Acting - The Casting Process
In this article we're going to discuss exactly how the casting
process works and how the stupidest things can win or lose a job
for an actor.
People who are just getting into the acting
business have quite a few misconceptions about how the casting
process works. The best way to illustrate this is with a
hypothetical example giving a fictional show.
Let's say
the producers of a daytime soap called "Sullivan Street" have
just gotten a script for one of next month's episodes. In this
episode there is a new character by the name of "Tara." She is a
real schemer who is going to seduce the show's star.
The
first thing the producers do is call the casting director they
have used for many years and describe the character, Tara, to
him. Immediately the casting director will already have several
people in mind who he has worked with in the past but he will
still submit a description to Breakdown Services. This is a
company that serves as a link between casting directors and
agents.
The next morning all the agents read the
"breakdown" sheets to see what parts are being cast. The agent
will then look through his files to see if he has anyone who
fits the description. He'll select several photos and send them
to the casting director.
The casting director then
receives all these envelopes from all these agents, and there
are tons of them. A casting director will have to go through
hundreds, maybe even thousands of photos looking for "Tara." And
then even if the photo looks great the casting director will
look at the attached resume to see what body of work the actress
has done. Finally the casting director will narrow these
hundreds of photos down to about 30 or so and will call these
agents up for auditions.
The agents will then call their
clients up and tell them about the audition, the time and place.
He may send them sample scripts or have them come to his office
to pick them up.
After this the actress goes to the
audition, probably nervous as heck. She'll dress up the way she
thinks Tara should dress. She wants to get the character just
right. While waiting for her audition she takes the time to go
over her lines.
Finally, she makes it into the casting
director's office and does her reading for the part. She does
well, but is not too hopeful since she has had other readings
during the week for other parts that she didn't
get.
After the audition is over the goes home and waits.
In a day or so she gets a call from her agent that they liked
her audition and they want her to come back for a second one.
She's all excited.
She goes back for a second audition,
reads the same part again and does even better than the first
time. She is positive that she is going to get the part. Then,
at the last minute, the producers, who are at the second
audition, decide that Tara should be a blonde instead of a
brunette.
Yes, that is the way it goes. Sometimes you'll
lose a part because you are the wrong height or hair color or
something really stupid. Then a month later they'll call you
back in to read for the starring role of a new series they're
putting together. That is the way careers are made and broken in
this business and there is just no logical reason to the
madness. All you can do is go with the flow and hope for the
best.