Written for Casting Networks News by Terry Berland @berlandcasting.
“The Room Where It Happens.” Everyone wants to be in the room where it happens, and in the acting world, it’s the call back room—the room with the producers.
[BURR AND COMPANY]
The room where it happened
The room where it happened
The room where it happened
[BURR]
No one really knows how the
Parties get to yesssss
The pieces that are sacrificed in
Ev’ry game of chesssss
Here are seven pointers for being in the (commercial call-back) Room Where It Happens.
Walk in with an open feeling.
If the producers don’t pay attention to you right away, stay open, patiently waiting.
Feel empowered.
Assume you are the answer to their search. That will enable you to feel being part of that room.
Go with the flow of whatever happens in the room.
If the production team is friendly and outgoing, then respond as such. If they are grouchy and irritated know you are not the problem and stay open and vulnerable.
Don’t be affected by negativity in the room.
If they are eating, on the phone or on their computer do your thing and stay true to your choices. Note their rudeness to yourself, but stay strong and connected to your empowerment.
Don’t get thrown by a large pile of size cards of talent already seen.
Remember there are lots of age ranges and ethnicity of people being considered. You are usually up against only 30 people of your same type. You are an equal chance to everyone else in that pile of other actors.
Don’t be concerned if you are the first person being auditioned or the last person auditioned.
Don’t start figuring out your changes because of the time of day you are auditioned. I have seen the first person get booked and the last person booked.
Don’t wish the creative team good luck with the project as you leave the room.
If you leave the room wishing the creative team good luck with the project, it is a sign of self-dismissal and an expectation of not being considered.
If you want to sharpen up on your commercial acting technique, follow this link to Terry Berland’s Commercial Acting workshop.
