Change is the one thing you can rely on in this world. Even now, as I write this column, I can guarantee you something is changing somewhere. That’s the nature of life.
The rule of change also applies to pilot season. I’ve been a 10-percenter for almost 10 years now, and the process of casting series regular roles is incredibly different today. Understanding those changes is important because even if you’re not at the point in your career where you’re testing, that, too, could change, and an informed actor is a prepared actor.
First, you have to understand how testing works. After seeing a wide range of performers for every series regular role on their pilot, the producers and casting director will decide to test a small group, usually between three and five actors. Testing means you have to audition for the executives at the studio that’s producing the pilot. If they’re happy with what they see, they’ll send the actors on to test at the network. But if they’re not happy, they have the right to make cuts. And if they’re really unhappy, they can pass on the whole lot.
When I started, every actor tested in person. Now, some of these tests are being done on tape. What happens is, the producers and casting director will bring you back to their office so they can tape your audition. But this time, you’ll receive very specific notes and you’ll get the chance to try it a few different ways. They’ll make sure the final take represents your best performance and that take will then be shown to the studio and network executives.
For the record, I think this is bullshit. On the plus side, having everyone go on tape creates an equal playing field. Also, nerves are taken out of the equation because you don’t have to prove yourself in person to a pack of tired executives. But you know what’s lost? Personality. Some actors have star quality. They shine in person. And that doesn’t always come across on a tape that was made with bad lighting in a casting director’s office with an unqualified assistant reading all the other lines.
Another big change is the invasion of British and Australian actors. These foreigners are being flown in to compete with you. They have mad skills and the ability to hide their accents, and they’re slowly taking over. Some of them are even being taped in their respective cities and those tapes are beating American actors who are testing in person. Why? Because they’re dedicated, they study, and they’re better than you.
There’s one more change worth mentioning and this one goes in the plus column. Thanks to the streaming services and all the new cable stations, there’s a lot more content these days. That means more opportunities for actors. When I started, Netflix wasn’t even a thing. Now, it’s producing some of my favorite shows. And the same is true for Amazon. So please send Reed Hastings and Jeff Bezos a thank-you card.
In closing, I have a quote from Charles Darwin hanging over my desk that I’d like to share, because the words apply to every aspect of this business: “It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change.”
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