We have now to begin stepping up our recreation with self-tapes. I have been seeing so many unhealthy ones currently. It is not your fault, it is simply no one ever appears to speak about what it must appear to be, sound like, the way to add and compress it, and to do all of it in a brief period of time. They only count on you to determine it out! I’ve written about this earlier than, and I feel it wants a revisit.
It is not sufficient to only ship in one thing in your iPhone anymore. Self taped auditions have gotten the norm, not the exception, and casting at all times expects them quick, skilled, and displaying the actor doing their greatest. Which is VERY laborious when you could have 15 pages to memorize and tape by the subsequent morning, and don’t have any entry to good tools.
If you do not know how good it may be, or why it even issues, attempt sitting down and taking a look at 100 self tapes from actors in a row. It’s extremely eye-opening. Belief me, I’ve accomplished it. When the standard is unhealthy, it is unwatchable (irrespective of how good the actor is). I am speaking unhealthy overhead lighting, and weak sound (no shotgun mic or lavalier mic), only a loud reader (aka your roommate or mother) standing behind the digicam overacting the hell out of the scene. When the standard is nice, {and professional} (good lighting, targeted on the face, flattering, and the actor might be heard clearly), you WANT to observe. Hopefully the performing kicks ass too, and the actor appears to be like like they’re stepping onto set (memorized, current, listening, hair, make-up, wardrobe). We at all times gravitate in the direction of one thing that appears prefer it has excessive manufacturing worth and appears nice. That is why actors normally begin off their demo reels with the larger finances scenes. It appears to be like skilled, they appear to be they’re on set (trigger they’re), and we see that they take the work critically. Why current a tape that appears like a nasty pupil movie? It makes you look novice, and there is no room for that on this enterprise.
For this reason your self tape auditions must be higher. As a result of the subsequent actor who has the identical audition as you may be extra memorized, extra digicam prepared, and can take the time to make a extra skilled self tape. So why would not you? Why would you simply half ass it? I’ve accomplished self tapes which can be despatched all the way in which as much as present runners and community executives, and I’ve seen actors ebook from tape (and even display screen take a look at from tape). You do not even at all times need to be within the room anymore to check for a pilot! You recognize what does not ebook from tape? A shaky iPhone video with a pre-recorded voice studying the opposite strains in your laptop off-camera. It simply sucks, and does not paint you in one of the best gentle.
However here is the opposite aspect of the coin. Now that self tapes are so essential, and so widespread, which means your agent and supervisor are additionally attending to see your work as properly, earlier than they ship it off to casting. Your tapes are a direct reflection of what you’re doing within the room. Do you look drained? Are you not memorized sufficient? Are you not listening or connecting? I’ve seen too many tapes need to be redone due to these items (that are completely within the actor’s management), and it does not look good for the actor who did not take it critically sufficient. Brokers and managers take discover, and it makes them extra reluctant to belief you.
There are numerous issues outdoors of an actor’s management, however this is not considered one of them. When you get a “self tape audition” for a job, why would not you give it your all, and canopy the whole lot you’ll be able to in your finish, be as skilled and ready as potential (as when you had been stepping right into a producer session), and blow them away with how nice you’re on tape, and what a fantastic actor you’re. Do not you agree?
Self taped auditions are new pre-pre-read, that means casting administrators are deciding who to usher in for his or her few valuable spots primarily based on self-tapes. This implies it is advisable stage up, perceive the sport, and in addition put your self of their sneakers, and picture what it looks as if after they scroll by way of tons of of tapes (generally hundreds for large open name castings). The primary 5-10 seconds matter, each within the performing and the manufacturing worth. Do not give them a motive to skip over your tape that you just put that every one that work into.
–Matt
