r/acting • u/HopePractical7360 • 2d ago
I've read the FAQ & Rules Please tell me I’m not the only one
When I look back at my self tapes no matter how confident In the character and take. I don’t see a lick of difference between what I performed and myself. I know I don’t see what others see. Would love some insights from others!!
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u/hamsandwich232 2d ago
I mean unless the character is leaps and bounds away from myself. I always see my flavor of the character in the work.
More importantly, do you believe the character you see? And does it fit the project you're auditioning for?
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u/DeepVibe5 2d ago
It’s wild how different our self-tapes can feel inside our heads versus what shows up on screen. Sometimes the biggest “transformation” isn’t about looking like someone else, but about subtle shifts in energy, rhythm, or point of view that casting picks up on more than we do.
Honestly, most of us can’t see the difference in ourselves because… well, it’s us! We’re too familiar with our own face, voice, and mannerisms. Other people can often see the character clearer because they’re not comparing it against their inner mirror.
It might help to ask a couple of trusted friends or readers what they notice, if anything... sometimes they’ll spot changes in presence, stakes, or tone that feel invisible to us but are obvious to them.
Look at some actors like Morgan Freeman, he says... he doesn't get why people think he's a good actor. He's simply just speaking.
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u/Harmania Researcher | Teacher 2d ago
That’s usually a good thing. Acting is a lot less about transformation than people think (even more so on camera). It’s just you in a particular situation that happens to be fictional.
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u/j0rdan21 2d ago
Your character isn’t real. You are. This is very normal. I’d be concerned if you couldn’t see yourself in your work
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u/scooterbeb 2d ago edited 2d ago
Once I sent a tape to my SIL and her response was, “This is crazy. Like it’s you… except it isn’t you,” and tbh I think that’s what we’re aiming for! 😹
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u/HuntAlert6747 2d ago
This is a huge problem in our auditioning with self tapping. You are expected to do all this work to land a role and to do it without feedback or a can you try it this way from those judging our acting rendition. Then you never hear back unless you land your audition, then you ask for feedback on it, isn't available because that was a casting decision. Face-to-face auditions were my favorite, you walked away knowing why you didn't meet a vision for this character or at least a good job however, your look doesn't fit.
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u/Ruftup 2d ago
Keep in mind the actors you see in films and tv have the benefit of being in the hair/makeup chair for hours before they shoot a scene. They are able to physically transform themselves while youre limited to what’s in your closet. They also have 10 different people telling them what they look like
Unless the character is the complete opposite to you, you won’t notice a change. Every character you play will always have a bit of you in there. That’s what makes your version of a character unique from what mine would be
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u/Former-Tennis5138 2d ago
About half of the time. One half is like looking at even more awkward version of myself (who knew it was possible) and the other half is "slaaaaay! SLAY, QUEEN!"
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u/Conflict21 2d ago
A lot of acting for me has been letting go of expectations. I'm someone who will almost always be disappointed in what I see. It never looks the way I thought it would, so I try not to think about it.
Because, lucky for me, I'm not in charge of casting. I'm not the director. And many times, the thing you hate about yourself is the thing that makes you compelling. And in even more cases, it's something utterly invisible to everyone else. Seriously, one of the most valuable things you learn in acting class is how frightfully insecure people are about something you literally didn't notice at all.
I try and get 3-4 takes that feel good in the moment, and unless there is a VERY glaring problem with all of them, I choose from one of those takes. I won't be thrilled with it, but it's not my opinion that matters. And reshooting until it matches something I have in my mind is not, to me, good acting. We are trying to simulate a person's first instincts. Better to give your own, warts and all.