I know plenty has already been said on this subject, and I am in complete agreement. I've already said earlier in this thread that I have a general policy of not submitting self-tapes at the first round. Today, I made a very rare exception to that rule (for reasons I'll explain in a minute) only to discover YET ANOTHER REASON why this ridiculous policy isn't in anybody's interest, including the employer's.
First off, I agree with Charlotte - from an employer's perspective, you're not going to be receiving the highest standard of applications because many actors will rule themselves out of a potential time-wasting exercise at the first round, so you've already lost a large percentage of talent, either due to time constraints or choice.
Secondly, today I decided to go ahead and record a self-tape, as requested, at the first round. As the employer was local I felt it would be beneficial, and I knew I was well-suited to the role, so I decided to do a one-take sight-reading of the script (I made it clear in the application it was a sight-reading. On this occasion I already had my recording equipment set up so I was wiling to do one take. I'm not willing to learn a page of script at the initial stage). I then attached the 32 bars of singing they had requested, from footage I already had (I didn't record this specifically, but used existing footage). The total requested video with script and singing was over 2 minutes long.
In this instance, absolutely nobody wins. I uploaded my footage and only the first 2 minutes were attached to the application. So the employer will have received my script, and then an abbreviated version of the first 2 bars of my song, before time ran out. Not only have I wasted my time, but they have not got what they asked for either. How many applications will they watch before they realise their needs aren't met by asking for auditions at the first round, either?!
Mandy seem to think they've done us all a favour by limiting initial auditions to 2 minutes (Mandy, for the millionth time it is NOT THE PLAY TIME OF THE VIDEO that is the issue, but the TIME SPENT LEARNING LINES, EQUIPMENT SET UP, APPROPRIATE CLOTHING, MAKE-UP, FINDING A READER that is the issue, and we cannot afford that time multiple times per day, at the first stage of auditioning... EVERY ACTOR I KNOW is willing to spend that time ON INVITATION but NOT AT THE FIRST ROUND when most of the time it won't even be watched!).
Sorry for shouting. You get my point. ONE ROUND OF CASTING IS NOT TOO MUCH TO ASK FOR BEFORE WE SPEND THE TIME SELF-TAPING FOR APPROPRIATE ROLES!!! I have willingly done 7 minute self-tapes on invitation, when I know I'm appropriate and in the running for a role (especially in times of Covid when self-tapes sometimes replace in-the-room auditions). I don't mind in the slightest, but I'd rather do a few more thorough auditions WHEN INVITED than hundreds of short auditions at first round, that are not appropriate for one reason or another, it's just a waste of time.
Over and out.
