There’s a lot of information out there about how the world of the professional acting works (we go over plenty of it in The Actor’s Startup Guide), but one idea isn’t talked about very much:
Ours is a business of trust.
In most cases, a job starts with a casting notice sent out by a casting director or other entity trying to find the right actor for the job. That casting notice goes to a talent agent, who then selects actors from their roster to submit. That short list goes back to the casting director, who further narrows it down and chooses the actors they want to audition.
In a sense, everyone in this process is auditioning for someone else. Obviously the actor is auditioning for the job at hand, but the agent is auditioning for the casting director. Agents want to be included on future auditions the casting office will have. The way to do that is to submit actors who are right for the job.
This doesn’t just apply to talent reps. When anyone is tasked with matching actors with roles, whether it’s an award-winning director working on his next film or an ad agency copywriter casting their first radio spot, they want to look like they know what they’re doing. Their judgement and level of taste is on the line as they present their choices to the rest of the team. How do they ensure that they will look like they know what they’re doing? By relying on people they trust.
The casting director who sent out the audition notice? They likely have a good relationship with their client, but in doing the work, they’re also auditioning to keep it that way. That TV episodic director or a production company executive in charge of assembling talent for a corporate video can jump ship and hire someone else if the casting process goes south.
That decision-maker? They’re auditioning for their client, either a network/streamer or the corporation writing the check for the project. He who writes the check calls the shots, not only on the present project, but in the future.
With so much riding on casting decisions, everyone involved decides to work with people they trust. That’s why you see the same actors working with the same directors again and again. It’s why commercial actors are put in multiple spots once they’ve proven themselves in one, and it’s why voice talent are asked back to work with the same ad agencies repeatedly.
In the end, trusted actors help the check-writers appeal to their audience, who are the ultimate decision-makers.
It’s important to understand the relationships in the industry and how they’re connected. Learn more in The Actor’s Startup Guide.
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