self taping - FOR OUR CLIENTS

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Self taped auditions are becoming more and more prevalent in our field. Knowing how to do them correctly is VITAL. Especially now.

It is now a requirement of every working and aspiring actor to know how to tape themselves as well as to have the proper set up and equipment to convey and perhaps even augment an amazing performance.

Instead, please upload them via our UPLOADER by the DUE DATE:

BE SURE TO LABEL FILES

ActorName_Role_ProjectTitle

If you are requested to upload it via EcoCast, please do so. This is self-explanatory.

especially to EcoCast, as experience teaches us that there could be technical delays on either your end or theirs...or both.

This system operates with strict deadlines, and even if you are in the middle of an upload when the deadline hits, you will be SHUT OUT.

More and more casting offices are using Cast It to request and field self tapes. Set up your account and link it to Park Artists Group. Learn how to maneuver the site.

This is the industry standard. Please just trust me. 

If you are asked to shoot a full body slate, that might be the one exception, but the rest of the tape (scenes & slate) must be shot in LANDSCAPE.

This will be one of the best investments you'll ever make. Get a decent tripod, and if you use your phone to tape, it's easy and cheap to find one of those clips/adapters. Tapes that are shot by hand and shaky will not be accepted.

- Lighting. Get a light. It's not terribly expensive. If you must, use makeshift lighting as long as it works well to light you properly. If you are using natural light, be sure you are positioned to get even coverage and avoid shadows.

- Audio is important. If you are in a room with terrible acoustics, find somewhere else to shoot. You should be relatively close to the camera, so the mic ought to be able to pick your voice up clearly, but you can always get a lav (lavalier) mic that would also do the trick.

* be sure your reader steps back away from the camera as soon as s/he presses the button to record or your voices won't be balanced. Way too often, the reader's voice is this loud, booming thing and overshadows the auditioning actor's voice. 

- Backdrop. Find or designate a part of your home for self tapes. The background needs to be clear of clutter. It is preferable if you have a sheet you can drape behind you, and give yourself a little distance from the backdrop to allow for a sense of depth in the shot.

The general rule here is USE A READER.

More on this topic below.

Framing should be just under the "bra line" starting about mid-chest and ending just above your head.  Don't shoot too far back away from camera, and don't leave a ton of space above your head.

Be sure your eye line is toward / close to the lens (BUT not directly at it). Both of the above examples are of eye lines that are a bit too far off for our taste. We lose a lot the more your energy is directed away from the camera and off into the ether.

THIS IS AN AUDITION. Treat it like one. Be prepared with the appropriate hair, makeup, and wardrobe, as you would for any other audition appointment.

For those of you who have self taping down to a science, you should only tape by yourself if you can masterfully pull it off. I will say this...in my conversations with managers and casting, it can be quite distracting if, in an A/B dialogue, both voices sound the same, so you would really need to differentiate your voice and get the timing down pat. If these 2 things are not sufficiently achieved, I strongly recommend against submitting the tape that way. 

This was taken directly off of a breakdown posted by a MAJOR casting office, FYI. Honestly, don't take the chance unless absolutely necessary.

Under no circumstances should we hear your lines only...once again, if it is an A/B dialogue, we need to also hear the "B" lines - and I don't care if it is just 1 line. Make the effort to add it in during editing or something. .

 It's so super helpful and allows you to be more self-sufficient with these. 

iMovie is great on a phone or computer. PCs have their own great apps, I'm sure.

...if you are stuck at home.

Use your phone to record and have your computer set up with Zoom or Google Hangouts to have someone read for you remotely.

WeAudition - https://parkartistsgroup.com/weaudition

TapeSquad - new service - I don't know how well it works yet.

Website: http://www.tapesquad.com

Commercial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TwCkWjh_FUA&feature=emb_title