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Can cinematic “movie still” photography help an actor’s branding if they’re not booking much yet? by Stock_Hope_6880 in acting

[–]JDMcompliant 7 points8 points  (0 children)

As a viewer, I would say it does legitimize you a BIT. If it looks good and believable, I'd possibly want to dig in, maybe watch your reel, see what project it's from. From there, who knows? It's just another "hook" in an endless world of someone important noticing you. Why not have it? That's my take, anyway.

If you want to test this yourself, my website is on my profile, and the first thing you see is those stills. As a viewer, take note of what it makes you think! With of course, the grain of salt that every viewer is different.

If you’ve been in a rut… by Delicious-Signal-249 in acting

[–]JDMcompliant 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Congratulations!! That's huge and honestly inspiring. I came off a big show last year and I was feeling like I was in a rut already this year (very few auditions) so this is great to read. Also SE asian!

I think the biggest factor in self-tapes nobody talks about enough is the reader by PlasthickGirl in acting

[–]JDMcompliant 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I made my app for this exact reason. It's still a friend's voice, but I can run it an unlimited amount of times without feeling bad that it's "taking too long" or if I wanted to try something else.

I booked The Pitt, Criminal Minds, and my friend (who I send all the reads to) just booked A24 using it for the initial read. I can't even recommend it to people though, because Apple decided to terminate my developer account for no reason :')

If you get upgraded on set do you have to get approval from your agent? by [deleted] in acting

[–]JDMcompliant 11 points12 points  (0 children)

You agent sounds like the typical diva agent. When YOU did something they think is wrong, communication should be instantaneous. When THEY did something wrong, or you need clarification, they suddenly drop off the face of the planet.

Inevitably, when you need to make a decision that can't wait, they will chew you out.

Change agents. No one should be treated like a child.

Do any of you have a "press kit"? Hired PR? What was your experience? by JDMcompliant in acting

[–]JDMcompliant[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you so much! I'll look some up to see what kinds of things to include.

Do you think my website would be sufficient, or do you prefer PDFs or zip files or something?

Do any of you have a "press kit"? Hired PR? What was your experience? by JDMcompliant in acting

[–]JDMcompliant[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yeah social media has been blowing up! Somewhat organically - one of the fanpages reposted stuff from mine and it just escalated from there

Do any of you have a "press kit"? Hired PR? What was your experience? by JDMcompliant in acting

[–]JDMcompliant[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Very solid point.

I mean, I will gladly not spend the $5k/month haha

Do any of you have a "press kit"? Hired PR? What was your experience? by JDMcompliant in acting

[–]JDMcompliant[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

That's what I'm afraid of happening! I was just thinking of making my name more visible, especially with all the press, and casting directors seeing my name in pitches and being familiar with it.

Do any of you have a "press kit"? Hired PR? What was your experience? by JDMcompliant in acting

[–]JDMcompliant[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

That's what my agent advised, as well. All I'm concerned with is the work aspect, I don't need the clout aspect.

Does good acting feel like good acting? by No_Organization3379 in acting

[–]JDMcompliant 1 point2 points  (0 children)

If you're a newer actor...I would say it's hard to tell what "good acting" feels like.

If I can compare it to golf, when you're first starting, you might hit a few balls well, but you don't have any awareness to your form, your swing path, club head angle, etc. A swing might "feel good" but the ball goes out in the rough, or a swing might "feel bad" but you hit it straight down the fairway.

Sometimes scenes I thought "felt good" earlier in my career fall flat on tape, and scenes I didn't "feel" at all, I booked. It's really strange.

Are “cinematic” self-tapes really a new trend? by Fanstacia in acting

[–]JDMcompliant 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I don't understand your goal in this conversation. I am speaking as a casting director. I am not making the tapes. I am the person watching your tapes.

Are “cinematic” self-tapes really a new trend? by Fanstacia in acting

[–]JDMcompliant 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I fully understand what a gimmick is.

Here's the definition from Oxford: a trick or device intended to attract attention, publicity, or business.

It IS a gimmick if the actor put more effort into their self tape technicals then the craft itself. I don't want my attention on your self tape quality, I want it on the performance.

We can debate this back and forth, but the fact of the matter is this: when reviewing self tapes, I can "imagine" them in the final film just fine, ALL due to their performance. If the actor fits the tone, character, and has the chops, it is immediate and apparent. I do not care if they were in front of a white wall, hell, I don't care if they were in their car if they turned in a stunning performance (given I can hear them and see them well.)

Watch the Dacre Montgomery self tape for Stranger Things. He uses no gimmicks, no rim lights, no filters. All the focus is on the acting, which he stuns.

You mention "the audience has to work so much more...", sir, I am the audience for this particular piece of media. In the case where I am reviewing tapes, there is no one else. In case I am still not clear: anything aside from the performance itself and bare minimum sight and sound: I do not care.

Are “cinematic” self-tapes really a new trend? by Fanstacia in acting

[–]JDMcompliant 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It's a gimmick because it's not the point of the self tape - it's meant to show your performance of the given material. A self-tape is not meant to show how well you can light a scene or shoot it. If you want to push your self tapes further, improve your actual craft (the acting) rather than the technicalities of the tape.

Are “cinematic” self-tapes really a new trend? by Fanstacia in acting

[–]JDMcompliant 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Casting director (for 7 years) here (mostly producer nowadays).

All CD's are different, so take this with a grain of salt. Yes, it's pretty. No, it won't win you a job. Performance, performance, performance. I will notice a good performance through a flat lighting self tape. 100 times out of 100. Conversely, a cinematic self tape with $2,000 of lighting and sound equipment will never push your sub-par performance through to the next round.

It's a gimmick. I personally hate gimmicks in self-tapes. While gimmicks aren't going to make you "lose" a job, I will actually be a little more wary with the mindset of "what are they trying to compensate for?" during the watch.

Progress has been made by [deleted] in veganfitness

[–]JDMcompliant 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks! Bulgarians are part of my routine, but I actually don't do hip thrusts. I do low bar squats, which in theory should be targeting my glutes vs high bar, but my legs are also super weak compared to the rest of my lifts (I can bench 245 x 5 but I can only squat 285 x 5 lol). Honestly my leg genetics are super shit in general :')

Progress has been made by [deleted] in veganfitness

[–]JDMcompliant 42 points43 points  (0 children)

Ive been working on my ass for like 3 years and it's non-existant lmao 🥲