Professional eyes on your tape
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SELF-TAPE REVIEW
You put in the work. You taped it yourself. But before you send it to your reps or submit it to casting... Is this your best take? Did you miss anything? Could it be leveled up?
BLS's Self-Tape Review gives you a professional read on your performance, not from a friend, not from your gut, but from a working Los Angeles acting coach who has spent over 10,000 hours in the room with actors breaking down exactly this kind of material.
Send over your audition breakdown, sides and self-tape. Braden starts with the pages, examining the scene, the character, the stakes, and what casting is likely looking for. Then he'll watch your tape with all of that in mind. From there, you'll get on a call together (phone or video) for a focused, ~10-minute session where Braden will walk you through exactly what's landing, what isn't, and what to apply for your next pass.
No vague encouragement. No line readings. Just clear, honest, actionable feedback, just like you'd get in a private coaching.
How It Works
What You'll Walk Away With
A concrete understanding of what's working in your performance and why, what may be undercutting it, and specific adjustments you can make immediately. Whether you retape or send what you have, you'll submit with clarity instead of doubt.
Put your best foot forward by putting in the right kind of work at home with the BLS Acting Book Know Your Scenes.
Level Up Your Work
Pricing
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$75 / half hour*
For guidance on how to make a great tape in the first place, check out Audition Prep.
To film with Braden, visit Self-Taping.
*Total time for Braden to review the breakdown, sides, and tape, as well as the phone/video call with you.
Try an Eval First
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Not sure if this is right for you? Book an Intro Eval. The fee becomes credit on your account.
What exactly happens during a self-tape review?
You send me the audition breakdown, sides, and your recorded tape. I review the material independently, watch your tape, and then we connect by phone to go through my notes. The goal is to give you an objective assessment of how the audition is reading and what, if anything, could make it stronger.
How much of my time does the review take?
The service is a 30-minute review of your audition, but that does not mean we're on the phone together for the entire 30 minutes. I typically spend about 10 minutes reading the breakdown and sides, up to 10 minutes watching your tape, and then use the remaining time for our conversation. You are paying for 30 minutes of my time, not 30 minutes of phone time.
What do you evaluate?
Everything that can affect the audition. I'll look at the acting, your understanding of the material, character choices, emotional work, physicality, eyelines, vocal choices, pacing, framing, sound, lighting, and other technical elements. I'll also consider whether the overall performance is appropriate for what you're actually auditioning for.
Can you tell me what is wrong with my audition?
Yes. If something isn't working, I'll tell you. That might be something obvious, like an eyeline or physicality issue, or something deeper, like not understanding what the character wants, making choices that aren't specific enough, or pushing too hard for an emotional result.
What if my audition is technically good but the acting isn't working?
That's exactly the kind of thing a review can identify. A clean frame, good lighting, and good sound don't make a performance work. I'll assess the complete audition rather than simply checking whether the tape looks professional.
Do you review the audition in the context of the casting breakdown?
Yes. I read the breakdown and sides before reviewing the tape. That allows me to consider whether your choices actually serve the character, project, tone, and circumstances described in the audition.
Can you compare different takes?
Yes. If you've recorded multiple takes, I can watch them and help identify which one is strongest and what makes it work better.
Do I need to have memorized the audition?
Not necessarily. Memorization isn't usually the most important factor in whether an audition works. Understanding the material and inhabiting the character are much more important. There are situations where memorization matters, but it isn't automatically something I would tell you to prioritize.
Can you tell me whether I should submit the tape?
I'll give you my honest assessment of what is and isn't working, but I won't make the submission decision for you. You'll have a clearer understanding of the tape and can decide whether to send it, make changes, or record another take.
Is this the same as audition coaching?
No. With audition coaching, we work on the audition together before you tape it. Self-tape review happens after you've recorded it. I review what you've already done and give you an outside perspective on the performance and the tape.
Is this the same as private coaching?
No. Private coaching is ongoing craft development and can cover things like technique, script analysis, emotional work, physicality, accents, and character development. Self-tape review is a specific, focused service for evaluating a recorded audition.
Can I do a self-tape review if I don't want ongoing coaching?
Absolutely. You don't need to become a private coaching client or take classes. You can use the review simply because you want an experienced outside perspective on a particular audition.
Can I use self-tape review for auditions in any medium?
Yes. I can review recorded auditions for film, television, theater, commercial work, and other audition formats. The specific things I look for can change depending on the medium.
Do I have to be in Los Angeles?
No. The entire review is typically handled remotely. You send the materials and tape electronically, and we connect by phone for the discussion.
Can I get another review after I make changes?
Yes. The standard review is 30 minutes. If you make changes and want another set of eyes on the new version, you can book another 30-minute review.
How much does a self-tape review cost?
A 30-minute self-tape review is $75, the regular 30-minute private coaching rate.
What's the biggest problem you see in self-tapes?
There's no single one. It can be anything from poor eyelines or distracting physicality to not understanding the material, making weak choices, or trying so hard to give a "good" performance that the performance stops feeling truthful. The point of the review is to figure out what is actually happening in your tape, rather than assuming there's one universal self-tape mistake.
