selftape [self-teyp]

NOUN (a selftape)

1) a self made recording of an actor performing a scene or delivering lines for an audition.  It's like being handed a one-person film crew in a box, along with a healthy dose of existential dread. Ugh!

VERB (to selftape)

2) actors direct, shoot, edit, and star in a scene...but not all actors are happy about it! 

SYNONYM (the truth, the scoop, aka consolation prize)

3) At least you get full creative control over your performance...kind of like being your own quirky indie director, minus the budget and the hipsters.

🎬 The rise of selftape auditions has transformed the casting process. 🎬

As an aspiring actor or a parent supporting a young talent, you're well aware of the ever-evolving landscape of auditions. Today, let's dive into the good, the bad, and the ugly truths about selftape auditions and how technology is revolutionizing the game and your chances of being cast. 

The competition is fierce, and mastering the art of self-tape auditions can give you a competitive edge in this digital age.

With the convenience of technology - auditions can be literally taped on your smartphone! 📱- actors now have the power to audition from anywhere, breaking the barriers of distance and accessibility. 

But with great opportunity comes the need for greater skills. Aspiring actors MUST learn to navigate and embrace this new terrain with finesse and creativity. 🎥 💫

Old Traditional Auditions vs. New Selftape Auditions

Before the digital era and the pandemic transformed the audition process, traditional in-person auditions were the norm, requiring actors to perform live in front of casting directors. However, with the rise of selftape auditions, the game has changed significantly, offering a more flexible and potentially cost-effective alternative.  But yet, many actors still feel like they're banging their heads on the wall when selftape auditioning.

Benefits of Selftape Auditions: “The Good”

Selftape auditions bring a myriad of benefits to actors:

• They offer unparalleled convenience to audition from the comfort of your home
• No time spent traveling across town to casting offices or studios
• No need to pay for travel expenses (gas, parking, subway, Uber etc…)
• Selftapes allow actors to record multiple takes to perfect their performance 
• Convenience of taping at your own pace/schedule (albeit with a deadline)

No Feedback and No Personal Connection:  “The Bad”

The actor's lament I hear the most regarding selftapes, “I never get any feedback.”

FEEDBACK -

"...I hope they liked me", said by every actor everywhere

But, let’s think back to before we were in this selftape Wonka world - remember…we didn’t always get feedback from casting directors when we auditioned in the room then either.  Sure, they may have said, “good work”, or “great job” - and yes when I heard that I would take those few words and eat them up with whip cream and a cherry on top just like the next guy!  But, is that really feedback or casting just being nice.  Oftentimes they say something like that to every actor.  They are on our side after all and they know how us actors tend to wear our hearts on our sleeves.

Of course there were indeed those times when an actor might get a redirect (some specific notes to apply to the performance from the casting director) and have a second chance right there on the spot to do the audition sides again.  However, several of my coaching clients and I myself have had casting directors reach out to my reps asking for another selftape with a few adjustments.  So that’s not completely gone.

I’d be remiss not to mention that the in-room feedback isn’t always the best experience.  I remember one of my coaching clients who after auditioning for one of the main roles in the first Hunger Games movie was told then and there on the spot by the director that she got the role - he LOVED her.  He took time to show her some visual concept art of what the film was going to look like even.  Celebration commence right! 🎉  Well…no.  She found out the next day that they had decided she was too tall and she didn’t get the part after all.  How’s that for in-room feedback turnaround!  Ugh.

Seeking feedback is crucial though for continuous growth in selftape auditions - regarding performance AND the technical aspects as well. Don't hesitate to ask for input from trusted acting teachers or your acting coach - but not from casting directors. 

Yes, there are some agents and managers who do reach out to casting for feedback after an audition.  The response by many casting directors is,  “they decided to go another way”.  Some casting directors will actually take the time to give honest feedback though - but they are so busy already they just don’t have the time to give feedback to every actor (consider yourself lucky if you have gotten actual feedback that you found useful & helpful).

CONNECTION -

"...I hope they liked me", again said by every actor everywhere

I think one real loss is not being able to sort of “charm” them in the room with our glowing personalities 😉 right before or after the actual audition.  Many casting directors are missing that personal connection too, and have begun to ask actors to include a “personality chat” with their sefltape audition.  

🍋🍋🍋

Lemons into lemonade: Let's turn the bad into some good!!

🍋🍋🍋

Hello "Personality Chat / Introduction"

Usually only 1 minute or less and may include:

• you talking about yourself
  
• sharing a hobby you love
  
• something interesting you’ve been up to
  
• a special skill you have
  

Some actors LOVE this opportunity (remember lemonade🍋🍋), while others loathe it like going to the dentist for a root canal. 😬 Ugh!

Sadly, as actors we are going to audition wayyyyyy more than book the role.  That old saying, “enjoy the journey not the destination” is SO cliche, but also sort of true in the world of auditioning actors. 

When you have an audition, you get to act that day- Huzzah! - FEEDBACK or not, PERSONAL CONNECTION or not... the role is yours in that moment that you are bringing it to life!  

The REAL feedback is:

a) booking the role (or a callback)

or

b) if the casting director calls you in again for another project or another role

If one of those two things happen, you’re the golden goose 🪿.  But wait, what if your audition was truly stellar and amazing…and you didn’t get any feedback, and you didn’t book the role? Then read on to “the ugly”... ⬇️

Statistics on Selftape Auditions: “The Ugly”

Prior to 2020 a casting director might have brought in around 30 actors for a small one line role on a television show (many more for larger roles).  This initial audition was known as the “pre-read”, it was just with the casting directors in the room.  They would then narrow that list down to the strongest 3-6 actors who would get a callback for a “producer session”. Producer sessions were live, in front of the casting director and one or more of the TV show's producers and/or the film director.  Those aren’t bad odds. 

In the post-pandemic world those numbers have increased tremendously.  Which means, you guessed it: 

The competition is even more fierce.  

I recently watched a casting director on an Instagram reel talking about how a producer on a show she was casting wanted her to ask 500 actors to audition for a role - 500!  Good grief Charlie Brown!  And not to be confused, I’m not talking about how many were submitted for the role, but how many actors out of the thousands of submissions were invited to send in selftapes.

I don’t believe that number is the norm now.  But I do know that since the majority of auditions are selftape now casting directors can and do invite more actors to audition for what was “the pre-read” and now is just “the audition”.  The producer session has all but gone by the wayside as the majority of roles are now cast directly from that first selftape submission.  Some casting directors hold “callbacks”, mostly virtual.  I even had a private coaching client do a “chemistry read” for a series-regular role on a TV pilot - on Zoom!  (Side note: many, but not all, commercial casting directors have gone back to in-person auditions).  

More and more actors are getting the opportunity to audition than ever before - which is great for those actors who weren’t getting a shot prior - but the sheer numbers now also make the odds even trickier to beat.

Mindset - Reset

What actors really need to do is embrace selftapes as the new norm…because like it or not, they aren’t going anywhere.  

A few months back I was coaching a very talented and experienced client of mine.  She was stuck on the idea that she couldn’t succeed in this new paradigm of this selftape world.  She shared how she vehemently hates, and I mean hates with a capital “H” Hates, having to do selftapes and she felt like not being in the room with casting was holding her back from doing her best work.

That is until I gave her this scenario:   “What if you were shooting a TV show in Vancouver and got an audition.  Since you’re working on location out of town, casting said it was OK for you to do a selftape  (which you’d be doing from your hotel room)…would you have a problem about it, or would you be excited about the opportunity?”  She thought about it a moment and then replied, “Huh…well when you put it that way I guess I just need to get out of my own way and out of my head about it, because OF COURSE I’d be excited about the audition regardless.”  Mindset - Reset at its finest!

Conclusion

As the landscape of auditions continues to evolve, selftape auditions are becoming increasingly prevalent in the entertainment industry. Embracing this shift and honing your selftape auditioning skills is crucial for success in the very very competitive entertainment industry. 💪

Don't be afraid to adapt to the changing auditioning landscape and leverage the power of technology to showcase your talent effectively. Remember, practice makes perfect, so keep refining your selftape audition techniques to stand out in the crowd.

Get in a group class that offers selftape guidance and feedback (at my online school Actorsite we do just that in our "Audition Technique" classes for kids, teens, and adults) and/or work with a trusted coach to help you refine your current methods so that you feel confident in your selftape audition journey. 

🌟 Each selftape is a step toward growth and success. 🌟

So, actors take charge of your auditioning journey, embrace the digital age, and shine brightly in your selftape auditions. Your next big break could be just one impressive selftape away! 🎬📹 #selftapeauditions #auditioningevolution

Level up your acting game! Get exclusive acting industry secrets and career-boosting hacks in your email. Sign up below!

Coming up in the next blog post to help you Snag That Audition!: Resume Basics & Hacks Actors NEED - Sign up today ⬇️