I have always hated the process of auditioning actors.
During my time in advertising, we would routinely have ‘cattle calls’, and I’d sit in a room while dozens of hopefuls streamed through and attempted to impress me. Anxiety and desperation was palpable in the atmosphere (both from me and the actors), and after several hours of this ridiculous ‘speed-dating’, I would inevitably be more confused, tense and indecisive than I was at the start of the process.
As far as my own work is concerned, I’ve vowed never to use this means for casting actors, as I don’t feel it is healthy for anyone.
I have two approaches; I either try to contact someone whose work I admire (and I’ve been surprised how easy it it to get in touch with almost anyone, if you’re realistic about it), or I will take myself off to the theatre, to see both professional and university/amateur productions, and see who impresses me. I think this is better than having someone do a reading in an audition, which is a high-stress circumstance. Instead you are discreetly watching them perform a role they have rehearsed and feel confident in. A good role will usually put an actor through their paces, too, so you can get a good idea of their range. I will then simply accost the actor and introduce myself.
The only other thing I am concerned with when casting actors is whether or not we have a personal rapport, and can be comfortable around each other, which suggests to me that we might be able to work together. The simplest way to ascertain this is to have a conversation, and see if we trust each other and stimulate each other’s creativity.
What I like about this approach is that it requires me to be more active in the process, putting energy out, hunting and spending time around actors, rather than sitting in passive judgement of them in the loathsome auditioning circus.
