Hey Christinna! I saw your email and I clicked through and watched your video. So good! Also loved your self tape set up. I’m coming to you asap for my next self tape audition 💯. ❤
I have been in the business for 17 years and have over 100 film and tv credits and multiple commercials, some nationals. My booking, callback, and on avails were WAY more frequent when actors were going into the room with casting directors. Since the self taping, my success rate has fallen dramatically and I attribute that to the volume of tapes casting is getting from all over the nation, and sometimes, the world. I’ve heard other actors say they are experiencing the same. Whereas, before, casting could only fit so many actors in one day to see in person and that was all of your competition. Even some seasoned actors are finding it hard to keep their spirits up and stay motivated in today’s self-taping circumstances. They are getting way more auditions, so working way harder, but booking less.
I hear you. The increased volume is absolutely a factor affecting booking & callback ratios and many are feeling the frustration, especially those who’ve been in the business for years. Unfortunately it's a circumstance actors are being forced to deal with and until the union steps in and does something about it, the challenge is to not allow it to hinder the quality of our work when the call comes in, or our commitment. Sending you lots of encouragement, stay strong.
It’s the volume of tapes that are coming in to casting. In person auditions usually have 15-30 people. With taped auditions they are bringing in 60-200 tapes a lot of times, but no they don’t all get watched with consideration and I’ve had casting directors tell me that. I’m not saying all, but a lot do this. This makes it a cattle call and not an audition. During the pandemic on an IG live I had an episodic Casting Director tell me when they get auditions, “no they’re not sitting watching every single audition the whole time. The audition might be playing in the background while they’re doing other things on their computer.” I’m sure there are casting directors out there that try to do better than this, but that’s not even giving someone a chance, and you can’t do that in person. That’s pretty lazy. They shouldn’t ask for someone to do the work if they’re not even going to be considered. How disheartening is that after 15 years of work in this business. Obviously you need to be a good actor, bring the juice, and do the research to book a role. Now that self tapes are a thing, casting directors can sit at home and watch (or not watch) tapes in their PJ’s, while all the work and expense is placed on the actor. They don’t have office space to rent, camera expenses, pay for a reader, markers, printing of sides etc. The actor does all of that now. Here is a deadline article about it. deadline.com/2023/03/casting-directors-sound-off-self-tape-controversy-1235278508/#
Yes, agreed. Actors are having to shoulder a responsibility previously held only by casting. Unfortunately it's a circumstance actors are having to deal with until change is fought for by the union. Until then the challenge is to remain steadfast in the work not allow it to compromise our commitment when the appt comes in (see my comment above). Sending you encouragement as well, stay strong & diligent in the work.
Hey Christinna! I saw your email and I clicked through and watched your video. So good! Also loved your self tape set up. I’m coming to you asap for my next self tape audition 💯. ❤
Christinna. Simply the best in the god damn business.
I have been in the business for 17 years and have over 100 film and tv credits and multiple commercials, some nationals. My booking, callback, and on avails were WAY more frequent when actors were going into the room with casting directors. Since the self taping, my success rate has fallen dramatically and I attribute that to the volume of tapes casting is getting from all over the nation, and sometimes, the world. I’ve heard other actors say they are experiencing the same. Whereas, before, casting could only fit so many actors in one day to see in person and that was all of your competition. Even some seasoned actors are finding it hard to keep their spirits up and stay motivated in today’s self-taping circumstances. They are getting way more auditions, so working way harder, but booking less.
I hear you. The increased volume is absolutely a factor affecting booking & callback ratios and many are feeling the frustration, especially those who’ve been in the business for years. Unfortunately it's a circumstance actors are being forced to deal with and until the union steps in and does something about it, the challenge is to not allow it to hinder the quality of our work when the call comes in, or our commitment. Sending you lots of encouragement, stay strong.
It’s the volume of tapes that are coming in to casting. In person auditions usually have 15-30 people. With taped auditions they are bringing in 60-200 tapes a lot of times, but no they don’t all get watched with consideration and I’ve had casting directors tell me that. I’m not saying all, but a lot do this. This makes it a cattle call and not an audition. During the pandemic on an IG live I had an episodic Casting Director tell me when they get auditions, “no they’re not sitting watching every single audition the whole time. The audition might be playing in the background while they’re doing other things on their computer.” I’m sure there are casting directors out there that try to do better than this, but that’s not even giving someone a chance, and you can’t do that in person. That’s pretty lazy. They shouldn’t ask for someone to do the work if they’re not even going to be considered. How disheartening is that after 15 years of work in this business. Obviously you need to be a good actor, bring the juice, and do the research to book a role. Now that self tapes are a thing, casting directors can sit at home and watch (or not watch) tapes in their PJ’s, while all the work and expense is placed on the actor. They don’t have office space to rent, camera expenses, pay for a reader, markers, printing of sides etc. The actor does all of that now. Here is a deadline article about it.
deadline.com/2023/03/casting-directors-sound-off-self-tape-controversy-1235278508/#
Yes, agreed. Actors are having to shoulder a responsibility previously held only by casting. Unfortunately it's a circumstance actors are having to deal with until change is fought for by the union. Until then the challenge is to remain steadfast in the work not allow it to compromise our commitment when the appt comes in (see my comment above). Sending you encouragement as well, stay strong & diligent in the work.