Casting

The Casting Process

Are you interested in Hannah Montana Casting or the casting process in general? If you are just getting into the acting business, you probably have a few misconceptions about how the whole casting process works. The tiniest thing can either help you win or lose that acting gig you so desperately want. Here are some tips that can help you with Disney Channel Casting and hopefully get you one step further towards your dreams!

Here’s a little story of the casting process for you. It’s about the producers of Hannah Montana looking for the perfect girl to play Tara.

The First Step – Show Me Who Could Play Tara!

Let’s say the producers of “Hannah Montana” have just gotten a script for one of next month’s episodes. In this episode there is a new character by the name of "Tara." She is one of Miley Stewart’s old friends from Tennessee and has the heaviest accent and the cutest freckles you’ve ever seen.

The first thing the producers do is call the casting director they have used for Hannah Montana Casting in the past and describe the character, Tara, to him. Immediately the casting director will already have several people in mind who he has worked with in the past but he will still submit a description to Breakdown Services. This is a company that serves as a link between casting directors and agents.

The next morning all the agents read the "breakdown" sheets to see what parts are being cast for the show. The agent will then look through his files to see if he has anyone who fits the description. He’ll select several photos and send them to the casting director. (YES! This is where having an agent comes in handy!! More on that in another post.)

The Second Step – Weeding Through Hundreds or Thousands of Possibilities

The casting director then receives all these envelopes from all these agents, and there are tons of them. A casting director will have to go through hundreds, maybe even thousands of photos looking for "Tara." And then even if the photo looks great the casting director will look at the attached resume to see what body of work the actress has done. Finally the casting director will narrow these hundreds of photos down to about 30 or so and will call these agents up for Hannah Montana auditions.

The agents will then call their clients up and tell them about the audition, the time and place. He may send them sample scripts or have them come to his office to pick them up.

The Third Step – The Audition

After this the actress goes to the audition and she’s probably totally nervous! She’ll dress up the way she thinks Tara should dress. Does she wear skirt? Oh wait, the girl is from TN. Overalls and plaid is a must right? She wants to get the character just right. While waiting for her audition she takes the time to go over her lines.

Finally, she makes it into the casting director’s office and does her reading for the part. She does well, but is not too hopeful since she has had other readings during the week for other parts that she didn’t get. This is the life of an aspiring actor/actress and something that stars who have been in many shows and movies have to do also. It’s a process everyone has to go through!

The Fourth Step – Waiting, Waiting, Waiting

After the audition is over the goes home and waits. In a day or so she gets a call from her agent that they liked her audition and they want her to come back for a second one. She’s all excited and they now have her hopes up0 very high! This could be IT. This could be THE job that shoots her up that ladder of success she’s been struggling to get on.

The Fifth Step – Yes or No?

She goes back for a second audition, reads the same part again and does even better than the first time. She is positive that she is going to get the part. Then, at the last minute, the producers, who are at the second audition, decide that Tara should be a blonde instead of a brunette. What?!

Yes, that is the way it goes. Sometimes you’ll lose a part because you are the wrong height or hair color or something really stupid. Then a month later they’ll call you back in to read for the starring role of a new series they’re putting together. That is the way careers are made and broken in this business and there is just no logical reason to the madness. All you can do is go with the flow and hope for the best.

If your dream is to be on the Disney Channel, you can not give up after your first, second or even third audition. Hannah Montana Casting and general Disney Channel Casting is tough. Just ask any of the stars who are on a Disney Channel Show right now. If acting is your passion, go for it! You never know what audition could be your big break.