For more details regarding the evaluation criteria, please consult the Teacher’s Guide.

PLANNING FOR YOUR RECITATION FILMING

1. Find a quiet indoor space to film. While we will be using a lavalier mic to record you, if you can hear noises from your surroundings, so can the mic! Find an indoor space without noises like TV, music, conversations, hum from appliances, school bells, traffic, barking dogs, wind, etc. And be sure there is reliable WiFi.
2. Use natural lighting when possible. While we include a light with the remote production kit, natural light creates the most flattering image, so try to position yourself facing a window. Avoid mixing light from a window and other indoor lighting because it can create weird colors.
3. Think about your background. Don’t sit with a window or light source directly behind you to avoid being silhouetted. Avoid cluttered backgrounds. When possible, find a neutral background or a plain wall. You’ll want to stand a few feet away from the wall, not immediately in front of it.

WHAT TO WEAR

Dress nicely and avoid wearing stripes, pure white clothing, or branded attire during your recitation (i.e. clothing with logos, schools’ names, sport team’s names, musicians/artists, etc.).

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RETURNING YOUR REMOTE PRODUCTION KIT

• Please note that the remote production kit must be returned immediately after your recitation filming. Other semifinalists will need these same kits to record their recitations, so your cooperation is important.
• Please be sure to keep the box that your remote production kit arrives in (don’t throw it out!). You will need this to ship it back to us.
• We will provide you with a return label, and can even arrange for package pick-up if you choose.
• We will reach out to you to coordinate all of these details immediately after your shoot.