A human reader is usually ideal for a dialogue self-tape, but availability and deadlines do not always cooperate. A digital reader can supply the opposite lines if you set the eyeline, sound and timing carefully. Always follow the casting team’s specific instructions first.

Short answerRecord video on one device and run the reader on another. Place the reader just beside the camera at the other character’s eye level, keep its volume below your voice, rehearse the entire exchange and record a short sound test before the full take.

An actor preparing a self-tape with a camera phone and a separate reader phone — Protect the eyeline, balance the sound and keep the acting alive.

What you need

A camera or phone for the self-tape.
A second phone, tablet or laptop for the reader.
A stable stand and a quiet room.
Your audition sides imported into a reader or rehearsal app.

If you have only one device, record the opposite dialogue in advance and play it from another speaker. Fixed gaps are less flexible, so leave generous space and rehearse with the recording first.

Place the reader for a believable eyeline

Put the second device immediately to the side of the camera, not across the room and not directly behind your own image. Position its speaker roughly where the other character’s face would be. A close off-camera eyeline keeps your eyes visible without making you stare into the lens unless the brief requests direct address.

Balance the reader’s volume

The panel must hear the context, but your performance is the subject. Record ten seconds, play it back through ordinary speakers and confirm that your voice is clear and the reader sits underneath it. Avoid headphones during the actual take unless the instructions allow them; visible earbuds can distract and may change how you hear your own voice.

Solve timing before the take

Run the scene without recording. Check that the digital reader does not cut you off, wait unnaturally or pull your focus toward the screen. If the app follows your spoken line, articulate clearly and leave natural thought rather than adding artificial pauses.

Use Action! as the off-camera reader

Prepare the reader in four steps

Import the audition-side PDF into Action!.
Select the scene and choose your role.
Generate the other roles and set the device near your eyeline.
Rehearse one full run, adjust volume, then start the camera on your recording device.

Action! is designed for spoken rehearsal first. Use it to solve lines and timing before asking the recorded take to carry everything at once.

Get your self-tape reader

Final self-tape checklist

Follow naming, framing, slate and file-format instructions.
Use a clean background and soft light facing you.
Lock focus and exposure if your camera allows it.
Switch off notifications on both devices.
Leave a moment of stillness before and after the scene.
Watch the complete file with sound before uploading.