How to Determine Your Look to Book the Right Roles
Background actors have the opportunity to get booked in a variety of roles, like nurses in The Pitt, journalists in The Morning Show and gala attendees in The Diplomat. The key to getting cast involves more than just responding to messages, it's also about knowing your casting look. Once you have a handle on that, you'll know what roles you're right for and increase your chances of being booked.
What is a look and why is it important?
Your look refers to your appearance and your ability to portray a role. Height, build, hair length, facial hair, piercings and visible tattoos are just some of the factors that make up your look.
When casting background actors, casting directors search for people who can authentically portray the role on screen. While wardrobe can be used to enhance your look, it’s not what determines your look. Throwing on some scrubs and a stethoscope doesn’t automatically make you a convincing doctor.
How to figure out your look
If you want to be a successful background actor, knowing your look is one of the best ways to get booked.
When considering your look, keep in mind that casting directors and production companies book roles based on the aesthetic of the production. You may be a lawyer in real life, but your look may not be what the production’s idea of a lawyer is.
These tips will help you figure out your look and the types of roles you can portray.
- Make a list of the types of roles you think you can portray. You probably already have a pretty good understanding of your style and what looks you gravitate toward. Are you tall and athletic? Do people often mistake you for being younger than you are? Do you cater your appearance to specific trends, like goth or punk styles? Based on those characteristics, start thinking of roles that line up with that look. Be honest with yourself on what you think is actually convincing versus what roles you’d like to play.
- Ask your friends and family their opinion on your look. Once you have a list of roles you think you’re right for, ask a friend or family member, someone you trust to be honest with you, if they can see you in that role. If they think your look doesn’t fit with that category or that you would stand out too much on screen, those may not be the types of roles you want to pursue.
- See how your wardrobe, makeup and hair affect your look. Background actors are often required to arrive to set camera ready with their hair styled, makeup applied and wardrobe on. While wardrobe doesn’t determine your look on its own, it can help you become more convincing in a role. If you can portray 18-to-look-younger, the clothing you wear and how you style your makeup can help you embody that look.
Add your appearance information to your online profile
Now that you know your look, how do you help casting directors and production companies find you for work? That’s easy, just keep the "Appearance" section of your online profile updated with your accurate appearance information. We recommend filling out as many fields as possible to give casting directors and production companies a complete idea of your current look.
Accurate sizes are especially important since they are used by production to purchase or create wardrobe for you and when production needs background actors who can fit wardrobe they already have.
Don't forget to also make a selection in the "Playing Age" field in the "Key Information" section of your profile. If you don't make a selection in this field, you will not show up in searches when casting directors and production companies look for portrayable age ranges. We know you may be able to portray a range of ages, but pick the one that you feel is most representative of your look. Rest assured, casting directors and production companies look at multiple age ranges when searching for portrayable age.
Upload current photos to your profile
Your profile should always have a current headshot and full body photo that reflects how you look right now. We recommend updating these photos any time your look changes. Even slight changes, like going from a beard to goatee, can matter to casting directors.
Don't forget to delete any old photos that no longer reflect your current look. If you have a photo with long hair and another photo with a bob, casting directors and production companies will not be able to determine what your current look is.
Get booked with your look
The two main ways to get booked as a background actor with Central Casting are by responding to casting messages and searching for roles on the Open Roles page. Any time you respond to a message or submit yourself for work, it's important to read the entire message or job post to ensure you fit the description. Check out our messaging guide for a fill breakdown on how to get booked by Central Casting.