The self-tape guide: phone, light, sound

Casting directors watch hundreds of self-tapes for a single role. Yours does not need to look expensive — it needs to be clear, well lit, easy to hear and easy to watch.

Framing

• —Shoot horizontal (landscape), never vertical, unless the brief asks for it.
• —Frame from mid-chest up for most scenes. Keep your eyes in the top third of the frame.
• —Use a plain wall behind you — light grey, off-white or a muted blue. Avoid clutter, posters and doors.
• —Put the phone at eye level on a stack of books or a cheap tripod.

Light

• —Face a window during the day. Soft daylight on your face is the best free light there is.
• —Never sit with a window behind you; you will turn into a silhouette.
• —At night, one lamp slightly to the side and in front of you, with a sheet of white paper bouncing light back on the other side, works well.

Sound

• —Record in the smallest, most furnished room you have. Curtains, beds and cupboards absorb echo.
• —Switch off fans and the AC while recording.
• —If you can, use wired earphones with a mic or a basic lavalier clipped near your chest.

Your reader

Ask a friend to read the other lines off-camera, standing right next to the lens so your eyeline is close to the camera. They should read evenly and quietly — the tape is about you.

The slate

Unless asked otherwise, start with a short slate: your name, height, city and the role you are reading for. Smile, keep it under 10 seconds.

Sending it

Name the file clearly (Name_Role_Project). Upload to Google Drive or YouTube (unlisted) and check the link works in a private window before you send it.