Most actors could use a professional resource for self-taping, along with a helping hand
By Carol Badaracco Padgett
Atlanta-based actor Shelli Delgado is comfortable in front of the camera, but behind, not so much.
To illustrate her talent before the lens, these are some of Delgado’s most recent acting gigs: this year’s new Amazon Prime action series, “The Bondsman,” with Kevin Bacon and Jolene Purdy; 2024’s comedy-horror-thriller series “Hysteria!” on Peacock; and the 2023 crime-thriller film “Reptile” with Justin Timberlake. Right now, she’s all over the place in a Capital One commercial with Samuel L. Jackson.
The required self-taping of her auditions to land the jobs, though – where an actor must set up their own little make-shift studio and videotape themselves reading for a role — that’s not her forte. But it’s something every working actor and would-be working actor has to do to the best of their ability if they want to get the roles.
“Very rarely will you be in-person for an initial audition, ever since the pandemic,” Delgado says. “For call-backs, that may be different (and in-person).”
Many other actors struggle with handling their self-taping, as well, she has found. They oftentimes lack the equipment, space, and know-how to feel confident about the technical part when they’re supposed to be focusing on showcasing their craft so they can get the job.
“I love talking to my other actor friends about their self-taping studios,” Delgado says. “For myself, right now I have a box light and a halo light in front of a background set up at home.”
When she travels, she takes the backdrop, masking tape, and the halo light in case she suddenly gets an opportunity and needs to self-tape on the road.
“A ‘pro’ of self-taping is that it’s on your schedule,” Delgado shares. “A ‘con,’ for me, is that I’m not technically inclined.”
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Global Media Studios’ Studio 2 in Northwest Atlanta is one resource for actors’ self-taping needs. “We are staffed to handle everything, so all an actor has to do is book time, show up a few minutes early to get set up, and do their best work in front of the camera,” says Rich Hart, CEO, founder, and developer of Global Media Studios. “And they’ll walk out the door with their best media file to send in for their audition.”
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