If you're an aspiring young actor, chances are you've had to do a self-tape audition before…

And if you haven't...you will. 

Self-tape auditions are becoming increasingly common in the industry, and for good reason.

They give casting directors the ability to see more actors than ever before, without having to leave their offices. 

Plus, they're a great way for young actors to showcase their talent and versatility. 

In this blog post, we'll be breaking down how to make the most of your self-tape audition so you can book more gigs.

Stay tuned!

When it comes to self-tape auditions, there are a few things you can do to set yourself apart from the rest. 

Four Secrets To Making Your Best Self-Tape Audition

First and foremost, make sure you have a clear understanding of the character and the scene you're auditioning for.  Okay, this may seem like a no-brainer, but you'd be surprised how many actors don't take the time to really break down the material. 

Second, find a way to make the character your own. This is your opportunity to show off your acting chops, so don't be afraid to experiment and put your own spin on things.

And remember that a self-tape audition is just like any other audition, so make sure you dress for the part and give it your very best. 

Now that we've gone over a few tips, let's take a look at some of the most common mistakes actors make when doing self-tape auditions.

One of the biggest mistakes is not using proper lighting. This might seem like a small detail, but it can make or break your audition. 

Make sure to film in a well-lit room, with the light source in front of you. 

Another common mistake is not being prepared. This means having your lines memorized and being off-book before you even start filming. If you're fumbling your lines or reading from the script, it's going to be very obvious to the casting director.

Thirdly, make sure you're in a quiet space with no background noise, which can be anything from cars racing by outside your window to the hum of the refrigerator.

Finally, make sure you have a focal point when you are delivering your lines.

The Importance Of Focal Points For Self Tape Auditions

What are focal points?

We recently saw a self-tape from an actor who was auditioning for a role in Stranger Things that he booked.

We believe the main reason he booked the gig was that he was so clear about his point of focus when he was speaking his lines. He was so clear about who he was interacting with and where there were in the room that you could “see” them. 

His acting was spot-on because it really felt like he had a connection with his imaginary scene partner. 

We call this having a strong focal point.

How can you do this? 

Pretend you have a dog cone around your neck. And that collar sets the direction of your focal points. 

Try and keep your image of who you are speaking to in front of you and within a 180-degree radius.If you turn too far away from the camera, it will distract the audience. Watch Kurt in the video below for a full explanation of this technique

Conclusion

So having clear focal points and really connecting with your scene partner is really important for self-taping. Having clear focal points will really help you to stand out from the crowd of other young actors submitting their self-tapes.

That's it for now! We hope you found these tips helpful. If you have any questions or would like more information about self-tape auditions, feel free to reach out to us. And be sure to stay tuned for more blog posts from our team of experts! Thanks for reading!