How to film a great self-tape audition

Whether you're a seasoned actor or just starting out, self-taping for auditions can feel overwhelming. The good news: casting directors aren't looking for a perfectly produced video. They're looking for your performance. Get the basics right and let your acting do the work.

Equipment

1. Secure your camera

Use a tripod, stack of books, or any stable surface to hold your phone, tablet, or camera steady. A laptop webcam works perfectly well too, and if you don't have anyone available, lets you run a virtual reader or a zoom call on the same screen.

2. Always film horizontally

The golden rule is landscape orientation, never portrait. The one exception is a full-body slate, if specifically requested. Frame yourself from mid-chest to just above the top of your head, centered in frame. Casting connects with your eyes, so make sure they're clearly visible.

3. Keep your background simple

A plain wall is completely fine. Dedicated backdrops aren't necessary. The background just needs to be undistracting, nothing competing with your face.

4. Face the light source

• Sit facing a window for soft, natural light. This is the absolute best option - and it's free!

• Avoid having any bright light source behind you (like a window at your back), it will darken your face on camera

• Check that your eyes are clearly visible and you're not overexposed.

5. Find the quietest room you have

• Smaller rooms with soft furnishings (rugs, curtains, couches) absorb echo better than large bare spaces

• Turn off fans, AC, and appliances before you record

• If your reader is in the room, position them so they're not closer to the mic than you are

• For persistent background noise, a basic clip-on lavalier mic makes a big difference

6. Research the project properly

Watch an episode if it's a show. Watch the director's work if it's a TVC. Understand the genre, tone, and setting. Know who's behind it. This context shapes every creative choice you make in the scene.

7. Know your sides inside out

• Look up any words or references you don't know

• Learn how to pronounce unfamiliar character names

• Check other characters' sides if they're available, it adds context

• Be confident enough with the material to perform it, not just recite it

8. Keep your wardrobe simple

Everyday clothes that feel appropriate for the character are perfect. Dressing towards a role is enough. Casting want to see you in the role, so anything that helps them avoid having to make a leap is enough. This could be as simple as a military character with a tucked-in t-shirt. It's about finding the essence. Avoid busy patterns, clashing colours, and anything with text or logos.

9. Use props sparingly

Props draw focus away from your performance. Use them if they are natural for the scene. You may also find that doing something as simple as holding a phone, reseting your hand on a chair, or holding a ball may (even if they never appear on screen) can calm you, and make you feel more 'natural'. See what works. In general: don't make the scene about the prop. It's there to compliment the story.

10. Use a reader whenever you can

Find someone you can genuinely react to who won't upstage you. If they can't be in the room, platforms like Zoom or WeAudition let you record yourself while working with a remote reader on the same device. Do the best you can with what you have.

Make sure your reader is not louder than you in the tape. So get them to stand back, or speak softly. Casting want to watch you - don't let them dominate!

If you're stuck, you can turn to an AI Reader like Linus that works in the same way a real reader does, and you can film it entirely on your phone.

Have fun, and be yourself.

What casting want to see is you, alive, and fully present in the moment. Don't let the technical side stress you out. Your performance is the most important thing on the tape. Get the basics right, then forget about them, and act.

Don't forget, whatever you do, with each self tape to take the time to film a "f**k it take". What brings this take to life is that you get to see yourself fully uninhibited. Maybe you will never use it, but I guarantee it will get you closer to the take you will use.