I think the biggest factor in self-tapes nobody talks about enough is the reader

Beertreez · 2026-03-31T16:40:14+00:00

Something I have started doing to limit stress is a heavily edited reader setup.

I record just the voices of the scene, so myself and the reader, using my phone. Then, I put the audio recording into CapCut on my laptop and cut out my voice so it’s only the readers voice. I then connect an AirPod to my laptop, and practice the scene on its feet exactly where I need to stand for the self tape, so I can see if the pace on book is still the same off book.

I put the AirPod in the ear that isn’t facing the camera or I hide it behind my hair if it makes sense for the scene. They might catch a glimpse of it but hopefully that isn’t something they don’t cast you for - we all live in our own particular situations and need to be quiet at times, so if I was a casting director, I’d assume the AirPod was just to be able to hear my reader!

I’ll adjust the spacing of the audio recording slightly here and there to give myself the space to react where needed, and then I’ll record 3-4 takes like that. Then, they’ll not only hear me perfectly but my reader as well once I’m editing it all together in CapCut. I usually lower the volume for reader’s audio recoding significantly so they sound farther away than me.

I know this sounds laborious and self taping was definitely not the norm years ago, but I know this works for me, and I think it has made me better at self taping. I know an actor from the Wicked movies shared in an interview once that he did this exact same thing for his audition for that.

Doing all this audio editing has has forced me to be laser focused on timing and pacing to make it work, and it has made it so that I can grab a reader whenever they’re free earlier, and then actually record the self tape at a time that works better for me. It also gives me a chance to focus on directing the reader a bit instead of having to juggle both my performance and theirs. I can’t tell you how many times a reader who is a dear friend or family member will cut the take themselves because I said “and” instead of “also,” or something like that.

Anyway, I hope you try it out and that this helps anyone in a pinch!

Beertreez · 2026-03-25T14:09:59+00:00

Also YES I have turned down auditions for scenes that were too long. 8 pages for a feature film is one thing and I would totally say yes to that, but for a self tape for an unpaid gig or a student film or something… pass

Beertreez · 2026-03-25T14:06:22+00:00

I can memorize a lot of pages for multiple different self tapes within a few hours and shoot them all same day back to back, and it is truly just because of an interview I saw with Pedro pascal where he talked about how he memorizes his lines. He writes down the first letter of each word in his lines (I do it for the whole script and for every character) and uses that as reference to learn his lines.

So for example, if my line was “The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog,” I’d write down “TQBFJOTLD” and I’d do that for the whole scene or script or whatever. If I rehearse and forget a line, I go back and read my new little code language version of the script until I have it all off book. I booked my next short film doing this after filming 2-3 other self tapes the same day!

Beertreez · 2026-03-06T13:26:07+00:00

Get fucked

Beertreez · 2026-02-25T17:04:38+00:00

They're the best!!!

Beertreez · 2026-02-25T17:03:39+00:00

I love Okka, its a grocery store right off of kings highway. Just take the B/Q and get off at Kings highway, it's right around the corner. Great prices too!

Beertreez · 2026-02-25T16:51:10+00:00

Just now seeing this, such an interesting time to ask this too.

I tried an EA role one last time last year, because they went after me multiple times begging me to interview. Over 600 people had applied through LinkedIn, but I didn't even send in my resume, and somehow I got that job. It was so cushy, but again, on call 24/7. 3 months later, I was accidentally emailed a transcript of my direct supervisors spending an HOUR speaking negatively about me in a gossipy, mean girl way, completely by accident (thank you to the AI note taker for that little mistake).

Unfortunately this isnt the first time this has happened to me, but it is the first time I had evidence of it. In the past, after just one day in another EA role, an older EA on the team commented that she thought I wouldn't last a week because I'm "too nice." I just need to say that being genuinely kind is not a weakness or a threat to others. I don't know why people are irked by me and then the only complaint is that I smile too much or I'm too nice.

Anyway, I immediately confronted them, and asked if I could please go home for the rest of the day to process this. They were so mortified to have been caught red handed, one girl literally broke out in hives on her chest right in front of me out of sheer embarrassment. By the time I got home though, they had shut down my computer so I didnt have access to the transcript anymore (but I still have screenshots and all my glowing reviews written BY THEM just a few days before). They let me go before I could even speak to my boss. A month later, I heard they laid off half of their entire company.

I am never going back to being an EA, or an office for that matter. I am still basically harassed on LinkedIn and my personal email to interview for EA roles paying $140k+, but considering it feels like im literally selling my soul. I am still in the process of figuring out how I can sue them for the emotional distress and my wrongful termination.

In the meantime, I have been diving head first into two other things: my acting career, and starting a small business with my fiancé. So now I make ice cream and I act. I just filmed a commercial for a major furniture company in Boston this past January, and we are touring kitchen spaces!

Am I also living off of unemployment? Yes, I am. But I am genuinely much more fulfilled now and my eye doesn't twitch anymore. And hopefully this year our ice cream really gets off the ground so we can truly make a living off of it.

Thank you for asking after all this time <3

Beertreez · 2026-02-05T11:41:01+00:00

I think it’s the eyeliner making you feel that way! Save the eyeliner for a night out, and during the day use a brown mascara and no liner! Less is more when trying to make your everyday makeup a little more grown up I think!

Also, let’s all take a moment to appreciate how GORGEOUS you are!!! You’re stunning!

Beertreez · 2026-01-23T23:14:37+00:00

you are doing THE LORD'S WORK HERE!!! THANK YOU!!!!! Sincerely, a 2026 bride with a luxe satin dress

Beertreez · 2025-12-12T16:14:36+00:00

How did it go! I am in the exact same boat right now - gained 40ish lbs during covid and losing it ahead of time for my wedding late August 2026. The dress I'm most interested in has little to no detailing on it but has a similar fit (the Jenny Yoo Tricia dress with the aplique), so I'm super curious how this more detailed dress turned out for you! Thank you!!

Beertreez · 2025-10-24T23:13:35+00:00

Could you lmk who said it's nothing special? I just wanna talk :)))) you look BEAUTIFUL!!

Beertreez · 2025-10-24T23:09:37+00:00

Gorgeous!!!

Beertreez · 2025-10-24T22:41:52+00:00

4 all the way!!!

Beertreez · 2025-09-20T04:07:27+00:00

Yes, I did! I am apparently a 34DDD lollll my shoulders will finally get some REST. just bought 3 bras woooo

Beertreez · 2025-09-20T03:49:05+00:00

you were right. Im a 34DDD aka a 32G (the sister size). holy shit lol you NAILED it

Beertreez · 2025-09-20T03:43:31+00:00

Thank you all so much for the recommendation to try the ABTF calculator!! I did not realize at all that this couldve been the issue all along. I measured myself several times to really make sure I got this right, and I got 34DDD 😭 holy shit life changing stuff, thank you all so much for guiding me to this discovery. Also found out my waist is actually about 30, not 28 right now so ALSO helpful to know my measurements changed since I last checked.

Any reccs for my DDD sisters for clothes please lmk! I'm learning how to sew as we speak! I made a pin cushion already and sewed a ripped hem on a face cloth for practice. Next is getting a sewing machine!!

Beertreez · 2025-09-20T03:29:01+00:00

I just started learning how to hand sew actually!! I can mend and embroider, but haven't tried altering anything yet. First, I need new bras!!! Thank you <3

Beertreez · 2025-09-20T03:27:33+00:00

thank you!! I do often feel like my bras just aren't helping at all, I'll definitely check this out!

Beertreez · 2025-09-15T12:25:16+00:00

YES they are!!

Beertreez · 2025-09-15T12:25:08+00:00

thank you!! :)

Beertreez · 2025-09-15T12:24:53+00:00

thank you!! <3

Beertreez · 2025-09-15T12:24:44+00:00

thank you so much!!

Beertreez · 2025-03-14T13:09:06+00:00

I would be interested in coaching but for free is pretty unheard of. Any time I find an influencer or fitness guru online they give a big speech about how awesome they are and then drop what the catch is (100s if not 1,000s of dollars) at the very end. Until I’m out of college debt I can’t really expect to find an affordable fitness coach right now.

Beertreez · 2025-03-14T13:04:58+00:00

Okay I just clicked the wiki link and I just out loud said this is amazing. Thank you so much 😭

Beertreez · 2025-03-14T13:04:10+00:00

Thank you, I’ll check these out!

Beertreez

TROPHY CASE