I recently had a conversation with a fellow actor about uploading his reel to Actor’s Access and found out that I do it a bit differently, so I thought I would share it. At 22 dollars a minute, the cost is quite high and although I can’t help reduce that cost, I find there are benefits to the way I do it.
Understanding the Cost
- Actor’s Access charges $22 per minute for video uploads. This cost is the same whether you upload one long video or multiple short videos.
- For example, a 3 minute video costs $66. Uploading 3 separate 1 minute videos that total 3 minutes also costs $66. The per minute rate applies as long as you upload all the videos in one batch.
1 video at 3 minutes = 66 dollars
3 videos at 1 minute 23 seconds + 58 seconds + 39 seconds = 66 dollars
My Reel
My reel consists of 4 clips showing a range of emotions. But instead of uploading the full reel as one video, I upload each clip separately.
Why I Find This Beneficial
- I can send different combinations of clips based on the role. For example, if there’s a detailed character description, I can just send the most relevant clips.
- It avoids making the casting director watch irrelevant footage that may not fit the character and keeps the watch time shorter.
- I can add new clips without having to take down and re-upload my whole reel, which would increase the cost.
In summary, both approaches work. But I’ve found uploading separate clips more flexible and cost-effective over time.
Simon Shih 