Do you feel like you have been to a thousand
casting calls and not one casting director called to say "you go the part"?
Casting calls are just as important as landing the job or role and not all casting calls are "real". What I mean to say, is that some casting calls are actually "cattle calls" or auditions to fill insignificant roles in movies or TV episodes. Most of the time, those who get the part in cattle calls get non-speaking roles. Like you could be a man standing near a post in a Nicole Kidman movie or a passer-by in an episode of CSI.
To land a decent acting role, more likely, you would have to go to several casting calls. That being said, here are some things you can do and must remember when you get to these casting calls:
1. Look Like Your Character
You don't necessarily have to be in a suit of armor to audition for a role of a knight or bring a space ship along if you're auditioning as an alien, but you have to give the casting directors a glimpse of the character in you. Give them the illusion that you ARE the character by your movements, the look in your eyes, your hair or the way you smile.
2. Keep Your Cool
There will be times when you suddenly feel so nervous, you feel like you're going to faint or hurl. This could affect your performance. Sometimes they will give you a script and you might say the lines wrong or act out an emotion just a little too much because you're so nervous. If this happens, breathe in and out. And imagine that the casting directors are inwardly rooting for you.
3. Choose the Right Song.
When auditioning for a musical, you will definitely be asked to sing. That's why you have to prepare your song beforehand. Choose a song that is well within your voice range. If you're auditioning for a famous musical, you can search their songlist in the internet too and sing a piece from the play.
4. To Audition for Reality TV Shows
Your acting skills is not really the focus in reality TV show auditions, instead, it is your personality they will be scrutinizing. To be in a reality TV show, you have to have some sort of unique approach in dealing with people, perhaps a feisty personality or an interesting lifestyle. Take a look at the celebrities who got famous through reality shows, they all have the same thing - strong personalities!
Now you have at least an idea of how An actor could also find out about casting calls from ads on TV or Print Media but these are usually what people call cattle calls or casting calls for non-speaking acting parts in a movie, commercial or TV episode. Getting in mailing lists could be one way of finding out if any agency is having a casting call but this usually requires an actor to be a member of an actors guild of some sort.
If you are planning to venture into the world of acting or performing you must know that casting calls are unavoidable you will go through it several times in this kind of career. The following are a couple of things you must know when attending a casting call :
1. Dress for the part If youre auditioning for the part of the mad scientist who will kidnap the superheros love interest, then look like it! When auditioning for certain characters, you will need to convince casting directors that you are fit to play the role by showing and not telling them.
2. Do not over-act Sometimes during casting calls, you will be required to say some lines or perform a monologue. Remember to cook it up well, meaning, act the scene out just right. If the script requires you to exude silent grief, dont roll on the floor and wail in tears! Theres no silent grief in that.
3. If youre auditioning for a play or musical, prepare a song piece. Casting directors may require you to sing in acapella so make sure you get enough sleep the night before your audition. Skip the party and sleep early! Also, prepare an instrumental CD of your chosen audition piece. You never know, some casting directors may require you to sing with musical accompaniment.
4. If youre auditioning for a Reality TV Show, thats the time when you can ditch the Superman outfit and just be yourself. But take note reality show casting directors want people with unique personalities or lifestyles.
Now that you have at least an idea of how
casting calls and auditions are like, it's time to test the waters. Get out there and rock the world with your acting skills! And good luck!
