HOW TO SUBMIT A SELF TAPE (AND WHY IT MATTERS)

From a Director’s POV

Congrats!

A Casting Director has sent you sides and requested a self tape.
But wait—what’s a side? What’s a self tape?

Let’s break it all down:

WHAT IS A SELF TAPE?

A self tape is a video audition you record on your own.
Simple? Not exactly. There’s more to it than just hitting record.

WHY DO WE ASK FOR SELF TAPES?

Because—good news—we see you as the character.
Something about your headshot, reel, or vibe made us say:
"They could be it."

The self tape is your chance to prove us right.

Casting takes weeks, months, sometimes years. It’s human work—flawed, messy, exhausting. But when we come across someone who looks the part, we get excited. Sometimes we’ll even message the director:

“We found them.”

But looking the part is the easiest part of this equation.

What we need to know is:

• Do you sound like the character?
• Do you feel like the character?
• Do your choices match the tone of the story?

SELF TAPE BASICS

1. Stand Up
The hardest thing to do is project while sitting. Don’t sit unless the scene specifically calls for it (car, dinner table, etc.). Otherwise, always stand.

2. Background
Use a white wall or a clean backdrop.
Busy backgrounds distract. Don’t give tired casting eyes a reason to look anywhere but at you.

3. Framing
Use a medium shot—roughly from your midsection up. Where a solid color shirt preferably a white one.
Set the camera on a tripod or fixed surface. No handhelds. No wobbly setups. Make sure you have adequate light. And last but not least comb your hair unless the part calls for your hair to be unkept. If you do wear make up make sure it's not distracting for the scene.

4. Slate
Start with:

• Your full name
• Your age
• A full body profile (turn 90° left, then 90° left again to face the camera, then 90° right).
  Hold each position for a beat.

Why?
So we can see your face and body from all angles. Because that’s how we’ll shoot you on set.

THE SCRIPT (AKA “THE SIDE”)

A side is a piece of the script you’ll use for the audition.
It usually contains a section of dialogue from the character you’re auditioning for.

Most self tapes will include a monologue-style side—meaning you won’t need a reader or scene partner. Just deliver the lines directly to camera.

MEMORIZE YOUR LINES

Speed is only impressive if you know the material.
Don’t rush to be the first tape submitted if you’re unprepared.
Honor the opportunity. Be off-book if possible.

MAKE CHOICES

This is what separates booked and busy actors from people who watch booked and busy actors on their Television.
We’re looking for your choices.

What’s a choice?

• A hand gesture when you say, “Get out of here.”
• A change in tone.
• A pause.
• A glance away.
• Curling your finger to say, “Come here.”

Sometimes choices are written into the script. Most of the time, they aren’t.
Don’t just say the lines—perform them.

I should see you make at least a dozen choices in your self tape.

DON’T SETTLE FOR ONE TAKE

If you tape it once and say, “That’s good enough,” let me be honest:
It probably isn’t.

And your good enough probably isn’t good enough for us.

Even if it is, that won’t be the attitude on set.
On set, we do it until it’s right.
And then we do it again—for safety.

So you might as well get used to that now.

FINAL WORD

Filmmaking is about making 10,000 choices—each one deciding whether a movie is great or forgettable.

Make it easy for us to choose you.