Self-Tape Instructions to Send Actors (Template)

Self-tape instructions tell actors exactly what to record, how to frame and slate it, how to name the file and where to send it by when. Good instructions fit on one page, come with the sides attached, and give actors at least two or three days. Below is a template you can copy, a filled-in example, and the mistakes that cost you good auditions.

What are self-tape instructions?

Self-tape instructions are the brief a casting team sends with an audition request so actors can film their audition at home. They cover the scenes to read, the technical setup, the slate, the file format and the deadline. Every tape you get back follows the same rules, so you can compare actors on the performance instead of on lighting or sound.

The casting director or the director usually writes them. On a small short film, that is often the producer. They go out with the sides, either attached to the casting call or sent directly to actors and agents you have invited to tape.

What should self-tape instructions include?

Include the project details, the scenes, the technical rules, the slate, the delivery method and the deadline. Here is a template you can copy and fill in for each role.

Item	What to write	Example
Project	Title, format, director, shoot location	"Low Tide", 12 minute short drama, shooting in Portland, Maine
Role	Character name, age range, a two sentence description	Wren, 30s. A ferry mechanic who has not spoken to her brother in six years
Dates	Callback dates and shoot dates	Callbacks 3 to 4 June. Shoot 20 to 23 June
Pay and terms	Rate or pay structure, union status if relevant	Paid, day rate plus meals and travel. Non-union
Scenes	Which sides to tape, and in what order	Scene 4 (2 pages) and Scene 9 (1 page)
Memorization	Whether lines must be off book	Familiar with the text. Holding pages is fine
Slate	What to say and show, and where	Separate clip: name, city, height. Then a full body shot
Framing	Shot size and orientation	Landscape, chest up, camera at eye level
Eyeline	Where to look	Just off camera, to the side of the lens where your reader sits
Background and light	Backdrop and lighting rules	Plain wall, no bright window behind you, face evenly lit
Sound	Reader and room	Quiet room. Reader off camera and a little quieter than you
Takes	How many takes, edited or not	One take per scene. No cuts inside a take
Wardrobe	A simple suggestion for clothing	Simple work clothes, solid colors, no logos
File format and naming	Format, resolution, file name pattern	MP4 or MOV, 1080p. LASTNAME_FIRSTNAME_WREN_SC4.mp4
Delivery	Upload link or video link rules	Upload to the link below, or send an unlisted video link
Deadline	Date, time and time zone	Friday 30 May, 6:00 PM Eastern
Contact	One person for questions	Casting contact name and email
Privacy	Who sees the tapes and how long you keep them	Viewed by the director and producers only

What does a sample self-tape request look like?

Here is the same template written as a message to an actor. Keep the tone plain and friendly. Actors read many of these, and a clear one shows them the production is organized.

Hi Priya, thanks for your interest in "Low Tide", a 12 minute drama directed by Hal Brenner, shooting in Portland, Maine on 20 to 23 June. We would like you to self-tape for WREN (30s), a ferry mechanic who has not spoken to her brother in six years. Paid, non-union.

Please tape Scene 4 and Scene 9 (sides attached). Be familiar with the text; holding pages is fine. Record a short slate as a separate clip (name, city, height), then a full body shot.

Shoot in landscape, chest up, camera at eye level. Look just off camera toward your reader, who should sit beside the lens and read slightly quieter than you. Use a plain wall and keep your face evenly lit. One take per scene, no edits inside a take.

Name files LASTNAME_FIRSTNAME_WREN_SC4.mp4 and upload them to the link below by Friday 30 May, 6:00 PM Eastern. Callbacks are 3 to 4 June, so please tell us if you cannot make those dates. Questions go to our casting contact. Tapes are viewed only by the director and producers.

How many pages of sides should you send?

Send one to three pages per role, in one or two short scenes. That is enough to see an actor's choices and how they take the character. Pick scenes that show the character's main tension. For Wren, that is a scene where she refuses to answer her brother's question, plus a short scene where she is good at her job. Avoid scenes that depend on a stunt, a crowd or a big emotional peak with no lead in.

If the scene has another character, tell the actor the reader only needs to feed lines. The reader does not need to perform. If you want to see range, ask for a second, contrasting scene instead of an improvisation with no context.

How long should you give actors to self-tape?

Give at least two to three days, and include a weekend if you can. Actors need time to learn the scene, find a reader and set up their space, often around a day job. A 24 hour turnaround is sometimes unavoidable, but it shrinks your pool to the people who happen to be free that night.

Put the time zone on the deadline. If you are casting nationally or internationally, "Friday at 6" means different things to different people.

Common mistakes in self-tape instructions

• Vague deadlines. "End of week" with no time or time zone gets you tapes over three days.
• Too many pages. Eight pages of sides turns an audition into a rehearsal and costs actors hours.
• No slate rules. Some actors slate at the start, some at the end, some not at all, and you lose time hunting for names.
• No file naming pattern. Fifty files called "audition.mov" are hard to sort.
• Asking for gear. Requiring a specific camera or microphone screens out good actors with a phone and a quiet room. A recent phone is enough.
• Hiding the dates. If the shoot dates are not listed, you find out about conflicts after you have fallen for an actor's tape.
• Silence afterward. Tell people when they can expect to hear back, even if the answer is "only if you are called back".

Where do self-tapes fit in the casting process?

Self-tapes usually sit between the casting call and the callbacks. You write and post a casting call, review submissions, request tapes from the actors who fit, then call back a shortlist. For the leads, the next step is often a chemistry read, where you pair actors to see how they play together. For a sense of how long each stage takes, see how long the casting process takes. Actors who want the other side of this process can read what makes a self-tape submission work.

How to collect self-tapes in Lowerated

If you cast through Lowerated, actors can send self-tapes straight to your casting call instead of your inbox.

1. Post a casting call for the role. Include your self-tape instructions and sides with the call.
2. Let actors apply. They find the role and send their details, links and self-tapes, and every application lands in one place.
3. Review and shortlist. Watch the tapes inside the film project, next to the script, and shortlist the actors you want to call back. Your team sees the same tapes and the same notes.

The clip shows a casting call posted for a role, with actors applying and sending their details, links and self-tapes to one place.

The clip shows self-tapes reviewed and actors shortlisted inside the film project, next to the script.

FAQ

Should actors slate at the start or the end of a self-tape?

Whichever you ask for. Many casting teams prefer the slate as a separate short clip, so the scene starts right away. Say it in the instructions.

Do actors need to be off book for a self-tape?

Usually they should be familiar with the text but can hold pages. If you need lines memorized, say so and give more time.

Can actors self-tape on a phone?

Yes. A recent phone in landscape, at eye level, with soft light on the face and a quiet room is enough for casting.

What background should a self-tape have?

A plain, uncluttered wall in a neutral color works best. Ask actors to avoid bright windows behind them, which leave the face in shadow.

Key takeaways

• Send one page of instructions with one to three pages of sides per role.
• Specify the slate, framing, eyeline, file naming, delivery method and a deadline with a time zone.
• Give actors at least two to three days, and list callback and shoot dates up front.
• Keep technical demands simple so good actors with basic gear can still tape.
• Collect every tape in one place so your team compares the same set.