In this blog post, we will answer the following questions; “ How to know your casting type?, ”why being typecast is good for actors?” and “ Castability qualities that actors must have?.”
One of the most important things you need to know as an actor is what your casting type is.
WHAT IS A CASTING TYPE?
A casting type is a category of actors.
It can be a specific age group, gender, ethnicity, or other defining characteristics.
Casting types are used to help producers find actors who match the character they are looking for in a script.
Realizing your types can help you find work in shows, movies, and commercials.
CASTABILITY
Castability is the area of the acting market where you as an Actor/Actress or artist are most competitive.
When looking for an actor for a project, castability is a factor that must be considered. The four components are gender, nationality, job (experience), and age.
For example, if the project requires a female between the ages of 12 to 15 years old from England who is also an experienced dancer and actress then you could narrow down your search by looking at only those actors who fit this description.
Castability qualities
Casting is the process of deciding who should play a certain role, or in other words, finding the perfect actor for that character.
Without it, Hollywood would never have been able to produce amazing movies such as Star Wars and Spider-Man.
- Knowledge
- Self-Awareness
- Flexibility
- Confidence
- Casting types should be the group of end results you get from going through a detailed castability process.
HOW TO KNOW YOUR CASTING TYPE
Being able to know what your casting type is, will help you avoid being pigeonholed. You will be able to take on roles that are not the same as your casting type and still be believable in them.
Knowing your casting type can also help you find roles that suit you better and make it easier for directors to cast you in their projects.
1. In-Depth Analysis
In order to know what you are not, you have to be honest with yourself and assess honestly what roles you are most comfortable playing.
This is the only way that you can know your strengths and weaknesses.
2. Be authentic
There are many reasons why you should be authentic.
First, it is more authentic to show your entire self rather than just a specific side of yourself.
Second, people will be more interested in what you have to say if they know that it is coming from the heart and not just a marketing ploy.
Third, if you are authentic, people will be more likely to trust you because they can see that you are being honest with them.
3. Ask your friends, peers, or teachers
They will be able to tell you what they think you are best suited for and what you should avoid doing.
4. Ask people who don’t know you
Ask people who don’t know you to describe you in one word and it will tell you what type of person they see.
If the word is “cool,” then the person thinks that you are a rebel or someone who doesn’t care about rules.
If the word is “quiet,” then they think that you are introverted and shy.
If the word is “funny,” then they think that you are a comedian or a prankster.
5. Take a free Myers-Briggs personality test.
This will be valuable when considering the types of characters that would suit you well in a TV show or film.
WHY BEING TYPE CAST IS GOOD FOR ACTORS
Being typecast is a good thing for actors since it means that Casting Directors think you’re well suited to certain character types.
Being typecasted is usually seen as a negative thing for actors.
It means that you are only given roles of the same type of character over and over again. But, in reality, it is actually a good thing because it means that Casting Directors think you’re well suited to play that character.
The actor’s job is to portray someone else so if you are typecasted then it means you’re doing your job well.
Being typecast also helps actors to stay in the industry longer because they don’t need to constantly audition for new roles and can instead focus on their current role and the next project coming up.
THE FOUR TYPES OF CASTING
1. The Chameleon (can be any type)
2. The Specialist (a specific type)
3. The Generalist (can be any type but prefers one over the other)
4. The Specialist Generalist (can be any type but prefers one over the other and has a specialization in a certain field).
CONCLUSION
It is important to know your type, but it is also essential to mix it up and challenge yourself with new types of characters.
A successful actor needs to be able to play different types of roles, no matter what their personality may be.
The more diverse characters that you can play, the more likely you will be able to get roles as an actor.
Leave a comment with your opinion or any questions you may have…
