Self-Tapes
Give yourself the space to work.
A self-tape isn't about creating the perfect take. It's about understanding what's being asked, preparing your material and creating the right conditions to let your work come
through on camera.
Before You Record
A little preparation makes everything easier once the camera is rolling.
Know what's
being asked
Prepare
your material
Set up
your space
Read the brief carefully. Check the scenes, framing, eyelines, naming requirements, deadline and whether there are any specific instructions from casting.
Know your scene well enough to listen, respond and make choices rather than simply trying to remember the next line. You don't need to lock everything down — you need to leave yourself room to play.
Find somewhere quiet with a simple background and good, even light. Check your framing and sound, and make sure everything you need is ready
before you begin.
Working With the CameraÂ
Let the camera capture the performance — whether you're speaking or singing.
A self-tape is still a performance, but the camera brings the audience much closer.Â
Whether you're working with a scene or a song, you don't need to push the performance towards the lens. Trust the preparation you've done and allow the camera to capture it.
For singers, think beyond simply producing the best vocal sound you can. The song still needs intention, connection and storytelling. Know who you are singing to, what you want and why you're singing these words now. Let the vocal technique support the performance rather than becoming the performance.
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Be aware of framing too. Unless the brief tells you otherwise, make sure casting can see enough of you to experience the performance naturally. Don't become so concerned with staying perfectly still or perfectly positioned that you stop communicating.
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For acting material, keep your eyeline consistent and allow your reader to give you something to respond to. You don't need to demonstrate every thought or reaction.Â
Listen, think and trust that the camera will pick up more than you realise.
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And for both, don't be frightened of stillness.
Connection doesn't require constant movement. Sometimes the most compelling moment is simply allowing the thought, lyric or emotion to land.
Don't perform at the camera. Let the camera capture the work.
Frame yourself well
Follow any framing instructions
in the brief first.
If none are given, make sure your face can be seen clearly and leave enough space for natural movement.Â
For singing, avoid framing yourself
so tightly that every breath or movement feels exaggerated
and unnatural.
Know where
you're looking
Unless you've been specifically asked to sing directly to camera, please don't stare into the lens. Choose a clear eyeline and let it become the person you are singing to.Â
If the song changes who you are addressing, these changes should be reflected naturally, but avoid constantly shifting your
eyes around the room.
Let yourself perform
A self-tape needs connection, intention and storytelling.Â
Don't make everything smaller
simply because there's
a camera in front of you.
Equally, you don't need to
demonstate every emotion.
Trust the song and the lyrics,
trust the preparation and let the camera pick up the detail.Â
Sing to someone, not at a camera.
Don't Watch Yourself
It's incredibly tempting to watch yourself on the screen
while you're recording. Try not to.
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The moment you start checking how you look,
whether your mouth is doing something odd or whether your hair is behaving,
part of your attention has left the performance.
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Choose your framing, check it before you begin,
and then forget about yourself on the screen.Â
Put your attention on the person you're singing or speaking to
and what you are trying to commincate.
Connect with the person, not your reflection.
The Practical Stuff
Keep the setup simple, clear and reliable.
Light & background
Use a simple, uncluttered background and make sure your face is clearly lit. Natural light can work beautifully, but avoid having a bright window directly behind you. You don't need a professional studio — you just need to be seen clearly.
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If you're confident with lighting, you can use two light sources: one in front of you and another slightly to the side and behind, which can create a little shape and gentle shadow on one side of your face rather than everything looking completely flat.
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Not sure how to set that up? Ask me — I'm very happy to help you work it out.
Check the
brief again
Have you included everything they asked for — and nothing they didn't?
Make it easy for the person receiving your tape to concentrate on you.
Watch the
file once
Check picture, sound and
that the recording hasn't cut off unexpectedly.
Before You Send
Sound matters
Make sure we can hear you clearly. Your backing track or accompaniment should support the performance, not compete with it,
so do a quick test recording before your start properly.
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Listen out for anything else your microphone might be picking up too — echo, traffic, a fan, the washing machine deciding to join in! You don't need a perfect studio sound; you just want a clean enough recording that nothing distracts from what you're doing.
Name it properly
Use the naming format requested. If none is given, keep it clear and professional: your name, role/song and project where appropriate.
Check the frame
Follow the brief if it gives specific framing instructions. If you don't, they won't look past the first five seconds of your tape.
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Otherwise, make sure you're comfortably in shot with enough room to move naturally.Â
Don't forget your body will help to
tell your story, so allow yourself that freedom to physically emote, even if your bottom half isn't in shot.
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Keep the camera steady and at a sensible height — preferably around eye level rather than looking directly up your nose!
Upload the right take
This sounds painfully obvious until you've spent an hour perfecting Take 6 and accidently sent Take 2.
The Ident / Slate
Follow the instructions you've been given — not the version you usually do.
A casting brief may ask you to give your name, height, representation, location or other details before or after you tape. Only include what you have been requested, and check whether they want the ident as part of the same file or separately.
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Keep it natural and straightforward. You don't need to "perform" the ident —
just be clear, relaxed and be yourself.
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Check the brief every time. Different castings may ask for different information.
Choosing the Take
Choose the performance, not the microscopic perfection.
When you watch your takes back, try not to judge them one note, one word or
one facial expression at a time.Â
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Ask yourself:
Did I connect with the material?
Did I make clear choices?
Did the performance feel honest and truthful?
Could they hear and see me clearly?
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A take doesn't have to be flawless to be effective. Sometimes the one with the tiny imperfection is also the one where you were most present, most connected and the most believeable.
Send It and Let It Go
Once you've checked it, trust the work you've done.
Make sure you've uploaded the correct files, followed the naming instructions and included everything the casting team has asked for.
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Then send it.
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Try not to spend the next three hours going back to the tape, analysing every second or wondering whether Take 4 would secretly have changed your life.
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You prepared.
You performed.
You sent the work.
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The rest is no longer yours to control.