3 Things Producers Really Like About Self Tapes

The Modern Actor Podcast

I had a chance to speak to a producer on my last film and here’s what he said about my self-tape.

A little backstory:

I booked the lead role in a movie! This is a major accomplishment for me because It’s been a while since that has happened. It’s also pretty huge, considering I booked it off a self-tape! The dreaded self-tape has now become an industry norm since the pandemic, and the “right way” to do one has been up for debate.

Till now.

Read More: Your Complete Guide To Self Tapes (For 2021)

As I sat down for dinner and drinks with Matt (one of the producers) on the film, we got to talking about everyone’s booking story. I was especially curious due to the fact that I had only been hired four days before the shoot.

Clearly, something worked, but what??

As Matt worked his way around the dinner table telling the actors the behind the scenes story of their booking, he finally got to mine. He said it was a combination of two things. I was the right fit for the role and my self-tape was really good.

But it wasn’t just my performance...

He went into length about how my reader was good...the quality of the footage was great, including sound and lighting. (I go to a self-tape studio, see maps below for my NYC and LA choices) This really made a huge difference when standing out amongst the other actors who went out for my role. This conversation reconfirmed some of my beliefs about taping but also taught me some new valuable lessons.

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NYC Self Tapes

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Self Taping LA

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Here are the 3 lessons I learned from our dinner conversation:

LESSON #1 - You invest in good quality. Oftentimes people aim to reduce costs in their business. But when the potential value of the final product is made greater by a service, it’s a no-brainer. I.e coaching or going to a self-tape studio.

LESSON #2 - Not every reader is made the same. Just because someone can read for you, doesn’t mean they should. A reader does more than just read the other character’s lines. From a technical standpoint, they need to be able to come in on their cues but more importantly, they can elevate your performance if they can bring some energy as well. This is easier said than done.

LESSON #3 - Don’t assume casting can see past a badly produced self-tape. Word around the campfire is that CDs and directors will look past a poorly produced tape but that couldn’t be further from the truth. The fact of the matter is, you’re really taking your chances if you think you can send in a grainy video or a video with horrible sound. (I try to only shoot commercial auditions with my iPhone)

Have you explored going to a self-tape studio?

Do you have any success stories with this method?

Quote that’s got me thinking: "Find your purpose and fling your life out to it. Find a way or make one. Try with all your might. Self-made or never made.” ~ Orison Swett Marden

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