Nudity, stunts and cost: Why self-taped auditions are a lightning rod in the actors' strike
LOS ANGELES — When the actors' union is striking over major issues such as wages, the use of AI and retirement funds, it may seem odd that something like self-taped auditions could be a point of contention. But they are.
Most actors have faced conflicting audition times or the need to cross town to get from one casting appointment to another in the dystopian zoo of Los Angeles traffic. Many have experienced freezing up in an audition room with the camera on and maybe only one chance to get the take right. And, of course, auditioning for some roles was simply impossible if you lived out of town.
For all those reasons and many more, taping your own audition seemed like a great solution for everyone. Casting directors were able to see far more candidates for roles, and from all over the globe.
But a kind of arms race has developed, some striking actors say. Auditioners feel
