As an actor, self-taping can be a great way to showcase your talent and audition for roles. But to make sure your tape stands out from the competition, it’s important to follow some best practices.
First, choose a location with minimal background noise and a solid, neutral-colored background. Avoid shooting towards windows, as the light may be too bright. You should also limit prop usage and keep your set simple. Make sure the lighting is good to avoid shadows on your face.
To keep your camera steady, use a tripod. If you don’t have one, you can use a cheap gorilla tripod or balance your phone on a chair. Have someone read the other lines in the scene with you off-camera – it’s best to have another actor do this, but if that’s not possible, choose someone of the appropriate gender for the role.
Avoid using an app to generate a voice for the other lines – they can sound robotic and slow down the scene. If you use an iPhone or smart phone to self-tape, make sure it’s in landscape (horizontal) orientation, not portrait (vertical).
When filming, start with a long shot to show your full body, then zoom in to a close-up of your head and shoulders. If required, deliver your slate (name, height, nationality, and passport information) directly into the camera. Avoid looking directly at the camera and instead interact with your reader, who should be positioned next to the camera.
Don’t shoot from multiple angles or move around too much. Full face shots are preferred. Do a few takes to give yourself options, but don’t overdo it. When editing, choose the best take (or at most two) of each scene and make it look as professional as possible. Save your files in MOV or MPEG-4 format and keep the file size under 70mb. Use file sharing sites like Vimeo or WeTransfer to send your tape, or upload it to a password-protected YouTube or Vimeo account.
By following these tips, you can create a self-tape that showcases your talent and gives casting directors a great impression of your acting abilities. Good luck!