Capture Your Screen Time: Best Air Check Services for Actor Footage
The age of streaming has indeed unfurled a tapestry of challenges for actors seeking to snag a snippet of their on-screen magic for posterity, or more pragmatically, for their reels. While yesteryears saw a symbiotic exchange between production houses and actors regarding copies of performances, today’s legal and digital quagmires often leave our stars high and dry. Enter Air Checks, the knight in shining armor for those in dire need of their on-screen footage.
However, the modern-day troubadours, the streaming services, have cast a spell disabling screen recording devices, adding a layer of complexity to the quest. Fear not, for the diligent actor has allies in this digital age. Several vendors have erected their banners to assist in this quest for footage.
Here’s a reconnaissance on the most reputed vendors in the realm of Air Checks:
1. Aircheck via Actors Access: Flat Rate Clips (from same episode) where your scenes are meticulously recorded and extracted for editing, providing both an edited and unedited version of your performance. They also offer a Review for Upload service, where you and your reps can review the edited scene before it's uploaded to your Actors Access/Breakdown Express profile.
Pricing: One scene in Standard Definition (SD) will cost you $35 and in High Definition (HD) $45. For 2-3 scenes, it's $55 (SD) or $65 (HD), and for four or more scenes, it's $65 (SD) or $75 (HD). Additionally, uploading clips to your profile is billed at $22/minute.
2. Reel Today: Easy ordering and fast processing is the name of the game here. Clips are available for 30 days to download.
Pricing: Here, simplicity is the key; snag your scenes at $15 each.
3. Actor Editing: Actor Editing helps actors with all their editing needs. They work with actors worldwide including Los Angeles, New York, Atlanta, and Canada. Company has been editing reels and pulling airchecks/clips for actors since 2010.
Pricing: $35 per project for HD material (if available in HD)
4. Breakthrough Reels: BTR pulls footage for you from most tv shows & feature films, as well as offer a re-edit to focus the scene more on the actor.
Pricing: The basic aircheck is $30/original scene + $15/each additional to cover time for bigger roles.
5. Joe’s Reels: Joe’s have ways to find shows that have already aired. Sometimes even if the show is pretty old they can get it for you.
Pricing: $35 for either the entire episode OR just your scenes. If you want the entire episode AND your scenes, it's $45. If the aircheck is over 1 hour long, the prices are $45/$55.
Now that you are armed with knowledge about the vendors, let’s delve into the craft of cutting a clip for your reel. It's imperative that the clip begins with you, the actor, articulating lines, as casting directors are keener on your performance rather than the storyline. Utilize minimal dialogue from other actors, only as much as is necessary to provide context.
The reel is your canvas, and each clip is a stroke of your artistry. Hence, choose clips that not only showcase your acting prowess but also resonate with the ethos of the character you portrayed. The digital realm may have its dragons, but with the right allies, your quest for the perfect reel is but a few clicks away.
So, embark on this digital odyssey, and may your reels echo through the halls of casting directors. Your performance deserves nothing less!
Two coached scenes for your reel!
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