Self Tape request petition

Private User
Actor

Anyone agree?

Think Mandy should implement a rule about advertisers not requesting a self-tape on the advert before any shortlisting is done. It is a current and growing trend. While I appreciate it's easier for an employer; it also causes a lot of time wasting. An actors "look" is often the first thing an employer will look at. That's why we all have headshots. If we don't have the right "look" an application is often not looked at, at all. For an actor self-taping takes time and effort - research, learning lines; investigating the script, character analysis etc. This is no problem when an actor knows they have the look an employer is considering and has as good a chance as anyone else but......if we don't have the right "look" in the first place it simply wastes our time.

Tried to send this direct to Mandy - but system only allows 300 characters.

Editorial Comment Hi Aurea,

Thanks for posting. Currently we have a marked increase in the number of jobs requesting self-tapes where they are being used to compensate for the lack of in-person auditions, due to the ongoing situation surrounding Covid-19. It seems likely that this number will go down over the coming months as restrictions are lifted. While we understand this can be frustrating, we do make efforts to mitigate the difficulties they pose. We impose a 2 minute limit on the length of any self-tapes requested, to ensure that what is being requested from actors is not gratuitous in length, and negotiate directly with employers when requests are unreasonably complex or restrictive. You may on occasion see entire scripts linked to job listings, but this is solely for reference rather than for the purpose of self-taping.
If you ever have concerns about the length of a self-tape for a job listing, you can always contact us on emails@mandy.com and we will investigate. The same is true for any feedback as we continue to develop the service over time.
Kind regards,
The Mandy Admin Team

  • 3 years ago
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Actually, I'm not sure Mandy doesn't actively encourage self-tapes from the off. I reason it thus: for other sites I look for acting roles on, very few of the roles have such requirements, even when they are direct verbatim copies of the ads that appear on here - just click, click and you're done. Perhaps the fault isn't with Mandy per se, but rather the design of the site which makes casting directors think they can get away with armed robbery and a whiskey still, or crimes of that sort of seriousness. But even so, to lose one actor's goodwill is unfortunate, to lose that of several dozen through the hoops may be seen as carelessness.


  • 2 years ago
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Victoria Lucie
Actor, Singer

Completely agree to everything said. I've done tons of tapes on here before my application has even been read and it takes up so much time. More than happy to film after being shortlisted (as others have mentioned) but every other casting on here at the moment, expects lines to be learnt, usually in a short window of time, filmed, edited and sent, and often never seen. It's a real shame, and thank you for bringing it up! I hope we can get things changed a little.


  • 2 years ago
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Toni Brooks
Actor

Completely agree - look at the applications and if the actor looks right, then, and ONLY then, ask for a self tape. And it's not the length - the preparation, lights, camera, sound etc all take the same time whether it's a one minute video or five. And when there are multiple asks - such as full length/mid shot idents and different scenes where the actual placing of the camera is crucial. Asking for umpteen 'other voices' to which one has to react is pretty difficult at times but doable with one other person reading the lines on a Zoom call. BUT, only once you've looked at an actor's profile.


  • 2 years ago
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Shipra Jain
Actor

I agree. I had written something like this to Mandy as well and got a similar vague reply about employer's choice and the length of self-tape. It's not about that! It's about our time and effort that goes into doing the self-tape (no matter the length) in the first instance along with our first application when there has been no shortlisting done yet. If we need to do a self tape with every job we apply for, it would take a lot of unnecessary time for us and the employer too would have to watch about 300 self tapes for a job! I don't know why they are doing that, but I know it's not fair to us actors. Mandy needs to understand that even them asking for a self-tape with the first application from everyone is too much and unnecessary. All the actors have headshots and most of us have showreels as well. They can allow actors to submit their applications in the first round, shortlist them based on their CV and then ask for a self-tape. That way at least we'd know we're being considered properly.

Even before the pandemic we were able to submit our first application without needing to do a self-tape for every one, then shortlisted and THEN a face to face audition. I don't know why Mandy has used it as an excuse for this trend. On Spotlight it's still happening like that - a self-tape request AFTER shortlisting - which I really appreciate.


  • 2 years ago
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Shipra Jain
Actor

I agree. I had written something like this to Mandy as well and got a similar vague reply about employer's choice and the length of self-tape. It's not about that! It's about our time and effort that goes into doing the self-tape (no matter the length) in the first instance along with our first application when there has been no shortlisting done yet. If we need to do a self tape with every job we apply for, it would take a lot of unnecessary time for us and the employer too would have to watch about 300 self tapes for a job! I don't know why they are doing that, but I know it's not fair to us actors. Mandy needs to understand that even them asking for a self-tape with the first application from everyone is too much and unnecessary. All the actors have headshots and most of us have showreels as well. They can allow actors to submit their applications in the first round, shortlist them based on their CV and then ask for a self-tape. That way at least we'd know we're being considered properly.

Even before the pandemic we were able to submit our first application without needing to do a self-tape for every one, then shortlisted and THEN a face to face audition. I don't know why Mandy has used it as an excuse for this trend. On Spotlight it's still happening like that - a self-tape request AFTER shortlisting - which I really appreciate.


  • 2 years ago
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Toni Brooks
Actor

I suppose they're keeping the casters sweet by not making waves. But who pays the bills?


  • 2 years ago
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It was ever thus, it would seem - and not just in acting. When I was a vanilla guerila, fighting my way through the corporate jungle, I'd often get asked to fill in this or that application form for a job or whatnot. Oftentimes, the form would make War and Peace look like a postage stamp and be structured like one of those make-your-own-adventure novels popular and welcome as an alternative to computer gaming in the 1980s. You could spend months working on completing the form, researching past misdemeanours, wiping the dust off diplomas you haven't seen since God was an embryo in the celestial milkman's eye and writing, in your best capitalised copperplate, all you've achieved and what you can do for the company. Then, task completed you trot down to the post office like a good little boy/girl, stick a copy of War and Peace on the envelope, post it and wait. And wait. And wait. If you're lucky, all that that work gets you is a curt obese Erithacus rubecula saying the position has been filled, signed pp the company. If you're very lucky you'll get a nice personal note saying thanks but no thanks, we'll keep your details on file (usually file 13). It can be crushing. And don't even get me started on computerised forms which, if badly designed by the lowest tender, go on and on and on forever.

The self-tape is, to my mind, the actor's version of the application form. Curricula Vitae are much better, with the actors' version being the showreel. The parallels aren't exact, but if the casting director can't see what you're capable of through a showreel, either your showreel isn't very good, or the casting director isn't up to snuff.


  • 2 years ago
  • 27

stop subscribing


  • 2 years ago
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The point Mandy have missed is that in-person auditions are only offered to a handful of people after the initial applications have been reviewed.

We have showreels and photographs for people to consider. These should be enough for them to decide whether they want to take applications further or not.


  • 2 years ago
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That's easier said than done, Robert. There are many faults with the Mandy platform, but it is probably the most professional platform I can access at this point in my career - which is probably why a past agent of mine insisted I come on as a member.


  • 2 years ago
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I know what you mean Andrew , got us by the short n curlies ; but if Actors are asked to do more and more here, (for less and less ££), it'll get to the point where we are paying to be in things for the publicity, and if standards and respect to Actors isn't upheld here, then we may have to vote with our wallets


  • 2 years ago
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I suggest, as a way to prove a point, that we ALL upload our showreels instead of the required self-tape... ;-)


  • 2 years ago
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Thank you for bringing this up Aurea, totally agree!


  • 2 years ago
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Private User
This profile is private

Have sent the following direct to Mandy.

"Edititorial comment posted to forum under "Selftape request petition" completely missed point of original post. Can someone please look at my later comment (reply #8) and respond to the specific issue. Mandy has always been very helpful in past so am hopeful this time too. Thanks"

Do I want to walk away from Mandy? No
Am I prepared to? Yes. Hope it doesn't come to that but I feel very strongly about this common sense change. And sometimes you just simply have to make a stand. It benefits everyone. There is no downside to employers NOT requesting self tapes at INITIAL application. Saves wasting actors time. And if employers are worried about being inundated with applications then close the process at a specific number. Simple I would have thought.

Look forward to Mandys response.


  • 2 years ago
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I am relieved and delighted that so many others feel the same about the self tape fiasco and all the very valid comments.
My opinion is that to take all the time and effort to record a self tape and then it be sent out into the ether, with no response forthcoming or any idea if it has even been viewed is totally disheartening. Saying that if it was a good job with reasonable money. I would probably make the effort!
However for some low pay/no pay job then. Really!?
I admit that, like everyone, I have moved heaven and earth to get to castings when needed.
At least though I know that the C.D's have at made some effort and I get to meet them, face to face
However we all have to make a living and for some #@*+ (choose your own expletive) to think you can drop everything record sometimes pages of dialogue, if not a doulogue to be sent off within a day is unrealistic, arrogant and cruel.
Then again if you have the luxury of a private income, a home recording studio and the ability to drop all previous committments then we are back to the debate of only the rich and privileged can pursue an acting career!
Mandy still get their money.


  • 2 years ago
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Chiara Fumanti
Actor, Singer

Completely agree. Of the self tapes I have provided with my applications, more than half end up not even being seen. Super annoying and time wasting. I hate how employers, casting directors, and Mandy too it seems, sometimes assume actors don't have anything else to do and should devote ALL their time to their craft. We are humans too.

Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love working on my craft and every self tape is good practice, but it seems to me like sometimes employers don't really care if they waste our time and it makes me livid. Rant over eheh


  • 2 years ago
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Private User
This profile is private

I’ve just started giving them my showreel instead and saying I will give them a self tape once they’ve decided I’m at all suitable


  • 2 years ago
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Your post, Adrian, reminds me that individual actions just make that individual, in the eyes of the casting director, a member of the awkward squad. To circumvent this, we really need to, if not unionise (there are unions enough for actors, even if some of us are as yet ineligible/unable to pay the dues), then certainly to band together in a united front. There are, unfortunately, many actors all too willing to bend double, twist and contort for the consorts of the Mandacious vixen, and we need a way to raise enough of a fuss that the awkward squad will not be ignored - without, of course, resorting to unseemly behaviour.


  • 2 years ago
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User Deleted
This profile has been archived

Spot on Aurea, I've been discussing this with fellow actors and we all completely agree. It's very lazy from those casting to not shortlist from headshots and showreels. Mandy doesn't seem to understand your point but hopefully their attention falls on this post and they act accordingly. Thanks for bringing this up!


  • 2 years ago
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Michael Good
Actor

Love that name 'Awkward Squad'.


  • 2 years ago
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