After nearly a decade of watching self-tapes from the casting side, we’ve put together answers to the most common questions — plus simple tips to help your audition stand out to casting directors, directors, and producers.

Does video/sound quality matter?

Yes… up to a point. Of course the quality of your video is going to play a part in how you’re considered for a role. Having low-quality footage (lower than 720p), dim lighting, poor sound and a distracting background will all effect your audition tape negatively and distract viewers from focusing on your work. However, it doesn’t need to be fancy! You don’t need the most expensive gear, film quality lenses or the perfect lighting set-up to deliver a great performance and book the job.

The 4 most important things are:

• That you tape in a well lit area (with studio lights or a window facing you, not the camera). Don’t be backlit, and if you can diffuse the lighting through the use of curtains or soft boxes all the better. Avoid harsh angled lighting that creates unflattering shadows across your face or onto the background.

• Use 720-1080p video quality (no need for 4k). A Phone set at 1080p and 24 fps (frames per second) works great.

• That you tape in a quiet space that allows dialogue to be captured cleanly (a directional microphone is helpful but not necessary).

• You have a solid backdrop without any distractions in the background (preferably a solid blue or grey backdrop, but a blank white wall also works).

How do I frame my audition?

The industry standard is to frame HORIZONTALLY from just below the shoulders to just above the head. This is called a Medium Close-Up. Have yourself centered in the frame or slighted to the opposite side of your reader. The most important thing is that you don’t cut off your head/hair at the top and you don’t step out of the frame at any point unless you are entering/exiting or the scene calls for it.

It’s also important to have the camera set up at eye-level. Having the camera positioned to high above your head or too low beneath you distorts how you look. You always want to present an accurate image of yourself.

Below is an example of proper self-tape framing:

Should my reader be a professional actor?

Yes, your reader should be someone that understands how to be a present and active scene partner. Your performance on-camera will always be elevated by a good off-camera reader who is delivering the other characters lines in an authentic and grounded way.

But it’s a fine line. Your reader should not be looking to steal the scene with their performance. For instance, the reader should not be louder than you. That’s why we recommend using a directional mic to hone in on your voice as the reader will naturally be standing closer to the camera. Or if your scene calls for southern accents, don’t have your reader deliver lines in an accent as well, especially if it’s not their natural dialect.

The reader is there to support your performance, provide a genuine read of the lines to react to and allow you to remain the focus of the scene.

Do I need to make a bold or out-of-the-box choice to stand out?

There are a lot of unorthodox audition tapes floating around the internet that give the impression that in order to book the job, we as actors, need to do something extreme or unexpected to get the attention of casting. This is a double-edged sword.

Although it’s important to give a unique take on a character, don’t let this become the focus of your audition. The most important thing is to give a performance that feels authentic to you AND serves the story that’s being told. An authentic performance always comes from understanding what drives your character through text analysis and rehearsal. Often times, you will uncover something in your character work that sparks an interesting action idea that is unique and attention-grabbing but ultimately serves the story. This is when you know you’ve found something that can be helpful to the scene and keep people watching.

How “big” should I go with my audition?

This goes hand-in-hand with the question above. Film and TV is about intimacy and nuance. Stillness and grounded intention will provide the audience a window into your character’s inner life.

Breathe, make eye contact with your reader and speak at a volume that feels natural to the scene.

How many takes should I do/send?

Before the pandemic, 99% of casting was done in person. When actors went into the room to audition, they only had time to do each scene once or twice. Preparation was paramount. If you’re self-taping at home, you theoretically have unlimited takes to get the perfect performance, but it won’t be that way for the callback or on set. Practice recording only 3-5 takes of each scene and you will be setting yourself up for success when you book the job and get to perform on set!

More answers to your questions are coming! If you have one you’d like answered, send an email to info@thenewplayers.com or contact us here!

By Jordan Connor, Founding Member of The New Players