What Casting Directors Really Want From Actors
What Casting Directors Really Want From Actors
(Audition Advice From Hollywood Insiders)
What do casting directors actually want from actors? Should you make bold choices? Email casting directors directly? And when you don’t get a callback, does that mean you did something wrong?
As a working actor in Los Angeles, I’ve spent plenty of time wondering about these things myself. Over the years on my podcast, Box Angeles, I’ve talked with dozens of casting directors about auditions, booking roles, and what happens behind the scenes.
Turns out, casting directors don’t always agree. But a few things keep coming up. Here are six perspectives from conversations at the bungalow.
Lisa Zambetti: Focus on Your Process, Not the Result
The advice: Be prepared, present, and committed
Casting director Lisa Zambetti (Criminal Minds, The New Normal) shared what she sees in actors who consistently book work.
Our conversation focused on preparation, being present, and trusting your process instead of obsessing over whether you’ll get the job.
It’s something casting director Richard Hicks echoed in our conversation. Good actors aren’t necessarily trying to win casting’s approval. They’re focused on the work.
As actors, we spend so much time trying to figure out what casting wants that it’s easy to forget we’re supposed to be acting. Sometimes the best thing you can do is prepare, commit, and get out of your own way.
Sherry Thomas: Casting Directors Are Rooting for You
The reminder: Casting wants actors to succeed
There’s an old saying that casting directors are rooting for you. But is that actually true?
Casting director Sherry Thomas (Better Call Saul, The Righteous Gemstones) discussed how she wants actors to feel good about their audition experience, even when the process itself can be intimidating.
Similarly, Sibby Kirchgessner (Veep, Baskets) talked about creating an encouraging environment where performers feel comfortable doing their work.
Obviously, not every casting office is going to be warm and welcoming. Anyone who’s been auditioning long enough knows that. But casting directors need to find the right actors for their projects. They have a reason to want you to succeed.
It’s a helpful thing to remember the next time you’re nervously sitting outside an audition room.
Felicia Fasano: How New Actors Actually Get Seen
The challenge: Getting auditions without established credits
How do you get auditions without credits? And how do you get credits when nobody will audition you?
Casting director Felicia Fasano (Better Things, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend) discussed how newer actors can get into audition rooms, and why simply emailing her isn’t necessarily the answer.
Other casting directors have offered similar encouragement to keep working outside traditional auditions. Robert Ulrich stressed the importance of doing theater and creating your own material, while Jenn Presser discussed how she discovers actors through general meetings.
The common thread? Don’t sit around waiting for somebody to give you permission to act.
Amber Horn: Should Actors Email Casting Directors?
The debate: When contacting casting actually helps
Here’s where things get interesting. Not every casting director agrees about actors reaching out directly.
While Felicia Fasano isn’t particularly interested in unsolicited emails, casting director Amber Horn (Just Roll With It, Andi Mack) explained how email pitches can actually help her when casting a project.
That’s a pretty important distinction. A relevant pitch for a specific role is different from sending a generic email asking someone to keep you in mind.
And then there are casting directors like Jessica Sherman, who’s discussed the things actors do that can rub casting the wrong way.
Maybe the lesson isn’t whether you should email casting directors. It’s understanding who you’re contacting, why, and whether your message is actually useful.
Michael Sanford: What Happens After You Audition?
The question: Is anyone actually watching your audition?
Every actor knows the feeling. You spend hours preparing an audition, submit it, and then hear absolutely nothing.
Casting director Michael Sanford discussed his process for filling audition slots, reviewing self-tapes, and deciding which actors move forward. And while every casting office operates differently, his perspective offers a valuable look at what happens on the other side.
Sanford also talked about why he doesn’t want actors to feel intimidated by casting directors. They’re looking for talented people who can solve a problem, not hoping actors fail.
And as Maya Adrabi discussed during our conversation about callbacks and the enormous SAG-AFTRA talent pool, there are a lot of qualified performers competing for the same jobs.
Not getting a callback doesn’t automatically mean you gave a bad audition. There are plenty of decisions happening behind the scenes that actors never see.
Jeff Greenberg: Even Hit Shows Struggle With Casting
Behind the scenes: Why booking isn’t always about the audition
Sometimes the best way to understand casting is to hear what happens behind the scenes of a massive hit television show.
Legendary casting director Jeff Greenberg (Cheers, Frasier) discussed the challenges of casting Modern Family, including finding the right actors for the roles eventually played by Ty Burrell and Julie Bowen.
We also talked about how many performers auditioned for the show’s leads, the actors who turned down opportunities, and how much input producers and networks have in the process.
It’s a reminder that even when actors deliver terrific auditions, there are countless factors influencing the final decision. Sometimes the role simply isn’t yours.
So, What Do Casting Directors Actually Want?
After talking with so many casting directors, I’ve realized there isn’t some secret audition formula we’re all missing.
Some welcome emails. Others don’t. Some encourage bold choices, while others emphasize simply being present and trusting your preparation.
But a few things keep coming up: do the work, be professional, make strong choices, and stop spending every audition trying to guess what somebody else wants.
Personally, I still find myself overanalyzing auditions. Was that the right take? Should I have done something different? Did anybody even watch it? But these conversations have helped me understand how much of the casting process is outside our control.
And maybe that’s the most useful advice of all. Do your best work, let it go, and move on to the next one.
For more conversations about acting and auditions, check out my casting director interview playlist, read about whether self-tapes are hurting actors, or browse my favorite acting podcasts.
