How to Make Great Self Tapes When You’re Away From Home

We’ve all been there. You’re traveling, or home for the holidays, when the self-tape request comes in. Inevitably, no matter how well you prepare, there will be a time when you’re caught without lights, space or equipment, and need to submit an audition in a hurry. Here are a few tips and tricks to keep in mind.

Key Insights:

Notify your agent of your travel dates and equipment limitations before you leave so they can set you up for success.

Face a window to use sunlight and use a plain wall as a backdrop.

Remember that the quality of your acting is what matters most to casting.

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Communicate. Whenever you’re traveling, you should be booking out (even if it’s a soft book out) or communicating your plans in the way your agent prefers. Make sure they know what your access to taping space/equipment (or lack thereof) will look like before you go, so they can help set you up for success.

Don’t panic. Of course, circumstances aren’t ideal, but they aren’t insurmountable. Casting directors have run into this before. Fretting over what you lack won’t serve your audition, and at the end of the day, the quality of the work is most important.

Natural light is your friend. In the absence of proper lighting equipment, sunlight is going to be the next best thing. Try taping facing a window so sunlight hits you (likely west or south-facing), or even film outside if you can find a quiet spot. Most times, natural sunlight is going to look better and be less of a hassle than trying to cobble together lamps and indoor lighting. (If you’re able to travel with a ring light for such occasions, that will help, too.)

Don’t forget sound quality. Test for sound. If you’re taping in an unfamiliar environment, there’s a chance it will be more echoey, or you’ll be picking up more background noise than you realize. Blankets over walls or windows can absorb sound in a pinch, and try to shut off any AC, pet fountains, or electronic devices that might have an ambient hum.

Assess your backdrop situation. Chances are you won’t have a backdrop with you. A plain wall will do. Blue or gray walls are great, or even brick; mostly, you’re just looking for a clean expanse without too much distraction. This will likely look better than trying to rig up a sheet, but if you have the right color and access to a steamer, have at it.

Take your time with camera setup. Good angles and a steady camera are going to do a lot for production value. Most phones have good enough cameras to film an audition. Film horizontally, unless otherwise directed. It’s worth it to test your frame, to keep playing with mounting, or propping your phone until you get the right angle. Try to avoid too much headspace. If you haven’t been given framing instructions, shoot for no more than an inch or two above your head to mid-chest.

Don’t be afraid to get creative. When you don’t have control of your environment, you have to adapt. I once filmed an audition on my knees with my phone on the table because the light was best, and the cleanest stretch of background was halfway up the kitchen wall. Ultimately, do what you can to make the production value look good, but keep it simple and focus on the work.