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A cattle call audition is a process where hundreds or thousands of performers compete for roles, often required by union rules. Notices are published in trade journals or given to talent agencies. The director or producers may not attend, and a casting director is usually hired to make bulk casting decisions. The chances of winning a major role this way are slim, so many actors focus on developing industry contacts and improving their skills.
Although many casting directors and producers may prefer the term open call audition, many struggling actors and singers know the meaning of a cattle call all too well. This type of audition is a process where hundreds or even thousands of performers can compete for a number of roles. If an open audition were held for the musical Grease, for example, the theater would be packed with hundreds of aspiring actors wearing black leather jackets and ducktail hairstyles. Each candidate can perform one line of a song or recite a few lines of dialogue.
The idea for a cattle recall is said to have come from the early days of the Actors’ Equity Association (AEA), a powerful theater union. Many stage and film roles were offered exclusively to established actors, not ordinary members of the AEA. Open auditioning became a requirement for nearly all union productions, although auditioning actors were still required to join the AEA before being notified of these opportunities.
For many modern actors, this type of audition process has become a way of life. Open audition notices are usually published in trade journals or given to recognized talent agencies. An actor can discover a suitable advertisement or her agent can pass on the information. This typically includes the audition location, a basic description of available roles, actor suggestions, and a time to arrive on site.
It would be unusual for the director or producers to appear at a cattle call audition, although some may wish to attend to find a possible diamond in the rough, an unknown candidate with significant talent. For larger productions, a casting director is usually hired to make bulk casting decisions during the open call. The casting director usually understands what the artistic director is looking for in an actor, so he can narrow down the list of candidates to be seen again later. A hearing generally ends with a dismissive “thank you” or a request for a return visit, known as a callback.
Most often, the director and producers have already decided on specific actors for each available role, but union rules specifically dictate the need for open auditions. The casting director sometimes auditions and summarily rejects nearly every applicant during a cattle call. Actors understand how competitive the entertainment business can be, so many of them view these auditions with jaundiced eyes. The chances of winning a major role this way are notoriously slim, so many struggling actors focus more on developing industry contacts and improving their acting skills.
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