How to Hire Actors
Hiring actors can be a challenge. You may have a great script in hand, but you don't know if you'll find the right people to fill the roles. Finding actors who are skilled enough to handle the script may be difficult as well. Hiring actors is not impossible, however. You'll need patience and attention to detail, but eventually you'll have the actors you need to bring your script to life.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
Before the Auditions
-
1
Know what you're looking for. Have an idea in mind of what you want to see for each character in your script. This may change during the audition process, because you may encounter some actors that add something interesting to the role for which they're auditioning, but it's important to start off with a preliminary image.
-
2
Post a casting notice online at local theater community websites. State the title of your script and describe the roles and what the people playing them should look like. Be clear about what the union status of the actors should be. Provide an email address where interested actors can send their resumes and headshots. Give a deadline for submissions, and repost the notice every other day for at least a week ,until the deadline arrives.
-
-
3
Reserve a space for the auditions. It should be spacious enough for an actor to have freedom of movement. It should also be located in an area that is as accessible as possible. A classroom or empty conference room should suffice; remember to get permission to use the room for the date you have in mind.
-
4
Make an audition schedule. Aim to spend 15 to 30 minutes with each actor. This will allow you to talk about your production and answer any questions the actor might have.
-
5
Sort through the submissions. Weed out the submissions that don't fit in with the vision you have for the characters. Have several candidates in mind for each role. Contact these candidates and tell them you would like them come in for an audition. Be specific about the time and place of the audition, which should be within a week of contacting them. Email the candidates portions of their roles' dialogue which they can prepare for the audition.
The Auditions
-
6
Before the casting begins, prepare the space. Situate your table facing the space in which the actors will be auditioning, and have a chair for yourself and a chair available for the actor if he wants it.
-
7
Bring the proper materials. Have extra copies of the script ready in case the actors need to read from them. If possible, film the auditions, as the video will be a better way to analyze them than your notes. If you cannot film them, be sure to bring plenty of pens and paper to jot down notes about each performance.
-
8
Allow each actor a practice take, so they can get comfortable. If you like, you can give them notes afterward and see how they take direction. Try to compliment at least one part of the actor's performance.
-
9
After each audition, explain to the actor what the procedure will be for callbacks, as well as how and when you'll notify the actors about whether they landed the role. You should notify them each about their status within the week after the audition, when you have finished analyzing the performances. Ask the actors if they have any questions about the role, the script or anything else they might have in mind.
After the Auditions
-
10
Sift through your notes or video of the auditions. This may take some time, so plan accordingly. Trust your instincts about what you see, and don't be afraid to cut people from the cast, even if they seem pleasant as people.
-
11
After you have finished making your choices, notify the chosen actors via phone or email. Let them know when and where the production will begin.
-
12
Notify the actors who were not chosen via email. Thank them for their participation, and mention that you look forward to working with them in the future. If there are roles for which you found no suitable actors, start the audition process again, this time seeking actors solely for those roles.
-
1
References
- Photo Credit Adam Taylor/Digital Vision/Getty Images
