10 Tips for Submitting Your Self-Tape Audition
What is a self-tape submission and how do I do it?
(By AM Staff)
(Photo: Beci Harmony | Unsplash)
What should you do when you’re finally done filming your self-tape audition? Well, you’ve got to submit it, of course!
How do you go about submitting your self-tape? You can submit via:
*Dropbox
*WeTransfer
*Casting websites
*Video platforms such as YouTube or Vimeo.
These are some of the most popular ways to submit your self-tape. Some casting directors like to receive tapes via WeTransfer or Dropbox, while others prefer to view tapes via casting websites like Actors Access. Always refer to the instructions you receive, to submit your self-tape in the manner that the casting director would like to receive it.
(Photo: Anna Shvets | Pexels)
Here are a few other tips to keep in mind:
*Always label your self-tape. When you save the file, rename it using your name and the role you are auditioning for.
*Watch *and re-watch* your self-tape before sending it in, to avoid sending a tape that includes something substandard, sloppy or just plain weird.
*Show an actor-friend your self-tape before you send it in. You might be surprised at what they can see that you might have overlooked.
*Always turn in a self-tape, even if you feel it’s less-than-perfect. You can’t book the job if you never submit for the job.
*Remember, there is no such thing as the perfect self-tape. Do your best, but stop trying to be perfect.
*Give yourself a stopping point. Yes, you COULD do 20 takes for your self-tape, hoping to get it “right”. But, at what point do you begin to lose authenticity? When an actor loses authenticity, it immediately becomes “wrong”.
*Submitting your self-tape early can absolutely make a difference. Casting directors often view self-tapes as they come in.
*Submitting your self-tape early might give you a leg up in other ways, too. For one thing, it gives casting directors a little more time to see you and evaluate you, before the last-minute rush of self-tapes come in.
*Waiting until the last minute to submit your self-tape also puts you behind the eight ball, timewise. It leaves you no room to deal with unforeseeable complications. Always leave yourself some slack time, in case you run into an unexpected problem.
*If you can’t meet the self-tape deadline, ask your rep for help. There’s an outside chance the casting director might be able to accommodate you.
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