self tapes and no responses
Is it just me or has this self tape thing got out of hand, over and over again I have been asked to tape, 2 or 3 sides, do them on time in a professional format and hear absolutely nothing, you know what I am also busy but never so busy that I cannot find time to be courteous, really you want to be professional then reply
Agreed. Hopefully it's not some kind of AI dragnet.
Nope, you’re not alone Patric. I’m seeing this more and more my argument is if you need more than 2 pages to work out if someone is right for a part or not then it’s a problem. Anything above that turn turns into a short film. We’re not expected to just be actors anymore, we’re expected to be filmmakers, editors, sound designers. I’ve stopped doing them if it’s over 2 pages.
That’s like Tesco asking you to do an unpaid half day shift to see if you’re right for a role as part of the interview. I’ve made complaints sometimes to companies after if I don’t hear anything, frankly it’s getting ridiculous!!
There is also a potential plagiarism issue, as actors submitting self tapes are essentially providing film-makers with lots of ideas on how to bring the script to life and all but one self-taper will derive no benefit from this..
I understood that Mandy had outlawed job posts asking all applicants to self tape a script. But it seems to me that some are circumventing this by simply responding to all who reply to the job post and asking them to self tape the script at that stage.
Unless you have a troupe of actors and unlimited filming spaces available to you it is impractical to self-tape most scripts.
Please film-makers, if you are requesting a self-tape, ask a limited number of actors to tape (the number you could realistically call in for an audition) and set a specific acting task that can realistically be self-filmed and acted by one person in a small space.
I'm about 50/50 on getting responses to self-tapes Patric and so film-makers are not all bad. :-)
I would like this pre-screening process to stop as well.
It’s crazy. There should be some way that we can see if someone who has requested a self tape has looked at our profile before requesting. Another thing that would make life easier for us - one of the perks to join the list (whatever it may include) of improvements constantly being promised by Mandy.
Agreed. It's only courteous to say thanks you but no.
Also, have you seen this? https://www.indiewire.com/news/general-news/olivia-colman-self-tape-auditions-disrespectful-to-actors-1234971762/
It has some advantages in that people who live far from the audition location can still be seen but I wonder, if there was a survey done, how many would be chosen from in-person auditions compared to self-taped ones. Would meeting some in person and others only via tape balance it in favour of those actually met and interacted with?
Yes I had 3 self tapes and no replies it’s so rude not even no or yes
I have sent so many self tapes I've lost count and nothing back not even a thank you. If you have a showreel then they should be able to know your strength as an actor. I think it was the same when I was with an agent always self tapes. I'm self representing so I have more control in the sence that I can choose to do the self tape or not.
Thanks all. This has just happened to me, I was pleased with what I did and a thank you or an acknowledgement would have been nice. I am recently back and just remembering I need more resilience and a thicker skin! Keep going all X
Hiya,
Yes it is hard and weird and counter- intuitive to invest energy, creativity and emotion into something- send it into the ether and likely get no human response/ acknowledgement. Agree, x
Agreed. I dont think it's a case of self tapes are bad, it's just really annoying that one is asked to Self tape just to apply and be seen. Go back to apply then if the CD likes you then ask for self tape and or in person. Saves us actors time and stress, especially when half of the tapes doing get looked at!!!
I now have a rule that I wont apply if it requires a selftape on the casting before they have even seen my profile. If they like my profile and I apply with my showreel and cv they can deside if they want me to tape from that or not.
Same here guys, Ive sent out a few with zero replies back, not that it bothers me as I couldnt give two hoots really, although it is a little rude. I now give them a week or two and then move on scratching the application as a tough shit your loss. I appreciate that they are busy but my time is just as valuable. It is not just the big producers as student films are the same, it doesn't take too much effort to reply, thanks but no thanks. Cut and paste even makes the process faster. @LindseyJohnson thats sound advice.
The challenge is for newbies such as myself stepping up from Support Artist to more advance roles is not having showreel material but it is a challenge I relish.
I might start making notes of the production companies that do not reply back and then play around with the introduction letters I send, ergo being a bit bloody cheeky.
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