Guide
The self-tape checklist casting actually cares about
Casting directors watch hundreds of tapes per role. Technical problems rarely cost you the part on their own, but they make it easier to click past you. Run through this before you hit upload.
Framing and eyeline
Shoot landscape, framed mid-chest to just above the head unless the breakdown says otherwise. Place your reader just beside the lens so your eyeline sits close to camera without looking into it.
Light your face, not the room
One soft key light at 45 degrees and a plain background beats an elaborate setup. Avoid windows behind you and overhead light that hollows out your eyes.
Sound is half the tape
Record in a soft-furnished room and keep the microphone close. Your reader should be noticeably quieter than you. Clipped peaks and room echo are the most common reasons tapes feel amateur.
Slate, file and naming
Follow the exact slate and file naming the casting notice asks for. Trim dead air at the start and end, export as MP4, and watch the whole file once before you send it.
Questions actors ask
- Should the reader be on camera?
- Almost never. Keep the reader off camera and quieter than you, standing beside the lens.
- Is my footage uploaded when I check it?
- No. The tape check runs in your browser, so the video stays on your device.
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