3 Hidden Advantages of Self-taping

By Webmaster

  • 3 Hidden Advantages of Self-taping

    This new wave of self-taping also offers actors enormous advantages

    (By Carmichael Phillips)

    (Photo: Mart Productions | Pexels)

    Self-taped auditions are the wave of the future, in part, because they offer casting directors lots of advantages that traditional auditions can’t match, including the ability to screen potential actors quickly and the ability to hold auditions for actors who live far away.

  • This new wave of self-taping offers actors enormous advantages, as well. In fact, self-taped auditions might currently be the biggest opportunity for aspiring actors to stand out and to tilt the odds of success in their favor. Yet, most actors have not yet discovered these, often hidden, benefits.


    RELATED: The Self-Tape Checklist


    Here are some:

    #1. Not all actors respond to a casting director’s request for a self-tape

    (Photo: Monstera | Pexels)

    One thing many actors don’t realize is that many actors fail to return their self-tapes, at all.

    That bears repeating. Many of the actors you will be competing with will never even make the attempt to submit a self-tape!

    For example, the casting director might request a self-tape from over 100 actors. But they will never receive 100 self-tapes from the actors they requested them from. They’ll be lucky to get 60 or 70, in some cases.

    What a truly spectacular, hidden advantage that is! It’s like going to a track and field competition to compete. But when you arrive, you learn that many of the other runners have decided to call-in sick.

    Advantage: You!

  • #2. Not all actors return their self-tapes on time


    Casting is often working up against a tight deadline. In many cases, actors must return their tapes by the stated deadline and not a moment later. No exceptions!

    Naturally, many actors will miss this deadline. Some just couldn’t get their tape in on time. Some will forget the date. Some will be too busy with other auditions. Some might have been misinformed, confused, whatever.

    Who cares what the reason was? The bottom line is, this is a hidden advantage to you, as an actor.

    Think of it like this: You arrived to the arena for your track and field competition. Some of your opponents, however, were stuck in traffic. When they arrived, the doors to the arena were already closed and the race had already begun. Sorry! Too late!

    Advantage: You!

  • #3. Not all actors will return high-quality self-tapes

    (Photo: George Milton | Pexels)

    In a traditional audition, all actors compete on a level playing field and all actors have a fairly equal shot. Everyone auditions in front of the same camera in the same room, with the same lighting, with the same background, with the same direction and with the same reader.

    But with self-tapes, the playing field is not level:

    • Some actors will produce a self-tape with horrible lighting or sound quality

    • Some actors will produce a self-tape with distracting objects in the background, such as using wrinkled, un-ironed sheets as backdrops.

    • Some actors will have living things moving about in the background, such as pets.

    • Some actors will shoot their audition too close to the face or, more often, from too far away, making it more difficult for casting to see the actor’s facial expressions.


    Does the quality of a self-tape impact the actor’s ability to get cast? You bet it does!


    Of course, an actor could get cast with a bad, even terrible, self-tape. But, in that case, the actor was probably cast in spite of their self-tape, not because of it.

    Casting wanted to cast the actor so badly that they overlooked the poor quality of the tape. The quality of the self-tape and its impact on casting, is yet another hidden advantage. Because, even if the other actor is a better actor than you are, their talent may not be able to overcome the poor quality of their self-tape, which gives you an edge.

    It’s like going to the arena and lacing up your track shoes, ready to run. Some of your toughest competitors also showed up…only, they forgot their track shoes. They must run in their regular shoes.

    Advantage: You!

    The field of acting is an extraordinarily competitive one. Any opportunity you have to tilt the playing field in your direction is one you should welcome. Your ability to master the particulars of self-taping, while your competition has not, is one such advantage you should definitely make the most of.


  • You Might Also Like:
    7 Self-Tape Instructions Actors Often Ignore


     

    Recommended Posts

  • Ad

  • What to Do When You Feel Like Giving Up on Acting

    What to Do When You Feel Like Giving Up on Acting Before you throw in the towel, consider these strategies (By Carmichael Phillips) (Photo: Engin Akyurt | Pexels) Embarking on a career in…

    ACTOR STORY | 4 Auditions. Zero Callbacks!

    ACTOR STORY 4 Auditions. Zero Callbacks! But I’m not complaining! (The Anonymous Actor) (Photo: Mart Production | Pexels) I went for two weeks without a single audition. And then, wham! I get a…

    25 Inspirational Quotes by Denzel Washington

    25 Inspirational Quotes by Denzel Washington “If you don’t fail, you’re not even trying.”  ~Denzel Washington (Arranged by Carmichael Phillips) (Denzel Washington in Fences) On failure… “Fail big! Today’s the beginning of the…

    Ryan Gosling Describes the Impossible Gauntlet That Every Actor Must Survive

    Ryan Gosling Describes the Impossible Gauntlet That Every Actor Must Survive ‘The percentage of actors achieving that dream is never.’ ~Ryan Gosling (Arranged by Carmichael Phillips) (Ryan Gosling) Ryan Gosling may be a…

    What Are the Qualities of a Good Actor?

    What Are the Qualities of a Good Actor? What makes one actor better than another actor? (By Javier Guerra) (Meryl Streep in The Devil Wears Prada) What makes one actor better than another…

  • Ad

  • 1001 Reasons Why Acting is So Damn Depressing! | Part 1: Auditions

    1001 Reasons Why Acting is So Damn Depressing! Part 1: Auditions (By AM Staff) (Photo: Gerd Altmann | Pexels) There’s 100 people competing in this job interview known as an audition. 100 FRIGGIN’ PEOPLE!…

    QUESTION: Can I get an agent without a reel?

    QUESTION: Can I get an agent without a reel? (By AM Staff) ANSWER: Yes, it’s possible. But you’d be better off pursuing a reel before pursuing an agent! If you’re a beginning actor,…

    Three Different Scenes for a Self-Tape! 

    Three Different Scenes for a Self-Tape! Is that asking for too much? (By Javier Guerra) (Photo: Andrea Piacquadio | Pexels) An actor friend of mine received a breakdown for an audition recently. The…

  • Ad

  • 8 Subtle Ways to Stand Out in an Audition

    8 Subtle Ways to Stand Out in an Audition You can’t look like you’re trying to stand out, while you’re trying to stand out (By Javier Guerra) (Photo: Shvets Production | Pexels) Standing…

    ACTOR STORY | “It’s About Nothing!” 

    ACTOR STORY “It’s About Nothing!” How Jason Alexander landed the role of George Costanza on ‘Seinfeld’ (By Tonya Tannenbaum) (Jason Alexander) Jason Alexander once had a self-tape that he thought was going to…

    EDITORIAL | Actors Have Far More Power Than They Think 

    EDITORIAL Actors Have Far More Power Than They Think See yourself as a brand, not just as an actor (By AM Staff) (Photo: Juan Mendez | Pexels) One of the reasons actors become…

    The Audition Checklist 

    The Audition Checklist Are you fully prepared for your next audition? (By Jim Webb) (Photo: Pixabay | Pexels) Are you fully prepared for your next audition? Are you sure you haven’t forgotten anything…

    5 Ways Actors Fail 

    5 Ways Actors Fail Avoid these 5 key mistakes (By Kesha Tyler) (Photo: Mike van Schoonderwalt) Do actors fail because a casting director chose a different actor for a major role? Do they…

  • Ad

  • 3 Things I Love About Self-Tapes & Virtual Auditions 

    3 Things I Love About Self-Tapes & Virtual Auditions It’s the new way of doing the old business of auditioning  (By Javier Guerra) (Photo: Anete Lusina | Pexels) So, I used to own…

    5 Great Audition Tips

    5 Great Audition Tips  These 5 are the most consistent, no matter which type of audition you do (By Jim Webb) (Photo: Cottonbro | Pexels) Here are 5 general audition tips to keep…

    ACTING TECHNIQUE | Dreamwork 

    ACTING TECHNIQUE  Dreamwork  Using your dreams to develop your characters  (By Jim Webb) (Photo: Pixabay | Pexels) You already know the importance of getting a good night’s rest. It affects your health. It…

  • Ad

  • ACTING TECHNIQUE | Build Chemistry Through Compliments 

    ACTING TECHNIQUE  Build Chemistry Through Compliments  Compliments work in the real world and in the world of make-believe  (By Carmichael Phillips) (Photo: Leah Kelley | Pexels) One simple way to build chemistry with…

    Auditions vs. Callbacks: What’s the Difference? 

    Auditions vs. Callbacks: What’s the Difference?  (By Jim Webb)  (Photo: Jon Tyson/Unsplash) What’s the difference between an audition vs. a callback? If you’re an experienced actor, you already know the answer. But let’s…

    ACTING TECHNIQUE | Remember Your ABCs

    ACTING TECHNIQUE Remember Your ABCs: Always Be in Character! (By Carmichael Phillips) (Photo: Sigmund | Unsplash) If you’ve ever seen David Mamet’s 1992 film, Glengarry Glen Ross, you’ll recall the famous acronym that…

    How to Act Realistically 

    How to Act Realistically  10 things you can do to not look like you’re acting  (By Tonya Tannenbaum) (Photo: Ron Lach | Pexels) Acting is easy. Acting realistically is also easy. The only…

    What Are the 5 W’s of Acting?

    What Are the 5 W’s of Acting?  Defining your character’s given circumstances  (By Jim Webb) (Photo: Cottonbro | Pexels) Who are you? What do you want in life and why do you want…

  • Ad