Complete Guide To Casting Auditions: Everything You Need To Know

A casting audition, also called an open call, is when a casting director, producer or director holds a session where actors come in person to audition for a role in a movie, television show or theatrical production.

Depending on the role, you may also be asked to perform improvisational exercises or scenes from other productions to demonstrate your ability to take direction and collaborate with other actors.
 

What Are Casting Auditions?

Casting Auditions are actually quite different from an audition. The main purpose of a casting audition is to get the attention of a casting director and to be recalled for a future guest role, co-star role or lead role.

A casting director’s job is to fill the specific roles in a production by finding the most suitable actors for each part.

Casting directors are hired by producers who work on television shows, commercials and films. They also work for talent agencies that represent actors, singers, dancers and other entertainers.

A casting call, on the other hand, is an announcement of an open audition opportunity that is placed in online casting directories such as Backstage.com and TalentWorks.com where you can find notices for thousands of auditions each month by signing up to be notified of new jobs directly to your email inbox.

Both are great ways to get noticed by casting directors and producers so that you can build your acting resume and get cast in the next production!

When should you go to open calls and when should you go to casting calls?

The best rule of thumb is that if you’re looking for work in television or film in Los Angeles (or New York City, Atlanta or Chicago), then you’ll want to attend open calls which are held during the daytime at various studios around town.

Guide To Finding Casting Calls

Casting calls are a great way to make money while having fun. It’s a little different than working at a regular job, because you’re not guaranteed anything and you’ll have to be ready to work when they need you. But it is a great way to make some extra money while doing something you enjoy.

Casting calls are available for everything from background roles in movies and television shows, local commercials, print ads, and online videos. 

Some acting jobs may require that you have prior experience and/or training so check with the casting director before submitting your resume or headshot.

Here’s how to find casting calls:

First, sign up on websites like Backstage.com or IMDb Pro. They will send you daily emails with auditions and casting calls that are available in your area. 

You can also check your local classified ads. 

Even if the casting call is for a small part, it could be worth your time! The pay for these types of roles is often higher than other non-acting jobs because auditions are hard work. If you do land an audition or two, let them know you’re available for more work.

While there are many different ways you can find casting calls, the easiest way is simply by going to the Internet. There are even websites that are dedicated entirely to helping you find these opportunities online.

How To Find Casting Calls Without An Agent

There are a lot of people who need extra money and decide to apply for jobs as extras. The other way is by auditioning for roles in films and television shows. 

However, you don’t necessarily need to have an agent, or even be an actor, to get a part.

You can find casting calls online and submit your headshot and resume, even if you’re not professional or famous. TIP: You must be registered with your union in order to get paid for any acting job.

If you are not already a member of SAG-AFTRA, the union for actors in the United States, make sure you sign up before submitting yourself for any acting jobs. 

A Guide To Successfully Casting Every Type Of Production

Casting is one of the most important elements in film-making. Casting Directors often earn more than directors, producers or studio executives. The right cast can be a difference between success and failure. This is why it is important to choose the right people for the job.

This article will discuss some general information about casting, as well as advice on how to cast for every type of production. 

Production Types 

There are many types of productions, from corporate videos to independent films, from commercials to TV shows; there are different challenges associated with each one. It is essential to know the type of production you are working on before you begin casting your actors.

This is because there are certain conventions and expectations associated with each type. For example, for an independent film you might want to cast unknown actors who reflect the everyday life of your characters, whereas if you were making a commercial it would be better to cast known actors in order to attract more attention.

Another thing to consider when casting is whether or not your production is intended for distribution online or in theaters. A theatrical production generally needs experienced actors who can handle being in front of an audience and have experience with larger budgets. In contrast, an online video might be better suited towards less experienced actors who will be interacting with a small audience.

The Actors’ Guide To Audition Prep

As an actor, you spend most of your time preparing for auditions. All that hard work is rewarded when you book the job, but what happens when you’re not cast? The Actors’ Guide To Audition Prep will help you to break down and analyze your audition so that you can learn from the experience and become a better actor.

Know Your Character

Actors need to know their characters inside out, and it’s important to read the script as many times as possible before an audition. However, it’s not just about reading the script – you also have to imagine yourself in the character’s shoes.

What does their voice sound like? Do they spit when they talk or do they have a strong accent? How tall are they? Is their hair long or short? Once you’ve got a clear picture of who your character is in your mind, it will be easier to gauge whether or not you’re successful at bringing them to life on screen.

Know Your Audition Piece

It’s tempting to think that all auditions are pretty much the same, but this isn’t true. In fact, every audition is different because each casting director has different preferences, which means that there is no one right way to prepare for an audition.

Director’s Guide To Auditions

Being a director is an exciting and challenging job. In this article, I will share with you my experience as a director, and give you advice on how to get the best out of your actors. I hope that by reading this, you will be able to become a better director, or just better at working with actors.

This article is not meant to be an exhaustive guide, but rather a quick reference to help you get up and running. Treat your actors like professionals. A good director treats their actors like professionals.

They make sure the actor has all the information they need about the project and they keep them updated throughout the process. They respect the fact that they are hiring someone else to do a job, and so they treat them as such.

Get to know your actors: It’s important to know who you’re working with. You want your actors to feel comfortable informing you if something isn’t working for them and being open about their strengths and weaknesses.

Just as importantly, knowing your cast can help you decide what type of actor would best suit each role in your production. Talk to each actor individually before the audition: It’s vital that everyone involved with the production be clear on what is expected of them. As a director, it’s up to you.

Have Your Actors Fill Out Casting Sheets

Actors, like all people, need to be motivated to do a good job. Money is one motivator, but there are others. So, if you’re thinking of hiring an actor for a film or TV commercial and want them to do the best job possible, you might consider providing some motivation.

   

Let’s assume that you’re hiring a professional actor who’s done this sort of thing many times before and doesn’t need hand-holding or creative guidance. What can you do to help your actor give the best possible performance? Here are some hints:

Give them as much information as possible about the character they’ll be playing. Sometimes, this will be in the form of a bio sheet that describes their background and personality traits; other times, it’ll be in bullet points on the casting sheet.

Either way, give them enough information so they have an idea of who the character is and what he or she would say or do under certain circumstances. Have them fill out a casting sheet ahead of time (see example below).

This will take some time — perhaps an hour or more — but it can lead to better improvisation during filming. A well-detailed casting sheet gives your actor something specific to work with when improvising dialogue and action during filming.

Have Your Audition Slides Ready

If you’re considering a career in sales, one of your first opportunities to get experience will be at an annual sales meeting. 

Even if you’re not a salesperson, you’ll probably have to give a presentation at some point in your career, so this is a great opportunity to get practice.

Trying out sales without actually selling anything isn’t ideal, but it’s better than nothing. If you’re working on your presentation skills, here are some tips for auditioning slides:

Present four to six ideas. While you don’t want to overwhelm the group with too much information about your product or service, you also don’t want to short-change yourself by giving only three ideas. 

If you have 15 slides (four per idea), that means each slide will get 10 seconds — not a lot of time to make an impression! Start by writing down all the things that come to mind when thinking about your topic.

Then narrow each list down to four or five key points that are most important for this particular audience. 

The goal of your presentation is not just to entertain — it’s also to provide information and get people talking about how they might use your product or service. 

Don’t “talk through” each slide — give people time to absorb the information and ask questions.