In a conversation with AllCasting, veteran casting director Susan Goforth shares her perspective on how self-tape auditions have transformed the casting process -- and what actors can do to make the most of them.
“You know, you can think of a self-tape audition as no different from coming in to read in front of my camera setup,” Goforth explains. “Treat the audition as if you came to my office and laid down a take or two. Only with self-auditions, you choose your take. It may be your first take or your seventh take, but you get to choose.”
“There’s an ease and comfort you should enjoy in knowing, ‘Oh, I missed that transition,’ or ‘Oh, I meant to have a discovery there,’ and you get to go back and do it again. You get to watch yourself and clarify your performance when making a self-tape audition. I love seeing the difference this makes in people’s level of relaxation and, hence, their ability to give their best performance.”
“I look for actors who bring ease and enjoyment to the set, who exude, ‘I am a professional and also a joy to work with.’ In professional casting, performance evaluation is not just about talent -- it’s about reliability, tonal precision, and the actor’s ability to function within the storytelling language of the film. Self-tapes allow me to assess those qualities with remarkable clarity.”
1. What makes a self-tape audition stand out to casting directors?
“When I am responsible for selecting actors who will carry major narrative weight in a feature film, a clean, honest performance that is emotionally grounded -- not exaggerated -- immediately stands out. Also, a true understanding of the material, the character you are portraying and the collective characterization, the world that character lives in.”
“When casting the role of Louise Wilde in The Wilde Girls -- which had sold-out week-long theatrical exhibition in both Los Angeles and New York, and just came out on Amazon Prime Video (amazon.com/Wilde-Girls-Timothy-Hines/dp/B0GMZ6DJ7S) -- I had over 300 self-tape auditions for Louise Wilde. That level of volume is typical for professional film casting, which means the actor must distinguish themselves not just artistically, but competitively.”
“Of the top twenty percent, only one actor stood out as really understanding what this film was going to be, the tone of the humor, the world, the level at which to play the character. My role requires ensuring that every performance aligns precisely with the director’s vision and the film’s tonal architecture. It was so obvious that everyone else was then held to that standard, and she won hands down. I mean she just really got it, delivered it in her self-tape, and landed the role.”
“And even though there were some incredible auditions, they weren’t the correct tone. They weren’t living in the world laid out by the descriptions and notes given with the sides. You wouldn’t read a scene for A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms the same way you would read the exact same scene for Hacks.”
“So I would say a self-tape audition that clearly shows that the actor understands the material in that way really makes their audition stand out.”
Insight:
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A grounded, honest performance outshines a flashy one -- emotional truth reads more powerfully on camera than exaggeration.
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Understanding the tone and world of the project is the single biggest differentiator among hundreds of submissions.
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Casting directors evaluate how well the actor inhabits the storytelling language described in the sides and notes.
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In a pool of 300+ auditions, competitive distinction comes from specificity, not generality.
2. How important is lighting and background in online auditions?
“The background should not be distracting, and lighting should be sufficient but not overdone. We tend not to trust submissions that are too overly lit. A ring light is sufficient.”
“Wear medium solid-toned clothing, and use a non-distracting background. Spend your time preparing and delivering the performance. Professional casting review environments are designed to evaluate performance quickly and efficiently, so technical simplicity that supports clear viewing is always preferred.”
Insight:
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Overly produced lighting can undermine trust - a simple ring light is ideal.
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Neutral, solid-colored clothing prevents visual distraction from the performance.
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A clean, non-distracting background signals professionalism without requiring a studio setup.
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Time invested in performance preparation always outweighs time spent on production value.
3. What common mistakes do actors make in virtual submissions?
“After reviewing thousands of virtual submissions across multiple productions, certain patterns appear consistently,” Goforth notes.
“Taking too long up front to show their name and slate. Choosing performances that involve too much crying and anger. Any amateur can produce these emotions -- it takes a skilled performer to act an average moment with believability.”
“Pushing rather than being. Not performing between the lines. The objective runs throughout the entire scene. If you’re listening to whoever is reading opposite you, you are not waiting to perform -- you are already on.”
Insight:
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Keep the slate brief - casting directors want to see the performance, not a lengthy introduction.
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Extreme emotions (crying, anger) are the easiest to produce; subtle, truthful acting in ordinary moments demonstrates real skill.
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"Being" the character is far more compelling than "pushing" a performance.
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Active listening between lines shows continuous engagement with the scene’s objectives.
4. How can actors showcase authentic performance on camera?
“Please don’t perform the words -- perform the subtext. Know the character’s objectives and desires. Be truthful.”
“Uta Hagen’s 9 Questions and A Practical Handbook for the Actor often come to mind. These foundational principles remain central to how professional film performances are evaluated in casting.”
“Also, know your film grammar and camera techniques. Michael Caine Teaches Acting in Film is a good example.”
Insight:
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Subtext - what’s happening beneath the words - is what casting directors are actually evaluating.
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A clear understanding of the character’s objectives drives authentic, grounded performance choices.
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Foundational acting methodology (Uta Hagen, Practical Handbook) remains the gold standard for professional evaluation.
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Film grammar and camera awareness separate stage actors from screen-ready performers.
5. Which self-tape audition tips have you found most effective?
“Keep your eyeline as close to the camera as possible. Demonstrate skill as briefly as possible - don’t take too much time. If you can’t show us in 30 seconds that you are the character, we are going to tune out. Casting decisions begin forming within the first viewing pass, so clarity and immediacy are essential.”
“Have a good neutral line feeder reading opposite you.”
“And remember - the camera is your lover, best friend, and biggest admirer. You share everything with the camera, so please don’t act to the wall behind you or give your performance away to the side where we can’t see you.”
Insight:
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Eyeline should be as close to the lens as possible for maximum intimacy and connection.
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The first 30 seconds are make-or-break -- demonstrate character ownership immediately.
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A neutral reader opposite you keeps the focus on your performance, not the scene partner.
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Direct your energy toward the camera -- it’s the audience, and it needs to see everything.
6. How can actors use virtual auditions to impress casting directors consistently?
“Be personable in the intro. Demonstrate sanity and ease to work with. Don’t waste time. Deliver two or three strong moments.”
“Show clean objectives. Let us know via your performance that you will be good to work with.”
“Casting is ultimately about trust - trust that the actor can deliver consistently, collaborate professionally, and sustain performance across an entire production schedule.”
Insight:
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A warm, professional introduction signals that you’re easy to collaborate with on set.
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Two to three clearly delivered moments are more effective than a long, unfocused performance.
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Clean, visible objectives show the casting team you understand the material and can execute the vision.
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Consistency and reliability are evaluated alongside talent -- trust is the foundation of every casting decision.
About Susan Goforth
Susan Goforth is an international award-winning casting director, actress, and three-time Oscar-contending producer and songwriter who oversees principal casting decisions for major feature film productions. Her casting approach focuses on identifying actors who can sustain cinematic storytelling at the highest professional level.
She is co-founder of Pendragon Pictures, a motion picture production studio celebrating over two decades in business, where she leads casting strategy and talent selection across development and production.
She collaborates closely with director Timothy Hines to shape performance tone and casting alignment from pre-production through principal photography, creating passionate, financially successful films and TV shows with lasting value and staying power. Their newest film The Wilde Girls has just released on Amazon Prime Video to rave reviews and 92% audience approval.
Their next project is the $7 million feature film The Red Head, based on the novel The Red Head: A Novel Based on the Life of Hannie Schaft, which involves large-scale international casting across one hundred speaking roles, filming this fall at Barrandov Studio in Prague.
