Casting Calls

If you're wondering how to become an actress, one of the first things you'll need to aside from attending an acting school for training is to get used to the fact that you will have to attend a lot of auditions. Hundreds if not thousands of them. There are a number of types of auditions you may be going to, so it's best to get the jargon down right off the bat.

Casting Call: This is usually an open-ended audition for which you may or may not need to have an agent book you. In general, casting calls can go on all day and you may have a window of time during which you are called in to audition.

Cattle Call/Open Call: This is similar to a casting call, but is much looser in terms of how it's organized. You often do not need an agent to book you a slot. In fact, often there is no time slot for anyone; it's first come, first auditioned.

Casting Director Audition: This is generally a specific appointment set up by your agent, during which you will read for a specific director.

Callback: Once you've passed the first round of auditions, you may be called back to read again. Often, these auditions will involve you reading sides from the play or film rather than having you perform prepared material.