Self Tape At Home
If you think I’m going to sit here and bash you for being free and independent, that is not what’s going to happen. I encourage my students, friends and family to be free, independent and the very best within themselves. To go somewhere and have a self-tape done by someone outside of your home costs money, and sometimes, we don’t have it. I’ve been there. So let me show you how to do it on your own:
Step 1: If you have a smartphone with a camera, you’re all set.
Step 2: Find a plain white, gray or blue wall in your home. if you only have orange or fuchsia in your home, that’ll do too.
Step 3: Find someone who can read with you behind that smartphone.
Step 4: The best time to do a self-tape is during the day. You can use the natural light pouring in the window to illuminate your face. Make sure that the window is facing you and not behind you. With a string light behind you, it will create a silhouette and casting directors will not be able to see your face. (If daylight isn’t available to you. Then lamps and room lighting will do the lighting).
Step 5: Read through the scene a few times with the person reading. This way you create a nice flow. Sometimes your reader will be reading for multiple characters, and it’s a good idea for them to be very familiar, this way nothing affects the speed of the scene. Some scenes are for comedies, and require for the rhythm to move fairly quickly. Timing is everything.
Step 6: Hit record, slate if required and begin the scene. Do as many takes as you need, till you feel comfortable.
Step 7: After that, once you’ve decided which take you will submit to casting directors. You can use an app like WeTransfer to send your file. Make sure that your file is not more than 500 MB (Industry standard).
Self Tape at Victor Cruz Studio
If you decide that you want to do your self-tape at the Victor Cruz Acting Studio, the following will be included:
- 3 Point Lighting Setup
- Gray Background
- Professional Video and Sound Equipment
- A Coach to encourage and bring out the very best in YOU.
- MP4 File created of your audition (No more than 500MB) with titles, transitions and scene numbers.
- All Self-Tapes are emailed via WeTransfer within 1 – 2 hours from actual self-tape.
And that’s it. You’re off and in the mix and have given yourself a chance to be seen by the best.
Find Out More
For more on Self-Tape and how to book a session click here.
