It’s no doubt that we are living through historic times, grasshopper. Big, big changes with reaching consequences are happening all around the industry and that will mean a bright future for those that are paying attention.

Chances are, you are reading this while being “socially distanced” from practically everyone for a while now...

I don’t want to get into the specifics of the situation, other than to bring you up to speed on the irreversible changes that are taking place right now.

If you have been following Boost My Star for any length of time, you have heard me talking about exactly what is going on.

Most actors are always reacting to the current environment which puts them several steps behind.

There’s a lot to unpack right now. Disney practically bypassing the box office and releasing titles to streaming much earlier than planned is huuuuuuge! That too is an irreversible event, but we’ll get to that another time.

Let’s focus on what is changing in real time for you as an actor,

Here's how the auditioning process has changed forever and what you need to be prepared for so you can build an acting career that exceeds even your wildest dreams...

Self taped auditions are inevitably the future. The present situation will pass of course but something remarkable is happening all around town.

I’m hearing from our fellow actors and tribe members that casting is still underway, but instead of being invited to come in and read, they are being asked to self tape instead.

This has been around for a while but has been missing is casting departments switching to this system out of necessity.

It doesn’t make any sense, because self taping is much more efficient both for casting departments and for you as an actor, and it allows CDs to “catalog” their favorite actors in real time.

I could write a book on all of the benefits that come with self taping auditions for casting directors, actors, and even production budgets.

The change was coming, there’s no doubt about it. However, being forced into switching to this system will bring about a much quicker adoption.

Even if you’ve only been in the industry for a short while, you have probably been asked to self tape at least a couple times.

Since this will quickly become the norm, you need to be fully prepared, because it’s not the same as going in for a traditional audition.

I’ll get to that in just a moment.

When I talk to other actors about this they immediately jump into what kind of equipment they need and how to set things up, edit, etc.

Let me be clear: you don’t need fancy equipment. Your smartphone will do.

No one will expect you to submit a broadcast quality audition, but there are a few ways that you can make your self taped audition stand out.

When you are filming your scene, try to create some distance between you and the background. This will give you the dominant focal point, instead of everything in the frame running together.

If you have a plain wall or background to film against, that’s a safe choice.

If you have a wall or an environment that makes sense and adds context to the scene, that’s even better. Most actors won’t do this so you will immediately stand out.

Plus, the casting director will be trying to imagine you actively playing the role you are reading for, so if you make this easier for them, your chances of booking will skyrocket.

That doesn’t mean you have to green screen yourself into a lab, if your reading for the role of a scientist for example.

But if you’re reading for a librarian, self taping your audition in front of bookshelves makes perfect sense.

If you can blur the background a bit, that’s even better. If you can’t, that’s ok. Just make sure there are no distracting books behind you.

In a traditional audition, you don’t have to worry about lighting but that changes when you are self taping.

If you are relying on your existing light fixtures, make sure that there are no distracting shadows.

Watch for racoon eyes and be careful of overexposure, since that would wash out your facial expressions and make your audition less impactful.

Sound is another area that is very important when you are self taping your auditions. If you have wood or ceramic floors, you may need to invest in some sound dampening materials to prevent echoing.

You can get these pretty inexpensively through amazon or at a sound shop.
Don’t wait until you are asked to submit. Get yourself set up and record a few test scenes.

Decide for whether the sound on your phone's built in mic (if that’s what you are using) is good enough and determine whether your lighting set up is adequate.

A quick note about sound: your phone’s built in mic, will record a wide range of sounds, since it’s meant to pick up everything going on in the room.

That makes it more prone to picking up echoes, and background noises. Using a lav mic, or a boom picks up more directional sound and better limits background noises.

If you choose to add one, make sure it’s compatible and plugs right into your phone. These are also pretty inexpensive

When you are filming, be sure that you remain aware of your frame.

The camera isn’t going to be able to capture every emotion so you may have to play things up just a bit for them to be seen on screen.

Keep in mind that your scene will be watched on a computer monitor which is a much smaller scale than being live and in person. Watch your scene back and be sure that everything comes across clearly.

For a variety of reasons this is the future of the industry and of auditioning, so don’t be caught off guard. Many requests will come in with short notice, so rather than scrambling to set things up at the last minute, set up your space to film so you are ready to go at a moment’s notice.

While this change has been happening, as productions aim to become more efficient, there are some things that will never change.

Whether it’s a self taped audition or a traditional one, the CD still has to feel confident enough in your ability to see things through and ​that goes way beyond just measuring your talent and it’s why this is so important.

Casting Directors are putting their careers on the line with every casting decision. It’s your job, as an actor, to show them your talents of course, but you also have to put them at ease.

As we shift to self taping auditions i​t will become even more important to make sure that your reputation matches your goals.

Your opportunity to build the casting director’s confidence will be limited since they are not meeting with you face to face.

That’s what makes this next part increasingly important too.
The biggest driver of confidence in anything is social proof, and the industry is no exception.

Social proof is the reason you watch movies, read books, and even eat at restaurants your friends recommend to you.

Social media can play this role when it comes to casting and that’s why casting departments have been putting a big focus on this for a long time.

More than ever before, ​you need to be building your presence on social media because it will continue to play a big role in casting decisions. Here’s how I can help you get the ball rolling.

In uncertain times, people have the tendency to shrink their goals and abandon their aspirations, but the most trying times are what will make or break your career.

So, expand when you are uncertain and take bold action. Something I’ve been saying for years is that doing the opposite of what everyone else does is what will get you to the places they can’t even dream of.

Remember, I’m always only a comment or an email away for whatever is on your mind. I will always help and support you in any way I can because my goal is to...

See you at the top,
Scott