Is the actor on that self-tape the real you? Or could they be mistaken for a concoction cooked up by generative artificial intelligence? With publicly accessible tools out there that can conjure realistic human faces and voices, actors may be tempted to use AI to simulate or enhance their recorded auditions. In an era when self-taping has become the norm, this presents a major worry for casting directors and college admissions officers alike.
“During COVID-19, there was a necessity for more schools than ever to do prescreen auditions,” says Gigi Watson, the director of My College Audition. “Many programs that hadn’t required them before liked prescreens and didn’t get rid of them. It’s a critical—and increasingly competitive—first step to getting seen.” With that in mind, she stresses that “colleges and institutions must stay vigilant” about watching out for AI-generated videos.
Whether you’re auditioning for a college drama program or a professional production, here’s how to make sure your self-tape looks like the genuine article.
Showcase your humanity.
“We really are interested in who applicants are as people,” says Eric Weiss, the director of performing arts programming at Emerson College. “Overly produced material can act as a barrier to getting a sense of who they are.” This means it’s imperative to avoid using AI to auto-tune your voice, enhance your appearance, or smooth out minor mistakes.
“I’m always looking for: Where does the imperfection come through? Because that’s what makes it relatable,” says Joe Salvatore, the vice chair for academic affairs at NYU Steinhardt’s Department of Music and Performing Arts Professions; he’s also the director of the school’s Verbatim Performance Lab.
How to Make a Perfect Self-Tape Prioritize your performance over flashy video production.
Though it’s tempting to amp up production values on your self-tape, this can easily backfire. Remember that CDs and college admissions officers are assessing your acting skills, not your technical flair. “ Many of the best prescreens are filmed at home, with not a lot of money spent on equipment or anything fancy,” Watson says. “Make it as easy as possible for auditors to quickly and fairly evaluate your talent.”
Know when to stop.
Generative AI can build on itself endlessly, resulting in videos that feel eerily perfect—a quality that doesn’t exist in real life. So don’t waste your time (or sanity) obsessing over making your self-tape look flawless.
Watson advises her clients to spend no longer than an hour recording. “Set a timer, do the thing, and then stop. If you want to do it again the next day, you can; but I encourage students to give themselves one hour and three chances max. If you’ve prepared your material well, that’s all you should need.”
There can be a place for AI in your prep work.
“There is an organizational role for AI to play,” Watson says. “The number of requirements [for college auditions] has become so cumbersome. Many students are paralyzed by the mountain they have to climb just to get their audition organized.”
Weiss agrees. “Any tool that actors can use to help organize the process is absolutely a good thing.” This could mean using AI to keep track of deadlines and application requirements or even to research the given circumstances of a monologue.
Ultimately, Salvatore says, “It’s about academic integrity. You have to present yourself in a true way that is authentic to you.”
This story originally appeared in the Apr. 10 issue of Backstage Magazine.
