What Are Casting Director Workshops

Casting director workshops are events where aspiring actors can showcase their talent directly to casting directors. These workshops often involve actors performing prepared scenes or monologues for the casting directors, who may offer feedback and guidance. While these sessions claim to provide a chance for actors to make connections and gain exposure, the efficacy and ethical implications of such workshops have been controversial within the entertainment industry. These events may not guarantee tangible benefits and could potentially exploit the aspirations of actors seeking opportunities in film, television, and theater productions. We attended several casting director workshops to bring you insights, so you do not have to attend them yourself.

[Read also: The Most Common Misconceptions About Casting]

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Why Actors Sign Up For Casting Directors Workshops

Many actors think these workshops are a way to meet casting directors and get tips for auditions. Some workshops might give advice and insights from the pros, but it is important to know each workshop and casting director is different. The most common reasons why actors seek for these workshops are:

• they want to meet casting directors;
• they mistakenly assume casting directors are looking for talent from their workshops;
• audition consistency is unpredictable, and actors on hiatus may fulfill their psychological need to be seen by casting with workshops.

While a few workshops might help you improve your acting skills, casting directors are not trained to coach you. And, honestly, they will probably forget about you – and every other actor they meet – once the workshop is over.

Actors often see workshops as opportunities to connect with casting directors and receive audition guidance. While some workshops offer valuable advice, we must recognize the many differences between casting directors. Additionally, most workshops are not focused on honing your skills. Realistically, once the workshop concludes, the experience is over with no rewards.

[Read also: #CastMe: The Boring Factor]

Lessons From Casting Directors Workshops

Lesson 1: Each Casting Director is Unique

They are people, after all. Some casting directors are warm and friendly. Some are straight to the point and may even sound mean when they give you feedback. Keep in mind that, like everyone in this industry, casting directors like actors (or else they would not be doing the job they chose to do). Do not take it personally when you receive “mean” feedback in front of other actors. Chances are, the CD is using you in a broader context so the other actors attending the workshop can learn from your scene.

Before an actor has the opportunity to meet many different Casting Directors, they sometimes have the impression that they are all very similar. That could not be further from reality. Some Casting Directors are collaborators in a team with the director, the writer, and the actors they cast. Others act like contractors, following a character breakdown list that they must match with talent according to the director’s vision.

Some Casting Directors are adamant about their vision for a scene. Some let the actor make choices. Just like in real auditions, your acting choice may be different than what Casting expects you to perform. As an artist, your choices are important. But in the business of acting, not all Casting Directors would let your audition go into consideration if they don’t think you made good choices.

[Read also: 3 Unfunny Ways Casting Directors Sabotage Your Creativity]

Lesson 2: Casting Directors Workshops Are NOT Casting Calls

One common misconception from actors is that attending a Casting Director workshop increases their odds of getting cast in a project that the Casting Director is involved in. When Casting Directors are busy casting a show or movie, they are not teaching a workshop. For that reason, expecting to increase your odds of auditioning for a show by attending a workshop with them is a gamble.

When hosting a workshop, casting directors are typically free – not casting any project. Therefore, they may act as a teacher or director, watching your scenes and telling you how they think you should modify them to make them better. After receiving your notes, you might feel you did not do your best work, or you would not have been asked to tweak it. In reality, the Casting Director is simply giving you suggestions.

By the time they are back at the Casting Office, they probably forgot they met you. There are exceptions, of course. But you would have to be at the right place at the right time. Or, you would have to be so memorable that a Casting Director would want to write your name down and look you up after the workshop. If you attend workshops to make such a lasting impression, you are taking a gamble.

It would be a better use of your time and money if you attended these workshops occasionally and with no agenda. You would have the opportunity to demystify Casting Directors and their process. And have a better understanding of how they work and what you can expect when you audition for them.

In other words…

When Casting looks for talent, they go to agents. Then, they go to Actors Access or another casting platform. They are unlikely to open a class or workshop hoping to find talented actors to cast in the future. Their workshops are a secondary form of income – a side gig. For you, the actor, a workshop with a Casting Director is a one-time class where you have the opportunity to observe and be briefly observed. A casting director workshop is not an audition. Moreover, it is not the best networking tool.

[Read also: Rejecting The Idea of Rejection]

Lesson 3: Not All Casting Directors Think Alike

Contrary to what most actors believe, the audition process is not always the same. Each project has its timeline and its level of creative collaboration. When it comes to Casting Directors, they differ greatly among themselves on how they cast and how they see talent. In a workshop, they will give you their general guidelines on how they like a self-tape produced and how they prefer an actor to present themselves with their actor package.

Some Casting Directors will tell you to have a professional reel. Others will say that one-minute acting clips are a better option. Some will tell you to use a neutral wall as a backdrop for your tapes. And others will say, “As long as I can hear you and see you don’t worry about the home studio setup.” 

If you try to make sense of their “rules,” you will overwhelm yourself. That is why we don’t recommend you ask a Casting Director why they prefer something a certain way when another Casting Director tells you they prefer something different.

That means you should use your judgment when deciding how to format your resume, how often to get a new headshot, how many classes you need to take, and whether or not to use a backdrop for your self-tapes. Don’t take one Casting Director’s opinion as the general rule.

Although it is wise to make a note of their preferences, in case you audition for them in the future. If a Casting Director is adamant that you use a grey backdrop because they hate blue, that is something worth remembering.

[Read also: 3 Curious Reasons Why Asking For Audition Feedback Can Actually Hurt Actors]

Lesson 4: Casting Directors Don’t Decide Who Gets the Part

A common misconception from actors is that Casting Directors decide who gets the part. No. In reality, the casting process filters through talent and matches actors with roles depending on their type and abilities. The final decision will always be from a producer, a director, or even a writer/showrunner. Casting Directors are an important part of the process. But even if they love your audition, a director may prefer someone else. 

Believing that Casting Directors have the power to choose actors for roles, many get intimidated by them. Actors should instead, see the Casting Director as a liaison between them and the project. Someone who will allow them to truly be considered after delivering a great audition. 

[Read also: 5 Proven Ways to Get an Audition Callback]

Lesson 5: They Don’t Necessarily “Get It”

When Casting posts a breakdown, they have an idea of what actors should bring with their performance. They envision a certain personality and a rhythm to the character. But that doesn’t mean they know exactly what the writer or the director would prefer from an actor. In reality, the actor is the collaborator to the vision the writer and the director have for the story.

As an actor, you should be confident in the choices you make of how to perform that character during the audition. As much as many Casting Directors like “redirecting” during the live audition, you are free to politely decline their choices. Unless a re-direct comes from the director, it is okay to politely decline to stick with your acting choices. After all, you are the actor, and you don’t have to perform the same way all the other actors auditioning for the part do it.

[Read also: 3 Amazing Ways Casting Directors Help Actors]

Thinking Outside Of The Box

To further develop the story and character, actors should be mindful of “thinking outside the box”. Take note of the script and character description and ensure that you are capturing the essence of the character. There may be some liberties that you can take to make the character come alive.

They include accents, mannerisms, or an added layer to the backstory. The collaboration between actors and creative teams is an essential piece to the storytelling puzzle. Your presence as an actor can create a unique, powerful, and lasting impression that moves the audience. When in the audition room, own your performance and know that your work is making a difference. A Casting Director is there to observe.

The Networking Trap

Many actors make the mistake of seeing casting directors’ workshops as networking opportunities. They place too much value on meeting as many casting directors as possible, even when they have to pay to do so by signing up for their classes. They think they will be remembered and considered for roles because they paid a casting director for a class. A better use of their time would be connecting with creators who will eventually have the power to decide on casting. Those are writers, directors, and producers – and they do not offer workshops to meet actors. Other forms of networking include:

• legitimate acting classes with fellow actors where you collaborate and not just compete;
• attending industry events like movie premieres and festivals;
• connecting with fellow actors you meet at auditions.

Casting directors’ workshops are not networking events. Actors are there to compete for attention, which does not help them connect. From the casting director’s perspective, they show up, watch your brief performance, give you notes, and maybe answer a few questions. After all that, their job is done. No reward is promised and actors should not expect them.

[Read also: Industry Pros Actors Must Network With]

Conclusion

Casting Directors Workshops are not always a good way to invest your money. The job of casting is to find you through auditions – not to charge money meet you and give you two minutes of their attention. Moreover, productions are made in front of the camera, not in workshops with casting directors. It is far better to focus your efforts on other tasks. If your goal is to build relationships within the industry, wait for an actual audition opportunity.

Use your money to take quality acting classes, invest in great headshots, and produce acting clips. Then, bring your best performance to it so you can be memorable. In the meantime, invest in what helps your acting career: quality acting classes, great headshots, and self-produced scenes. And focus your networking on actual creators. Writers, directors, and producers who think of you when they start producing a new project are great peers to connect with. They also have more power than a casting director, often times being the decision-makers.

Networking with the creators of projects is the best way to build relationships that may lead to more opportunities. Taking control of your career and making the right investments in legitimate classes will result in better opportunities. 

[Read also: Desperate Ways to Waste your Money: Acting Class Memberships]

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At Teacup of Wisdom, we share knowledge and insights about the entertainment industry from the actor’s point of view to inspire and empower your acting journey.