First, did you watch the video?
Great! Now you understand that this is a way more complicated issue that will require time and collective action.
I get that they are a business with expenses and can’t provide these services for FREE—but we need an alternative to a $29.99 plan. I personally don’t want to get any healthcare services from a place that can barely handle its own customer service line. They need to bring back the Essential plan and/or allow users to stay on a FREE plan and pay a la carte to upload our additional photos.
So what can you do? Make this movement go VIRAL.
An actor sent me a DM that after being on the phone with them, Casting Networks said that they would only take action and make a different plan available if they received “enough feedback” by the end of the year.
So let’s answer the call! Download these IG graphics to share on your grid and in your stories.
Caption: Call and/or Email Casting Networks and demand they bring back the Essential Plan and/or allow us to post pictures a la carte to our accounts!
And then make sure that you call and make your voice heard.
IF YOU ARE A LEGACY MEMBER
Make sure that you call them if any previously paid for media has been locked from your account. That needs to be re-stored. They claim that it is a known issue that they are working on, but you need to call and create work order with them.
IF YOU ARE A PAYING PREMIUM SUBSCRIBER
—DOWNGRADE TO A FREE SUBSCRIPTION!
I would have a conversation with your reps about your inability to continue to support a company that is exploiting actors and let them know that you are planning on moving to the FREE plan which means that you will only have 2 photos on your profile until they bring back the Essential plan or allow you to post photos a la carte.
Ask your agents to help you decide which TWO photos are their preference to keep on your profile. And them make sure that all of your photos are available on your own website or pin them to your IG on a carousel. The point is to give your reps a link of your photos that they maybe be able to use or put in the notes for any submission if needed. We can outsmart them and create workaround with these limitations.
If they do not let you choose which photos to keep, then just start a brand new account with a different email address (we all have them), upload your agency approved photos and reel and then request a link to your agency.
If this going to be a hassle? Yes.
But honestly, this will be the only way change happens. I promise you they won’t drag their feet until the end of the year if the majority of their subscribers suddenly downgrade to free.
IF YOU ARE UNREPPED…
I get that this will feel scary. I get that this will feel like your only option to submit for jobs and that feels unfair.
But they are putting a tax on your hope. I encourage you to do a cost analysis of the amount of submissions vs. what you get called in for vs. bookings.
How much money did you make last year from self-submissions? How much is it costing you per submission? If it is worth the $30 a month?
If so, great! Keep investing in your career.
If not, it might be time to pause this subscription and look at where you can be investing your money in a different way. Maybe you need more training. Maybe your headshots aren’t working and you should save to shoot with a new photographer.
Or look into just focusing on theatrical for a while and just paying for ActorsAccess until they bring back a more affordable plan for all.
This is a collective fight y’all.
Are you ready to demand more of corporations? I am.
LFG!
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