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Casting calls
 Casting
calls – what are they? Casting calls are notices made to casting
agencies or the public – the purpose of casting calls is to
find actors for upcoming productions. Of course, this “upcoming
productions” can be the project of a student filmmaker, or
it can be for a major motion picture. Casting calls can be issued
by a wide variety of sources.
Where are they?
Casting calls can be found in many forms. You can find a casting
call on an online bulletin board, in a newspaper, in industry trades,
or in local weekly papers. You can also find out about casting calls
on campus bulletin boards. If you have an agent, you may get notified
about a casting call from him. Or you may find out about a casting
call by good, old-fashioned word-of-mouth.
To make sure that you get the call about a casting call, so to
speak, you should diligently follow the industry trades. You can
also get on mailing lists. It is also a good idea to sign on with
a casting agencies – they know about all of the good casting
calls. There are casting agencies that specialize in providing extras
for film and television. You do not need an agent to sign on with
a casting agency.
If you are a somewhat experienced actor, you probably already have
an acting agent that informs you about auditions and casting calls.
If you have a good acting agent, then he or she already has a good
relationship with major casting agencies, directors, and other parts
of the acting industry. As it is your agent’s job to find
jobs for you, then he will find casting calls for you.
What types are there?
There are different types of casting calls. Some casting calls are
very generic, they will take anyone (this is especially true if
it is just for extras. Other casting calls are very specific about
gender, age, build, height, race, or special skills and talent.
There are even some casting calls that require nudity – but
do not worry about accidentally walking into one of these. If a
casting call requires nudity, it is usually indicated up front.
What types of actors are they for?
Casting calls are not for A-list actors. An A-list actor will already
be attached to a project from some sort of inside dealing. A casting
call, more often than not, is to fill out the rest of the cast.
Some projects specifically want non-actors. A casting call for
non-actors will be widely publicized to the general public –
these sorts of casting calls are often referred to as “cattle
calls.” Reality series often have these sorts of casting calls.
What is involved in attending a casting call?
A casting call, especially a “cattle call,” requires
people to stand in long lines and fill out multiple applications
and to go through interviews or auditioning. Later, you will (or
will not) receive a callback. A callback will involve more auditions
as the studio or whomever starts to thin out which actors they do
or do not want. You could even get 4 or 5 callbacks before getting
a part or being… or being turned down. There can be a lot
involved in a casting call.
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