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How to Film A Self-Tape
written by
Erin Flock
Since the pandemic, we have seen a real increase in the number of jobs that are casting talent online. Whether it be via self-tape requests or Zoom castings, the first round of auditions is now mainly being done in digital format, and it is becoming more and more regular that talent only gets called into the room for live castings at the final recall stages of the process. This means that it is crucial that talent are prepared with a professional set-up to cast online.
1) Nail your set-ups
Environment is super important. You may be quickly taping in between jobs/castings which is understandable, but if you can, find a quiet space with nothing too distracting in the background. If you are at home and have time on your hands, a plain neutral wall is the best place to tape. Natural light will be most flattering, however make sure your light source is facing towards you. If you stand in front of the light source (i.e. window) the video will become over-exposed and unclear. If you prefer to film outside in natural daylight, choose a plain and unfussy background such a wall or green foliage. A ring light is worth investing in, especially if you don't have an area with good natural light.
Spend some time testing out some areas in your home so you have the perfect space. Ideally, you will be able to find a setup where you can have a close, a mid, and a full-length shot; all without having to change the camera angle multiple times. Make sure you have a tidy space around you, standing in your kitchen or a messy bedroom will not look professional and will distract from your performance.
A phone is more than efficient to shoot your self-tape on. If you own a fancy camera then by all means use it, however don’t feel like you need to splash out on expensive equipment. Always shoot horizontally rather than vertically. Landscape is the same shape as a TV screen and looks much more professional.
Look well-groomed. Perhaps a given, but you should always treat a self-tape as if you were going into a physical casting. Look natural and don’t go overboard on makeup. Make sure your face isn’t shiny, your hair is brushed etc. (unless it would suit the character you are taping for!)
2) Introduce yourself clearly
You should record a nice simple ident. Introduce yourself and state your agency, show your profiles and your hands (if you have long hair, make sure to hold it away from your face whilst showing your profiles). Casting directors will always specify if they would like any other information in the ident, such as your height, or any relevant experience, otherwise keep it short and sweet. Make it clear when you have finished the ident and are moving on to the audition piece.
3) Props & costume
If you are taping for a specific role you should have been given a character breakdown, which you can use as a guide for wardrobe. You don't need to completely dress up as the character you are portraying, just give a gentle nod - going full-on Viking or Pole-dancer will distract from your performance, but use your common sense - a plain jumper if you are auditioning for the role of a teacher, a smart shirt if the role is a businessman etc.. If there isn’t any specific information on the role, the trusty white t-shirt or shirt, and jeans combo is perfect. While it is great to have a couple of props on hand to help you with characterisation, try not to hinder yourself by having too many.
4) Don’t feel the need to change scenes
If the casting directions require you to play out multiple scenarios and scenes, do not feel as though you have to change the environment and setup. This can take up lots of valuable time, and really the casting team just want to see you showing off your best skills. No one expects you to be the cameraman, stage manager, and actor all at the same time! Send your self-tape over as one file. It’s fine to shoot multiple videos but it’s best to edit them together into one video, so multiple files don’t need to be opened.
5) Learn the material provided
If there is a script for your audition, you should learn it if you can. This is not always possible and you won’t be expected to learn a very long script by heart. If you do need to use a script, make sure it is out of shot, never covering your face, and always bring your eyeline back to the camera. Ideally, someone should read in for you if there is another character. They should sit behind the camera, so you can use them to play off. Always know which casting director you are seeing, what the casting is for and what role you are up for. If you are unsure, always ask!
6) Always be on time and meet deadlines
When agencies are casting talent on Zoom, punctuality is still key. Make sure you are ready in the virtual waiting room ahead of your time slot. We have all had trouble at least once trying to enter a Zoom call, so make sure you are set up and ready with plenty of time to spare. Don't wait until your time slot to log on just in case there are any unforeseen technical issues. When it comes to self-tapes, always make sure you meet the deadline given and you send it in to your agency to allow time for any edits that may need to be made. Often the casting team are on tight schedules and if your tape is late, it won't be submitted.
7) Check the file size
Don’t let your self-tape get too long. We’d recommend filming a few takes, but chose your best 1 or 2 and include these rather than 20 minutes of footage! The casting director will have a lot of tapes to get through, and a long video will take an age to download. We like to use WeTransfer to share videos.
8) Labelling is crucial
Make it easy for the casting director to identify you by using your full name as your username on Zoom. Nicknames, abbreviations and emojis are unprofessional, casting directors want to see your full name so they know exactly who you are. They have so many people to see in one session and no one wants to miss out on a job because their username wasn’t clear. In a similar way, make sure your self-tapes are labelled correctly. Often, casting directors will state in their self-tape directions exactly how they would like the files you are submitting to be labelled. Labelling the files in the way they have asked could be the difference between them watching your tape and ignoring it.
9) Breathe, relax and have fun!
The team that are casting talent online will always want you to do your best, so try to relax and enjoy the experience. Take on board any direction and tips they may give you and be adaptable. Take the opportunity to experiment and get creative. The more tapes you do, the better you will become at it. If you make a mistake, try leaving it in – the casting director may appreciate a little laugh!
Ro from Kate and Lou + Ro Casting says - ''Always make sure you have practiced your setup before joining a zoom casting or starting to record your self-tape. We want to see you at your best and a well-practiced setup will ensure you can focus on your performance instead of needing to adjust camera angles and lighting halfway through!"
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written by Erin Flock
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