Looking for self tape audition tips? You’re in the right place! Preparing an audition tape can feel intimidating, especially when it’s your first time. Cynthia Okimiji and Jowan Jacobs, 2024 graduates of the Three Year Course at OSD, understand this feeling all too well. Not just from their own auditions for OSD, but also their experiences as working actors!
They’ve shared their top technical tips to help you confidently create a self-tape for your first-round audition.
We’ve broken Cynthia and Jowan’s advice into three sections: setting up your space, filming your self-tape, and tips to consider along the way.
Self Tape Audition Tips: Setting Up Your Space
Start by finding a quiet room with as little background noise as possible and enough space to move around. Your background should be as plain as possible. Don’t worry too much if there are posters or bookshelves behind you, you can always hang a plain sheet up behind you. You want to ensure that you are the main focus point in the frame.
Another vital thing to consider is lighting. You want to ideally be lit from the front, meaning whatever light source you have is lighting the front of your face rather than from behind or above. Try standing with a window in front of you, so you are facing the natural light. Avoid having the window behind you, as the camera won’t pick up your face, making all your hard work difficult to see!
Remember that we require your introduction and both speeches in one video. This doesn’t mean in one take – you can film the introduction and speeches separately as long as you edit them together into one video. And please don’t upload your self-tape to YouTube shorts.
The only exception to the one video rule is if you are applying for the Foundation Course in Acting with Musical Theatre. For this course, we ask that you provide us with an additional link to a video with your song and nothing else.
Self Tape Audition Tips: Filming Your Self-Tape
You don’t need professional equipment or a special camera to film your self-tape. Your phone camera is more than good enough to capture your performance. Use the back camera to film yourself instead of the front to keep your focus on your performance rather than your appearance.
Ensure your phone is stable, and you aren’t holding it as you speak. You can use a tripod, but it isn’t required. You can use a stack of books or a plant pot to balance your phone. Make sure you film in landscape and not portrait!
When filming your introduction section, use a close-up shot that frames your head to the middle of your chest within the camera frame. This should be directed to the camera. Imagine the panel are inside the camera lens; we want to connect with you, the human behind the actor.
For your speeches, reposition yourself into a medium shot, framing your head to your waist within the camera frame. Try not to look directly into the camera when you are performing your speeches; instead, look slightly off to the side. Imagine the person you’re speaking to is in the room – you could even have a friend or family member standing there, so it feels more like a conversation than a filmed performance.
Do a quick test video before filming your final take to check your framing and audio quality. It would be frustrating to get to the end of a fantastic monologue only to find your head isn’t in frame, and you have to do it all again!
Self Tape Audition Tips: Do’s and Don’ts
DO: Avoid props and costumes—the panel wants to see you and your acting abilities. We aren’t concerned with production value or how you look.
DO: Review your video before uploading it and after uploading it to ensure there are no issues such as corrupted sound or lighting problems.
DON’T: Submit a private video that requires a password to access or that has an expiration date.
DON’T: Upload your self-tape to YouTube shorts.
Self Tape Audition Tips: Personal Advice From Cynthia and Jowan
Managing performance anxiety when self-taping can be challenging, but don’t let it overwhelm you. Limit yourself to three to five takes. If you’re unhappy, it’s always best to take a break or try again the next day. You never do your best work when you’re feeling frustrated.
Remember, the audition panel wants to see you and your unique perspective. Don’t second-guess what they might be looking for—be yourself, have fun, and enjoy the process.
If you’ve found this helpful, you can watch the full Technical Self-Tape Audition Tips Video on our YouTube. We also have a detailed breakdown of the application form, which you can find here.
Good luck with your audition!