Teri Moran 16/06/2023 Teri Moran 16/06/2023

What is a Casting Type?

A casting type is a combination of traits that help to define the types of roles you are most naturally suited to. Working within your casting bracket ensures that you are giving yourself the biggest chance of success with booking jobs and securing auditions, and keeps you focussed as you build a solid foundation for a long-lasting career in the acting industry.

Your Playing Age

This isn't necessarily the age you actually are - it is the age bracket you can realistically portray on camera. A good place to start is to add and subtract a couple of years from your actual age - so, if you're 20, your playing age might be 17-23. Remember, this isn't set in stone. From there you must assess yourself honestly - ensuring you take into account not just your physical appearance but the energy you bring, the way you carry yourself, etc. This will help you to hone in on the ages that you feel you could genuinely portray. This age bracket will change as you age, and it isn't uncommon to find yourself ageing in and out of roles as your career progresses.

2. Your Appearance

Your physical appearance; Are you physically imposing, or small and unassuming? Are you “conventionally attractive”, or do you have more unique features? Your physically appearance will have an impact on the roles you are most suited for. But remember - this is a casting type, not a typecast! Your appearance alone doesn't define the roles you will book, nor does it exclude you from roles that will help you to build a strong and enduring career. It shouldn't be the main deciding factor when it comes to how you choose to approach your performance - but it can give you a good place to start when it comes to understanding the roles you are likely to be seen for.

3. Your Personality

Who are you as a person? Acting is often seen as the ability to transform yourself into a completely different person - and there is certainly truth in that thought. However, leaning into your dominant personality traits will allow you to portray certain characters more easily and naturally. That's not to say you can't portray characters who have a different personality than yourself - but it does just help you to find common ground with the characters and the roles you are either auditioning for or cast in, and ensures a truthful performance even when the characters themselves are very different than you.

3. Your Voice

What is the natural quality of your voice? Is it deep, strong and assured? Soft, nasal or quiet? You must also consider your accent - what is your natural accent? What other accents can you accurately utilise? All of these vocal qualities are important in defining the roles and the characters you will naturally align with.

Don't forget, we offer bespoke and affordable showreel scenes for actors in Manchester and the North West!

Teri Moran 09/06/2023 Teri Moran 09/06/2023

Why is it Important to Have a Strong Vision for Your Showreel Scene?

There are so many reasons why it is so important that you have a strong vision for your acting showreel scene. Having a strong vision means having a specific objective for the outcome of your scene - including why you have decided to create this particular scene, and why you feel the need to portray this character in this situation.

There are so many reasons why it is so important that you have a strong vision for your showreel scene. Having a strong vision means having a specific objective for the outcome of your scene - including why you have decided to create this particular scene, and why you feel the need to portray this character in this situation.

Below are just a few reasons why it's so important that you truly understand the vision and the goals for your scene.

A Strong Vision Ensures That You Don't Get Lost in the Noise

There can be a lot going on in a showreel scene - your performance, your partner's performance, the location, the props, the costumes, the sound effects. The list goes on!

Understanding exactly what outcome you are looking for, before you begin filming, ensures that you take centre stage during your time on screen.

If you have gone into the process with the hopes of just filming something that looks good for your showreel, then you won't be getting the full benefit of your experience.

Don't allow yourself to disappear into the scenery! Planning your scenes goes beyond just learning your lines. Consider things like;

Your costume. Is the pattern too loud? Does it suit the character, or is it distracting? Is it comfortable?
Your props. Are you familiar with them, or are you fumbling with them and ruining your focus?
Your location. Is it quiet? Do you know your way around? Are you aware of any interruptions you may encounter?
Your scene partner. Have you gotten to know each other? Have you discussed the scene, your priorities for the scene and your characters' motivations? Have you discussed the vision for the scene ahead of time?

Just a little planning and understanding of the “big picture” of your scene can ensure things run much more smoothly on the day - don't let your performance suffer because your pants are itchy and don't match the vibe of your character, you can't figure out how to use the props, there's a concert taking place next door that you didn't know about and your scene partner has a vastly different vision than you do!

Which leads us to…

2. A Strong Vision Keeps Your Performance Front and Centre

The most important thing in your scene is your performance.

Yes, amazing costumes, props, locations and having a visually strong piece are all great - but it's not what casting directors or agents are looking at. They want to see you. What are you bringing to the scene and the character? Is your personality shining through? Are you being truthful in your performance?

If you've followed all of the tips from above, you should be ready to give it your all in your performance. This allows you and your scene partner to really hone in on each other, and work together to create the strongest performance possible.

Having a strong vision for your scene means understanding exactly what performance you are wanting to add to your showreel. Don't add more of the same - you need to think about what is missing from your reel and go from there (within reason - don't go rogue and add something that isn't suitable for you!)

Which brings us to…

3. A Strong Vision Ensures That you are Working Within Your Casting Bracket

A showreel scene has a very specific purpose - you are using it as a tool to, ultimately, land you more roles in the acting industry. This means your reel needs to show you in roles that you could realistically be cast in.

It's very tempting to see a cool scene in a film, or have a favourite character in a TV show, and want to create a scene that replicates it. We get it - filming scenes and working on your skills is fun, but your showreel should be as to-the-point and as carefully curated as possible.

This is similar to a trap that many actors fall into - showing off the work, not themselves. Just because a scene has come from a short film that won lots of awards, or has some really cool special effects, or even stars someone famous as your scene partner doesn't mean it necessarily belongs on your showreel.

The scenes you choose for your reel must have you as the focus, must feature a strong performance and must, most importantly, be realistic for your casting bracket. If you're fresh out of university - don't portray a hardened detective or an astronaut. Ask yourself - would I feel comfortable and confident auditioning for this role if it were being cast? If the answer is no, it doesn't belong on your showreel.