Choosing which audition take to send to casting can feel overwhelming. When you’re staring at a camera roll full of slightly different versions of the same scene, it’s easy to become paralysed by choice. Especially when the pressure to “get it right” feels so high!
But deciding on the best take doesn’t have to be stressful. There are simple strategies to help you choose with confidence and hit submit without fear.
How Many Takes Should I Send?
Unless casting asks otherwise, or you have come to two vastly different interpretations, one take is best. Don’t send two versions that are nearly identical just because you’re unsure which is stronger. Only send two takes if they offer genuinely different interpretations of the scene.
Send one take if the differences are small. For example, a line reading changes slightly or a physical moment lands better in one version. If the tone, intention, and overall performance are essentially the same, choose the strongest take and send that.
Send two takes if the interpretations are clearly different. For example, one version might be warm and lighthearted, while the other is guarded and hostile. If both approaches serve the story, it can be valuable for casting to see your range and interpretation.
A final note: don’t force wildly different versions to justify sending two takes. Only do it if both choices genuinely work for the scene.
Guiding Principles When Selecting Your Self Tape
Before diving into specific strategies for choosing your best take, it’s important to understand a few core principles that will help guide your decision. Above all, prioritise performance over perfection. Casting directors are not looking for flawless line delivery, they want to see you fully living as the character and telling the story.
A strong tape feels alive from the very first moment. This doesn’t mean doing something wacky or attention grabbing. Rather, it’s about creating the sense that the character already existed before the scene began and will continue existing when it ends. Every scene is part of a larger life! If those first few moments of a tape feel connected and part of a greater context, that’s a good sign.
Strong tapes also demonstrate authoritative storytelling. Actors communicate a story by behaving as their characters would behave. This behaviour should feel motivated and emotionally connected from moment to moment, and the character’s behaviour should feel consistent and truthful (from their point of view).
Finally, strong tapes make the viewer believe that the character’s world exists beyond the frame. The immediate environment and relationships should feel clear and genuine, suggesting that what we see captured on screen is only a slice of this other, rich world.
Strategies to Choose Which Take You Send
Now that you have a solid understanding of what you’re looking for in the tape you send to casting, it’s time to explore how you can actually go about making your selection.
Limit the Number of Takes You Do
One of the most effective strategies starts before you record: set a limit on how many takes you’ll do. For most actors, 3-5 takes is a useful range. You can rehearse freely beforehand, but once you start filming, commit to each take fully. Yes, even if you stumble or make a mistake! Our most truthful moments can often come when things don’t go perfectly.
Limiting your takes can also help you bring your A-Game. Knowing you only have a certain number of takes tend to sharpen your focus and preserves your sanity. Because, let’s be honest, who really has time to watch back 30+ takes that are all three minutes long?
Leave Time Between Filming Your Takes and Selecting Them
The second strategy is very simple. Give yourself space between filming your takes and choosing the one to send. A few hours can help, but coming back the next day is even better.
When you return with fresh eyes, it becomes much easier to see the work objectively. Often, your instinct will naturally gravitate toward the one you’re most engaged by as a viewer rather than the one you remember feeling “best” in the moment.
Visual and Verbal Comparison
If you’re stuck choosing between two takes, this method from the wonderful Les Chantery can help clarify your decision.
Here’s what you do:
- Start by narrowing it down to your top two takes (Take A and Take B).
- First, watch the first 8 seconds of each on mute. Note which feels more engaging.
- Then do the opposite: listen with your eyes off the screen. Again, note your preference.
- If both point to the same take, your decision is clear. If not, move on to the final strategy.
Why This Works
This works because we naturally ‘thin slice’ performance. Psychology studies have proved we can make accurate assessments even when processing ‘thin slices’ of information. We quickly read truth from small amounts of visual information like overall physicality, posture, and eye movements. We also process voice and meaning separately. Often, emotion and authority are carried more through rhythm, pitch, and timing than the actual words spoken. Separating sight and sound helps you judge each element more clearly!
The Coin Toss Method
When you’re genuinely stuck between two takes, this method helps reveal your instinct. This method isn’t about chance, but rather about clarifying preference.
Assign each take to heads or tails, then flip a coin. As soon as it lands notice your immediate reaction. If you feel disappointed, that’s a strong sign you already prefer the other take. If you feel satisfied, thats a green light.
How we emotionally react to a proposed decision reveals our true preferences, even when we are cognitively trying to override it.
Making the Final Choice When Submitting
By this stage, you should have a clear sense of which take to send. As a reminder, it’s often more helpful to evaluate the quality of the storytelling rather small superficial concerns.
If you’re still really stuck, you can of course ask a friend or other third party to help you choose. But developing your taste and honing your eye is a crucial part of developing your artistry. Over time, choosing your tapes will get easier! The key is to keep practicing. If you want to come and work with us, we’d love to see you in the StageMilk Scene Club.
