Actors Access Secrets!

[@chairmanbarnes5751]

Great stuff. I've got some solid figures for you regarding posting auditions past the Eco Cast deadline: 1. On direct submissions the grace period window is 45-minutes as long as you start an upload at any time prior to the deadline. Your tip about uploading NDAs right away is great because it triggers the grace period no matter how far in advance of the deadline you upload them. 2. Uploading past the deadline only works on submissions going directly to the CD. If your talent rep has forwarded the invite to you and NOT entered their own intermediate deadline (yes, they can do this) then they will not get the same grace period to forward your files to casting. By the time they get the files the deadline will have passed and it will show up as 'closed' for your agent. You can see directly on the invite if the files will go to your talent rep or directly to the CD in the field labeled 'Submit to' just under the Instructional Media. One slight correction on the clipping tool: The clips are only added for free if REPLACING the source reel on the profile. If keeping the source reel AND the clips, then the clips are charged at half-price ($11/min).

[@GetTaped]

Thanks for all this! Great to know about the 45min, and I never thought about the distinction of whether it’s getting sent directly to casting or to your rep first. And to your last point, sadly I found out my error in how they handle clips AFTER I uploaded. Again, thanks for the added wisdom!

[@garybloomlaw]

UPDATE: Looks like the Actors Access site has been updated to plug this hole. No more late submissions! OLD: I have successfully submitted auditions via Actors Access Eco-Cast more than an hour after the submission deadline by starting (as you say) the submission process before the deadline but then making sure that the account login doesn't time out. If your login times out, and you have to log back in, the system will tell you that the audition has closed. So I keep two tabs open: a first for the login and breakdown search, and a second for the audition submission. And then I will refresh the breakdown search tab every 10 minutes or so to make sure the system doesn't log me out after whatever the inactivity time is.

[@GetTaped]

Great intel, Gary. Thanks!

[@artistsingerwriterproducer8288]

@@garybloomlaw thanks

[@LittleTimmyO]

I just signed with The Characters talent agency up here in Canada yesterday.. this is good info to know.

[@GetTaped]

Congrats! And this video was made a couple years ago, so there are some slight tweaks that Actors Access has made (I probably need to do a new video). Also, I'm not sure how ubiquitous Actors Access is in Canada.

[@LittleTimmyO]

@@GetTaped we use actors access up here. Also I didn’t realize it was an old video. My algo just recommends me videos from whatever date I suppose

[@jforbesprd]

Great tip on clicking on the Upload page to get a few minutes passed deadline. Thank you Matt!!

[@SuperAceman007]

I want to thank you for your tutelage. You are priceless to me at this stage of my acting adventure.

[@GetTaped]

Wow! Thanks for this. We’re so happy to help!

[@TvHostAndy]

awesome and informative per usual. Thank you!!

[@GetTaped]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@sharonsquires3556]

Thank you! I feel dizzied by the site and only have a photo on there. I was asked for my actor's access link a week ago but couldn't give it as there's nothing there. likely lost a possible audition. Guess I need to get on it!

[@rich8880]

I am enjoying your teaching. Since I have limited space and limited I Movie knowledge, is my ring enough, and do you have any tips regarding the Ring light? You can save the IMovie question.

[@GetTaped]

The ring light can be enough. I’m using one in my videos. Experiment with its placement to see what looks best for your setup. If you want to get rid of the reflection in your eyes, look up Kurt Yue’s Acting Career Center KZbin channel for his video on a hack to help with that.

[@friskefamilyarchive7812]

Any thoughts on TalentLink on Actor’s Access? Is it worthwhile to list yourself for representation that way?

[@GetTaped]

Honestly, I didn't know what it was until you asked this question. From what I can tell, it has good intentions, but I would be very skeptical that it will result in any traction. If you have the disposable income, it could be an interesting experiment. However, my experience is that agent/manager-hunting takes more elbow grease, and those connections are usually found and formed more organically through referrals, or when a rep gets to see your work (at a showcase, a play, film festival, etc). Hope that helps!

[@davidmoskowitz1801]

Great advice. Thx

[@kimwhart9635]

Thank you, Matt! Your videos are incredibly helpful! I’m learning so much. I was in the AVS studio on Friday to record my VO demo. I look forward to working with you for on-camera work.

[@GetTaped]

Yay! We look forward to it!

[@VeryStupid4547]

I'd hate to be ignorant, but can you have a profile on actors access without an agent?

[@GetTaped]

YES! You can. There are a lot of projects you can self-submit for that don't require an agent for access. You will have to pay to self-submit, but there are some good projects. In fact, here in the Southeast US, even producers like Tyler Perry will put PUBLIC casting breakdowns out, which is fantastic news for those who are yet to be represented.

[@VeryStupid4547]

@@GetTaped Terrific, thanks so much for your help.

[@DestinyEkwueme]

Are your familiar with adding links to your work via AA notes? And if so do CDs usually view these links?

[@GetTaped]

Do you mean in the cmail submission notes? If the link is not clickable (that is, if they have to highlight/copy/paste), I honestly think they'd skip over it most of the time. They'd assume all relevant clips or demo reels are either uploaded to the cmail, or are in your media bin on your profile. In short, though, I've never heard of actors doing that, and therefore don't know for sure how Casting would handle...

[@DestinyEkwueme]

@@GetTaped thank you. I recently missed an audition deadline on AA by a few minutes. Trying any and everything to get my audition seen . Submitting for another role with a link to my audition in the notes was an option.

[@GetTaped]

@@DestinyEkwueme Gotcha. In the future, if you open the cmail before the deadline, and click to the upload screen, you can sneak in your files after the deadline. I've succeeded in submitting 10min past the deadline. Now, that was awhile ago, so perhaps they've changed it so you can't anymore, but worth a shot if you're in a pinch.

[@artistsingerwriterproducer8288]

I wirk in musical, comedy, bio etc without any crime inside

[@thevanessakay]

Quick question, when you say double-submit, do you mean like submit and then submit again right after? Or would you suggest a different time frame?

[@GetTaped]

No, I mean when your agent submits you for a project (without your knowledge) and you submit yourself as well. Not many casting directors have both public and private casting notices.

[@demmefrazier6629]

Quick question in general, how fast should I submit my audition? Is same day, or next the best. Does it matter how quickly you submit? I get auditions all the time and wonder fast should turn it in.

[@samchristensenatlanta]

Tough question. The only answer I have is to give the most prepared read you can in the shortest time possible.

[@holar2in132]

I don’t stay in USA or Canada can I still submit self tape on Actors Access,hope my location will not fail me

[@GetTaped]

I don’t know that answer unfortunately. I would try to create an account (just don’t pay any money) and see if it lets you.

[@justinshorts5705]

How do I even get the sides it doesn't let me click on it

[@GetTaped]

If you’re in a cmail, you may have to confirm the audition first before the sides can be downloaded.

[@Sal-ec4yf]

What is C MAIL?

[@GetTaped]

It is the email you get from Actors Access when you have an audition. Actors Access is a product of Breakdown Services here in the US, and is widely used in the TV/Film industry.

[@vickistyle3756]

Is there a way to delete and resubmit an entry if something didn't work????

[@GetTaped]

As long as you haven’t hit “confirm order”, and as long as the deadline hasn’t passed, you can delete files and upload new ones.

[@LLOYDKNOWS]

What is C mail?

[@GetTaped]

It's the name given to "email" within the Actors Access platform. I imagine it stands for "casting mail" or something.

[@clintcalvert9250]

It’s too damn complicated