Prepare Self-Tapes: Quick Top Tips

Actors who are preparing self-tapes, remember this:

Doing the work begets the work.

A person has to put in the work to get something out of it.

When you get a self-tape audition, or when you’re working on a scene for class—take the opportunity to rise to the occasion! Do the work it takes to get your scene up to speed. I know that life obligations can get in the way, but do everything you can to give yourself a fighting chance at the wonderful acting that you know you can do.

Here are some top tips for preparing your self-tapes.

Quick Tips to Prepare Your Self-Tapes:

Prepare to be flexible in your self-tape.

Be ready to be directed or adjusted by directors, casting directors, and coaches. In your prep, work your scene a zillion different ways so that you keep discovering fresh ideas and revealing your instincts on the material.

Truly—avoid getting locked into your choices and line deliveries. That way it feels fresh and alive to you and also to the viewer. And then, you will really be ready to play when they throw new ideas towards you in the room!

Prepare character in your self-tape.

Know the backstory of your character. Just because it’s not on the page doesn’t mean you can’t know your character fully! And just because you might only have a few lines in the scene doesn’t mean you can’t know your character fully!

Ask tons of questions about your character’s life. Do analysis and create a full life for your character. Make up what you don’t find in the script. If you activate your imagination about your character’s life story, then it will spill into your work in this scene in both subtle and direct ways. Sometimes, preparing self-tapes means being ready to make quick changes or improvise moments—doing work on character will help you feel ready.

Prepare the technical and emotional aspects of your scene separately. 

Don’t just jump in blindly. Work out the specifics of the actions and the camera frames, then layer in the emotional aspects. Give separate attention to each element in your prep, and eventually, they will be blended. Read your script carefully to grab all actions to include in some way. Block it out until you are confident that the visual storytelling is clear.

Then, layer in your emotional backstory, relationship histories, and point of view in this scene.

Prepare your self-tape scene with someone else.

Don’t underestimate the value of running the scene with someone—anyone— else in your warm-up and prep. Get outside perspectives on the work from a fellow actor, acting coach, or even a non-actor, and your acting choices will definitely evolve and grow. Please, always do this before callbacks with casting directors, director, or producers. Really work out the kinks before you say the lines in high-pressure scenarios!

Also, when you are doing a self-tape at home, do everything that you can to have a real reader off-camera (e.g., via Zoom, FaceTime, or in the room). I bet that you feel the difference when someone is actually reading opposite you…so the viewer will ALSO feel the difference. Help yourself act in the moment by having another person literally “be in the moment” with you!

These are just a few top tips to prepare your self-tapes. As you continue your process and your practice, the work will just get stronger. And, more importantly, your confidence will grow and the audience will feel that in your presence.

Enjoy developing and being the wonderful actor that you are!

And lastly, join me in a class to dive into the deep work.

xHeidi

Image: Ayo Edeberi in THE BEAR (2023) via Shotdeck