SelfTape Support

Last updated: July 18, 2026

Contact

Something broken, a feature idea, or just want to say what worked or didn't? Email billylush@gmail.com and I'll get back to you. Built and supported by one working actor, so replies come from a real person, not a ticket queue.

Frequently asked

Where do my takes and sides go?
Nowhere but your devices. Everything you record or import stays in the app's local storage, and signing in does not change that: the optional account exists only to keep your casting address yours, and no take, script, or prep note is ever attached to it. After an in-app recording finishes, SelfTape tries to add a backup copy to Photos and shows you whether that copy completed. If Photos is unavailable, the app copy remains in My Takes and the backup can be retried. A few features send text or audio to a private server only when you use them on purpose; see the Privacy Policy for the full rundown.

Why did my export come out too big or too small for the casting site?
Pick the destination preset that matches where you're submitting (Actors Access / Eco Cast, Casting Networks, Backstage, or Email) before you export. SelfTape sizes the file to that site's limit automatically. If a take still lands over the target after a few tries, the source footage may be too dense to hit that size without a visible quality drop, so try trimming a few seconds or picking a smaller preset.

The teleprompter is showing action lines or the wrong character's dialogue.
When you import a PDF, confirm the correct character in the import sheet before rehearsing, that's what tells SelfTape which lines are yours. If a specific PDF parses badly, email a copy along with the casting site it came from and I'll use it to improve the parser.

Can I use SelfTape without recording in-app?
Yes. Trim and export works on any video already in your Photos library, you don't have to shoot with the in-app camera.

Do I need an account?
No. There's no sign-in anywhere in the app.

A casting site's file size limit changed and SelfTape doesn't match it anymore.
Email the new limit and the source (a link to the casting site's submission guidelines is ideal) and I'll get it updated.

AI features

SelfTape has a few features that use AI, and they only send data when you choose to use them.

What does Packet Import do?
Paste the casting email you got and SelfTape reads it and fills in a new audition for you: project, role, deadline, framing, slate requirements, file naming, number of takes, wardrobe, and any special instructions. Nothing saves automatically, so you review every field in the editor first and can fix or delete anything before it's added to your tracker.

What does the forwarding address do?
The app can create a private forwarding address for you (a tape-...@tapeout.app address). Forward a casting email to it, then open the app and it offers to build the audition for you. Getting one means signing in with Apple, once, on the Auditions screen. That is the only thing sign in is used for, and it is what makes the address safe to give to an agent: it stays yours if you delete the app, change phones, or reinstall.

Do I have to sign in to use SelfTape?
No. Recording, importing, the prompter, Scene Q&A, the prep coach and the Reader all work without signing in. Only the casting address needs an account. The forwarded email is held on the relay for up to 14 days so the app can pull it in, then deleted, and it's removed right away once you build or discard it.

Can I ask questions about a scene?
Yes. On an audition with sides attached, "Ask about the scene" opens a chat that answers in the context of that script, including a run-lines mode. Your questions and the sides text are sent through the private relay to the AI provider to answer.

What does the Scene Prep coach do?
It works through SelfTape's Scene Prep worksheet one section at a time: objective, stakes, obstacles, relationship, personalization, playable actions, and the moment before. When sides are linked, the coach grounds its questions in the scene. Your sides and chat are sent through the private relay to the AI provider during the session. The chat is not saved by the app; only worksheet entries you approve stay on your phone.

What is Billy's Reader?
An AI reading partner that voices the other character's lines out loud while you rehearse or record, so you can run a scene solo. The line text is sent through the relay to a voice provider to generate the audio, which is cached so the same line isn't generated twice.

What does share-sheet sides import do?
Share a sides PDF from Mail (or anywhere with a share sheet) straight into SelfTape. It comes in teleprompter-ready, and you'll be offered the option to attach it to an audition. This one isn't AI: the PDF is read entirely on your phone and never leaves it.

What does it cost me?
Nothing extra right now while the app is in beta.

Is what I send kept anywhere?
The text you hand Packet Import, Scene Q&A, or the Scene Prep coach goes through a private relay to the AI provider, gets read once to do the job, and isn't stored by the relay afterward. Reader audio is cached on the relay for up to 30 days so lines aren't re-generated. Forwarded casting emails are held up to 14 days, then deleted. Imported PDFs stay on your phone unless you intentionally use a feature, such as Scene Q&A or the prep coach, that sends their text to the AI provider. See the Privacy Policy for the details.

Companion Mode (second screen)

How does the second screen work?
Pair a second device of your own (like an iPad) as a monitor or teleprompter. The two devices connect directly over your local Wi-Fi on an encrypted connection, and the script and controls sync device to device. Nothing goes through a server, and disconnecting the second device never stops a recording on your iPhone.

Feature requests and bugs

SelfTape is actively being built by an actor who uses it for his own submissions, so real-world feedback shapes what gets built next. If something didn't work the way you expected, tell me what you were trying to do and what happened instead, that's more useful than "it's broken."

Version and device info

When reporting a bug, include:

This is the fastest way to a fix.