A behind-the-scenes look at casting movies
By Aaron Starmer
A script has been bought. A director has been chosen. The money (or most of it, hopefully) is in place. Now it's time to find the actors. How on earth do you get an audition, let alone an actual role?
Here's what you need to know:
On a typical film, a director or producer will first hire a casting director. It's the casting director's job to find actors, to audition them, and ultimately fill the roles.
The casting director will review the script, and immediately names will pop into their head. For some of the primary roles, they may skip the audition process and contact established actors. Let's be honest: George Clooney, Brad Pitt, and Matt Damon did not have to audition for Ocean's Eleven.
Bankable names assure that films can make money and be seen by audiences. Sometimes a film will already have stars attached before the directors are chosen! But there are always more roles to fill, and plenty of movies that rely on lesser-known talent.
The next step for the casting director is to put together a "breakdown." A breakdown is a series of character sketches for all the speaking parts. They detail age, physical attributes, and other defining characteristics. The casting director will send the breakdown to InstantCast and talent agencies.
InstantCast team members and talent agents will scour their files and compile a list of possible actors who fit the criteria. They'll send back headshots, resumes, videotapes - whatever it takes to get their clients noticed!
What happens when you score an audition? Check out How to Get Cast in a Film: Part II!
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