The veteran Scottish actor Brian Cox shared his piece about the biz

[hewontgo]

Brian Cox Teases Directorial Debut, Slams “Disgusting” Self-Tape Casting & Says Cinema “Lost Its Place” - Edinburgh https://t.co/Fw4fL7UZ0r
- Deadline Hollywood (@DEADLINE) August 17, 2024
Brian Cox furiously was the surprise addition to an industry talk at the Edinburgh Film Festival

Comments

[meetviolent]

Can someone explain what’s bad about self-tape auditions?

[eva_hagberg]

I don't know, what his gripes with it are.
I hate them because it's an incredibly isolating experience, where you basically stare at the void and have no idea, what you are doing right or wrong, or what they want from a character, and as an actor you absolutely could do it differently, if you knew, but you won't ever know, because your "tape" is buried in some virtual shredder of an inbox some casting agent assistant has. But I wouldn't call it disgusting, and for sure don't think that he would be upset with it for the same reasons as I do.

[squirrels_oh_no]

Basically it's like a slush pile for aspiring authors in that sense when you're trying to find an agent - most of the time you never get a response and you don't even know if they actually read your query letter.

Or a job application LOL

[eva_hagberg]

Oh, I agree.
What I don't know is why he has a problem with it, since he most probably doesn't need to self-tape, and does get responses to his auditions (if he even does any).

[squirrels_oh_no]

Yeah, this definitely seems like it's an issue, but for your everyday working actors - not so much someone who has some awards and a lot of name recognition under his belt. Maybe he's speaking on behalf of those working actors, but something tells me that at this point in his career, Brian Cox is offer only.

[sisterruth]

I just responded to a different comment of yours, but why would you assume his opinion is based on his current status on not on his own history/experience as an actor starting out?

[eva_hagberg]

I dunno. Because I assume the worst in people, although in his case here, I shouldn't. I thought he was just grouching about, and it turns out he had a totally valid point.

[bellwetherr]

i am sure he finds the process overall to be demoralizing, and he wasn't always a big name, i am sure he's just empathizing

[naturesluzzer]

He was very outspoken during the strikes so I think he's just thinking about the position it puts new or other working actors in.

[eva_hagberg]

Good to hear.

[sisterruth]

His opinion is right in the article and it doesn't seem different than yours.

“What’s difficult for actors these days is the lack of intimacy with the casting director. Now they want every young actor or actress to make their own self-tapes. And they have to do that without actually meeting anybody,” Cox said.

“In the old days, you met Marion Dougherty or any of the casting directors and there was a rapport so you had a sense of where you were going. Whereas now young actors are in limbo and it’s designed for them to stay there. It’s disgusting quite frankly and it needs to stop.”

[eva_hagberg]

Ok, now you made me feel embarrassed, because I don't read. If I did, I would have known, that he said, what I said, but much more eloquently.

[jazzl3t]

For regular actors, a lot of tapes don't get seen, require too much and unpaid work to make them (most of the time whoever is in charge of the requirements for self-tape, they aren't only just asking for 1 scene to do but a lot more than that), and honestly a waste of time. Sarah Ramos had a bunch of instastories explaining it better than I can but I can't seem to find it. Tapes are great for SOME THINGS, but it's not accessible as a lot of studios are saying. TBH, an in-person meeting can be more helpful (creates relationships, is a vibe check!, and actors can show they can take direction well when they are in the room with a director and/or casting agent WHICH IS SUPER IMPORTANT and creates less surprises on-set), but ya know, studios like to cut corners in all aspects.

[squirrels_oh_no]

Also, Barry taught us that in person, the casting team can see if you are tall or not.

[meadowphoenix]

i'll also mention that SAG has rules about auditions and when you get a stipend that don't apply to self-tapes.