Self-Taping in “Vertical Mode” – Yes, it’s Okay… In one particular case
The Self-Taping Dilemma: When Vertical Video is (Sometimes) Acceptable
For years, actors have been told never to film their self-tapes with their smartphone in vertical orientation. It’s been an industry-wide rule: always shoot in landscape mode. And this is still true—almost all of the time. But there’s one exception that deserves some attention: the full-body slate.
The Exception: Vertical for Full-Body Slates
Self-tapes are typically recorded in a 16:9 aspect ratio (width x height), which matches standard film and television formats. However, smartphones naturally record in 9:16 when held vertically. While this is usually a no-go for auditions, actors with limited space can actually use this to their advantage for their full-body slate. By placing the vertically shot video inside a 16:9 frame, the proportions still work, ensuring the actor is seen from head to toe without unnecessary distortion.
This approach allows actors working in small apartments or tight spaces to deliver the required full-body slate without sacrificing clarity or professionalism. Of course, if there’s enough space to frame a full-body shot horizontally, that remains the preferred option.
Keep reading for more…
Self-Taping: The Industry Norm (Whether We Like It or Not)
Gone are the days when actors walked into a casting office, performed in front of a camera operated by a casting professional, and left knowing they’d done their best. Today, the vast majority of auditions are self-taped, requiring actors to handle every aspect of production—lighting, sound, framing, editing, and delivery—on their own. While this shift has given actors more flexibility and control, it has also placed a significant burden on them.
Many actors find self-taping challenging. Setting up a professional-looking audition space, ensuring good lighting and sound, and then delivering a strong performance—all without real-time feedback—can be daunting. Additionally, self-tapes remove the in-person interaction that can sometimes give an actor an edge. A quick adjustment from a casting director or a small bit of direction can make all the difference in an audition.
The Case for Zoom Auditions
Because of these challenges, many actors prefer a live Zoom audition—at least for the initial round. Zoom allows actors to engage with casting professionals in real time, take direction, and adjust their performance accordingly. While not as ideal as an in-person audition, it brings back an element of human interaction that self-tapes lack.
That said, self-tapes aren’t going anywhere. They offer flexibility for casting directors and actors alike, eliminating the need for travel and allowing more submissions to be reviewed. But given the extra workload on actors, it’s only fair that they have options when delivering their best possible performance.
So while horizontal framing remains the gold standard, let’s not forget that, in certain cases—like the full-body slate—vertical can work just fine. The key is knowing when and how to use it while ensuring the final video is still formatted correctly for industry standards.
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