Episode Details

What Casting Directors Notice in the First 10 Seconds

Most actors believe the audition starts when they begin the scene.

It doesn't.

The audition starts the moment casting sees you. And casting directors often know within the first 10 seconds whether someone feels like they belong in the room or belong in the self-tape. Whether they feel they deserve to be there and are really showing up to drop off the gift of their talent.

It's not that casting directors are judging your soul. It's the energy. Are you giving off the energy of clarity, of worthiness, of confidence that you believe you deserve to be there?

I work on this with so many actors. The thoughts that creep in. I hope they like me. I'm probably not right for this. Everyone else is probably better than me. Before COVID I would always ask, are you the actor who goes into the audition waiting room and gives away the role to someone else sitting there? You want to be giving the role to you.

And here's what happens when you don't. That energy shows up in you physically. Your posture changes, your voice tightens, your eyes drop.

Confidence in acting doesn't come from booking the job. It comes from deciding that you belong in the room before anyone else decides that for you.

When casting directors are casting a role they are solving a problem. Who is the clearest version of this role? Does this actor understand their casting type? Does their headshot and their presence match? Does their wardrobe support the role?

Clarity beats versatility in auditions. Listen to that again. Clarity beats versatility in auditions.

Casting is always looking for someone who feels natural on camera. I think about NBA players and how comfortable they are with a basketball. That is what we need to be with a camera. That comfortable.

And it's not about who is the most dramatic or the loudest. It's who is the most real in the role. Who fits like a glove. The calm presence often comes from something much deeper than acting technique.

I have what may be a controversial belief. Once you know how to act, once you have a real good basis for it, I think it is truly all about your relationship with yourself. How you tick, how you get yourself to certain places. The most valuable relationship you can have is the relationship with yourself, because that is your instrument.

Also, always look at auditions as opportunities. Not as a test. Are you looking at your auditions like a test you took in high school? Because that is setting you up for a lot of stress.

Casting notices this. But you know what, it's really just people. Directors, producers, just pe