Whether you’re an actor just starting out or an experienced actor, we now live in a world dominated by self-tape auditions. Here’s a list of gear I have used, cheap but good for beginners or higher quality gear for the busy actors or even YouTubers or Creators.
Check out my article on: How To Start a YouTube Channel as an Actor or How to Start and Grow a TikTok Account
*This site contains affiliate links to products. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links.
1. Camera
The most important gear to have for self-tapes should be the camera. No matter how great of an actor you are, if you can’t capture it, you can’t self-tape.
Affordable Camera Options
One camera you might already have is your smartphone. Today’s smartphone camera quality is good enough for your self-tapes. My favorite is the iPhone 13, 13 Pro, or 14, 14 Pro. For android users, check out the Galaxy S22 or S22 Ultra. There are great apps for filming including some that can help you with your lines like Teleprompter.
High-Quality Camera Options
If you are already using your smartphone to film your self-tapes and want to upgrade to a more professional setup look for a DSLR Camera from Canon or a Sony Mirrorless Camera. You will definitely notice the difference. My favorite is the Canon since it has a self-tape timer, 4k video, it can record vertical video for social media and has external mic input.
2. Lighting
Affordable Light Options
Having a couple lights on either side of the camera is preferable to reduce shadows, but when starting out you can’t go wrong with a ring light. Most are portable, made with LEDs, dimmable, and some can change their temperature.
High-Quality Lighting Options
High Quality lighting comes in different forms. It all depends on the space you have for them and your budget. Here’s the top 3 bought by most actors and creators:
3. Backdrop
For most Casting Directors, having solid color background is helpful. It is an industry standard to have a blue or gray background for auditions, but with the pandemic many things changed. Having a solid color wall without any clutter is all you need.
Affordable Backdrop Options
Professional studios have a wall painted either blue or gray. Most actors buy a muslin backdrop you can pin to your wall if you don’t have much space. Some people buy the chroma-key collapsible background for small spaces, but I prefer the 6x9ft muslin (it’s cheaper).
High-Quality Backdrop Options
There’s not a lot of difference when it comes to high-quality backdrops or backgrounds and budget-friendly affordable options, however the following is a backdrop that comes in a kit with stands and a professional studio kit that comes without the background if you already own one:
4. Microphone
Another common complaint from Casting Directors is having terrible sound in self-tape auditions. Investing in a quality microphone is key. Lavalier Mics are the best as they can pick up your voice even if you’re speaking low. Shotgun microphones are common with DSLR and professional cameras, but can pick up surrounding noise.
Affordable Microphone Options
The most affordable microphones that offer high-quality audio at a low price come in both shotgun and lavalier form. Not all are compatible with smartphones so make sure the one you choose if you’re using a smartphone that it is compatible.
High-Quality Microphone Options
High-quality microphones come in both lavalier and shotgun versions. Here are some options that are professional, but affordable:
5. Editing Self-Tapes
Having to audition constantly can get intimidating when you have various takes. Editing is a key to difficult auditions. If you’re using a smartphone there are free video editing apps like:
- CapCut for android/iPhone/PC (FREE)
- iMovie for iPhone/Mac (FREE)
- Adobe Premiere Pro (subcription) ($$/mo)
- Adobe Premiere Rush (android/iPhone) (FREE)
- DaVinci Resolve for Windows/Mac/Linux (FREE)
- DaVinci Resolve Studio for Windows/Mac/Linux ($$$)
- FinalCut Pro for iPad/Mac ($$$)
