5 Things Casting Directors Wish Actors Knew About Auditioning

Wow interesting ❤🔥

Thankyou a ton mam

Some good tips here but the truth is the truth and that’s why a lot of actors make the same choices. If you try to stand out you will end up looking like a fool. It is better to be as honest and open as you can and let go of your rehearsal and be in the moment as much as possible. Getting role isn’t about being the best a lot of the times there are so many factors that go into casting a part. Keep doing you and keep being honest and good things will happen.

Everything Amy Jo says here is true — and I can tell you from the producer's chair, it goes even further than she's letting on. When a casting director brings me a shortlist, the actors they're genuinely excited about have an energy that's almost impossible to fake. We can feel it. But here's what most actors don't realise: by the time you're in that room, the casting director has already gone to bat for you once just to get you there. They've filtered hundreds of submissions and put their professional reputation behind every name on that list. So when you walk in and play it safe — make the obvious choice, give us what you think we want — you're not just underselling yourself. You're letting down someone who already believed in you. The bravest thing you can do in an audition isn't a big, showy choice. It's a truthful one.

There is no way you can know or guess what idea has popped into the head of another actor.

Thank you and that they are going to fight for you!

Hi Amy, my name is kiara oxley this video interested me, and i would love to be a casting director in animation only and possibly my own show which is a youtube series it's called thomas, i started this show in 2024 , and none of the voice actors live near me because i live in silver spring, maryland. i was wondering how can i get training in this career? i never been to hollywood california either, thomas is a superhero and coffee barista

Thanks although I am not an Actress but Make up (and retired but still working...)I find your advice INTERESTING.
Best

None of it really surprised me except may be number five thank you for all the insight sometimes I feel like I’m just sending my addition tapes into a black hole and it never comes back 190 auditions for bookings five callbacks I don’t know if that’s normal must be for a beginning act

I was surprised that casting directors fight for us. I always pictured the casting director building a pool of people to audition and then stepping back so the director could pick whoever best fit his/her vision for the role

❤❤

The 5th lesson really touched me in a good way , and i will tell you exactly why , i just love to hear that a CD will fight for me , he may not think i am his guy for the part i am auditioning for .... But likes me for a future part . Thats very inspiring to hear, and heres exactly why i say that , BECAUSE FIRST AND FOREMOST IF I WERE A CD I WOULD DO THE SAME , SECONDLY WHEN I RECIEVE THAT CALL I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR , FROM THE CD , MAY ADRENELINE IN PUMPING AND ..... HE/SHE SAYS THOSE WORDS ..... HI ALEX , I REALLY LIKED YOU ..... BUT ..... ( AT THIS MOMENT I FEEL DEFLATED ) YOU DECIDED TO GO WITH SOMEONE ELSE .... I CAN NOT SPEAK FOR EVERYONE ELSE BUT , O GOD I HATE THAT BUT WORD ! I DO GET DOWN ON MYSELF BC .... I KNOW I WOULD HAVE DONE A WAY BETTER JOB THEN THE PERSON WHI DID GET THAT PART !!! I KNOW 100% I WILL MAKE IT. THE LUCKY PERSON WHO DISCOVERS ME , WILL BE VERY HAPPY SOON ! BTW . I KNOW LOVE YOUR TIPS ON AUDITIONING AMY , AND I TRULY KNOW 100% YOU DO FIGHT FOR THAT ACTOR THAT DIDNT GET THE PART !!! ITS THE WAY YOU SAID THAT LAST LESSON , YOU SAID IT FROM YOUR HEART !!! GOD GAVE EVERYONE GIFTS , AND HE GAVE ME TGE GIFT OF LOOKING INTO SOMEONES EYES WHILE THEY ARE TALKING AND REVEAL IF THEY ARE TALKING FROM TGE HEART OR BS . THANK YOU SO MUCH AMY. YOU ARE AWESOME !

Thank you so much , you are awesome ! Straight to the point !

I needed to hear about the “rightness”.. I do tend to judge that..I know better now.

Love the notes. Knowing that a CD can go to bat for you is comforting, and makes total sense because it is their work and anyone invested in their work has a passion for what they believe to be right and aligned with their point of view, and will advocate for their vision. THANK U, Amy!!

I think I have heard all of these. I think we may have to repeat these points right before we dive it. No one said this is easy. 😂

Definitely auditioning for a part you don't seem to fit (including age!) Very interesting thank you.

THANK YOU!

It's okay if you don't match the character description bc it changes throughout the casting process. But my favorite is,we're on the same team and Casting Directors want me to WIN. LUVVV that one. Free gems whoo hoo!!! Can't get enough!

I was surprised to hear #3. It's ok to not fit the description.

Thank you very much Amy! This is extremely insightful and helpful 🙏🏽🙂

I would also add, make sure that your lines are MEMORIZED.. unless they ask you to do a cold reading for a different character, do not go in with your sides in hand. And if you do use your sides DO NOT USE YOUR CELL PHONE TO READ YOUR SIDES!!! You’re welcome

The one that surprises me the most is that I should audition even if the role description is nothing like me. I never considered that there could be changes in a character not in the script, or that they were looking for someone not like the description. Very cool to know!

Number 3 - It doesn't matter if I am nothing like the description/write up of the character. That gives me a sense of freedom to expand and touch all of my different facets and pieces. I am doing a self-tape for an audition today and I am going to do something that is a distinct departure from the description - it will be authentic and completely me - and also probably totally unexpected by the director. We'll see!

5. Thanks for fighting for me.

Doing nothing IS MORE!! They want the person in the head shot for small roles. They want your essence as is…

Doing nothing IS MORE!!