…is it though? 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘥𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬?
An unsolicited self tape refers to a self-taped audition that is submitted to a casting office without that office actually requesting one.
How do actors even get the information for an unsolicited self tape?
A couple of different ways. But usually it’s either:
① Their agent sent them the instructions to tape without telling them it was unsolicited.
② They got the information from a friend who auditioned and decided to lay down a tape themselves.
Let’s first start by saying:
We 𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙙. You really think you can hit this one out of the park and you want a shot.
But there’s a level of 𝕥𝕣𝕦𝕤𝕥 that is not being respected when a tape is submitted unsolicited.
The great thing about “the era of self tapes” is that we can see SO many more actors.
We’re talking A LOT more than we’re used to.
But that also means that if you’re even 𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘺 right for a role, you’re probably going to get that self tape audition.
𝗧𝘄𝗼 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿:
– Concepts are constantly changing
– Your time is valuable
If the breakdown described you to a T and you didn’t get the audition, chances are, the concept has changed.
And we don’t always re-release a breakdown when the concept changes.
𝙏𝙧𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙪𝙨.
We want to get this right.
But your time is 𝘝𝘈𝘓𝘜𝘈𝘉𝘓𝘌 and taping for a role that you unknowingly are wrong for is a waste of that valuable time… and ours .
It never hurts to ask.
And if the answer is “not right for this one” — trust that we mean it. Spend that time reading a script, working on your materials or doing something that makes you happy.
#yourtimeisvaluable
#themoreyouknow #thecastingdirectorscut #mondaymythdebunker
Related reading: Does Sending Your Self-Tape Early Help?, How Much Does Production Value Matter in a Self-Tape? and Do Casting Directors Watch Every Self-Tape?.
Want help applying this to your own career? Book a one-on-one consultation with Ramani or see our packages.