The Audition Process: AN OVERVIEW

The whole process of audition

Is swung into motion
With a
CASTING CALL
As a beginning actor, understanding the importance of open casting calls and auditions is huge.
This is primarily how you will go about getting work.

Casting calls are notices made to the public or to casting agencies that actors are required for
an upcoming production. The term can be applied widely, since anyone from a student
filmmaker to a major motion picture studio can issue a casting call. The notification can take
place in many forms, including industry trades, online bulletin boards, word-of-mouth, agent
notification and casting web sites, to name just a few.

As a beginning actor, the importance of casting calls is huge. This is primarily how you will go
about getting work. Later on, after you have worked on several jobs and have a strong acting
resume, directors and producers will get in touch with you.

1|Page
When projects call for many actors to fill roles, these casting calls are referred to as "cattle
calls." Often reality series television shows will announce casting calls on the air to fill roles for
an upcoming season. In this case, hundreds or even thousands of people might respond.
Casting calls of this kind require standing in long lines, filling out applications and interviewing
or auditioning. Callbacks come later and usually involve more auditions as the thinning process
continues. It is not unusual to get four or five callbacks before getting a part or being turned
down.

WARNING
Acting is a popular pursuit of many young people, and unscrupulous persons take advantage
of this fact every day by conducting bogus casting calls. These fake "casting calls" are often
conducted in someone's apartment or home. Never attend a casting call that takes place in a
private home or residence. When in doubt, bring a friend or relative along with you and
always let others know where you are going.

A good way to safeguard yourself is to avoid responding to small, inexpensive ads and stick with
legitimate avenues of pursuit for your goals. There are many online resources and well-
established casting companies for inexperienced and experienced actors alike. A little diligent
research and patience will pay off in the long run.

Every actor wants to book a job. A booking means you’ve been hired! What’s the audition
process to getting booked? Take at the steps below:

The Pre-Audition

The casting process begins with Casting Directors breaking down scripts, identifying speaking
roles and their descriptive profiles, and notifying agents (and online casting services if the
audition will be open) of the available roles. Agents submit client pictures, resumes, and demo
reels. For open auditions actors can do this themselves, too. Casting narrows their selection by
actor appearance, training and skills needed for each role. Actors who make that first cut are
contacted for auditions.

The First Audition

Generally a script or “sides” are provided in advance of a television audition. For feature films,
you’ll need at least one prepared monologue appropriate to the tone of the film. Prepared as
you are for that first in-person audition, both features and TV sometimes rely on quick video
slates to further narrow casting options. It’s essential to be prepared because that first audition
may be no more than the few seconds it takes to state your name to a video camera. However

2|Page
what and how you wear your clothes and hair, how you enter the room, your demeanor signing
in—all of your choices at even the “smallest” audition are opportunities to make an impression
and show what you can do.

Callbacks

Every time you’re asked to come in after that initial in-person audition is a callback. You might
work the same material for the same casting personnel, or it might be entirely new for a
different role before all new people. Callback sessions still tend to be brief, usually only a few
minutes, and these are typically recorded on video to be discussed among the many casting
decision-makers In feature films, it’s the Director, Casting Director, Producer, sometimes the
Writer, and the studio or financier, though most of them stay out of the room early-on, too.
But just because you don’t see them doesn’t mean they aren’t watching you! That’s why it’s so
important to be prepared.

Because so much is now viewed on tape, many actors will not be physically in the room with
the producers or casting director, who could be on location filming or living elsewhere, until
late in the casting process. Casting guest-stars or co-stars for a television series is less labor-
intensive than casting a pilot, which often involves reviewing hundreds of actors within a one-
to two-month window. Television projects near final casting will have the Casting Director,

3|Page
Creator, Showrunner, Director (especially if it’s for a pilot), in the room watching what you do.
Network or studio casting executives are involved early on, but actors won’t see them in the
room until the studio or network test.

For feature film auditions, depending on the role, you may see the Casting Director early on
along with the Director and possibly one or more producers or executive producers. For
smaller roles you may only see casting subordinates and the First A.D. (Assistant Director). For
more involved roles, you may be called back several times or only once and still land the job.
The closer they get to booking talent, the more decision-makers may be in the room. And if
you get an avail, that means they are interested in booking you for the job, but want to know
your schedule. With an avail, you’re one of the finalists!

Testing

The later stages of feature film casting involve working more closely with material, the director,
screen partners and sometimes even being put on film. Working with other actors, especially
for ensemble productions, help reveal what chemistry is or is not present among a group of
performers.
Feature films may use a screen test to decide final actor placement or to make difficult final
casting decisions, but most of the time a production won’t spend money on screen testing
actors it doesn’t intend to use.

By contrast, a network or studio test is a staple in television casting for major roles and
especially for television pilots. For television pilots, the Studio and Network test may be the
first time you get to work with the director. However, it is not easy to audition in front of
people and still have no audience.

Whether you’re auditioning to one person and a video camera or fifteen decision-makers and
their support staff, you can expect little reciprocal engagement from those watching you
perform. On the other hand, the Showrunner, Creator, studio or network executives may eat,
text, e-mail, take calls or even step out while you audition! That doesn’t mean you aren’t doing
good work. This seeming inattention is more likely due to the taxing complexity of keeping any
production on track than any deficiency in you. Try to remember that everybody on the other
side of the table is interested in and rooting for you. They want you to be good. If you’re good,
you’ve solved all their problems!

Whether you’re auditioning for a feature or a television show, the Casting Directors, Directors,
EPs, producers, etc., want to see what you can do alone, without encouragement, tweaking or

4|Page
help from them. It’s like getting a base-line of your acting. So if the sides are a two-person
scene, expect a dead pan Casting Director to prompt you with flat, unresponsive delivery. The
Director may jump in to give you notes or you may get little more than a glance—in either case,
you might still get the job! The important thing is to stay focused on your work and make
confident choices.

In feature films, the Casting Director and EPs may make recommendations but the Director
generally finalizes cast, though the financiers can reject those decisions.
Getting cast doesn’t just happen. It’s the result of consistent preparation, patience, and
persistence. Whether you book the job or not, auditions are your best chance to become
known by Casting Directors. If you’re professional, prepared, and make a good impression,
they’ll remember liking you before and will keep you in mind for future roles. Sometimes not
getting a part in the current audition can lead to better future opportunities.

Copyright 2019
Compilation & edit: Ahta Unoogwu.

5|Page