Self-tape request template for casting directors

A useful self-tape request tells an actor what to perform, how to record it, and where to send it. It should also make the workload clear before the actor starts.

Use the template below for your production and replace the bracketed fields. These are suggested instructions to complete, not universal audition rules. For organizing submissions and review notes, see self-tape review on ShortCine.

Copy the request

Project and role: [working title and character]

Scene: [attached excerpt or accessible link, with scene identifiers]

Purpose of this round: [what the team needs to assess]

Performance language: [language and any specific instruction]

Takes requested: [number and whether a different interpretation is needed]

Maximum duration: [limit that fits the actual material]

Framing and orientation: [the recording setup you need]

Slate: [what to say or show, or no slate required]

Reader or accompaniment: [relevant instructions]

Submission method: [application field, file upload, or link]

File limits and naming: [accepted format, size, and naming convention]

Deadline: [date, time, and time zone]

Questions or access difficulties: [contact route]

Next step: [what the team intends to do after review]

Do not send the template with unresolved fields. If you have no preference about one detail, say so or remove that field. Avoid presenting optional equipment as a requirement.

Match the request to the decision

If the team wants to hear a particular language, specify the scene that uses it. If you need a different interpretation after a first round, describe the direction clearly enough for the actor to attempt it.

Keep the number of scenes and takes proportionate. Extra material creates work for applicants and reviewers. Request another scene because it addresses an unanswered question, rather than because a larger submission feels more thorough.

Make the submission route work

Test attached files and scene links before sending. Check that the application accepts the material in the way you have described. A request for a large video file needs an upload route that can handle it, or a clearly explained alternative.

ShortCine supports role-specific application questions, including file requests. Use the brief to explain which field or route the actor should use. Do not assume a portfolio reel replaces the scene you have requested.

Decide how to handle technical problems

A muted recording and an unsuitable performance require different responses. Agree whether the team can request a corrected file and who will contact the applicant. Give actors a way to report access difficulties before the deadline where possible.

In review comments, distinguish a problem opening the tape from an observation about the scene. That distinction helps another reviewer understand what has actually been assessed.

What happens after the tape arrives?

Watch against the purpose you wrote in the request. Record an observation and a next action using the shortlist scorecard. Confirm callback instructions directly rather than assuming a status label explains the next audition.

If the production schedule changes, communicate the revised information. An actor's willingness to record a tape does not confirm availability for a different shoot date.