Self-Tape Best Practice
In the post-pandemic world of self-tape auditions, knowing what a casting director is looking for and the best way to navigate technology can be difficult. Have you noticed casting platforms (I won’t mention names) suddenly not allowing you to upload a callback video because you don’t have enough memory or castings that won’t allow you to submit unless you upgrade your account? Here are some tips to help you get noticed and avoid technical issues.
The Dreaded Self-Tape
Follow the directions! Be sure to read the directions several times before getting set up. So many people skim over the directions and miss the most critical pieces of information.
Use a neutral background, such as a light-colored blank wall or a backdrop if you have one. Set the camera up at a good angle - not too low or too high - level with your face, not your legs.
Take up the space in the frame! Don’t huddle in the corner of the frame. This is your time and your chance to make an impression.
Project your voice! Don’t be afraid to speak up. I’m not saying you should shout your introduction or lines, but speak clearly and loud enough so that no one has to mess with the volume.
Be aware of the length of your tape! Think about the hundreds of auditions the casting directors and clients are reviewing. The first 30 - 60 seconds are probably the most important.
Save your file with your name and the job in the title. This will make it easy for those reviewing to identify your audition.
Regarding the technical side of the self-tape, the size is vital when uploading to the casting platform. After the holidays, talent began to experience issues uploading their videos for callbacks. They were receiving a message that said they didn’t have enough memory and would need to upgrade their account. As the agent, I tried to upload and submit the videos on my end and got the same message. I then opened the video in iMovie, exported the file at the lowest quality and smallest size, and tried again. It worked! They can be sneaky when trying to get more money from their users. Take away - save your tape down to the smallest size!
Castings - I can’t submit, and neither can my agent!
Is there a casting that looks amazing, but you can’t submit unless you upgrade your account? Did you send it to your agent, but they aren’t able to view the casting? If you don’t want to upgrade, no worries! The past few of these castings were posted to agents within 24 hours.
Break a Leg!
