Do not stress about your self-tape set up!
My current self-tape set up:
As we all know, self-taping has become normal for auditions. It is most commonly chosen by many casting directors to see more submissions, especially from actors out of state or the country.
It is important now more than ever that actors master the art of self taping. However, that does not mean it is something to stress over.
It is very easy to get caught up in your self tape set up to be perfect. Especially, with a heavy load of information that the internet and social media tells you to do and not to do. It can be overwhelming, confusing and misleading. This can make the auditioning experience a dreadful one and take focus away from what is most important– your acting performance.
Here are some reasons why you should put less pressure on yourself to create the perfect self tape set up:
Perfection in your setup is not what casting directors are looking for. The biggest thing they look for is:
Can they see you clearly?
Is there enough light?
Can they hear you clearly?
Did your acting performance pull them in?
The reality is that each casting director is different. Some do prefer the standard gray or blue backdrop, however when you are just starting or traveling, it isn’t always sustainable to have access to those colors for a backdrop. It is much preferable that you have a plain background with little-nothing behind you if possible to avoid distraction.
However, in certain instances like when you are asked to do a full body shot, sometimes you may not have a lot of space around and some parts of the room will come up in the frame. As long as it isn’t drastically distracting, that is perfectly okay!
Quality over quantity.
Having the sharpest camera, the clearest mic, most balanced lighting and a perfectly steamed backdrop isn’t everything. An actor can have the best equipment and still not book the job.
This is because your performance is what sells you! Not your set up. If you have a poor connection to the character, that will shine much stronger in your self tape than if you had half of a picture frame showing behind you in the camera.
The auditioning experience should not have to be dreadful!
Especially as a new actor, it can be so easy to get caught up in having the perfect set up due to fear of making a mistake.
This takes your focus away from why you are doing the audition. It can even steer you away from why you love acting in the first place.
The most perfect self tape set up is not worth sacrificing your enjoyment of the process, especially since the joy you feel acting will be clearly reflected within the self-tape.
I remember when I started auditioning, I received a big audition for an upcoming television show and I focused so much on the perfect set up that I was up for hours until the early morning completing the self-tape. I was not very proud of my performance. The level of pressure I put on myself and the value I gave to the set up completely strayed my focus away from my performance and why I loved the storyline of the project.
Every actor falls into this trap at some point, it is completely natural because all we want is to do our best. Unfortunately, misinformation on the internet makes us believe that all of our focus and energy needs to go into perfecting things. The reality is there is no such thing. As long as your self-tape shows you being clearly visible and heard, it is the proper quality to be submitted. Each person’s self-tape set-up is different and what works for you will be “perfect” for you.
Enjoy the self-taping process.
You embarked on this journey because you love it. It takes time. Enjoy the process that makes the experience worthwhile.