You’ve done the training. You’ve developed your acting technique. You’re confident, prepared and ready to audition.
Now comes the step many actors underestimate … the self tape.
No matter how strong your performance is, a poorly executed self tape can prevent your audition from moving beyond the first stage of the casting process. I’ve seen talented actors lose opportunities not because of their acting, but because their submission failed to present them professionally.
Once you’ve been invited to audition, your self tape marks the beginning of the selection process. After reviewing thousands of self-taped auditions throughout my career as a casting director, one thing has become clear: from the moment your self tape begins, your choices communicate your professionalism and level of experience before anyone even evaluates your acting.
Whether you’re auditioning for commercials, film or television, every element of your self tape communicates something about you. It tells us whether you’re someone who understands the business, follows directions and will make the production process easier, not harder.
Key Insights
- The goal is not simply to record a good performance, it’s to submit a self tape that immediately gives the casting director and creative team confidence that you’re ready to work at a professional level.
- Read the instructions multiple times, do exactly as they say, don’t interpret or leave something out.
- Submit early to give yourself the chances of being one of the first self-tapes CDs look at.
Submit Early: Don’t Wait Until the Deadline
One of the biggest mistakes actors make is assuming the deadline is the goal. It isn’t. Many casting directors begin reviewing auditions as soon as submissions start arriving.
Submitting early gives you several advantages:
- Your audition is viewed leisurely with no deadline stress involved.
- Casting has time to request an adjustment or re-do before submissions close.
- You demonstrate professionalism and reliability.
Think of the deadline as the latest acceptable time, not your target.
Read All the Instructions
This may sound simple, but doing something different than asked for is one of the surest ways actors may get eliminated. Self-taped invitations contain a lot of specific requests.
You may be asked to:
- State the city where you live.
- Include your height.
- Wear specific wardrobe colors.
- Label your files a certain way.
- Add an underscore between words in the file name.
- Include a profile shot.
- Show your hands.
- Film in landscape instead of portrait.
When hundreds or even thousands of auditions arrive, casting needs consistency and organization. Following directions tells us you can take direction and are easy to work with.
Here’s a simple tip: print out the instructions and highlight each one. It takes less than a minute and helps prevent costly mistakes.
The Slate Matters More Than You Think
The slate isn’t simply saying your name. It’s your introduction. For commercial auditions especially, your slate gives us our first glimpse of your personality.
In a good slate you are:
- Friendly
- Relaxed
- Confident
- Natural
- Pleasant to watch
Avoid sounding rehearsed or robotic. Don’t rush. Don’t drag it out. Smile naturally. Look like you’re genuinely pleased to be there.
For theatrical auditions, opinions differ. Some casting professionals prefer actors to slate as themselves, while others prefer slating in character. If no instructions are given, use your best judgment based on research you’ve done on the casting director.
Include a Full Body Shot
Many auditions request a full-body shot before or after the slate. Know that your full-body shot is framed vertically, while your slate is filmed horizontally. Quite often, the full-body shot is edited next to your slate, or immediately afterward.
If the audition instructions don’t specify how to include the full-body shot, and you can’t find the preference of the casting director by searching online, I recommend editing it next to your slate, as it provides the casting team with a quick visual reference.
Hands in The Slate
Commercial casting frequently requests hand shots. If the instructions say “Hold both hands in front of your face,” do exactly that. Don’t decide to place your hands next to your face.
Many actors think their face should not be covered at any time, but if the instructions ask you to put your hands in front of your face, doing so is another example of showing you know how to follow directions.
Keep the Background Simple
The viewer’s attention should always stay on your face. Choose a clean background in a color that complements your complexion and hair color.
There are a number of portable backdrops you can buy online at a very reasonable price. Using this kind of backdrop will let you avoid distractions such as:
- Laundry baskets
- Open closets
- Bright artwork
- Busy wallpaper
- Kitchen appliances
- Distracting decorations
A simple background communicates professionalism.
Good Lighting
Lighting doesn’t have to be expensive. Casting clearly has to see you. Your face should be evenly lit with:
- No heavy shadows
- No bright window behind you
- No overhead lighting creating dark shadowed deep-set eyes
- Natural skin tones
If we can’t clearly see your expressions, your performance loses impact.
Sound is Just as Important as Picture Quality
Many actors obsess over cameras, but ignore audio. Poor sound immediately distracts from the performance.
Record in a quiet room.
Turn off:
- Fans
- Air conditioners
- Televisions
- Phones
- Notifications
- If your voice echoes, soften the room with rugs, curtains or furniture whenever possible.
Frame Yourself Correctly
You will be given specific instructions regarding framing.
Some typical direction you will see is:
- Close-up (right under shoulders)
- Mid-chest
- Waist up
- Cowboy shot (mid-thigh up)
When to Use a Reader
Know if it is appropriate to have a reader. Commercial auditions do not expect you to have a reader, unless asked for. In fact, your auditions are typically expected to be in a monologue style.
On the other hand, theatrical auditions do expect you to have a reader. A good reader supports your performance without overpowering you and becoming the main attraction.
The reader should:
- Speak naturally
- Stay off camera
- Avoid acting over you
- Give you something truthful to respond to
A bad reader will be distracting and ruin your audition.
Dress For The Character, But Don’t Over-Do It
You don’t need elaborate costumes. Instead, your wardrobe should just suggest the role. For example, if your character is in an upscale casino, dress a little upscale. If you are at a ballgame and it’s for a certain team, wear the team colors. If you are coaching a game, wear the typical kind of shirt and pants a coach would wear.
It’s really about your acting and not what you are wearing. You want to communicate the character while keeping the focus on your performance.
Label Your Files Correctly
Nothing takes casting more time than having to label unidentified files or correct mislabeled files. As more and more auditions are submitted, casting will most likely have to put your submissions aside and will run out of time to correct these files.
Check Your Video Before and After Uploading
Always watch your finished video and watch it again after uploading.
Look for:
- Focus
- Audio quality
- Framing
- Missing slate
- Missing full-body shot
- Correct edits
- Correct file name
A two-minute review can prevent an expensive mistake.
There are many commercial acting workshops, including mine, that include teaching you how to prepare a good self tape. To work successfully in the industry, a successful self tape isn’t about expensive cameras, perfect editing or fancy equipment.
You are being asked to be a part of casting’s organizational process. Every instruction you follow and every professional habit you develop tells us something before you’ve even spoken your first line. Learn to enjoy the process, and it’ll come through in your self-tape.
