The million dollar question that we always ask ourselves as Actors. We see Facebook posts about our acting colleagues getting cast or booked for the same commercial or film that we auditioned for and after a few weeks, still no phone call, no email, and no booking. So what did we do wrong, or not do right? We start rehashing our audition..was it good enough? Did I forget a line? What did the Casting Director not like about my Headshot or Resume? We have asked those same questions time and time again, audition after audition and we continue to self-analyze, self-doubt, self-criticize. We keep scratching our heads and beating ourselves up. We think we did something wrong. Granted, there are times when we can always improve our habits, cold reads and update our Headshots, but we as Actors, like every other candidate looking for that job, want to do the best performance possible. We were born with that instinct. Our parents brought us up to "Do your Best in everything you do.." So we carry those words into our lives and our Acting toolbox. We rehearse, read, memorize, re-read, record and then perform..and then nothing....rejection...again. Let me cast some comfort for a moment if I may... You probably did nothing wrong. What??...You may have done everything correct and had the best read and still not get the role. Yes, acting can be and is probably one the most subjective occupations in the universe. Yes, there are the industry standards of the trade if you will, the right and wrong way to stand on your mark, etc, but the acting world, is a "world" that things can change on a whim, due to things totally out of your control..which is my whole point in this exercise... Sometimes, and bear with me on this and it may totally surprise you (grab your chair on this shocker..drum role. ...The best Actor does not always....get cast..True...I said it. As much as people think that Tim Robbins was the first candidate for the film "The Shawshank Redemption", which recieved great compliments, but contrary to most people knowing, that there were a few other Actors highly considered for that role. Now I am not saying that the other candidates had bad auditions. As a matter of fact, I have been on the other side of the Casting table and heard many stories of why so-and-so did not get booked. Strange things happen over an 10 hour day of casting and when you review the tapes, many variables come into play. The Actor that we have in mind for the "Father" role may have had the best read, but the "child" who we definitely want to cast will not look anything like the "Father" who had the best read, and so our choice for the initial "Father" simply would not get a callback. Nothing personal, just the "look" was a better fit for our second choice "Father". The second choice Actor may have skipped a line in the script, but looks more believable and would still be congenial to work with, hence he gets cast. And many more stories follow: • One instance, the casting associates had thrown 3 finalists Headshots in the air. The one who landed face up, got the role. (true story told by a Hollywood Television Director) • The first choice candidate had the best read, but looked too much like the Casting Director's Ex-wife..any guesses?..Not Booked • An actress who had a great read, very nice personality but had one single eyelash that needed trimmed and had a great read...guess what?..one of the Casting associates suggested to the Director that they could trim the single hair..the decision was not changed..again, not cast.. Crazy as it seems. it happens and more often than not, who you see bring home the Academy award, might not have been the first choice.

Ref: Self Tape auditions -

Every actor I know finds the current self-tape process frustrating and wearying.

I get that it’s easier to tape at home, alone, or with a reader, and you get to do it over and over until you’re happy, but, then what happens.

You send it off and chances are you never hear another word. From anyone. Did they even watch it? Was it already cast and they were just doing a compulsory fishing expedition to satisfy union requirements that they were being inclusive? Were they seeing every Cdn actor/actress within the age range so they could hire the American with impunity?

When a casting agent puts out a break down asking for submissions…it used to be that agents would submit clients and they might make it to a casting session with the casting director, or if the CD was familiar with someone's work, they might propose them to the director/producer and ask that actor to come in to a producer session.

It seems to me that the SELF TAPE should be the equivalent of a producer session.

Someone suggested that actors should be paid to self tape…a nominal fee… but something so as to discourage casting from just agreeing to hundreds of self tapes, most of which are an utter waste of time.

Even ZOOM would be a better alternative. That way, you can at least get feedback from the director/producer if they want you to go in a different direction.

It seems to me, it is really easy to get actors to self tape, then sit around and watch the first 15 seconds to decide the actor isn’t quite right, but each of those actors has gone through an annoying, time consuming, sometimes costly process to get that tape out there. For what?

Yes, times have changed, and the world is a different place, but, in order for actors to feel that they are more than camera fodder, I think the union should look at this current method of ’casting’, and consider some limitations to protect actors. Maybe there should be a requisite ZOOM conversation with the producer/director before the actor is asked to tape, so that if the people hiring don’t respond, or know that they are definitely NOT going in your direction, they can politely thank you for you time, let you know it’s not going to go any further, and spare you the hours of wasted time working on a self tape. Or, they can give you some direction and ask you to tape.

Sorry for the rant, but I really do think some limitations would be beneficial for everyone.

I'm interested in Casting Director and Agent reaction to this, because I feel, at present, that everyone is just passing the buck because" They have to - this is what Directors want."

Hello I have a feature film project that I'm in early development stages with. I have some ideas for the casting. I'm not ready to audition and cast actors as yet, but I've been thinking a lot about my main character, who is Indian. I have some strong ideas for cast to play some of the other characters, but I'm struggling with my lead character as I'm struggling to think of Indian actors who fit the bill. I'd be grateful to hear any tips regarding sourcing professional Indian actors. Of course there is spotlight but I don't currently have a subscription. I am a long way off filming or even auditioning but of the many aspects of film development that go through my mind regularly, this is my stumbling block. I know that I can put a casting call out once I'm ready to actually cast, but at this stage I'm just looking for ideas and inspiration! Any pointers would be great. Thanks Elizabeth

New Bloggity Blog is up. Do you know what a casting director actually does?! http://marciliroff.blogspot.com/2012/08/inside-world-of-casting-director...

New Bloggity Blog is up. Do you know what a casting director actually does?! http://marciliroff.blogspot.com/2012/08/inside-world-of-casting-director...

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