Behind the Casting Table: From Headshot to Audition

BEHIND THE CASTING TABLE

Behind the Casting Table is a practical, seven-week class designed to help actors understand both sides of the casting process: how to prepare themselves professionally and what happens after their materials or audition reach the people making the decision.

Drawing on real-world casting experience across commercials, reality television, promos and network creative, this class goes beyond audition technique. We’ll look at the complete process of presenting yourself as a working actor, from choosing the right headshots and building a professional résumé to looking for representation, submitting for opportunities, creating strong self-tapes and walking into auditions prepared.

The goal is simple: by the end of the class, you should have a much clearer understanding of what you need, how to present yourself and how to approach the casting process professionally.

WHAT WE’LL COVER

• HEADSHOTS

What makes an effective acting headshot? What kinds of photos should you have? What should you wear? How much retouching is too much? We’ll discuss how headshots function within the casting process and how to choose images that accurately represent you.

• ACTING RÉSUMÉS

Learn what belongs on an acting résumé, what doesn’t, how to format it and how to present your experience professionally, even if you’re still building credits.

• FINDING REPRESENTATION

We’ll discuss what to have ready before approaching an agent, how to research representation, how to present yourself and what actors should understand about the actor-agent relationship.

• CASTING PLATFORMS & SUBMISSION SERVICES

Learn how actors, agents and casting directors use platforms and apps such as to find, submit for and manage audition opportunities.

• SUBMISSIONS

Understand the basic materials actors need in order to submit themselves professionally and how those materials work together to create your first impression.

• SLATES

Learn how to create a clean, natural and professional slate, including what information is typically requested and how to avoid making a simple introduction feel stiff or over-rehearsed.

• SELF-TAPES

We’ll cover the practical side of self-taping: camera placement, horizontal framing, eyelines, lighting, sound, backgrounds, readers, wardrobe and how to create a tape that allows the performance to remain the focus.

• AUDITION WARDROBE

What should you wear to an audition or self-tape? We’ll talk about dressing appropriately for the role without turning yourself into a costume, choosing colors that work on camera and making choices that help rather than distract.

• AUDITION TECHNIQUE

We’ll work on preparing auditions, making strong choices, taking direction and staying present instead of trying to guess what casting “wants.”

• HANDS-ON AUDITION PRACTICE

This will not be seven weeks of sitting and listening. Students will have opportunities to audition, self-tape and receive feedback in class.

THE OTHER SIDE OF THE TABLE

One of the most important parts of the class is understanding that casting is not simply a competition to determine who is “the best actor.”

Sometimes you can give an excellent audition and still not get the role.

Why?

Perhaps another performer has already been cast and the production needs someone who creates the right chemistry with them. A role may require a particular height, physical type, age range, look or combination of performers. A client may change direction. Another actor may simply fit the larger picture of the campaign or project.

There may also be dozens or hundreds of actors being considered for the same opportunity.

We’ll talk candidly about these realities so actors can better understand the difference between the quality of an audition and the final casting decision.

Learning how the process works can help take some of the mystery out of rejection and allow actors to focus on what they can actually control: preparation, professionalism, presentation and performance.

BY THE END OF THE CLASS

You should leave with a clearer understanding of how to:

• Present yourself professionally as an actor

• Choose and organize your casting materials

• Build an acting résumé

• Evaluate your headshots

• Begin researching and pursuing representation

• Navigate casting platforms and submission services

• Create professional slates and self-tapes

• Frame and film auditions correctly

• Make stronger wardrobe choices for camera

• Prepare for auditions

• Take direction

• Better understand how casting decisions are made

Most importantly, the goal is for you to leave feeling more prepared to begin pursuing representation and audition opportunities with the materials, knowledge and practical experience to do so professionally.

WHO IS THIS CLASS FOR?

This class is ideal for newer actors who are ready to begin pursuing professional opportunities, performers with stage or improv experience who want to understand on-camera casting, and actors who already audition but want a stronger understanding of the business and decision-making process behind casting.

You do not need to already have an agent or extensive professional credits.

CLASS DETAILS

Mondays at 7:30 PM

Begins September 21

7 consecutive weeks

$300

ABOUT THE CLASS

Behind the Casting Table is designed to make the professional casting process feel less mysterious and more practical.

There is no formula that guarantees representation, callbacks or bookings. What you can control is whether you are prepared when an opportunity appears.

This class is about getting you ready.