The Do’s & Don’ts in Shooting a Self-Taped Audition

Dos and Don’ts in Shooting a Self-Taped Audition

DO treat it exactly how you would if you were auditioning in the room:
Be professional and prepared when you tape yourself. Treat this audition the same as you would if you were physically in the room with the casting director.

DON’T use a web cam:

As easy as it is to just sit in front of your computer and read the sides, it looks terrible. Ideally, get a digital camcorder that fits your budget and have a friend operate the camera for you.

DO use a backdrop:

Ideally, you should perform in front of a solid colored curtain because the waves in the fabric provide depth. A good second option is to find
a blank wall. Too much clutter in the background can distract from your performance. Also, make sure that you wear a color that neither blends into nor contrasts with the color of your backdrop.

DON’T rely on overhead fluorescent lights:

If it’s all you’ve got, you can make it work with overhead lights. But be aware that overhead lights create deep shadows on your face which can make you look older or change your appearance completely. Also, fluorescent lights tend to make things look more yellowish-orange.

Ideally, use two incandescent lights (bulbs with filaments). One as a key light, set off the side of the camera and pointed at your face, and one as a fill light, set to the opposite side of the camera a little farther away and pointed at your side. Just be careful to not over-light as you could become washed-out. If your room is small you may be able to get by with just one light.

DO find a quality reader:

Make sure your reader stands behind the camera or at least directly next to it to ensure that you are performing towards the camera so we can see your face. Never, unless Casting specifically requests it, show your reader on camera with you.

DON’T do more takes than Casting is asking for:

Casting has requested a certain number of takes and/or scenes. If they want one straight take and one over-the-top take, then great, but doing more than is asked for could be considered presumptuous by the Casting Director and could damage their opinion of your other takes.