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The self-tape is one of the most important tools that an actor needs for themselves. An actor's self-tape showcases their acting ability to casting directors, producers, agents, and other entertainment industry professionals.
The difference between a good and bad self-tape can be what decides whether or not an actor will be chosen. Below are three tips that can help make your self-tape look more professional!
Crop in Framing Framing your self-tape is one of the most important distinctions that separates an amateur self-tape and a professional self-tape. Your self-tape should always be shot in a landscape frame and be from the chest up to the top of your head. The space between the top of your head and the edge of the screen should be a very minimal space.
Add Fade In and Fade Out This small editing technique can help make your self-tape seem more smooth. A smooth transition between multiple scenes for a self-tape can help the viewer have an easier experience, rather than having an abrupt change between the different scenes in your audition. You can use any editing software to add this fade in/out effect (i.e. iMovie, FinalCut, Adobe Premiere Pro, etc.). However, if you are only using the editing software for your self-tapes, it is advised to use a free and simple software like iMovie for Apple users or Windows Movie Maker for Windows users. The reason for this is because you only need to have minor edits for self-tapes, you shouldn't do any large edits because they can become distracting for the viewer. A self-tape is to showcase your acting ability, not your editing ability.
Use a Solid Colored Backdrop It is important for an actor to use a backdrop for their self-tape. As stated previously, a self-tape is used to showcase your acting ability. However, if you have a very distracting background in your self-tape, a casting director or agent watching the self-tape may become distracted by what's happening behind you. Using a backdrop removes any distractions from the background and allows the viewers to be focused on your acting ability. It is most advised to use a blue or grey solid colored backdrop for self-tapes because they help make the actor pop instead of being drowned out by the backdrop color.
These three self-tape tips will definitely improve your chances of getting an audition with a casting director or producer, or possibly help you to go straight to film!
We hope that this article has been helpful! To learn which acting websites to submit your self-tapes on, please click here to learn which acting websites to be on!
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