Acting : Ask Me Anything (AMA) Wednesday 8/28 to Thursday 8/29- Mastering The Art Of The Self-Tape by Kym Jackson

Hi, Kym Jackson. Hope you're having a great summer! Thanks for taking the time to answer our questions. How long should a self-tape be?

Hi Kym Jackson - Thanks so much for spending your time with us and having this AMA. Question: Should an actor have their own website and should it include a self tape?

Hi Kym Jackson Aside from self-tapes becoming the new norm, what is the biggest shift you have seen in the industry post-pandemic?

Hi Maurice Vaughan! A self taped audition just needs to be as long as the audition scene. But if you're creating a self tape to show casting what you can do, I'd recommend finding a scene around 90 - 120 seconds long, then you can either use the whole thing (if it's all awesome) or pull the best 60 seconds from the scene to share.

Thanks for the answer, Kym Jackson.

No worries, Leonardo Ramirez, it's fun!

I think a good way to answer that is to look up each of your favourite working actors and celebrities and check out their websites. You'll find the majority just don't have them.

Everything an actor needs to share with casting/filmmakers is shown on your IMDB, Actors Access / Breakdown, and Casting Networks profile and your social media profiles. Most working actors just share a link to their IMDb when sharing info.

So, save yourself the time and money and instead, spend it improving your craft in acting classes! Build a quick IMDB resume for projects that aren't officially listed and add some headshots and screenshots there.

The one thing a website can be helpful for is keeping all of your lesser known press in one place (the articles in publications that aren't prominent enough to make it onto IMDB)... and having links to where people can find your films.

So, if you're feeling compelled and you'd like to make one, it's most useful during that middle phase of your career when you have a bit of press and a few links to films / TV eps to share, but before you hit that point of getting bigger press.

If that doesn't sound appealing but you do have cool press / project links to share, a linktree attached to your instagram will probably suffice.

Sounds perfect Kym Jackson. This is very helpful as my daughter recently made the decision to go into acting. She just got her headshots and daddy's helping her along the way. I have an acting bug myself but I'm trying to get my projects done as well. This is a huge help. Thank you so much!

Hi Tom Lapke I think the shift we are all feeling is what used to be called 'runaway production' but now it's really just film & TV being far more frequently shot in cities outside of Los Angeles.

With cheaper locations, lower cost of living (eg. food, hotels, general production costs) better tax incentives, and now-well established studio spaces and crews dozens of productions 'deep' (which means a city has crew & cast available locally for 'x' number of projects at the same time), it makes much more sense to shoot somewhere like Atlanta or Santa Fe than Los Angeles, where things are extremely expensive.

I have three auditions today... two are for TV series in Atlanta, and one is for a film in Kentucky and Nashville. One is a series reg via a Los Angeles based CD and my LA manager, one is a guest star through my Atlanta/NOLA Agent, and one is a feature film from a self submission. Guess what none are? Shooting in LA.

Personally, I relocated my family to Atlanta from LA several months ago. But I'll be taping these auditions here - on holiday in Palm Springs!

And I'm happy to work as a local hire EVERYWHERE. Self tapes allow the ultimate freedom and make life as an actor the best adventure! Gone are the days when I missed a massive same-day audition for a Tom Cruise film because I was at Coachella and there was an 8 hour traffic jam to get back to LA!

You're welcome Maurice Vaughan !

Hope your auditions go great, Kym Jackson!

Leonardo Ramirez if you like, I have a free class here that your daughter can watch: https://secretactorsociety.com/become

Also, I did see your prior question last night - the best thing she can do right now is work on her craft several hours a day and watch great films. She needs to get her 10,000 hours clocked in... she can join WeAudition and be a reader for other actors, do plays, work consistently learning and performing scenes. Be in great classes and become so comfortable with acting that it's like water for her. Audition for unpaid shorts and indie features, and get comfortable auditioning too.

All the strategy stuff is useless until you can deliver in the room.

Once her work is great, then there's a bunch of buisnessy stuff we teach at Secret Actor Society to build a legitimate career. But the primary focus for any new actor should be: to become so great they can't ignore you.

Copy that Kym Jackson and thank you! I had posted a question and then realized the AMA was about self-taping so I changed it. I'm glad you saw it though. If I may, you mentioned that you have an audition in Nashville. We are in the Nashville area so I'm wondering how, in your opinion, is the film market looking here vs Atlanta?

Leonardo Ramirez gotta tell you - there seem to be quite a few indies there. I also see a lot of non-union ones there, which aren't a good fit for me. You'll find them on Actors Access and Casting Networks. Not seeing a lot of bigger stuff there but the indie scene seems to be going strong! Again - this is just what I've personally seen. there will be some kind of film commission for the state - check out their website and get a feel for what's shooting there. That goes for any state.

Kym Jackson Hi Kym, thanks for doing the AMA. I’m just curious about you and how you got your first big break? When you did, what were the ‘big doubts’ you had to overcome?

Ok that helps tremenously Kym Jackson. Thanks again! You've been so helpful!

We're thrilled to have Kym here for the AMA! If you're interested in exploring more of Kym's educational content on Stage 32, feel free to reach out to me at edu@stage32.com

Hi Kym Jackson ! Thanks for all the amazing feedback. What are some ways you stay creative when is the industry is slow?

Hey, Kym! What is the equipment that you think is worth investing in to tape strong self-tapes at home? Additionally, what are the things that you DON'T feel are necessary to have at home that people shouldn't waste their money on?

HI Ashley Renee Smith ! Here's the equipment list we shared in class! Anyone is welcome to download it :)

Something many people use that I don't is a lav / lapel mic or shotgun mic. I've never found a need for one. Also, I'm not a huge fan of ring lights with exposed light bulbs. They're fine when they have a cover / filter.

Sorry - that pic is showing up so small! Can everyone else see it?

Sorry for the delays in my responses - we are shooting back to back auditions today. I just got another this morning, so I'm trying to do all 4 while my hair is done! lol

I can see the picture, Kym Jackson. And I made it bigger with "view image" on my phone. Congratulations on the auditions!

Awesome, Maurice Vaughan ! Thank you!

Omari Washington , I think I'm usually relieved when the industry is slow! But really, when we moved to Australia for 4 years through Covid, there wasn't much going on, and we ended up producing a short film and then a feature film, both of which we also starred in... so I guess storytelling any way I can is my answer! And watching great films. And writing. I've written 7 feature scripts, and by becoming a writer, I now see issues in screenplays... which saves me auditioning for projects that don't have strong writing. I hope that's helpful!

Geoff Hall I think it's been more a series of 70 or so little breaks along the way! But the really big one, Triangle, a huge pilot that was never picked up, was more of an energetic acclimation. I spent a few days in bed after booking it, and kind of just walked around in shock at finally booking something so huge at 37 years old! I needed to shed the idea of being a gigging actor hoping for the next job and get used to the idea of being on billboards and having a massive profile.

It was a really bizarre feeling. I remember looking at my wardrobe and thinking 'oh, well I need to get rid of all of this'... and I realized a lot of things I owned weren't there because I wanted them, they were there because I couldn't afford to replace them. That helped me declutter a lot! Same with mental clutter, I guess!

Oh, and Geoff Hall, here is the answer to the 'how' element of your question (weirdly just published a week ago!):

https://medium.com/the-equity-magazine/how-i-brought-my-agent-a-multi-mi...

Leonardo Ramirez you're welcome! Thank you for asking and supporting your daughter so wonderfully!

You're welcome, Kym Jackson.

Hi Kym Jackson Thank you for being here. I have a question about demo reels. If one doesn't have clips from TV/film that they were in or are just starting out, can one make their own demo reel by filming scenes from plays? (with other actors in their class or network?)

Hi Suzanne Bronson! Sorry for the delay.

It's totally fine to make a reel from self tapes. - that is, framed as a medium close-up (head & shoulders or chest up) well lit, with great sound. If those self taped scenes are from a play that's fine - all that matters is the acting. But it would be better if they were from a film or TV series that has been released.

Filming a play as it is being performed on stage is not appropriate for a film and TV reel, no.

A medium close-up (again, head & shoulders or chest up) is the shot that most clearly shows performance while also giving a feel for your overall look, and for that reason, any footage you show film & TV casting directors or filmmakers should be framed this way.

The widest shot you'd want to send on a reel is from around your belly button up (slightly tighter than a medium shot), and this should be used only for sharing a very physical scene.

I actually taught a 2 hour course for Stage 32 on demo reels, available here: https://www.stage32.com/classes/Stage-32-2-Part-Lab-Elevate-Your-Acting-Reel

At Secret Actor Society, we also have several classes on demo reels in our class library, which are included for all members at: https://secretactorsociety.com/

Kym Jackson thanks for your answers Kym and also for the link. I’ll read it later. I guess what you have shown us, is resilience. Here’s wishing you all the very best. Geoff

Geoff Hall haha yes, resilience and a bit of 'last man standing' lol. you're very welcome :)