Acting Tips: 8 Strategies for Handling the Call-Back Audition

So, you've had your initial audition and now Casting has called your agent to schedule a second look. Congratulations! You've made the first cut in the often complicated process of casting a role. Depending on the size of the project and its budget, there may be 6-50 actors called back for a second look, and there may be multiple rounds of call-backs before all of the people who have to sign off on an actor reach an agreement.

Take it in stride. There are only so many things you can control in auditions. At the call-back, here are a few:

1. Don't change your approach to the scene: There is a temptation at a call-back to make your performance bigger or different. Don't do that! You were called back because Casting liked what they saw in your initial audition....your choices, your look, your personality. Do the scene exactly the same way unless you are asked to do an adjustment (and be mentally ready for that to happen.) If you have an acting coach, by all means have them help you prepare. They will spot any glitches.

2. Wear the exact same outfit:  If you get a lot of auditions it can be hard to remember exactly what you wore to each and how you did your hair and make-up, but your look can be a deciding factor in whether you book the job, especially in commercials. Get in the habit of having someone take a head-to-toe photo of you for each audition. If you get a call-back it will save you a lot of time recreating the look.

3. Who's in the room: At an initial audition you may only have one or two people in the room in addition to any other actors; that would be the Session Director, who may also do the taping, and a reader or camera person. At a call-back, you may see 6-10 people, which may include the producer, the client (if it's a commercial), the project director, the head of Casting, the session director, the camera person, secretarial support, and others. Stay focussed. Unless you are spoken to, ignore everyone except the person doing the directing.

4. Introduce yourself to those in the scene: If there are other actors in the scene or you're responding to a reader, introduce yourself before you start. Doing so will help you mentally create a relationship and be more specific in your reactions to dialogue.

5. Be specific in your actions: If you take some action in a scene, if you pick something up or move from here to there, you'd better know why. Otherwise it's just random shuffling.

6. Can you ask if they'd like you to do the scene slightly different?  Well, yes and no.  If you do your audition and they say "Thank you very much," you're done. They've likely decided you're not right for the part for some reason. Say "thank you" and leave. If they're giving adjustments to the other actors in the scene, however, and it's clear there's going to be another take, it's okay to ask if they'd like you to do the scene a bit differently as well.

7. Keep mum: It can be tempting to tell friends that you're up for a big part, but the best policy is to keep quiet about it. That's obvious advice if you've signed a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA), but even if you haven't limit discussion to those who need to know, your agent and acting coach, for example. Your chances of booking, even after a call back, are still small so it saves you from any embarrassed explanations later about why you didn't get the role. Wait until you've signed the contract and been announced in the trade papers to share the good news.

8. Don't fret over roles you didn't book:  Yeah, I know, we all fret over roles we didn't book. I've been at auditions where several actresses up for the role looked exactly like me and at call-backs where every actress had a decidedly different look. Sometimes the client and casting are narrowing the field and trying to decide who has the right look and the right sound, and sometimes they don't know themselves until they see it. You have absolutely no control over that part of the decision.

Lately I've been working with veteran actor Rob Brownstein at An Actors Space in West Hollywood and his perspective, from more than 30 years in the business, is often invaluable. An actor may only book three out of ten auditions (even call-backs), which doesn't sound like much. But as Rob points out, if you were a baseball player getting on base three out of ten times at bat you'd be considered a baseball superstar!

To continue the metaphor, if you're getting a lot of call-backs, it means you're connecting with the ball, so try not to feel frustrated. It's just a matter of time before you hit one out of the park.