As we head full swing into the digital age, we should expect there to be changes to the casting process. However if like me, you’re still getting the hang of self-tapes and have managed to get the right amount of books to stand your laptop on but are still grappling with the lighting you’ll be intrigued by the new casting process.
The great thing about the way castings are heading is that they are designed to save the casting directors time & money, which means they save you time AND money travelling. Maybe the extra pennies saved could be invested in your next set of headshots or that workshop you’ve wanted to do.
With the majority of initial auditions being self-taped you can rest assured that if the first take is rubbish, it can be binned. You can keep binning until you’re happy with what you see. Such a blessing! The initial audition is no longer filled with the pressure of having one shot to impress. You can audition in the comfort of your own home and get a handle on those nerves
The new casting process
Something that casting directors have recently started to request, will also save you time and money. It still requires self-taping, so if you’re not 100% confident with this I suggest practicing self-tapes & not just recording them, but making sure you know how to send them properly.
What are casting directors now requesting?
Rather than you going to London for an audition you might not be suitable for, some casting directors are now asking that you send a self-tape in which you talk about yourself and your hobbies rather than sending a rehearsed scene.
Why is this gaining popularity?
Not all casting directors are asking for this but a good handful are and it seems to be catching on. The new casting process is designed so the casting director can see your personality before your talent, find out whether you will be easy to work with and match up your looks and similarities with the character before bringing you into the casting room. For example if the character plays football and you have football as a skill, it would be wise to talk about your football experience.
To me this makes complete sense, it’s less spray and pray and a more focused way of casting from a business perspective, however if we’re thinking about the craft and talent, it is completely bypassing that…
What does this mean for you?
- You need to become more familiar with your casting type than before
- Get comfortable speaking on camera about yourself and your hobbies
- Perfect those self-taping skills to save you time faffing
- Take off any skills off your CV, you could do 15 years ago
- Work at building up your skill set
What do you think about the new casting process? I’d love to hear your opinions. Do you think it is a fair way of casting or not?
Pop your opinion in the comments box below and share with your acting friends to gage their opinions too.
To your success
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