The History of Self Tape Auditions
posted 1st February 2025
Although self tape auditions may seem like a fairly modern audition method, they have existed for a while. Actors today can press one button to record a digital audition, but it hasn't always been as easy. Technological advancements and a move to a more digital age have revolutionised auditioning for actors and access to roles. Let's dive into the history of self-tapes and their progression over time.
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VHS Self Tapes
The 1980s offered actors the first opportunity to self tape, as VHS became more popular and affordable. This made doing self tapes on them more accessible. Before this, actors had to almost exclusively be in the room to audition. Actors would still need to post their self tape, but travelling for auditions wasn't the only way to get auditions anymore.
VHS tapes didn't have the highest quality, so VHS self tapes often had poor video and sound quality, which could take the focus away from the actors' performance.
Take a look at self tapes from famous actors that booked them the role.
Digital Self Tapes
Of course, after VHS came DVDs, but the overall gist remained the same. Both had to be recorded on video cameras and most actors could only afford cheap ones.
The years of digital technology changed the self tape game, however. Smartphones with cameras built-in, cheap or free editing software on laptops, and more affordable digital camera options meant most people could now create a quality self tape by themselves. Websites like YouTube and Vimeo could also now host your self tape, meaning no more posting self tapes in an envelope. Due to the increase of these tools, more actors also understood what makes a good self tape.
These technological advancements made self tape auditions more of a standard over time, as not only the benefit for actors became clearer, but casting directors, producers, and studios started to prefer them too. Now they'd be able to see more talent in a smaller space of time, they didn't have to get all decision-makers in the same room at the same time, and they could remind themselves of the candidates more than once. A report completed by Backstage revealed that 85% of casting directors rely on self tape for the first audition (Source: Backstage).
The COVID-19 pandemic, while tragic, accelerated the need for self tapes as no in-person auditions could be held during this period at all. While in-person auditions could have continued after the pandemic, most productions have not moved back to in-person auditions or will only see actors in person at a later stage of the process.
Due to this increase in digital self tape auditions, there is now also more help available with creating self tapes. From self tape editing services to platforms that provide you with a reader.
Did you know that Book The Self Tape Studio can provide you with everything you need for your self tape? Whether you need a reader or help with your entire setup, help is available.
