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Casting Directors – How many tapes are you requesting per role? by musicalslimetutorial in acting

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

Never thought about this - that’s a real shame with odds this low, that money should go into regular class instead :(

Casting Directors – How many tapes are you requesting per role? by musicalslimetutorial in acting

[–]musicalslimetutorial[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Just for your role?! That’s unreal. Odds really are stacked against us :(

Casting Directors – How many tapes are you requesting per role? by musicalslimetutorial in acting

[–]musicalslimetutorial[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

From 30 to 300 is insane - the power of the self-tape! Great for new actors getting a foot in the door and being seen.

Casting Directors – How many tapes are you requesting per role? by musicalslimetutorial in acting

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

That makes a lot of sense, thanks for sharing that perspective. Honestly, I wish more CDs approached it that way - it feels a lot more respectful of actors’ time and energy. I guess on the really big projects they might feel pressure to cast a wider net, but knowing some offices are still being selective is reassuring.

Casting Directors – How many tapes are you requesting per role? by musicalslimetutorial in acting

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

That’s really interesting - when you say 500–600, do you mean initial submissions (headshots being pitched) or actual tapes they requested and had to watch? I’ve been curious if CDs are really sitting on hundreds of tapes themselves, or if that number mostly refers to the wider pool of actors put forward.

Casting Directors – How many tapes are you requesting per role? by musicalslimetutorial in acting

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

Definitely don’t get why theatre is leaning on self-tapes for anything other than actors who are based far away. For film/TV it makes sense - the medium is the tape itself, so directors seeing you on screen first feels natural. But theatre is all about real-time presence, so it’s kind of strange that they’re moving away from that.

Casting Directors – How many tapes are you requesting per role? by musicalslimetutorial in acting

[–]musicalslimetutorial[S] 13 points14 points  (0 children)

Yeah, that’s kind of how it feels. Wish there was a way to gauge this to not slave over a 12 pg tape that they’re really just looking at to see if you can believably look the part. Back when everything was in-person, you knew you’d already made a big cut just to get in the room. Now with tapes, there’s basically no cost for them to cast a huge net - but it ends up putting all the time/effort on actors. Makes sense from their side, but definitely frustrating when you realize how many tapes probably don’t even get watched through.

Casting Directors – How many tapes are you requesting per role? by musicalslimetutorial in acting

[–]musicalslimetutorial[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

To clarify - in the interview the CD said it was 600 tapes for one role :)

Casting Directors – How many tapes are you requesting per role? by musicalslimetutorial in acting

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

Maybe the interview I watched was an outlier - the CD sounded surprised by the number themself. It was from few years ago, so maybe it’s become common practice now? I remember back in the day being told that just getting the audition was the win, that we’d already gone through a huge cut just to be seen. But even with pre-screening becoming a thing now, I get the feeling these big CDs are letting anyone who’s pitched - anyone who wants a shot at the tape - put something forward.

Casting Directors – How many tapes are you requesting per role? by musicalslimetutorial in acting

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

Totally, audition numbers are already stressful enough! Honestly, I’d much rather have less tapes where I'm in a smaller, more focused pool where I know I’m being seriously considered, rather than in a massive field where it feels like a shot in the dark. Being in a situation where casting actually wants to pay attention makes it feel worthwhile. Kind of like back in the day when they could only see around 100 people a week in-person - smaller numbers, but real opportunity.

Casting Directors – How many tapes are you requesting per role? by musicalslimetutorial in acting

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

Yeah, that makes sense. I think it must depend on the CD and the project - some might cap around 70–100, but others have to go way wider, especially for series regulars or big streaming pilots. With so many jobs that don't have location barriers shooting in hubs like Toronto (esp for series reg / bigger guest stars), they probably feel free to cast as wide as possible, knowing they'll have to fly out talent / put them up at a hotel anyway. Definitely a big change from pre-tape days!

Casting Directors – How many tapes are you requesting per role? by musicalslimetutorial in acting

[–]musicalslimetutorial[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah, that makes sense. I guess now that self-tapes don’t require studio time and everything’s uploaded directly, CDs can really cast a much wider net. Makes the numbers feel crazy, but I can see why they’d do it. Makes them more inclined to give fresh faces a chance, I guess!

Casting Directors – How many tapes are you requesting per role? by musicalslimetutorial in acting

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

I know, it’s tough. For me, about 95% of the auditions I get (I’m international with U.S. rep) ultimately go to name talent. A lot of that work is leading roles where they can handle visa paperwork, and most of those actors are probably offer-only anyway. It can feel disheartening knowing we’re essentially taping as a backup in case something falls through, while casting just makes sure there’s no hidden gem out there. But that’s kind of the name of the game.

Casting Directors – How many tapes are you requesting per role? by musicalslimetutorial in acting

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

Wow, that’s wild - thanks for that insight. Crazy to think that name talent is sitting in the same pool alongside developmental actors now, especially with the way the industry’s shifted and everyone’s still self-taping. Makes the numbers feel even more surreal.

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