Casting Directors Want Kid Actors That Are Natural And Authentic
Gone are the days when the expectations from kid actors were to always strive to put on an over-the-top performance. Continuing one of the most distinctive trends of recent times, casting directors will still want actors, including child performers, who can deliver realistic and natural acting showcases, as it helps to create an overall immersive and relatable story.
As the goal is for scenes with kids to feel just as realistic as with adult actors, exaggerated or artificial performances due to simply reciting the given scenes, or delivering them in a way that nobody talks or behaves in real life, just won’t cut it in most auditioning cases.
Parents should encourage their young aspiring actors to avoid overthinking their performance and behave genuinely, thus giving space for genuine emotions such as curiosity or even confusion. Casting directors will appreciate kid actors whose acting performance mirrors their real-life behaviours, as it will also better match when sharing the stage or screen with adult actors.
Casting Directors Look For Kid Actors Who Are Confident
Confidence is key for any actor, and even more so for children who are only beginning to get a grasp of the world and their emotions within it. Confident kids are more likely to avoid getting overwhelmed by the whole audition process and beyond, if they are lucky enough to get the acting gig, as they tend to remain present and focused for longer, and shrug off setbacks more easily. It is especially useful when having to express emotions openly on prompt, instead of delivering monotonous performance, as well as the necessity of socialising more than in their daily surroundings.
It is important that confidence is not mistaken by kids' parents as just being loud and hyperactive. Misbehaving, being arrogant, and generally lacking discipline are red flags for casting directors who expect kid actors to show a reasonable level of professionalism regardless of their age. Confidence, however the individual child expresses it, for actors is based on being comfortable in new surroundings, and displaying focus on the performative tasks at hand.
Parents can help their kids to feel more confident by allowing them to make their own decisions when possible, like speaking for themselves instead of relying on adults to always answer for them, as well as giving their effort props even if it does not result in the expected result, so they learn that setbacks are just a learning lesson before finally reaching their goals.
Casting Directors Will Prefer Kid Actors Who Come Prepared
The natural talent, charm, and even prior acting experience can only lead so far if the kid ends up leaving a bad first impression on the casting director. Parents should ensure their child continues the lucky strike of being noticed amongst the other casting call applications to the point of receiving an invitation to audition by at least being respectful and punctual. Auditions tend to run a tight schedule, mirroring the way theater, film, or television projects are being produced, so the people in charge of casting will also review how likely the candidates are to show professional attitude and overall reliability if moving forward with them.
Of course, arriving with an obvious lack of preparation with the previously given audition materials is even worse for the child actor’s chances of getting the respective gig. Parents need to encourage their child to thoroughly study and learn the received script lines and, if necessary, discuss the material with them so they get a better understanding of the scenes they will perform during the audition.
Even if the performance of a prepared child does not end up being perfect, professional casting staff will still be able to test and tell who did their homework, and who arrived almost as if empty-handed. Kid actors being prepared not only indicates professionalism and reliability but helps them as well - not having to stress about poorly studied lines can improve anyone’s confidence going onto the audition stage, thus better showcase their acting talents and individual personality traits, and hopefully helps them to stand out amongst their competition.
