Actors bring your script to life.
Their emotion and delivery shape how the audience experiences your vision.
Casting the right actors to express your project the way you intended is very important.
Auditioning is not a process you should rush, spend time finding the perfect person for each role. But how do you go about doing that?
Where to find actors
There are a number of good websites as well as physical places you can use to reach out to potential actors.
Sites such as CastingCallPro, Mandy, Castnet, Backstage
Your local school, college, and university will likely have a theatre/drama department.
Outside of educational institutes look for local theatre companies or drama clubs.
Search for Facebook groups in your area like London Actors Directory.
Find relevant Meetup groups.
Reach out to all of these groups with a detailed project that sells your film to them. You could include links to your show reel, awards you may have won, who is currently involved, and if the film will be entered into festivals.
Prescreening
If your audition notice is well received you should get inundated with replies. You could invite them all to the audition and do a cattle call style casting but it is better to prescreen and audition fewer people. Review the reels, read resumes and profiles then invite the best.
The initial communication between you and the actors can be a useful indicator as to the sort of person they are. If it took 4 days before they replied, do you want this person as your lead?
Provide a good amount of information. Include sides, character bios, synopsis, and any additional detail as this will give better reads.
Leave the role open to all ethnicities, you could be surprised how different ethnicities interpret your character.
Choose a scene that is dialogue driven, either one-on-one or monologue. Give actors a chance to showcase their ability.
Where to hold auditions
The first and most crucial rule…
Not in your house.
Try to find a decent room that has a separate area for waiting and for auditioning. A place that is easy to find or easy to give directions to. You may be able to get a free community space, if not studios and rehersal rooms do not cost too much money per hour.
Town hall or community space
Sites like Bookastudio can help you find a space.
How to hold the audition
Make the actors feel comfortable. The process should be as easy as possible for everyone, including yourself.
Give excellent directions to the venue, put up clear signs pointing to the sign in sheet, the waiting area and audition room. Provide bottled water and snacks.
Schedule the auditions in 10–15minute blocks, rather than having everyone waiting there all day. Blocks keep the day organised and allow for breaks and the odd overrun.
You will want to record all the actors as well as taking notes, in order to give each performance your full attention it is best to have somebody else read lines with them.
Give direction to the actors, see how they respond, give them a chance to show their versatility. If you need to, do a few takes.
Talk casually with them to start building a relationship and see if they would make a good fit. Thank them afterwards, be professional and positive.
Callbacks
Do not rush the casting process or you could end up regretting your casting choices. Take time to do a callback, this gives you the chance to try new scenes with the actors and get to understand their style more.
If you are casting more than one role, let them interact to see if any chemistry sparks. If you were unsure about any of the callbacks perhaps give some promising actors who could not make the first audition a chance to come along.
Have fun with the process, take your time, build up relationships, and find the right people to bring your script to life.
