What is a self tape? How to self-tape an audition, step by step

A self tape is an audition you record yourself, at home or in a studio, and upload for casting to watch instead of reading for them in person. Casting sends sides and instructions through a casting site or your agent, you film the scene with someone reading the other lines, and the casting office decides from the video whether to call you back.

The good news is that a self tape does not need to look like a movie. Casting needs to see and hear you clearly, in a frame that does not distract, doing a specific version of the scene. This guide covers how to read the request, the union rules that protect you, how to set up the shot, your eyeline and reader, the slate, and how to export and send the file without losing the take at the upload screen.

Every self-tape request comes with instructions, and they beat any general advice, including this guide's. Casting director Marci Liroff puts it plainly: if the casting site asks for it a certain way, "DO IT THAT WAY!" (Marci Liroff). Before you set anything up, read the request and write down:

• The deadline, including the time zone. Plan to upload hours before it, not minutes.
• Which scenes, and whether casting wants them as separate files or one.
• The slate: whether to slate at all, what to say, and whether it goes at the start or as its own clip.
• Extra shots such as a full-body shot or profiles. Liroff notes some projects ask for a full-body shot before or after the scene (Marci Liroff).
• File naming and format, if they are specified, and where to upload.

Where the request arrives depends on how you are submitted. On Actors Access, casting uses Breakdown's Eco Cast; actors and representatives see the invitation's title, instructions, deadline and any instructional media (Breakdown Express). On Casting Networks, casting sends a media request, you see only the sides for your role, and you can attach a note to your submission (Casting Networks Support). On Casting Frontier, casting can ask for a tape when you submit or send a CF Cast request afterwards, and an agent can forward it to you or upload for you (Casting Frontier Support, Casting Frontier Support). If you have an agent, the request may come to them first.

Self-tapes are unpaid work, so the union has put limits on what producers can ask. When SAG-AFTRA reached its 2023 TV/Theatrical deal, Deadline reported these self-tape terms (Deadline):

• At least 48 hours to prepare a self-tape, and more when the deadline falls before a weekend.
• No more than eight pages for a first audition.
• A minimum technical standard of no higher than 720p; editing and specific equipment are not required, and actors cannot be told to upload to a site that charges a fee. Full-body shots may be taken in portrait orientation.
• Producers must offer an in-person or virtual option, first come, first served, with accommodations for senior performers, minors and actors with disabilities.
• Tapes may not be circulated without the performer's consent and must be stored securely. The deal did not add pay for self-tapes.

Members ratified a new TV/Theatrical Agreement on June 4, 2026, running from July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2030 (Los Angeles Magazine). SAG-AFTRA's summary says producers "may only use recordings of interviews, auditions, or self-tapes for casting purposes," may not make recordings public without the performer's written consent, and casting notices may not charge performers a fee to submit their headshot or reel (SAG-AFTRA). Other contracts (commercials, low budget, theatre) have their own rules. If a request asks for more than the rules allow, ask your agent or the union before you push back on casting.

A phone on a stand is enough; the 2023 deal says no specific equipment can be required (Deadline). What matters is a steady, level, well-framed shot:

1. Lock the camera down. Liroff: "Nobody wants to watch an audition on a hand-held camera." Use a tripod, or prop the phone on books (Marci Liroff).
2. Put the lens at eye level or slightly above, "NEVER underneath your chin" (Marci Liroff). Raising a laptop on books or a box works too (WeAudition).
3. Frame chest up with little headroom, standing about 3 to 5 feet from the camera, unless the request says otherwise (Marci Liroff).
4. Mark your spot on the floor with tape so you land in the same place every take (New York Film Academy).
5. On an iPhone, turn HDR off. Spotlight's support team says HDR footage can cause colour problems and suggests converting it to SDR if you already shot in HDR (Spotlight).

You do not need 4K. Spotlight says 720p "is more than sufficient" for self-tapes (Spotlight), and smaller files upload faster and stay under platform limits.

During the scene, look at your reader, not into the lens. Liroff asks for the reader to stand "RIGHT NEXT TO the camera," almost hugging the tripod, so your eyes stay close to the lens and casting sees your whole face (Marci Liroff). The further off to the side the reader sits, the more you drift toward profile.

• Who reads. A classmate, friend or teacher who can also run the camera, so you can focus on acting (New York Film Academy). They do not need to perform; they need to give you clear cues and listen.
• No reader available. Put a small piece of tape near the camera as an eyeline mark (New York Film Academy) and rehearse more, since you will be acting to a fixed point.
• Monologues. Liroff still wants a friend operating the camera (Marci Liroff). Choose your monologue from a real script; Offbook has monologues and scenes to work from.
• Props and contact. In a reply to readers, Liroff advises against props unless the scene needs them, and against imaginary ones (Marci Liroff).

Know the lines. Liroff wants actors "as off-book as possible" so they can play to the reader; holding the sides is fine, reading off the page is not (Marci Liroff). If you need a prompt, keep the script near the lens rather than in your lap (WeAudition). Under the 2023 deal casting must give you at least 48 hours (Deadline), so use them on the words first. Our cold reading guide has techniques for holding sides when you can't fully memorize.

The slate is the only time you look straight into the lens. Its content varies by project, so say exactly what the request asks, and nothing more. When nothing is specified, Liroff's list is a reasonable default: your name, the city you're in and the role you're reading for (she also likes to know your height) (Marci Liroff). Some casting offices want a written slate card instead; if so, make sure it is readable on camera.

• Be yourself, not the character. Give a natural, clear introduction (New York Film Academy).
• Record the slate as a separate take from the scenes, then join the two into one file unless casting asks for separate clips (Marci Liroff).
• Do not roll from the slate straight into the scene. NYFA suggests finishing the slate and briefly dropping your head before you begin (New York Film Academy).
• Leave out personal details the request does not ask for, such as your home address. Your agent's contact or your casting profile handles the rest.

Light. Face your light source; never shoot toward a window or a lamp behind you. Natural light is best; without it, lamps or soft lights such as paper lanterns work. White-balance before you shoot, and if your camera has no auto setting, hold a white sheet of paper about 5 inches from the lens (Marci Liroff).

Background. A blank white, blue or grey wall, or a plain sheet, "no prints please" (Marci Liroff). A neutral grey wall is a common choice (WeAudition).

Wardrobe. Suggest the character without costume. Avoid bright colours, patterns, logos and busy shapes, and keep make-up minimal unless the role calls for more (New York Film Academy).

Sound. Bad audio is a reason to stop watching. Cut echo and background noise as far as you can. Wireless earbuds often have decent microphones if your phone's mic is too far away (WeAudition). Record a test take and play it back with headphones before the real ones.

Shoot two or three takes of each scene and stop between them to watch back (Marci Liroff). NYFA suggests at least three, ideally with different choices, so you have options (New York Film Academy). Then send one: Liroff's rule is "Only include your best take" (Marci Liroff), unless the request asks for a second version.

Keep editing simple: trim the dead air at the start and end, and join the slate to the scene if asked. The 2023 deal says editing is not required (Deadline), so no titles, music or filters. Export at 720p as an MP4, a format both Breakdown's Eco Cast and Spotlight list as accepted (Breakdown Express, Spotlight). Each platform sets its own limits:

• Actors Access / Eco Cast: Breakdown's help for representatives says each clip can be no larger than 100 MB, up to five files can be sent when several videos are requested, all of one actor's videos go together, and nothing can be changed once submitted (Breakdown Express). Supported formats include .mp4, .mov, .avi, .mpg, .wmv and .flv (Breakdown Express).
• Casting Networks: talent can upload up to 10 media files per request (Casting Networks Support).
• Casting Frontier: up to 5 pieces of media per audition (Casting Frontier Support).

Upload from a computer on a fast connection if you can. Spotlight's support page puts the minimum upload speed for 720p at 2 to 5 Mbps and for 4K at 15 to 25 Mbps, and suggests switching to a desktop, another browser or a private window if a phone upload stalls (Spotlight). Watch the final file once all the way through before you press send: on Eco Cast there is no second chance.

1. Read the request twice. Note deadline, scenes, slate, extra shots, naming and upload site.
2. Break down the sides and learn the lines; book your reader for a fixed time.
3. Set up: plain wall, light in front of you, camera at eye level on a stand, tape mark on the floor, reader beside the lens.
4. Record a 20-second test, then watch and listen on headphones. Fix light, framing and echo now.
5. Slate as a separate take, exactly as asked.
6. Shoot two or three takes of each scene, with a different choice in at least one.
7. Pick the best take, trim, join the slate if asked, and export at 720p with the requested file name.
8. Upload well before the deadline, check that it says sent or submitted, and add a note only if the platform and request invite one.

Keep your setup assembled, or photograph it once it works, so you are not rebuilding it from scratch the night a request arrives.

Most of a good self tape is the acting, and that improves with reps and feedback. In LA, on-camera and self-tape classes let you tape scenes and see them played back, and audition prep classes work on the first-round choices a tape needs. Audit a class before you pay, and check the Price Index for what LA classes cost.

A tape that lands leads to the next round; see what a callback is and what a casting director does. To find more roles to tape for, see casting calls in Los Angeles. If you have no footage yet, the demo reel guide covers what to film instead.