Self Taping Advice

FROM THE CASTING DIRECTORS GUILD

SETTING

LOCATION - Find a quiet room with minimal background noise that is not a thoroughfare.

BACKGROUND - The wall behind you should ideally be black, blue, white, or grey. Avoid shooting towards a window.

PROPS - Limit prop usage, as they are often unnecessary for film auditions.

LIGHTING - Request that the person filming is aware of shadows and aims to avoid them.

TECHNIQUE

TRIPODS - The camera should be on a tripod for steady shooting. If you lack professional equipment, an iPhone or a budget-friendly gorilla tripod on a chair can suffice, costing around £11.99 on Amazon.

READER - Have someone read the other lines in the scene with you OFF-CAMERA. Ideally, they should be the right gender for your part and preferably, another actor. Ensure their voice remains soft enough not to overpower the take, as pairing up to read for your self-tape can enhance your audition.

ABSENT READER - Avoid reading your own lines and leaving pauses for 'imagined' dialogue as this can negatively affect your film audition techniques. It is always better to have someone read along with you, and remember to never read stage directions out loud!

APPS - Although there are audition apps where you can record your voice for the other part, they usually sound unnatural and can make the interaction feel robotic. This is not ideal for self-taping; instead, focus on genuine exchanges.

LANDSCAPE/ PORTRAIT - If using an iPhone or smartphone for your self-tape, ensure it is filmed in landscape, NOT portrait. Refer to the provided images for guidance on framing.

HOW TO FILM

Start with a LONG shot that captures your full body from head to toe. After a second, slowly ZOOM in for a CLOSE-UP shot of your head, ideally just past the shoulders (about 6-7 inches below your shoulders). The Slate – IF REQUIRED – should be delivered directly into the camera, in English only, stating:

- your full name,

- your height,

- your nationality,

- do you have a valid passport.

Pause briefly, then begin acting out the scene while ensuring you are tightly framed (from the top of the head to just past the shoulders). DO NOT read directly to the camera; instead, interact with your reader who should be positioned next to the camera, allowing you to face the direction of the camera without looking directly at it.

Maintain this tight framing throughout the entirety of your take. Avoid cutting off the scene too quickly; directors appreciate seeing actors in thoughtful moments. There’s no need to showcase the reader at all – they should remain out of the frame. You can take small steps around for movement, but the camera should follow you.

Avoid shooting from various angles; a full face shot is generally preferred over profile views, and excessive movement can be distracting.

TAKES: Ensure you have taped versions of ALL the scenes requested by the casting director as per the instruction email. Depending on their requests, consider doing a couple (ideally no more than two) of different takes to showcase varied interpretations. Gather as much information as possible in advance regarding accent, characterisation, etc.

If you are familiar with the show or programme you are auditioning for, think about its style and pace and adapt your delivery accordingly.

OFF-BOOK IS ALWAYS BEST. If you must refer to the sides, try to avoid looking down too much during your performance, as we need to see you engaging with the other actor.

Please edit your takes and send only the best one or at most two of each scene, ensuring a professional presentation. Avoid any distractions like arms reaching to press the off button.

Files should be saved in MOV or MPEG-4 format – and ensure they are not too large (under 70mb in total). If you're using Vimeo to send video files, remember to check the download option. Many casting directors prefer receiving files in a downloadable format via yousendit, wetransfer, hightail, etc.

If you upload tapes via YouTube or Vimeo, ensure that the footage is password protected for privacy, rather than publicly viewable. File-sharing platforms are often more efficient than emailing attachments.

Be mindful that particularly for US productions, files that are too small are generally not considered high quality, which is a common issue with self-tapes shot on iPhones or iPads.

While projecting your voice is not necessary, ensure that the sound quality is excellent.

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