What we expect from you AS SOON AS YOU BOOK your session:

1. Send us your sides ASAP. If you don’t, your coach will have to figure out the scene during your session and you’ll end up having less taping time. So please, send us the scene or taping instructions ahead of time at magalie@artefakt.ca. We always keep sides and breakdowns confidential.

2. Memorize your lines. If you’re thinking about the text, you won’t be present, you won’t have any freedom to be creative and you’ll be fishing for lines as soon as your coach gives you redirects. Casting directors can also tell when you’re unprepared. Do yourself a favour and learn your lines.

3. Plan your travel to the studio. We often have back to back sessions so if you show up late, you will lose taping time. Please plan accordingly and visit our How to get to the studio page. Note that we have moved to Little Portugal in Toronto at 224 Gladstone Avenue, Basement, M6J 3L4 ON.

What we expect from you JUST BEFORE your session:

1. Be makeup and/or camera ready. There’s a vanity in the studio for final touches but the readier you are the more time you’ll have to tape your audition.

2. Wear your self-tape clothes. Unless there’s a heatwave and you’re auditioning for a Christmas movie in your best Christmas sweater, we strongly recommend to show up in your audition clothes. You may use the bathroom in the studio to change between scenes if need be, but please be prepared to go on camera as soon as you arrive. There’s no lobby or waiting area so please come as ready as you can be. For Summer: There’s no AC in the studio. We have fans, but we recommend you bring a few changes of clothes on hot summer days.

What to expect DURING your session:

1. Slate first. Make sure you’ve reviewed your slating instructions beforehand: what you need to say (name, pronouns, height, age, location, availability, etc) and what kind of frame casting directors need (wide to close up or close up to wide). If you have multiple projects, we will slate in between projects with the appropriate clothing if you need to change.

2. Plan how long to spend on each scene. If you have multiple scenes or different projects to tape, you coach will help you determine how much time per scene/character will be needed. For example, if you booked a 50-minute session and you have 2 scenes to go through, we recommend to spend 25 minutes on each scene. If once scene is bigger than the other, perhaps 35-40 minutes for the larger scene and 10-15 minutes for the smaller scene. You may extend your session and purchase more taping time on the spot only if available. If you realize you’ll need more time to tape before coming to your session, let us know ASAP as we often have back to back tapings and can’t go overtime.

3. Acting coaching. We will do 1-2 rehearsals, then start taping. After each take, your coach will share their notes and you’ll go back to taping right away. Once your coach and yourself feel the notes have been assimilated, you will review your final take. If you are not satisfied, you may do another take, but we eventually will have to move on to your next scene or to editing your audition before the end of the session. There is no time to watch every take you recorded during your session. If you wish to watch all of your takes on your own time, please bring a SD card in order to collect all the footage. We do not transfer footage online. (There are 32GB SD cards for purchase at the studio if you need one - $15).

4. Editing and shipping your tapes. Once your taping time is up, your coach will take 10 or so minutes (5min for 25-min sessions and 15-20min for 75-100min session) to edit your audition, upload and/or send the finished product.

There’s a TIMER in the studio to keep track of time. We don’t mean to rush you but we are strict on taping times as we often have back to back appointments.

If you go past your taping time, you will be invoiced additionally to match the duration above your booked appointment (25min to 50min, 50min to 75min, 75min to 100min, etc). All of our rates can be found here.

In order to avoid going overtime and/or to maximize your taping time, please follow these instructions:

1. Be on time. Show up 5 minutes before your scheduled appointment and inform us of your arrival by text at 416-988-0511. Your coach will let you in once they are ready for your session.

2. Be camera ready; face and outfits.

3. Be prepared. Come in with your lines memorized and acting choices ready.

4. Be ready to move on to your next scene/character/editing when the time allowed for each segment is over.

The main key to a successful self-tape audition is acting training.

We will help you look stellar on camera and advise you on your acting choices, but we can’t make you a great actor in one standing. Acting takes discipline, consistency, dedication, passion and training. It’s no surprise that most working actors have extensive training on their resume.

These guidelines are enforced to make sure yourself and your coach have a smooth and efficient session. If you feel you need more time to tape your audition before coming in, please email us at magalie@artefakt.ca ASAP. Our studio is very busy but we will do our best to accommodate your last minute requests if our schedule permits it.

Thank you so much for considering us for your self-taping needs and see you soon!

Sincerely,

The Artéfakt Team