Self-Taping Tips from Casting Director Erica S. Bream
Self-taping like a pro is critical for an actor’s success. You know it. I know it. Everyone knows it. Casting Directors certainly know it, and…
Self-taping like a pro is critical for an actor’s success. You know it. I know it. Everyone knows it. Casting Directors certainly know it, and…
If you’re an on-camera actor, you probably have been asked to submit a self-taped audition. Heck, we have put people “on tape” for theater auditions, so even actors who aren’t making camera work a priority have probably run across a request for a self-tape. But, you ever asked yourself, “Am I executing this audition up to the industry standard?” Or, “How do I make my submission stand out from the crowd?” Maybe you are even saying to yourself, “What the heck does self-taping even mean???” Whatever your concern may be, if it has to do with self-taped auditions, we are going to cover it here.
The What:
A Self-Taped Audition, or Video Submission is an on-camera audition that you put together on your own, then send to a casting director, producer, director, talent agent, etc.
The Why:
The Tools and The Tech:
Here is a link to an article with tips on setting up your space at home.
In order to to be considered for as many acting jobs as possible, today’s actor needs to be able to produce quality self-taped auditions with little lead time. Typically, you will have at least 48 hours to get a tape together, but I have seen some requests that are due the next day. Yikes! One of the most challenging aspects of self-taped auditions is finding a reader when submitting a scene, so we suggest building a network of trusty actor colleagues, and working together, exchanging favors, so video auditions are smooth and fun. If you are a SAG-AFTRA member, your local union office might have a setup where you can tape, and be sure to check with your talent agent, too, as some have self-taping capabilities.
THE DOs:
THE DON’Ts:
NOTES:
If you aren’t comfortable using an editing platform, you will have to get savvy at making your “slate to read” performance seamless and exceptional. You might also need a camera operator to handle the starting and stopping of the camera.
WeTransfer.com is a web application that allows you to share large files via the Internet. If casting prefers that you send a file and not a link to a video hosted on your YouTube of Vimeo, then you will need to use WeTransfer (or similar) to deliver your audition. Once your video file is ready, head to WeTransfer.com. The app is very user friendly, and you can send a note along with your file, which we recommend - keep it short and sweet and to the point. And don’t forget to title your clip appropriately (see above for a recommendation).
Below is an example of a medium-close up frame:
Here is a video with some helpful hints:
[embed]https://youtu.be/r5vMUafESiY[/embed]
So, as you can see, there is a lot to consider when putting together industry standard self-taped auditions. We hope this helped, but if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to leave a comment, or contact us to set up an private coaching appointment. We also focus on self-taping in Camera 2, so if you have not taken a course with us, considering signing up. You can check out our current schedule by clicking here. And you can subscribe to our website for more posts like this, and for updates on upcoming classes and workshops.
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