Acting Tips: What Casting Directors REALLY Want in a Self-Taped Audition

The ability to self-tape auditions has opened up many more opportunities for actors in recent years. With casting directors looking nationally and even internationally for just the right face and voice to fit each role, actors can be based anywhere and many are now moving out of Los Angeles and New York to more family friendly places with less traffic and urban stress and a much lower cost of living. As long as there's an airport nearby, you can still work in this business.

But when self-taping first became an option, the out-of-pocket expense could be considerable. Actors were told that taped auditions needed to be perfect or they would just get tossed. Invest in a high-end video camera, we were told, and box lights for three-point lighting. Avoid LED lighting that made you look green. Set up a room (or at least a wall) with a blue-grey background for best skin tones. Get a professional reader to help you. Hire a taping studio if necessary (at $150 a pop). All of this involved learning how cameras work and technical things like "white balance," which tripped me up more than once, even when hiring a camera operator for the taping. 

Fortunately, the reality of life (and especially the experience of the past two years) has toned down the demands. Actors might be working on location, on holiday, or otherwise away from home when an audition call comes through. Optimal taping conditions are not always available, or necessary as it turns out. The best actor for the role shines through, even if the tape is less than perfect. So don't break the bank investing in expensive equipment.

SAGAFTRA has videos on YouTube where casting directors are asked what they REALLY need from you in a self-taped audition. All are valuable, but some are quite long. The video below hits the high points in a reasonable amount of time, and I must say I was relieved to see that my instincts from years ago were correct. There is no such thing as a "perfect" audition. Casting needs to hear you and see you; they don't need your tape to win an Academy Award. 

Here's what I learned:

SLATES

Breakdowns will usually include instructions for the slate. If not, submit your slate separately from your audition and do this:

Give your name, height, and current location. 

Edit in a full body shot and a profile shot. 

Most important, "perform" your slate with some flavor of the role for which you are auditioning. Don't do it "in character" necessarily, but if your role is big city gangster, don't slate with a toothy grin like you're selling breakfast cereal. Keep it consistent with the role and let your personality come through.

THE READER

Get another actor to serve as your the reader if possible, but anyone will do in a pinch. Even if all you have available is your non-actor mother, have the reader get into their role and act it out so that you have something to react to and play off of. It will improve your performance.

When you edit your audition tape, don't open with the reader's voice, even if it appears that way in the script, unless the scene calls for a big reaction to their words at that point.  Otherwise edit it out and open with your first line. Also, make sure your reader isn't too loud. Move the reader farther from the camera mic if necessary to lower their voice level. Your voice and face are all that casting wants to see.

LIGHTING

For auditioning at home, the old rules are still good. A ring light on a stand is nice to have or box lights and three-point lighting if you already have them set up. Ditto a nice video camera. 

Otherwise, at home or away from home, a small rechargeable ring light that clips on your mobile phone camera is fine. Many models and prices are available, but all have similar reviews so shop around. You shouldn't need to pay more than $20 for a serviceable light. Look for built-in options on light levels and color tones. 

Whatever you have in the way of equipment, look for a location that is already well lit. Bathrooms are often good. The small ring light alone won't give the best result in a dark room.

SOUND

No loud distracting noises in the background. If you're picking up a hum from equipment running somewhere you can usually reduce it or eliminate it altogether during editing. Anything louder than a hum - police sirens, baby crying, door slamming, etc. - means you need to tape the scene again, so be aware of noises and make sure you have alternate takes.

Outdoors sound can be tricky, especially if it's windy. Find a quiet, sheltered spot. Use a lapel mic (always good).

If you have a designated audition space at home, make sure there are enough acoustic elements - upholstered furniture, rugs, acoustic panels - so that your sound doesn't bounce and echo. I've even hung blankets.

TAPING

Your face should be at eye level with the camera and your eye line as close to the camera as possible without looking directly into the lens. Tripods make it easy, but you can also put your mobile phone in a coffee cup on a stack of books - whatever works to get the height and angle.

LOCATION

At home, again the old rules apply. A blank, blue-grey wall will give you the best skin tone. 

Away from home, look for a simple background. It doesn't necessarily have to be blank, but it shouldn't include distracting views or patterns. In the video, for example, they mention shooting against a log cabin. Simple, horizontal lines. 

Soft light, if possible, when shooting outdoors.

EDITING

Yes, edit. Early on in this process, I can't tell you how many times I exhausted myself trying to get a clean take on a long script. Edit your best shots together, but don't worry about making it look like you went to film school. Casting gives no extra points for fancy packaging. They want to see eyes, intention, and layers of character.

Submit one take, or no more than two.  Casting directors have a LOT of tapes to view and, yes, they watch ALL of them.

So that's basically it. Self-taping is here to stay and the benefits to actors are enormous. True, you can't get a correction as in a live audition (although you may be given one in a call back), but you're less nervous and you show casting only your best take.  

Most important, since casting directors will be looking at ALL taped auditions, they see many unknowns that they never would have seen otherwise....and maybe that will be you.

So relax and give it your best shot.  Here's the full video: