I record the majority of my auditions and YouTube videos with a Sony ZV-1 Digital Camera. It’s compact, making it easy to set up or carry when traveling. It has a flip screen so you can make sure that you’re framed correctly while recording. This camera easily connects to a computer to transfer footage for editing, and the quality is really high for the price. When I transitioned from using my iPhone to this camera for self tapes, I received a message from a casting assistant who had watched my tape and wanted to comment on how wonderful it looked. They said they wished more talent would invest in gear to make their self tapes look better. 

This Sony ZV-1 Vlogger Kit bundle is worth the price if you’d like to make handheld videos for social media or create your own content. It comes with a small Grip Tripod, a 64GB SD card, and the Sony ZV-1 camera.

This bundle includes 2 additional batteries that can be used with the Sony ZV-1and a battery charger that conveniently plugs into your computer via USB.

If you’re using your smartphone to record auditions, you may want to try using a wideangled lens attachment. The wide angle means your phone can capture a wider area, which can help you finally get those full body shots in a smaller space. This one from Xenvo easily clips onto your phone, and comes with a few additional lens attachments that might be fun for taking shots for your socials.

When shopping for Tripods, always pay attention to the height! Tripods are gnerally listed in inches, so you’ll need to do a little math to make sure that it suits your height. If you’re over 6ft, you may not be able to fully utilize a 54” tripod. Keep in mind that the recording device will add some amount of height to that, but you’re going to want a tripod that at full extension comes up to about the height of your collarbone (unless you want to play the game of finding objects in your home to prop it up on). That being said, at 5’7”, I love this unnamed Tripod! It’s super lightweight, packs down so I can fit it in a duffle bag or carry on if I think I’ll need it while traveling, is easily adjustable depending on the height you need, can position your recording device both horizontally and vertically in the included phone mount, and has a handle to pan. It also has a releasable plate that makes it easy to switch between recording with a phone or digital camera.

This Tripod is pricier, but it packs a bigger punch. It extends up to 80” for all you tall people. It has a ball head, which can help you get the exact camera angle you’re looking for, and it’s designed to be used with a wider variety of camera types, including DSLR. When it comes to higher end tripods, I always prefer legs like these that twist to secure instead of latching. It also packs down for storage or travel. Bonus: it’s available in a variety of colors to bring a little personality to your self-tape arena! (Note, this tripod does require that you purchase a separate mount if you plan on recording using your smartphone. See below.)

When recording with my digital camera, I use this mini shotgun microphone, which easily plugs right into my Sony ZV-1. Audio is super important for your self tapes, and this microphone has very clear audio that picks your voice up easily, even when several feet away.

I also throw one of these wind muffs over my Comica shotgun mic to help dampen any static noise. Not necessary, but helps a bit with audio quality.

Although I only occasionally use my iPhone to record self-tape auditions nowadays, I do use it exclusively for Zoom callbacks and for recording Voice Over submissions. This mini shotgun mic is great for both! It sounds much more professional than the built-in microphone on your phone, and it’s no fuss - the iOS lighting connection means you can just plug it into your iPhone and you’re ready to go.

Another choice for microphones is a Lavalier mic. This is the kind of microphone that clips onto your shirt and has a long cord that plugs into your recording device. This one in particular has an extra long cord at 16 feet, allowing you some freedom to move. Lavs are nice when you’re using a reader, because they will pick up your voice clearly and louder than that of your reader. This is a less expensive place to start in your microphone journey if you want to work your way up to a shotgun mic in the future. 

Make sure you have an adapter like this one, if needed, for plugging your new microphone into your newer iPhone!

This Tripod is pricier, but it packs a bigger punch. It extends up to 80” for all you tall people. It has a ball head, which can help you get the exact camera angle you’re looking for, and it’s designed to be used with a wider variety of camera types, including DSLR. When it comes to higher end tripods, I always prefer legs like these that twist to secure instead of latching. It also packs down for storage or travel. Bonus: it’s available in a variety of colors to bring a little personality to your self-tape arena! (Note, this tripod does require that you purchase a separate mount if you plan on recording using your smartphone. See below.)

If you have the space in your home, I highly recommend investing in this larger 10x7ft extendable backdrop stand! Although the smaller one is easier to set up and tear down on a regular basis, I found that I was honestly too lazy to ever tear it down. And if I were going to keep it up in my living space all the time, I might as well invest in a wider stand that would allow me to get a full body slate in full frame! It’s easily adjustable, so you can decide the width you want (between 5-10ft across), and the height you prefer (between 2.3-7ft tall). Plus, you can slide most backdrops onto this frame without needing to clamp them on at the top.

This company makes great, easy to use, fabric backdrops to go with your backdrop stand. This one works great with the Linco 5x6.7ft T-stand Backdrop. It’s made of fabric, and if it gets wrinkly, you can toss it into the drier for a few minutes and pull it back out looking smooth. I find that this dark gray color helps my face stand out in my self-tapes, and I think this color works well for people who have Neutral to Cool skin tones.

Word on the street is that blue backdrops are all the rage! This 10x12ft one from Kate works perfectly with the Neewer 10x7ft backdrop stand at full extension. I’ve also used this in place of a green screen, and it worked just fine. It’s made of fabric that easily slides onto the top bar of your stand. Just make sure not to wear the same color clothing as the backdrop in your videos! In my opinion, this color works well for people who have Warmer skin tones.

If you couldn’t tell by now, I’m a big fan of the Kate brand backdrops! Most recently, I’ve been using this backdrop by Kate. I don’t typically extend my Neewer 10x7ft backdrop out all the way, so this 8x8ft backdrop fits the frame that I leave set up in my living space.

These are the lights that I currently use when recording my videos. I refer to them as “barn door” lights because they have flaps on each side that allow you to focus the light in the direction of your choosing, or open them up completely to get allover lighting. They are dimmable via a touch screen on the back of the panel, from 10%-100% strength, and you can adjust the color of light by attaching the included plastic filter. They come with batteries that you can use if you want to go cordless, but I typically use the power cords to plug them into the wall outlets so that I don’t have to worry about remembering to recharge the batteries. 

I use these Diffusers over my barn door LED lights to soften the light that’s directed toward me when recording. They have a 9.5x9.5” opening in the back to easily go over your lights. It’s also nice that they twist to collapse and fit into thin, small cases for storage or travel.

I’ve also used these umbrella lights in the past and they were another very good option for lighting a space. The umbrellas help to diffuse the light so that it doesn’t create harsh shadow on your face or backdrop. These are easy to take apart and store if you have limited space.

A great lighting option for someone with limited space or who likes to bring equipment with them when traveling in case they get last minute auditions is a Ring Light! This one is compact, comes with it’s own tripod stand and phone holder, and gives you a decent amount of adjustable light for recording.

This book was required reading when I took classes at the Ivana Chubbuck studio in LA. I know that there are so many acting techniques out there and it can be hard to sift through. And in truth, there is no right or wrong. Find the method that works for you and embrace it. The Chubbuck method is a little intense, including about 12 different steps to prep for a scene. It focuses on character development and script analysis. I really don’t go by the book on this anymore, but there are some steps that are very helpful, and in fact, necessary to use in preparing for an audition or performance. Take what speaks to you, leave behind what doesn’t.

If you’ve ever wanted to get into voice over work, this book is a great place to begin understanding the ins and outs of the VO industry. It was recommended to me by an actor friend who frequently books VO work, and it’s chock full of tips and tricks that can help you give a better voice over performance.

Written by Jenna Fischer of The Office fame, this was one of my favorite reads in the last few years. Fischer not only shares a ton of information about the acting industry, she takes you along on her journey, including pitfalls and big wins. I related to 90% of this book (you know, aside from being booked on one of America’s most loved comedies of all time and going on to have a very successful on-screen acting career), and everything she talks about is true. A fun read for those who have been in the industry a while, and an informative read for those that are just jumping in.

I love listening to audiobooks when I have extended wait time on set, or when driving home after a shoot to decompress. Some of my book recommendations are available on Audible, and I actually prefer some of them as audio books (The Actor’s Life and Greenlights in particular). Enjoy this free 30 day free trial via the link!

This book was also recommended to me by an actor friend. It’s filled with different emotions and the physical characteristics tied to those emotions. As an actor, it can be helpful to use if I have an audition but don’t quite relate to how the character would be feeling. I can look up the emotion “Denial”, for example, and get suggestions for physical signals and behaviors including things like “speaking slowly and stretching out one’s words: What? No way!” or “rubbing at the ears, covering them, or pulling on an earlobe”. Not only is this helpful in adding touches to your performance, it can also be a goldmine if you plan on writing any of your own material or films.

This one is more of an inspirational read for actors. In my opinion, it’s better listened to than read. This link is for the audiobook read by McConaughey himself. The actor’s path can be a tricky one, often dotted with discouragement and downfalls. But learning how to embrace the good parts and listen to the universe can make the journey a fun one. Greenlights is a great listen not only for actors, but for anyone who wonders what path they should be on and if they’re making the right choices.