Self-tapes have become a key step in castings, especially when the recruiter is in another country. Good news: a recent phone is enough to do it well.
1. Light first. Face a window during the day. Avoid backlight and ceiling lights that hollow the face.
2. A neutral background. A plain wall, with no objects or people walking by. All eyes should stay on you.
3. The right framing. Unless told otherwise, a chest shot, phone horizontal, at eye level and on a steady support.
4. Clean sound. Switch off fans and air conditioning, close the windows, and move the phone closer if the room echoes.
5. An off-camera reader. Ask someone to read the other lines, slightly beside the lens, more quietly than you.
6. Follow the instructions. Length, scene, slate at the start (name, height, city): the recruiter compares dozens of videos, so rigour counts.
7. Check before sending. Review image and sound, name the file clearly, and send it before the deadline.
On CineLinker, self-tapes are private: only the recruiter who requested them can watch them.