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Whether you\u2019re a new actor, or you\u2019ve been in the game for years, you\u2019ll have noticed that most auditions now ask actors for a self-tape. In the past, actors usually went into a casting office for their first audition. Now, first round auditions have moved almost exclusively online! Callbacks still happen in person, but even that is getting rarer.<\/p>\n
Producers, directors, and casting directors love<\/em> self tapes. They can see more actors from a wider range of locations, save time in the room, and easily save or share their favourites.<\/p>\n Self tapes have completely changed the game. Casting used to see maybe 10 actors a day. Now they can double or triple that number. Double or triple?! That can feel daunting. But don\u2019t despair. So many actors have booked roles (including their first roles!) off a single self tape, and you can too.<\/strong><\/p>\n The key is to understand the winning elements of a self tape audition, and to hone your audition craft to produce your own excellent self tape auditions.<\/p>\n You can love them or hate them, but self tapes are here to stay. So if you want to get ahead and find out how to film a successful self tape audition, read on!<\/p>\n Oh, boy! There it is, sitting in your inbox: New <\/strong>Audition Request. <\/strong>How exciting! You\u2019re already planning how you\u2019ll nail that joke in line three and what your character eats for breakfast. You\u2019re practically writing your acceptance speech.<\/p>\n Then, you see it:<\/p>\n Please submit via self-tape in the next 48 hours.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n All of a sudden, you start to doubt yourself: What if your interpretation is wrong? What if you totally blow your big chance? Who can I drag over here to read for me, and what if I look like a total fool in front of them? What on earth does a good self tape even look like?!<\/p>\n The problem for actors is that in a live room, casting directors will usually give you adjustments.\u00a0 They have knowledge of the project and understanding of the producers and director\u2019s preferences, and can guide actors in the right direction.<\/p>\n With a self-tape, feedback on your work is incredibly rare.<\/strong><\/p>\n That\u2019s why it\u2019s so valuable to study self tape auditions that booked the job and apply those lessons to your own work.<\/p>\n The good news? Self tapes have been around long enough that many shows now release the auditions that landed the stars their roles! They\u2019re fun to watch, fascinating to compare with the final scenes, and pure gold for working actors.<\/p>\n We\u2019re in the lucky position of getting to see exactly what worked. As students of acting (and, by extension, auditioning<\/em>) we can analyse these tapes and figure out what made casting say \u201cyes\u201d.<\/p>\n To try and create a definitive list of \u2018rules\u2019 for what makes a great audition self tape is a self defeating task. As soon as you define a rule, bam!<\/em> Some brilliant actors breaks it and books the job anyway.<\/p>\nWhat Does a Good Self Tape Audition Look Like?<\/h2>\n
You open the email, read the sides, and think: \u201cThis part is totally me. It\u2019s my destiny.\u201d<\/p>\n\n
The Elements of a Great Audition Self Tape<\/h2>\n