Self-Tape Setup Equipment Guide

The following is a list of items we recommend actors have in their self-tape setup. There is no need to go out and buy them all at once – most of these can be improvised until you can afford to buy them.

Tripods:

It is important to be able to place the iris of the camera level with the eyes. You can always prop up your phone on furniture or books but a reliable tripod is great to have. 

SmallRig Selection 47cm – 200cm Aluminum Alloy Camera Tripod 

Compact Flexible Leg tripod (will need to be placed on furniture or wrapped around other items)

Iphone Holder Mounts:

JOBY GripTight 360 Phone Mount

YaYa Universal Smartphone Tripod Adapter Cell 

Manfrotto MCPIXI Smartphone Holder Clamp

Backdrops:

Backdrops are recommended to be grey and free of any wrinkles or textures that can distract the eye from your performance. A functional backdrop stand and roller blind is a great investment to your self-tape setup. A grey blackout quality roller blind held up by a stand is the most versatile option, however can be a little bulky when moving house. Foldable curtain options combined with a stand are more affordable but will leave you ironing wrinkles quite often unless you choose to leave the sheet hung.

Backdrop Stand, Heorryn 8.5 x 10ft Background Stand Adjustable Photography Muslin Background Support System Stand for Photo Video Studio

Roller Blind Blockout Window Blind 100% Blackout Commercial Quality Full Shading 180cmWx280cmD Light Grey

A More Affordable Curtain: Choose Grey 3×3.6 metre option. Please note this curtain will need to be ironed as opposed to the more expensive rollable curtain above.

PRO Photo Studio Premium Polyester Collapsible Backdrop Background

Lighting: 

The following softbox lighting are all excellent choices:

Abeststudio 2x135W Continuous Lighting Kit 20″x28″/50x70cm Softbox Soft Box Photo Studio Set Light Bulbs Lamp 5500K Photography E27 Socket Softboxes

Abeststudio Photography Softbox Lighting Kit 2X 85W 3200K-5500K Bi-Color Dimmable LED Softbox Continuous Light Studio Equipment for Portrait Product Fashion Shooting

Abeststudio Softbox Lighting Kit, 20″x28″/50x70cm Soft Box Continuous Lighting Kit

Sound:

I highly recommend the Rode – MicMe microphone (make sure you choose the right connection for your phone )

·      Iphone or Ipad – Lightning

·      Android – USB 3c

·      Other – 3.5mm sound connecter 

* Please note Peter Rasmussen Acting Studio may receive a small commission from some of the above links. We own, use and recommend every item on this list.