Do actors really only have FOUR SECONDS to impress casting?
Click here if you want to skip to five self-tape tips (but, then you're kinda proving the point)
In case you hadn't heard, the actorverse exploded recently when an Atlanta casting director admitted they only watch four seconds of a self-taped audition before deciding if an actor is worth considering.
Just. Four. Seconds.
Haven't watched the clip? Here it is.
Does that make you angry? You're not alone. Tons of actors furiously took to the comments section to share their outrage. And honestly? I get it. You put in time, effort, and emotional energy into your work, only to find out it might be tossed aside before you even get to your second breath.
While that casting director may have been less-than-thoughtful, please know that casting is 100% on your side. While casting directors are human and subject to all that comes with that, they really do want you to be right for the role because it makes their job easier. It would suck to have all of those actors audition and nobody is right for the role because then they didn't do their job.
As a Casting Producer and an actor myself, I firmly believe in respecting the process and actually watching what actors send in. I know, first-hand, the work that goes into doing a self-tape: memorizing lines, setting up, getting dressed, making sure lighting and sound are just right, phoning a friend to be my reader, timing the takes so the mic doesn't pick up my neighbor moving furniture for some Godforsaken reason...self-tapes are WORK!
And then to have someone not even really watch it?!?
Yes...that's messed up...
...AND (cus we "yes, and" up in here)...here’s the uncomfortable truth—there is something to be learned from this.
First impressions matter! Like it or not, we live in a time of TikTok attention span, and if your audition doesn’t immediately hook the viewer, you run the risk of being skipped over.
So, let’s talk about how to make sure you’re fully in it from the jump. No warm-ups on camera. No ramping up into the scene. Just living in it from frame one.
Swipe Left
Think about how you scroll through Instagram or TikTok. If a video doesn’t grab you in the first couple of seconds, you swipe on. I mean, honestly, if you're even reading this right now, it's because you're really interested in getting something out of it and are hoping you will! Similarly, casting directors are often having to go through hundreds of submissions and—especially after watching over and over what works and what doesn't—it's only natural that they move on if they feel someone is not quite right (there's only so much time in a workday, after all). And, much like on a first date, you can sometimes tell fairly quickly if someone feels like a match or not. Is that fair? Maybe not. But it’s reality.
Now, brace yourself, because here's some tough-love-slash-food-for-thought: if you weren't really in the moment and nailed your audition from the comfort of your own home with as much prep time as you can give yourself and a reader of your choosing...you really think that you were going to be that much more "in it" after sitting in traffic for an hour, waiting in a room full of your doppelgängers, and reading with an underpaid intern who still has to sift through thousands of headshots for the next casting session?
Maybe. But, ultimately, your job is to get the job...whatever the circumstances.
YES! There is a LOT to be gained from in-person castings. For one, you can get immediate feedback and redirection. That is super valuable! There's also something about being in person that feels, well, more personal. There's that moment when you first walk in and smile and get to show off your personality before you do your thing. All of that is absolutely valid and something that is missing in a self-tape. It's true.
AND the reality is simply that more and more auditions are self-tapes. Whether it's lower budgets, faster turnarounds, or long-COVID casting symptoms, self-tapes* are pretty much here to stay.
*and there are upsides to self-tapes—but more on that later
So, do we shake our fists at the sky and curse the acting gods for our wretched fate? Do we dig in our heels à la music industry when facing off with Napster and Limewire? Or do we evolve and adapt to an ever-changing industry so that we can best position ourselves for success?
One of those two seems more empowering than the other, don't you think?
I'll huff and I'll puff and I'll blow casting away
Now that we've decided to turn our frustration into action...what can we do?
Your first few seconds need to immediately communicate that you are present, prepared, living in the moment, and fit the role.
Here are FIVE WAYS to level up your self-tape game:
Follow instructions
I thought about leaving this one for last because it should be the most obvious, but you would be absolutely horrified at the number of times that I have received self-tapes that didn't follow instructions. Whether it's labeling files correctly, sending your audition via the requested method (Casting Networks, WeTransfer, etc.), framing properly, slating with the requested information, or whatever it might be...please for-the-love-of-all-that-is-Meryl-Streep...read and follow the instructions! Casting spends a decent chunk of time breaking down the client's needs and writing out detailed instructions. In the same way that you would like your time and effort to be valued and respected, do the same for casting. It will only hurt you if you don't follow instructions.
Your "Moment Before"
It's very common for an actor to just jump right into the scene...and by "scene" I mean their line. Acting isn’t just about talking. It’s about listening. Reacting. Being engaged with the world around you. Even in a self-tape where your reader is off-camera, we can tell if you’re genuinely in the moment or just waiting for your next line...and that begins right at the top. Take a sip of a drink, fix your collar, walk into frame, turn towards camera, do something that is active and appropriate for the scene that builds the environment and propels you to live in the moment. Uta Hagen would agree.
Make strong, specific choices
A lot of actors try to play it safe in auditions, thinking they need to be the “right” version of the character. But strong, confident choices are what stand out. Make them specific. Make them yours. Especially if you have two takes to send in, make sure you show range. Just be sure that these choices are within the world of the script.
Help suspend disbelief
Here's a somewhat tricky one. We know you're not actually doing surgery or running from a zombie or really buying that new iPhone. That being said, make it easier for casting to imagine you in the role. Dress the part (or at the very least don't dress contrary to the part). I'm not saying go out and have a military uniform ready to go, but maybe wear something green or navy blue. If you're auditioning for a high-powered lawyer, a white button down and a blazer could work. When it comes to props (as someone who absolutely hates miming), help yourself out by using something (anything) that is similar to what your character might be using. If you're performing surgery, grab a butter knife—it will help you feel more in the moment and you can always have the prop be out of frame so it doesn't look silly. Do whatever you can (within reason) to suspend disbelief and help casting see you in the role.
Don't overdo it
I don't know about you, but sometimes I overthink things. Kill—don't overkill—the audition. Prep, shoot, review, reshoot (if necessary). Don't do a million takes and audition yourself to death. Sometimes you just have to trust you got it, send it in, and move on.
Self-Tapes: The Good, The Bad, and The Reality
We talked about the totally valid downside of self-tapes. They have limitations, yes...
AND, let's look at some of the upsides:
More opportunities – You’re not limited to auditions in your immediate city and casting directors can consider more talent than ever before, taking chances on actors that normally wouldn't have been called in with a more restrictive schedule.
More flexibility – No more scrambling to get shifts covered or racing across town for a five-minute audition.
More prep-time – I know you still get those last-minute requests, but self-tapes generally still allow for more time to prep and send it in.
More takes – While you would normally only get one or two takes in person, you have control of your takes (just remember not to overdo it).
More risk-taking – You can play more with self-tapes. Try something new (different choice, incorporate camera movement, prop, etc.) and see how it looks. If it works, send it in (especially if you're able to send multiple takes).
Not to mention, a reader you trust! While it can be a challenge to get a friend to read with you, if you have a good reader that can give you what you need in the scene, that's gold.
And scene
If you made it through this entire blog entry, I hope you got a thing or two (or five) out of it. But, if there's only one takeaway from this whole "4-second casting" ordeal, is that the only thing actors can control is how they prepare.
If you get an audition (whether in person or self-tape)...you are getting an opportunity!
Control what you can control: Your preparation, your presence, your professionalism.
And then? Let go and trust the work.
Shameless plug: If you want to level up your self-tape game, check out this 2-day commercial self-tape workshop.
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