How to Get Casted in a Movie in 2024: The Ultimate Guide

In this article, I'll dive deep into how to get casted for a movie. You'll learn not only how the casting process works, but also how to greatly improve your chances of being noticed and cast for a major film.​

How to Get Casted in a Movie

First, a quick distinction: "casted" vs "cast"

Technically the correct word is "cast," so the correct title of this article should be: "How to Get Cast for a Movie." However, for the purposes of having this article found on Google, I have decided go with "casted" since that's the term most people search for!

What is Casting?

​Casting is the process of finding actors to fill roles in movies and TV shows. It's important because choosing actors who fit the roles well makes movies more believable and enjoyable to watch. A poorly cast film can cause an audience to get bored or confused.

Typically, a director is too busy to get involved in the casting process, so a Casting Director is hired. It's the casting director's job to post casting calls and audition the actors who submit. They narrow it down from THOUSANDS of submissions to just a few top contenders, at which point the director and producer will weigh in and help choose the final actors for each major part.

In some cases, actors are cast without auditioning (especially if they have a good relationship with the director or producer). But this is rare and typically only happens with famous actors.

​How to Get Casted in a Movie: Step by Step

Background Roles (easy & don't require experience):
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If you don't care about getting a speaking part and receiving an official credit during the end credits of the movie, and you just want to appear for a second or two somewhere in the film, background acting work might be right for you. Getting work as a background extra is fairly easy, even if you have no acting experience or training.

1. Create a Profile on Background Casting Websites: There are plenty of background role opportunities on websites like Central Casting, NY Castings, Backstage, etc. All you have to do is search "background acting work" on Google and you'll find websites where you can create a free profile to submit yourself whenever you see a project casting in your area.
2. Submit Your Materials: When you find an audition notice you want to be considered for, make sure to read the submission instructions carefully and follow the steps exactly. Missing even a single step is often enough to get your submission deleted! You should submit a professional actor headshot and if allowed, a short but well-written cover letter. You usually won't need an acting resume or demo reel.
3. Wait to Be Called In: If they like your look and feel you would be right for the part, you'll get notified, usually via email, that they want you to come to their office. Just follow the instructions, sign the necessary paperwork, and then show up to set on time!

Important: Listing background roles on your resume will not impress casting directors, so if you're looking to get speaking roles, background work won't help. Avoid listing those roles on your resume because doing so makes casting directors think you're very inexperienced.

Also, one other note: in rare instances, a background actor might be given a line in a scene. If it happens, awesome!! You'll get a credit in the movie. But if not, no worries – you'll still be paid a decent day rate and can meet new people and make connections on set!

Related: Learn the Types of Acting Roles (Extra, Lead, Supporting, etc.) and How to Get Booked for Each


Speaking Roles AKA Day Players (more difficult):

1. Find Roles You're Right For: First you should create some profiles online using websites like Backstage and Actor's Access. This guide will show you how to find TONS of audition opportunities where you can begin submitting yourself: How to Find Auditions: The Ultimate Guide. Look for projects that you could realistically play, based on your Type (submitting to projects you're not right for will make casting directors angry at you for wasting their time).
   1. Related Guide: A Shortcut to Find Your Type in Just 10 Minutes
2. Submit Your Materials: When you find an audition notice you think you're right for for, make sure to read the submission instructions carefully and follow the steps exactly. Missing even a single step is often enough to get your submission deleted! You should submit a professional headshot, a professionally formatted acting resume (here's a free actor resume template), some sort of footage or reel that gives them a sense of your acting ability, and if allowed, a short but well-written cover letter.
3. Record and Submit Your Self-Tape: Assuming your marketing materials are strong and you're submitting for roles you could realistically play (roles that fit within your Type), you'll probably be invited to submit what's called a "self-tape" to one out of every 10-20 auditions you submit to. A self-tape is a short video recording of yourself performing the scene (they'll give you a segment of the script to perform, called "sides"). Make sure your self-tape is recorded professionally with a flat backdrop, clean sound, and good lighting. And make sure your acting is natural and on-point!
4. Perform Well at the Audition: If they like your self-tape recording, they'll invite you to do an in-person audition (although in some cases, they might just cast you straight from the video audition, but that's rare). Proper preparation is critical! Here's my Ultimate Guide to Preparing for an Audition – I highly recommend you read it if you want a decent shot at booking the role. Expect to get a callback (where they bring you in for a second audition) for 1 out of every 10-20 auditions you do. If you do a great job in the callback, they'll probably hire you!
5. Prepare for a YES, but Expect a No: Most of the casting process is out of your hands. Assuming you did a good job in the auditions, all you can do is wait. A lot of times, actors do a great job but the casting director will simply select someone else, like an actor the director already knew, or someone the casting director has worked with before. This is why networking is so important. But even if you get rejected, it's OK! Most actors are rejected from 19 out of every 20 auditions they attend.

As you can see, it's a lot more complex to get cast in a speaking role. This is because casting directors typically want to work with people they can trust, and if you're brand new, they're less likely to take a chance on you.

How do Actors get Casted in Movies?

Here's a simple, step by step breakdown of how the casting process works. Once you see all the steps involved, you'll know why being strategic is so important as an actor:

1. Break Down the Script: To begin the casting process, the filmmaker and casting director will break down the script by understanding every character's backstory. They'll figure out what's most important in the actors they cast, including physical appearance, personality traits, and even certain special skills.
2. Send Out the Breakdowns: Next, the casting director will either send the breakdowns out to talent agencies directly using a service called Breakdown Services, Ltd., or they'll post an open call on a website like Actor's Access. These websites disperse the character info to TONS of people so they can submit themselves (or in the case of agents, their clients), for consideration.
3. Begin the Audition Process: The casting director's assistant will typically look through the thousands of submissions that come in and narrow them down to the best contenders. Those actors (or their agents) will be sent sides to perform, and will then record self-tapes and submit them for the casting director to watch. This is like a "virtual" audition. In some cases, the "self-tape" process will be skipped and actors will only be invited to in-person auditions,
4. Begin the Callback Process: This is where you might be invited to audition a second time, so that casting directors can get a better sense of what you bring to the table. In some cases, there is more than one round of callbacks and you might have to audition 3, 4, even 5 times! You'll either be invited to perform the same sides or a completely different set, depending on what they're wanting to see. In some cases, you might even be invited to audition for a completely different part!
5. Screen Test: For some major motion pictures – especially if you're auditioning for a lead role – you'll need to do a screen test, which is essentially a filmed audition. They'll usually have the other lead actors there as well so they can see whether you have good chemistry with one another. They'll film the audition to let everyone on the crew (and any other major players, like financiers) watch.
6. Hire: They'll finally make a decision and let you know whether you've gotten the part. In some cases, they might "put a pin in you," meaning they'll want you to hold the shoot dates (but there is still a chance that you could lose the part to someone else). Things often change last-minute in productions, and nothing is guaranteed until the contract has been signed!

​If you want to dive deeper on how to get casted in a movie and learn what casting directors look for, plus get an in-depth explanation of the casting process, check out the video below:

​​​Now that you know the casting process, you can probably understand why making it as an actor is so difficult, especially when it comes to acting in major feature films.

​There are many steps to the casting process, even for smaller roles, and because of the thousands of other actors competing for any single role, it's critical that you take everything as seriously as possible, from using professional headshots, to having a properly formatted resume – even the smallest thing can tell a casting director to cut you!

​The Strategy Behind Building a Successful Acting Career

As you can see from the above, getting cast in a movie is no joke. It's difficult and even the most experienced actors who have been in the industry for decades still get rejected all the time.

Unless you're extremely lucky, you'll need to be strategic about how you build your acting career. Most actors spend too much time doing all kinds of random things, rather than focusing on just the few key things that matter most.

​Here are the three most critical things to focus on to improve your chances of booking roles more consistently:

• Technique: If you're not a good actor, no one is going to hire you. Make sure to train and learn all about natural acting. Since you're searching about how to get casted in a movie, I recommend you start with Meisner Technique or Method Acting. You should also check out Acting for Film: The Ultimate Guide.
• Marketing Materials: As you train and improve your technique and auditioning ability, you should also make sure to get a set of high-end professional marketing materials or you'll never be taken seriously. Spending some money on high quality actor headshots, getting a properly formatted resume, and even shooting a few scenes for your demo reel can help immensely. Without these basic marketing materials, you'll rarely be taken seriously by casting directors.
• Networking: Most actors start by acting for free and doing background work. Slowly over the years they get more credits in hopes of eventually getting an agent. However, if you look closely you'll probably notice that most successful actors because successful because of who they knew, not how many credits they had. That's why I strongly recommend you create some relationships with casting directors, filmmakers, and producers. Pay close attention to who is winning at major film festivals, send them nice messages, and slowly grow the relationship. If you have some patience (like for 6-12 months), you can become close-enough with them that they'll want to cast you in their next award-winning film.

Now, although the above three factors are the most important elements of how to get casted in a movie, there are also other a few other things you can do to improve your shot at being booked:

• Get a Talent Agent. Getting a talent agent or talent manager is extremely challenging, especially for actors without many credits or footage, That said, it can absolutely be done, and a good talent agent can submit you for consideration in bigger productions, like network-level television roles. Here's my Ultimate Guide to Getting a Talent Agent.
• Attend Open Calls. Some major films need very particular actors of a specific look (or with certain special skills). In these rare cases, anyone can attend the audition and try out for the part. This is often how you'll hear overnight success stories of people who became famous instantly – they didn't even know much about acting at all (or were just dabbling in it) and were suddenly discovered and given the role of a lifetime. Remember however – luck is against you, so I don't recommend depending on open calls alone.​
• Use Social Media to Find Auditions. In addition to creating profiles on the casting sites outlined earlier on this page, you can also connect with casting directors through social media and find casting calls you can respond to. You can even join casting groups that frequently post audition opportunities. That said, if you don't like social media it's not necessary for a successful acting career.
• Contact Your Local Film Office (smaller towns). If you're not based in a big city, you can usually contact your local film office to find the local casting directors. Then, if you reach out directly to their casting office, you can ask if they'd add you to their roster of local talent. If they say yes, anytime a production comes to your area they'll reach out to you directly (as long as you look right for the part). Note that this only applies to non-big city areas.

​Some Final Info to Keep in Mind

Here are a few final tips to keep in mind as you go about trying to get cast in a movie:

• You need to look the part. Two words most actors hate to hear are "Type" and "Typecasting" because they conjure up images of actors being stuck performing the same exact character for decades. Unfortunately in this industry, looks are everything and if you don't look like a particular kind of person (stereotypically), no casting director will ever hire you for that role. As an example, think about the kind of person who would look like a professor vs. the kind of person who would look like a wrestler. Do they look the same? No way! So make sure you're clear on your Types and submitting ONLY for roles that the industry could see you playing. Here's my Shortcut to Find Your Types in 10 Minutes.
• It's easier to book smaller roles first. This should go without saying, but most big-time casting directors won't hire an actor who has no experience (for fear they'll drop out in the middle of the shoot, the pressure will get to them, or they'll just do a bad job). This is why most actors go the route of trying to build up their resume before applying to major projects. Try to book at least 2-3 co-star and guest-star television roles before trying to book a major role. Learn about the different acting roles here (lead, supporting, etc.).
• Joining SAG-AFTRA can help, but should not be done too soon. Although there are benefits like fair pay, health insurance, safe working conditions, etc., many actors think that by joining the union, they'll also start getting access to way more projects. This is not necessarily the case. Although it technically makes you more desirable because it's easier for a union project to cast you, it will also make it more difficult for you because once you join, you're no longer allowed to perform in non-union productions. This means that if you don't already have a decent resume, you'll find it almost impossible to get booked once you join the union because you're competing with actors who are way more experienced. Learn all about how to join the union here.
• Watch out for scams. As you work more in the industry, you'll find yourself occasionally meeting slick businessman in cheap suits who tell you that for just $300 you can join their agency and start getting TONS of acting work and quickly become famous. NEVER pay to audition and NEVER pay to join an agency! The only time you'll need to pay is for headshots, footage (if you're hiring a reel production company), and classes/workshops.
• Don't apologize for your auditions or make excuses. A huge turnoff for casting directors is when actors don't prepare properly and start making excuses and apologizing for their performance in the audition room. Be professional. Keep in mind that all the actors auditioning that day were given the sides with the same amount of prep time. Either you do a good job or you don't. Be professional because not doing so could get you blacklisted, making it WAY harder to get booked in the future!
  • Related: How to Memorize Lines for Auditions Quickly

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​Enjoyed this article?
​
Book more work by thinking "Outside the Industry."

​​I hope this article has been helpful! Knowing how to get casted in a movie is just one part of growing your acting career.

​As someone who has worked with people in thousands of industries (through my headshot business), I've been able to take growth strategies that work for businesses and apply them directly to actors – to help them grow their careers faster than most would think possible  (examples: one of my clients landed his first-ever Broadway role in just 4 weeks of working with me, and a brand-new actress signed with a high-level agent in just six weeks of working with me).

I'd like to invite you to my free insider newsletter where I share my best material, including:

• How to network easily and authentically with casting directors – even if you hate self-promotion.
• How to find your Type and Brand in just 18 minutes (it doesn't require awkwardly asking lots of random people for feedback)
• How to find a hardworking and reliable agent – even if you don't have a strong resume or reel
• And much more...

Download my free Actor's Toolkit to get started and you'll hear from me a few times a week with unique "outside the industry" strategies. I promise they'll help you build a career you're truly proud of.

Send Me the Free Toolkit!

​​Martin Bentsen (author of this guide) is an actor marketing coach who uses “outside the industry” thinking to help actors book more work. He’s helped over 6,000 actors with their careers and actor headshots since 2009 and his photography studio City Headshots is ranked #1 on Yelp. He’s spoken at NYU, The New England Theater Conference, The Actor’s Green Room, and other venues.
​
Want to book more acting work by thinking different? Start with his free Actor’s Toolkit to create new opportunities right away, or visit his website at www.martinbentsen.com.

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Some Additional Q&A

​How Do You Get Casted in a Movie with no Experience?

"​How do you audition for a movie with no experience?"

Experience or no experience, it doesn't really matter. What's most important is that you submit yourself consistently using online casting websites like Actor's Access. You also need to ensure your training and technique are on point. Go for smaller roles first and then work your way up!​

To dive deeper on this, check out my guide: How to Become an Actor With No Experience

How to Audition for a Movie Without an Agent?

The best way to get access to major movie auditions without an agent, and assuming you can't find them online using casting sites like Actor's Access or Backstage, is to network directly with casting directors. Become friends with some of them and then ask them directly if you can audition for the major films they're casting!

You can meet casting directors at casting workshops and keep in touch with them afterwards.

​How to Get Casted in a Movie as a Kid?

Googling phrases like "how to get into a movie as a kid" or "upcoming movie auditions 2022" is a great way to find auditions that might not appear in online casting platforms (for kids especially). Since there are generally far fewer children competing for roles than adults, most casting directors will post open casting calls publicly that can be found using Google.

Related: How to Become an Actor at 13

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How to Get Casted in a Marvel Movie

The process of getting cast in a Marvel movie is the same as getting cast anywhere else. First, you need to submit yourself for consideration. Then if you're chosen, you'll be invited to submit a self-tape and then attend an in-person audition. If you're chosen, you'll be notified and will sign a bunch of paperwork to get started!

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​Further Reading:

If you enjoyed this article (How to Get Casted in a Movie: The Ultimate Guide), you might be interested in some of these:​​
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• How to Audition for a Movie on Netflix
• How to Memorize Lines: The Ultimate Guide
• How to Find Auditions: The Ultimate Guide
• Acting Resources: Everything You'll Need to Build Your Career​