I had another actor friend tell me their slate shots pushed them to the top of the queue. Thanks for confirming this for us! It's hard to know which new features are actually worth the money.
Wonderful advice, Ms. Berman, thank you. If your agent is already submitting you on these websites, how can you avoid double-submitting, or, in general, stepping on his/her toes?
Hi Amy! So I understand that we would need the slate shot and a video of our past work, but I am in a bit of a predicament there... I've never been in a movie or even a short film before. So I have no videos of my work. What would you recommend there?
I'm in the same situation haha according to my research, recording yourself doing different monologues, and getting snippets from them is okay for a starter demo reel because at least casting directors can see what you can do
There are companies who "manufacture a reel scene" who range from very reasonable and decent quality to very expensive and excellent production quality. The old "i can't get a reel without being cast, and I can't get cast without a reel" excuse is no longer valid. Save your money and buy a scene, it's investing in your actor tools, simple.
Thanks Amy! Quick question, does attaching a RUclips Link in the Msg box of my Reel count as having a video attached? I usually do that so I hope it gets prioritized. thanks again.
Thank you so much Amy! I didn't realize that much emphasis was being placed on slate shots. I've had videos up for years. I have a question. Is it recommended that an actor's slate shot match their headshot or is it not necessary? In other words, can my slate shot be in a different outfit and my hair different than what is in my headshot? Thank you in advance for your answer and thanks for a very informative video!
+Michele Yeager I'd make it similar to your headshot. Also, having video up is not enough, it must be attached to your submission. You are probably doing that (I hope) but I wanted to clarify.
+TipsOnActing Still not clear to me.... So you're saying to re-attach/upload your video clips/reel (which are already attached to your profile) as an additional submission along with your audition tape?
+Cathy Johns Hi! When you submit yourself for a role on AA, you are given the option of which headshot you want to submit. If that headshot has a Slateshot on it, that's money! ...and the 1st SlateShot is free to upload, so use it on the one you submit the most. You also have the option to choose which videos you wish to send for that particular submission. Check all the applicable vids, or check your one demo, if you only have 1. (You may also get an area for 'Notes," depending on the breakdown. ) There is no need to re-upload videos, NO MORE $$! It is just a way to click on what you already have on AA. I hope that helps! If not, I'll be happy to make a sample vid for you, let me know! If you already have the audition and have uploaded the video, then this does not apply :)
Thank you very much Amy had not clue about the priority list I thought it was based on when you post your submission. Have a question. on my headshots they are of me without a beard. I am going to get headshots with a beard very soon. My question is if my slateshot is of me with a beard is that a good thing or bad since it shows a different appearance to casting directors.
Hi Amy, I don't have actor Access profile yet, I'm actually not sure how to get started on Actors Access,, I live in Florida which is about 8 hours from Atlanta Georgia,, does a lot of stuff being filmed in Atlanta Georgia in my understanding they have a lot of audition for stuck in throat in Atlanta Georgia access and I'm missing all of it,,,, I've been asking you for about for about 13 years now,, I need to get my hamster wheel moving,😁
Thank you Amy. How often do you NOT make it to the bottom of the electronic "pile" ? Subsequently does it make a difference if you're the first or last to submit?
Just took a walk through some samples, they are really cool. The ones that seem to work the best show the Actor with the same cloths and in the same basic pose as the headshot and then *presto* the shot comes alive! I can see why CD's would love these. Here's the page I found on Actors Access/Breakdown Services: breakdownservices.com/index.cfm/main/slateshot
Maybe they can add a new level, submissions that have a video attached, a slate shot attached, and pay a "head of the line" tax, oh wait, that is the slate shot. Now I'd love to back that comment down, so can you name ANY CD's who will go on the record, publicly., by name, saying they even look at slate shots let alone will recommend actors pay for slate shots? You cast before right? Can I ask you, would you ever in the middle of pulling a session for one of the many roles you have to cast each and every day, take the time to click play on and watch a second video besides the clip or reel attached? If the actor doesn't have the work ethic to get even a single 20-30 second decent quality that shows they can act, would you really give them one of your coveted audition slots based on an improv name slate? This feels about as smarmy and conflict of interesty as IMDb writing an algorithm that "calculates" star meter number which is based on the number of page hits an actor gets, then has services where actors pay to have their star meter number artificially lowered by banks of servers hitting their page. I'd really love some legit CD's to go on record saying slate shots matter. I've asked about 20 so far and gotten everything from chuckles to flat out no.
I hear your frustration Alan. And I totally get it. And I won’t say a Slate Shot all by itself is something that will get you an audition or not, but, but I will say that I’ve personally spoken to CDs who say they’ve clicked on them and watched. Ultimately, when it comes to marketing yourself as an actor, you have to pick and choose what you focus on, weighing what industry standards are against your budget and time…And choose the combo that works best for you.
@@TipsOnActing I just don't see how a company can develop a "product" and then design the system that CD's use to review submissions in such a way that the "product" is used in the prioritization ranking of actor submissions, and it's not considered a conflict of interest. Not just for self-submissions (which granted most CD's don't like at unless it's a super difficult ask, like twins or a small person, but also on the agent side of the dual facing service. I realize the huge chance I'm taking by speaking out, cancel my account and my career ends. Who speaks up for actors in this business?
@@TipsOnActing I'd really love to see a name of a single CD who is fine being referenced as "using" Slate Shots in part of the decision to give an actor an audition. I think it's a conflict of interest, $$$ scam by AA and only speaking out now because I no longer care if AA deletes my profile in retribution. I mean I'd sue the F out of them but no longer afraid of that. The ONLY CD's I've spoken to, and I have interfaced with maybe 100, with my previous work as a Veteran turned Actor charity groups Director of Casting and now Deputy Chair of the LA SAG-AFTRA Military Committee, and I've never been told that when asked. A few have said something like "if I have time I'll watch them." You know that most actors come from a place of fear. Fear that I don't have enough pics up, do I need a clown pic? Do I need a DR outfit pic? Oh this doesn't feel right but I don't wanna get blacklisted so I'll say nothing. That kind of perspective. Slate Shots are 100% not used by most if not all (where is the name, if they use it they shouldn't mind the name being used) do NOT use SS for input on casting or filling a session. We blow so much money on crap we don't need. We need industry advocates to help protect us from predatory practices and being the most preyed upon sector of the industry. Another example: we were ALL told we had to RUSH and get a fully populated with pics and film, profile on all of our Casting Networks profiles (not previously needed) due to Fox not liking the owner of AA and Fox was no longer using AA. A year and a half later, Fox is absorbed by Disney and they ARE fine with AA. Did agents and managers tell their clients they could kill those $$$ account features?
I knew about attaching videos to submissions, but I hadn't heard about slate shots. The only thing I could find on Actors Access is something called "scene slates," which are professionally shot 3-4 minute scenes with a partner and shot at Breakdown Services for $200. Is that what you're referring to? Other than being shot by Breakdown Services, I don't see a difference between that and scenes from videos I've done elsewhere. In addition, I've been told that we should be using several 10-20 second clips, not one big scene in our submissions. If this is indeed what you're referring to, it sounds a bit like a scam to make us pay $200 to get to the top of the list.
+Craig Bruenell Slate shots are uploaded underneath your headshots--take a look... Go to Manage your Photos and you will see each photo has 2 buttons underneath that say "Manage Photo" and "+Add SlateShot." Your 1st one is free! It is simply a 7sec or less video of you saying something like "Hi, I'm Craig Bruenell!" or "Hey there, I'm Craig Bruenell." or... well, you get the idea, it's YOUR personality of your headshot coming to life :). Since your 1st is free, add it to the headshot you use most often...and make it look like that headshot is coming to life (wear the same thing, try to have a similar background, etc...) I hope that helps!
Davon Revels You have to make a showfax account. $68 for a year. When you pay for it, you submit your username and password on actors access when you go to your cart and you won't have to pay.
I had another actor friend tell me their slate shots pushed them to the top of the queue. Thanks for confirming this for us! It's hard to know which new features are actually worth the money.
Wonderful advice, Ms. Berman, thank you. If your agent is already submitting you on these websites, how can you avoid double-submitting, or, in general, stepping on his/her toes?
That is GOLD!! Those little tidbits of information keeps us in the "A" game!! Thank you, AJB! You are a gem!
I was in an acting workshop this weekend and shared this info. Not many people are aware of the priority order. Thanks!
Thanks Amy! Good information to know! Have a great rest of your day!
This is good! I never thought of a slate shot!
Amy thank you so much! You always share great tips!
This is very insightful. Thank you!
Thanks Amy!! As usual, I am amazed at all the great info you are sharing with us. This tip is going to make a HUGE difference. :-)
Just wonderful!!!!! Thank you dear Amy!
This is an amazing tip about Slate Shots! Thank you for sharing
Hi Amy!
So I understand that we would need the slate shot and a video of our past work, but I am in a bit of a predicament there...
I've never been in a movie or even a short film before.
So I have no videos of my work.
What would you recommend there?
I'm in the same situation haha according to my research, recording yourself doing different monologues, and getting snippets from them is okay for a starter demo reel because at least casting directors can see what you can do
Try your best to get roles even if it's in youth theatre.
Just put your slate and your best monologue drama and 1 monologue comedy 👍
There are companies who "manufacture a reel scene" who range from very reasonable and decent quality to very expensive and excellent production quality. The old "i can't get a reel without being cast, and I can't get cast without a reel" excuse is no longer valid. Save your money and buy a scene, it's investing in your actor tools, simple.
Thanks so much AJB your info is so helpfully beneficial and imperative for the aspiring.
Always great information! thank you so much
AWESOME tips! Thank you Amy!
Thanks Amy! Quick question, does attaching a RUclips Link in the Msg box of my Reel count as having a video attached? I usually do that so I hope it gets prioritized. thanks again.
Great info (as always!)
Thank you so much Amy! I didn't realize that much emphasis was being placed on slate shots. I've had videos up for years. I have a question. Is it recommended that an actor's slate shot match their headshot or is it not necessary? In other words, can my slate shot be in a different outfit and my hair different than what is in my headshot? Thank you in advance for your answer and thanks for a very informative video!
+Michele Yeager I'd make it similar to your headshot. Also, having video up is not enough, it must be attached to your submission. You are probably doing that (I hope) but I wanted to clarify.
+TipsOnActing Still not clear to me.... So you're saying to re-attach/upload your video clips/reel (which are already attached to your profile) as an additional submission along with your audition tape?
+Cathy Johns Hi! When you submit yourself for a role on AA, you are given the option of which headshot you want to submit. If that headshot has a Slateshot on it, that's money! ...and the 1st SlateShot is free to upload, so use it on the one you submit the most. You also have the option to choose which videos you wish to send for that particular submission. Check all the applicable vids, or check your one demo, if you only have 1. (You may also get an area for 'Notes," depending on the breakdown. ) There is no need to re-upload videos, NO MORE $$! It is just a way to click on what you already have on AA. I hope that helps! If not, I'll be happy to make a sample vid for you, let me know!
If you already have the audition and have uploaded the video, then this does not apply :)
Awesome!
Thanks Amy, you are Wonderful :)
Hi Amy do you teach acting classes if so where?
Thank you very much Amy had not clue about the priority list I thought it was based on when you post your submission. Have a question. on my headshots they are of me without a beard. I am going to get headshots with a beard very soon. My question is if my slateshot is of me with a beard is that a good thing or bad since it shows a different appearance to casting directors.
Thank you AMY!
Hi Amy, I don't have actor Access profile yet, I'm actually not sure how to get started on Actors Access,, I live in Florida which is about 8 hours from Atlanta Georgia,, does a lot of stuff being filmed in Atlanta Georgia in my understanding they have a lot of audition for stuck in throat in Atlanta Georgia access and I'm missing all of it,,,, I've been asking you for about for about 13 years now,, I need to get my hamster wheel moving,😁
Thanks so much,Amy:)
Great tip!!!
Thank you Amy. How often do you NOT make it to the bottom of the electronic "pile" ? Subsequently does it make a difference if you're the first or last to submit?
hello what if you’d new to acting and don’t have any videos, how do i get started so i can have many videos to submit?
Thank you, Miss Awesomeness!!
I haven't been doing slates with my monologues. 😢
Just took a walk through some samples, they are really cool. The ones that seem to work the best show the Actor with the same cloths and in the same basic pose as the headshot and then *presto* the shot comes alive! I can see why CD's would love these. Here's the page I found on Actors Access/Breakdown Services: breakdownservices.com/index.cfm/main/slateshot
+Laura Dowling Shea Ah! All the talk was about Actors Access. I didn't think to look in Breakdown Services. Thanks!
Maybe they can add a new level, submissions that have a video attached, a slate shot attached, and pay a "head of the line" tax, oh wait, that is the slate shot. Now I'd love to back that comment down, so can you name ANY CD's who will go on the record, publicly., by name, saying they even look at slate shots let alone will recommend actors pay for slate shots?
You cast before right? Can I ask you, would you ever in the middle of pulling a session for one of the many roles you have to cast each and every day, take the time to click play on and watch a second video besides the clip or reel attached? If the actor doesn't have the work ethic to get even a single 20-30 second decent quality that shows they can act, would you really give them one of your coveted audition slots based on an improv name slate?
This feels about as smarmy and conflict of interesty as IMDb writing an algorithm that "calculates" star meter number which is based on the number of page hits an actor gets, then has services where actors pay to have their star meter number artificially lowered by banks of servers hitting their page.
I'd really love some legit CD's to go on record saying slate shots matter. I've asked about 20 so far and gotten everything from chuckles to flat out no.
I hear your frustration Alan. And I totally get it. And I won’t say a Slate Shot all by itself is something that will get you an audition or not, but, but I will say that I’ve personally spoken to CDs who say they’ve clicked on them and watched. Ultimately, when it comes to marketing yourself as an actor, you have to pick and choose what you focus on, weighing what industry standards are against your budget and time…And choose the combo that works best for you.
@@TipsOnActing I just don't see how a company can develop a "product" and then design the system that CD's use to review submissions in such a way that the "product" is used in the prioritization ranking of actor submissions, and it's not considered a conflict of interest. Not just for self-submissions (which granted most CD's don't like at unless it's a super difficult ask, like twins or a small person, but also on the agent side of the dual facing service.
I realize the huge chance I'm taking by speaking out, cancel my account and my career ends. Who speaks up for actors in this business?
@@pietrusa The answer? It's all a big racket.
@@TipsOnActing I'd really love to see a name of a single CD who is fine being referenced as "using" Slate Shots in part of the decision to give an actor an audition. I think it's a conflict of interest, $$$ scam by AA and only speaking out now because I no longer care if AA deletes my profile in retribution. I mean I'd sue the F out of them but no longer afraid of that.
The ONLY CD's I've spoken to, and I have interfaced with maybe 100, with my previous work as a Veteran turned Actor charity groups Director of Casting and now Deputy Chair of the LA SAG-AFTRA Military Committee, and I've never been told that when asked. A few have said something like "if I have time I'll watch them."
You know that most actors come from a place of fear. Fear that I don't have enough pics up, do I need a clown pic? Do I need a DR outfit pic? Oh this doesn't feel right but I don't wanna get blacklisted so I'll say nothing. That kind of perspective. Slate Shots are 100% not used by most if not all (where is the name, if they use it they shouldn't mind the name being used) do NOT use SS for input on casting or filling a session.
We blow so much money on crap we don't need. We need industry advocates to help protect us from predatory practices and being the most preyed upon sector of the industry.
Another example: we were ALL told we had to RUSH and get a fully populated with pics and film, profile on all of our Casting Networks profiles (not previously needed) due to Fox not liking the owner of AA and Fox was no longer using AA. A year and a half later, Fox is absorbed by Disney and they ARE fine with AA. Did agents and managers tell their clients they could kill those $$$ account features?
@@vvblues of course it's a racket. I hope the employee who came up with this $$$ making idea got a monthly cut.
Is this still the case in 2022? has the priorities changed?
I knew about attaching videos to submissions, but I hadn't heard about slate shots. The only thing I could find on Actors Access is something called "scene slates," which are professionally shot 3-4 minute scenes with a partner and shot at Breakdown Services for $200. Is that what you're referring to? Other than being shot by Breakdown Services, I don't see a difference between that and scenes from videos I've done elsewhere. In addition, I've been told that we should be using several 10-20 second clips, not one big scene in our submissions. If this is indeed what you're referring to, it sounds a bit like a scam to make us pay $200 to get to the top of the list.
+Craig Bruenell Slate shots are uploaded underneath your headshots--take a look... Go to Manage your Photos and you will see each photo has 2 buttons underneath that say "Manage Photo" and "+Add SlateShot." Your 1st one is free! It is simply a 7sec or less video of you saying something like "Hi, I'm Craig Bruenell!" or "Hey there, I'm Craig Bruenell." or... well, you get the idea, it's YOUR personality of your headshot coming to life :). Since your 1st is free, add it to the headshot you use most often...and make it look like that headshot is coming to life (wear the same thing, try to have a similar background, etc...) I hope that helps!
Thanks, Amy! :)
What if i dont have demo reel?
Is their a way for me to pay for a year membership to where i do not have to keep paying each time a submit for a role??
Davon Revels You have to make a showfax account. $68 for a year. When you pay for it, you submit your username and password on actors access when you go to your cart and you won't have to pay.
What if I don't have a video?
What are submissions