Casting Appointment

The casting appointment is the in-person meeting where an agency or production gets to know you after your written application, checks your information, and discusses which productions may be suitable for you. It takes place in a studio or a booked location, never in a private residence, and at least three people are present.

What Should Be Confirmed in Writing Before the Appointment

Before you agree, you should have four things in writing: the complete address, date and time, the names of the people receiving you, and a brief description of what is planned. A conversation with photos is something different from a conversation with test recordings. You should know in advance what to expect.

The questions typically asked during the conversation, such as questions about experience, availability, and anonymity, are described in the article The First Conversation with the Agency. It helps to think about your answers beforehand, especially the question of whether your face may be recognizable later.

What to Bring

• ID: Your original identity card or passport. A driver’s license is not sufficient; the proof of age is not possible without a valid identity document.
• Your boundaries: A first draft of your Yes-No-Maybe List, even if it is still incomplete.
• Calendar: Periods when you could film and appointments that are already fixed.
• Companion: If you wish, a companion. This is expressly permitted.

You do not need money. Applicants incur no costs, either for the appointment or for photos or being added to the agency’s records.

How the Meeting Proceeds

The meeting begins with an identity check. This is followed by the conversation, during which both sides may and should ask questions. Some photos are often taken afterward to show what you look like without makeup and in neutral lighting. The article Application Photos explains what productions want to see in this process. Sexual acts are not part of a casting appointment, not even in an implied form and not as a voluntary offer.

People coming for the first time are often nervous. The people on the other side of the table know this and will not hold it against you. Honest answers are more important than a confident performance: stating the boundaries that should apply later during the conversation saves you difficult discussions on the shooting day.

You can end the meeting at any time. This also applies if everything is proceeding correctly and you simply realize that the situation is not for you after all.

Canceling, Rescheduling, Following Up

If something comes up, cancel as early as possible, preferably in writing. A rescheduled appointment is not a blemish, whereas failing to show up without an excuse will be remembered. Conversely, the following applies: If the other party changes the location at short notice, for example from a studio to an apartment, that is a reason not to go.

You will receive feedback within 48 hours of the appointment, even in the event of a rejection. If the feedback is positive, the next step may be a callback, a test shoot, or a direct request for a shooting date, depending on the production.