Recently I posted on social media that I was casting a package of voiceover spots with many roles and was reviewing almost a thousand submissions. If this was for an on-camera commercial spot with many roles, I could easily receive over four thousand submissions. Someone responded with an interesting comment, asking:
“Why do you review so many options when I’m sure you get what you need in the first fifty, and certainly you have more than enough options after reviewing one hundred.”
I probably can have it cast after viewing the first one hundred, but that’s not how it works. I gave the question more thought and wanted to share why the casting process involves more than a quick “slam dunk”.
Insights: Lessons From Terry Berland
- Always submit your best audition, even if you think you’re a long shot. Casting directors review all submissions to discover new talent.
- Treat every audition as a networking opportunity; even if you don’t book the current role, you may be remembered or considered for future projects.
- Bring something unique and authentic to your read. Casting directors are looking for fresh perspectives, not just what’s expected.
Casting is Part of a System
Whether I’m casting voiceover or on-camera roles, I see casting as part of a working ecosystem made up of actors, agents and managers where everyone has the opportunity to grow and succeed.
Once a casting call is released, as the casting director, I take on the responsibility of giving everyone a fair shot. We do that by reviewing all the submissions that come in.
I’ve heard casting directors refer to the phase when submissions are pouring in, nothing is sorted yet and the volume feels overwhelming, as “casting hell.”
We then implement an organized process and at some point, as we work our way through, the task of choosing who to present to our client becomes manageable.
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What Makes a Casting Director Tick?
Casting directors are curious by nature. We’re not just looking for what works — we’re exploring who’s emerging and who brings a fresh or unexpected take.
If I stopped after the first 100 submissions, I might miss a performance that offers something truly special to the role. Most importantly, I wouldn’t have given everyone who put time into their audition a fair chance.
The Drive to Discover
We review widely because we want to discover.
Sometimes it’s about giving an actor I’m not that familiar with a shot and certainly giving the agent the respect of viewing the talent they went to the trouble of presenting.
Casting is More Than Filling a Role
Every audition is more than a submission; it’s a form of participation in the creative community.
Each read is a chance for an actor to show their stuff, for an agent to advocate, and for a casting director to track talent. So yes, maybe I see what I need early on — but I keep going because I’m also looking for what I didn’t know I needed until I see it, and because everyone deserves a chance.
Building Relationships Within the Industry
Reviewing a wide range of talent, even if they don’t book the current role, keeps the casting office connected with actors. It builds goodwill and strengthens relationships that carry into future projects.
In a project I worked on recently, several actors weren’t quite right for one role, but they were good for another role and I requested them to read for the different role.
Casting isn’t just about filling roles quickly — it’s about discovering talent and supporting the creative community. Every audition is an opportunity, not only for actors but for casting directors and agents to forge future connections. Here’s why reviewing every submission matters:
- Casting directors aim to give everyone a fair shot.
- Unique talent can appear at any point in the process.
- Auditions help discover fresh faces and perspectives.
- Each submission builds relationships for future roles.
- Not booking now can still open doors later.
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