The Deceit and Corruption of Fake Self Tapes
Self tapes have become a cornerstone of the modern audition process. They offer convenience, flexibility, and the ability for actors to audition remotely - a change accelerated by the pandemic. But alongside their many benefits, a disturbing and sinister practice has emerged: agents sending clients fake self tape audition requests.
When this issue was brought to the forefront in 2024 via various Deadline exposé’s that The 98% helped with, I (Alexa) was asked whether the issues surrounding fake self tapes warranted an update to industry guidelines. I absolutely believe they do. In my 10+ year career, I had never considered that an agent could lie about an actor being asked to audition - until multiple cases revealed this is happening across the industry and has been for a long time. It’s not just self tapes; it’s with in-person auditions as well, even. I’ve heard stories of actors turning up to castings their agent told them to go to, only to be told they weren’t invited, or questioned about how they even knew about the audition. Others have been called while en-route to an audition and told that casting “already found what they’re looking for” so the actor should just go home, when in reality they were never requested at all. These practices are distressing, exploitative, and leave actors vulnerable in an industry that is already challenging.
When discussing this issue, it is crucial to distinguish between an unsolicited tape and a fake tape. Unsolicited self tapes are when an agent believes their client may be suitable for a role but the casting director hasn’t requested them, so the agent does a personal push and submits the actor to the casting team, explaining why they’d be a good fit. Sometimes an actor may even see a friend auditioning for something, do their own tape for the role, and ask the agent to see if casting will accept it. While this may occasionally result in the actor booking the role, and is generally harmless (although not always welcomed by casting), fake tapes are entirely different.
Fake audition requests involve deceit at multiple levels. Agents may:
Doctor emails or messages to make it appear that casting requested an audition from an actor they haven’t actually asked to see.
Send confidential scripts or sides to actors who are not meant to see them.
Fabricate feedback from casting or production staff, even when the self tape was never watched.
Delete tapes immediately after receiving them, ensuring the actor’s work never reaches casting.
Ask actors to upload tapes to a generic agent dropbox, instead of where casting has asked for tapes to be uploaded, so the agent can hold onto them and never pass them on.
Intimidate actor clients into believing it is unprofessional to speak directly to casting offices, therefore making it easier to hide what they have been doing.
This behaviour is not just an exploitation of actors; it undermines casting directors, production teams, and honest agents who now face anxious clients through no fault of their own. The trust between an actor and their agent is fundamental, and when that trust is broken, actors are left questioning the legitimacy of every audition they submit.
Perpetrators of this malpractice may argue that these fake tapes are a “learning exercise” for actors. I think that is insulting. There are plenty of ways actors can practice self taping, and it’s something actors should practice. But an actor getting their hopes up, thinking they are being seen by a casting team, and spending a huge amount of time, energy, passion, and sometimes even money - for absolutely no reason - is incredibly harmful and exploitative. This is not a harmless “opportunity” - it is fraudulent and abusive behaviour. Actors should never be made to believe they are auditioning for a role that they will never be seen for.
The industry needs clear, updated, and enforceable self tape guidelines. Public guidelines would:
Empower actors with knowledge of their rights and best practices.
Protect casting directors from unnecessary confusion and emails regarding tapes that were never requested.
Hold agents accountable for deceitful or exploitative behaviour.
Show that this issue is being taken seriously, and not being swept under the rug, to deter others from exhibiting this behaviour.
The pandemic may have accelerated self tape use, but the cons - misleading actors, fabricating opportunities, and breaking trust - have ripple effects that the industry cannot ignore. Clear, accessible guidelines regarding the misuse of casting material, transparency in the submission and review of self tapes, and accountability for agents are essential. Actors should never have to question whether an audition is real and casting directors should not have to be fielding inquiries about fake tapes, or worrying if their casting materials are being distributed to more people than intended.
The 98% has been documenting these issues, highlighting the risks, and advocating for change. But so far it doesn’t seem like anything of note has been done to address this problem, or make it harder for it to continue. I even had a meeting with a tech advisor at Spotlight in March 2024 regarding in-site self tape upload features. We need public guidelines, updated self tape processes, and an empowered acting community to ensure that exploitation like this does not continue. Actors, casting directors, and honest agents deserve clarity, transparency, and protection.
Why Does This Happen?
People can be quick to brush this behaviour off with whatever excuse an agent may give them, because it’s hard to face the reality that the person you trust has been exploiting that trust with other clients - but the “why” behind it matters. From what I’ve seen behind the scenes, fake tapes aren’t just about sloppy practice; they can be calculated.
Keeping clients quiet. If actors believe they’re busy with auditions, they’re less likely to pick up the phone to complain, or to consider moving agencies.
Building numbers. The more auditions actors think they’re getting, the more likely they are to recommend the agency to others. That means more clients on the roster - sometimes hundreds. And the bigger the roster, the more money the agency stands to make.
Managing pressure. I heard from an assistant who worked at an agency that sent fake tapes - and whose reports were ignored by Equity - who said that the agency kept spreadsheets to track the fakes, where the lead agent described it as a way to “keep the piranhas at bay.” In other words, fake tapes were a tactic to stop actors from asking why they weren’t getting auditions.
It’s important to see the bigger picture. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that many of the agencies reported to The 98% for sending fake tapes are the same ones who are also facing allegations of withheld pay, skimmed money, stolen re-air fees, “double dipping” commissions, or unusually high commission rates. Fake tapes are not an isolated issue; they are part of a wider pattern of exploitation that comes at the direct expense of the very people agents are supposed to protect. If an agent finds it easy enough to lie and deceive their clients about auditions, what else could they be taking advantage of?
Fake tapes might sound like a niche issue, but they reveal something much bigger: how fragile trust becomes when power goes unchecked. There are agents who have had fake tapes confirmed that are still allowed to operate on the leading casting platform…why? Actors, casting directors, and honest agents deserve better than a system that enables deceit. Recognising this problem is the first step toward building an industry where transparency, respect, and fairness are the norm - not the exception.
Written by Alexa Morden
For a more on this issue, listen to the podcast episode: S5E36 - The Deceit and Corruption of Fake Self Tapes.
Have you been sent a fake audition request, or suspect you have? Read this for advice on next steps.