Anyone who wants to make a living in the performance arts will have to audition for work. With just a few minutes to make an impression, it's important to make the right impression!
Being prepared means being sure what sort of audition you have been called to, and understanding the needs and expectations of the person interviewing you.
What is a Casting Director?
Major film and television production companies, as well as advertising agencies, call upon the services of different types of Casting Directors. Some casting directors specialise in finding the leading (principal or featured role) performers while others specialise in background casting (the extras required for crowd scenes).
Casting directors will approach agents and also use their own pool of knowledge to draw up the shortlists for leading or featured roles. The people on the shortlists will then be called to audition, sometimes for a panel that includes director and producers or musical director and choreographers in musical theatre.
Casting directors will also go straight to agents and ask them to provide extras. When working with agents that they trust, there is usually no need for the casting director to “cast” – they leave it to the agent.
This is why it is beneficial to be represented by an agent. Agents are able to give casting directors the background information on a performer – about reliability, untapped potential, special abilities – telling them much more than a photograph and CV ever could.
Casting directors rarely, if ever, put out an open call when trying to cast a role. They would be inundated by applications, and would not have the manpower to go through all the pictures or showreels.
In a way, the agents can act as filters for casting directors.
The best way to attract a casting director’s attention is to be in a production that they might see. That is why it is better to be performing – for profit share, or for free – than to be sitting at home sending out photographs and resumes.
There are different types of castings, and each makes its own demands.
- Castings, and Go-Sees
- Casting for a Photographic Shoot
- Casting for Extra Work
- Casting for Film or Television Drama or Commercials
Castings and Go-Sees
A Go-See might be nothing more than a 15-minute chat with a casting director, normally for a photographic shoot. It is often just an opportunity for them to have a look at you for future possibilities.
Castings and auditions are usually much longer sessions where you are asked to go perform a piece that you have prepared or are asked to read from a script. Photographs will probably be taken and you may have to do a screen test, which will be recorded on video.
Casting For A Photographic Shoot
Advertising agencies will normally appoint a casting director to cast for an advertising brochure, or catalogue. The casting director will approach agencies who will provide photographs and suggestions of people they think would be right for the shoot. The casting director will then draw up a list of people to interview.
The casting will probably be no more than a ‘Go See’ – a short interview with the casting director and perhaps the photographer to see how you match up with your photographs.
Casting For Extra Work
As mentioned, one of the reasons that it is a good idea to try and get an agent to represent you is that agents will normally be alerted by a casting director about the requirement for extras in commercials, television drama, and films.
Normally the relationship between the agent and casting director is such that the agent will discuss the requirements and – once briefed – will simply send the correct number and types of extras along who will be used. In other words there is no actual audition or casting.
Although your ambition is to take the starring role, bear in mind that working as an extra gives you the valuable opportunity to learn about etiquette in a studio, on set, or on location.
It may be worthwhile accepting extra work both for the money and for the experience, while you are waiting for that featured role to come along. When you do get the lead role, you will be confident that you understand all the jargon and expectations of filming or recording.
Extra work is not usually advertised openly unless large crowd scenes are involved.
Casting For Film Or Television Drama Or Commercials
For a featured role in a television drama, a film or a commercial, a prepared audition speech may be called for; in addition to that, you may be given pages from the script in advance, and asked to do a reading.
The audition will consist of an interview or conversation, and normally a screen test (this is because the final decision on casting may be taken by people who are not present at the auditions - an executive producer in the case of a drama, or a committee or client in the case of commercials).
Casting For Theatre And Musical Theatre
Fore all roles to be performed on stage, it is important for the director to get a chance to judge your stage presence. As a result, parts in Theatre and Musical Theatre usually require the performance of a piece - a speech or song - which you have prepared. You will normally be asked to perform it on an actual stage. Depending on the sort of production, you will be auditioned by the director, and or musical director and choreographer.
Janice Hally - Janice Hally has written more than 300 broadcast hours of prime-time TV drama in the UK, as well as fiction and non-fiction books.
