Tag: self-taping

  • The Spotlight Guide to Idents

    The Spotlight Guide to Idents

    Everything you need to know about filming an ident and full length shots. An ident – sometimes called a slate – is a purely technical part of the audition process in which you state your name, your agent (or that you’re self-represented) and occasionally a few other details. It’s used by casting directors to help…

  • Casting Young Performers

    Casting Young Performers

    Ruth O’Dowd, Daniel Edwards and Catherine Willis discuss their approaches to casting children and the best way to make an impression in the room. As part of our Digital Summer School, we hosted a panel with casting directors Ruth O’Dowd, Daniel Edwards and Catherine Willis. They shared their advice about self-taping, dealing with rejection and…

  • Casting Directors on Diversity, Self-Taping and Auditions

    Casting Directors on Diversity, Self-Taping and Auditions

    Read what Aisha Bywaters, Lauren Evans and Kelly Valentine Hendry had to say about diversity in casting, what to do (and not do) in self-tapes and how they prefer to be contacted. We hosted a Zoom event for Spotlight members to hear from casting directors Aisha Bywaters, Lauren Evans and Kelly Valentine Hendry. Here’s a…

  • Spotlight’s Digital Self-Tape Casting Service

    Spotlight’s Digital Self-Tape Casting Service

    We’re thrilled to be offering our casting subscribers access to remote self-tape casting services. How does it work? It’s simple! We provide you with a self-tape submission link. You pass this link on to any performers you want to see for your casting. This link opens up a headsheet and Artist’s Declaration form that they…

  • Editing and Sharing Self-Tapes

    Editing and Sharing Self-Tapes

    A guide to editing and sending self-tapes from Spotlight’s Audio Visual Specialist, Nicholas Peel. You’ve set up and filmed a self-tape, made sure the lighting and sound are on point and now it’s time to share your video with the casting director, but how should you do that? Nicholas Peel gives his tips for basic video editing, converting your file into one that casting directors…

  • Lighting and Sound for Self-Tapes

    Lighting and Sound for Self-Tapes

    A guide to lighting and sound for performer self-tapes from Spotlight’s Audio Visual Specialist, Nicholas Peel. If you’ve read our article about setting up and filming self-tapes and are ready to learn more about lighting and recording sound, then this is the guide for you! Nicholas gives his tips and kit recommendations if you’re ready to take…

  • Setting up and Filming Young Performer Self-Tapes

    Setting up and Filming Young Performer Self-Tapes

    A guide from Spotlight’s Audio Visual Specialist, Nicholas Peel, on the basics of preparing and filming young performer self-tapes. The idea of self-taping can be a little intimidating if a young performer has never done one before or if they’re more used to traditional casting room auditions. But fear not! We’ve put together this practical…

  • Dressing the Part for Auditions

    Dressing the Part for Auditions

    Actress Lauren McCrostie explains how making subtle character references in your clothing choices can help you dress for a successful audition. By choosing an outfit well you help the casting director ‘see’ you in the role As actors, we all acknowledge the importance of preparing as much and as best as possible for any audition…

  • How to Embrace the Self-Tape

    How to Embrace the Self-Tape

    A performer-perspective on embracing the self-tape… For those who don’t know: a ‘self-tape’ is a way of an actor being seen for a role. Despite being a fairly recent introduction, it has, in many cases, overtaken the conventional meet and greet. For casting directors, it saves money, time and space. It allows them to see a…

  • Quick Self-Taping Tips from a Casting Assistant

    Quick Self-Taping Tips from a Casting Assistant

    Sophia Elizabeth Tamaro gives her quick self-taping tips for actors… In today’s ever-changing world, self-tapes are a wonderful tool that allow actresses and actors to be seen by casting directors across the globe. And yet, they can be daunting for many different reasons. Here, I’ve tried to break down some basics to encourage you to…