Breaking into the acting world often comes with a lot of confusion about the casting process. Let’s demystify it with a look at a hypothetical scenario.
Imagine the producers of a daytime soap opera, let’s call it “Sullivan Street,” receive a new script. This episode introduces “Tara,” a cunning character set to charm the show’s leading man.
The producers start by contacting their trusted casting director, describing Tara in detail. The casting director likely already has a few potential candidates in mind from previous collaborations. However, they also submit the character description to Breakdown Services, a liaison between casting directors and talent agencies.
The next day, agents review these “breakdown” sheets, searching for roles that match their clients. They sift through their files, select suitable headshots, and forward them to the casting director.
The casting director is then inundated with submissions – potentially hundreds or even thousands of photos – all vying for the role of “Tara.” They carefully examine each photo and accompanying resume, assessing the actor’s experience and suitability. The casting director then narrows the field down to a shortlist of around 30 actors and invites them to audition.
The agents contact their clients, providing audition details like time and location. They might also supply sample scripts or ask the actors to pick them up from their office.
The actress arrives at the audition, understandably nervous. She carefully chooses an outfit that reflects her interpretation of Tara. She uses her waiting time to rehearse her lines.
Finally, she enters the casting director’s office and delivers her reading. While she feels she performed well, she remains cautiously optimistic, knowing that past auditions haven’t always led to success.
After the audition, she returns home to wait. A day or two later, her agent calls with exciting news: they liked her audition and want her to return for a callback!
She attends the second audition, repeats the same scene, and feels even more confident than before. She believes she’s nailed the part. However, at the last minute, the producers – who are present at the callback – decide that Tara should be blonde instead of brunette.
This illustrates the unpredictable nature of the acting world. Sometimes, you might lose a role due to factors like height, hair color, or other seemingly arbitrary reasons. Then, a month later, you might receive a call to audition for a lead role in a new series. Careers in this industry can be made and broken in illogical ways. The best approach is to remain adaptable and optimistic, and to embrace the unpredictable flow of the industry.