Advice on Self Taping Auditions

These days, self taping is very popular.  It’s easier for a production company in Canada to see a UK-based actor on something like Vimeo than have them flown over just on the off-chance that they are right for the role.

So these companies may ask the actor to self-tape and send it to them or put it privately on Vimeo or YouTube. Here’s some tips and advice on Self Taping for Auditions:

CAMERA

These days, you don’t need a Canon D5 or a powerful digital video camera, you simply need a half decent HD camera.  The iPhone 4s has a great camera, but it would be better to have something with a tripod.

I would use a Flip Mino HD and a simple tripod. A Flip is about £100.00 and as an actor, it’s great for self taping or even just getting used to being on camera.

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IDENT

Some people say put up a title ident with Name and Contact Details, others say just say it to the camera. Some say do both.  Either way, the IDENT information (called the SLATE in North America)

It needs to be simple and easy, just look into the camera and say your name, who you are represented by, and the part you are reading for. Do it with ease and a natural smile won’t hurt.

THE FRAME

For the IDENT, make sure that they can see ALL of you.  But when you do the actual taping, get a shot from the mid-chest to the top of your head.

It’s a POV Self Tape.  Put it on you. They are casting you.  Keep all distractions out.

OTHER ACTORS

If there are other actors, you do not need them on screen with you, they are a distraction.  Put them right behind the camera to one side or the other.

BREATH and BECOMING AT EASE

You are bound to be excited and a bit nervous.  You need to be centred and at ease and ready.  We deal with this before the taping starts by placing both hands on our abdomen and breath into your hands.  Breathe slowly and through your mouth. It will give you a sense of ease. You will be ready.

THE OPPOSITE OF ABOVE

Need to be hyped up instead of at ease?  I would do 30 pushups, shadow box or jump rope and then breathe into your hands for a few seconds and start taping.

TAKES

It’s simple.  Do plenty and you can choose later.

EDITING

Simple editing software is often free online or most Macs come with iMovie.  Cut the piece down to just the parts you want someone to see. That means the ACTION and CUT can be left out 

PERFORMANCE

Keep it camera sized. Make sure it’s in your eyes and that they dance with the life of the character that needs to be represented on the screen.  Don’t pace, don’t wave your hands around too much and keep it simple. On the other hand, you should be just as at ease as you would be telling your best friend what happened to you last night, and the self-tape is no more than a performance than that was.

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PERFECTION

You have to strike the balance between it being perfect and it being done. Perfectionists often miss opportunities with their urge to get it ‘right’.

People who want ‘shit to get done’ often miss out on perfection. But would you prefer to be working for a big studio in Hollywood based on an imperfect self tape, or are you working away in your basement on the perfect Self Tape, two weeks after they needed it? Strike a balance, but don’t send it until you are happy.

I hope this helps, I think self-taping (Hugh Laurie self-taped for his lead role the tv series HOUSE) is going to get more and more and more popular and getting good at self-taping is going to become more of a business skill that actors require.

COACH