Self-Tape · 3 min read
Self-Tape Framing Tips: The Frame Casting Wants
How to frame self-tapes - head room, lead room, eye line, and the rule of thirds for audition tapes.
Published February 10, 2025
Mid-chest. Eyes on the upper third. Off-center if eye line is hard left or hard right.
Tapes get cut for framing more than performance. A face shoved to the bottom of the frame reads amateur instantly.
The work, step by step
- Mid-chest up. A medium close-up. Standard for audition tapes.
- Eyes upper third. Use rule of thirds. Eyes on the top horizontal line. The forehead doesn’t need to dominate.
- Lead room for eye line. Looking left? Frame slightly right of center, leaving room for the gaze.
- Square shoulders. Don’t turn the body 45 degrees. Open shoulders read more present.
- Stand still. Don’t pace. The frame is your audition.
Common pitfalls
- Crop the head.
- Center-frame eye line dead at the lens.
- Constant body sway.
How Actry fits in
Actry’s self-tape preview shows your framing live. Adjust before you record, not after.
Frequently asked questions
Vertical or horizontal?
Horizontal unless the casting submission portal explicitly requires vertical.
Full body shot?
Only if the breakdown asks. Slate sometimes asks for full body separately.
Sit or stand?
Whatever the scene calls for. Most contemporary work is shot seated or in a slight stand.
Filed under Self-Tape. Tagged: self-tape, framing.