When most people think of auditions they naturally think of the actor. They are the ones who have to perform the piece and wow the Directors. Usually it's the actor with the most to lose or gain in an audition; but looking at it from the professional standpoint so does the Directors. There is a lot riding on casting the right person to play each role and the pressure is on to get it just right.

Before Audition Day

Long before you put out the call for actors, there are a few things you need to do. First make sure you have a full copy of the script. You will need to have it in order to understand the characters better. Yes, the Director will probably send you a character description, unless you are the Director then you already should have an idea of what the character is all about. Character descriptions though, usually only give you a rough sketch of that character. Mostly just what they look like, what they wear, a bit on their personality. It's more helpful to have a complete image of the character you are casting to get the right match.

Read through the script entirely several times. Taking in the roles you are meant to cast and getting a picture in your mind of what type of actor might make this character come to life. Making notes on your ideas is a good way to keep your thoughts organized.

Break down the characters into image; what they wear, what they might look like, their personality. Think of a good piece in the movie to have the actors read that will carry the most range.

If you know of any, contact agents in your area; this will cost some money once you ask them to send you headshots and resumes, bear this in mind. Ask them to send you the headshots and resumes of actors who fit the descriptions you have clearly written out. Usually you will fax this information or email it to the agent. Set up a date and time for the casting call and make sure you are prompt on the day.

If you do not know an agent, or don't have the funds to use one; go to a college or high school where there are programs for performance and post your casting call on their message board. You can also advertise in the local papers and online sites like Craigslist and Kijiji. Make sure you clearly define the type of actor you are looking for and what type of role it is.

Make sure you have a location set up for your actor to audition at. A local library or school are good places, you can rent rooms there for a reasonable price.

Audition Day

On the day of the auditions, make sure you are there early. You will want the time to look over your notes and get set up. If you are doing screentests, make sure your camera person is ready and the equipment is working.

Make sure to keep your audition times as short as possible; usually a 15 or 20 minute period for each audition will give you the time to ask the questions you want, and to see the actor perform.

When speaking with an actor, make sure you have a set of questions you would like to know and that are relevant. Find out about their experience, and acting history. It should be on their resume, but it's a good way to find out if the actor can speak freely without stuttering through the interview. Make allowances for nerves, but if the actor is completely frozen, speaks too softly and won't look at you; they are most likely not going to work out.

Listening politely, and pay attention to the scenes. Even if you know for sure you won't hire them, make them feel good by giving some good advice for future auditions and what they can do to improve. You don't want to hurt anyone or be rude.

If you wish to see more from them, ask them to read an additional piece from the movie, using yourself as the other character in a scene; or someone else in the room. It doesn't matter if they are good or not, you are there to watch the actor.

Once the audition is over, thank the actor, shake hands and then give yourself a minute or two to absorb what you have just seen. Remember to keep notes and staple them to the resume so you can remember what you liked and didn't like about that actor.

After the Audition

Give yourself a day or two to go over the actors you saw. Read through your notes and watch the videos. Make sure you are looking at the character and not the actor persay. Do they look comfortable and stand out on the screen? Did they speak clearly and naturally? Did you believe they were who they were portraying? Pick out the actors who fit the qualities you have set up.

It's a good idea to have a callback; it's a second chance to see the actors in a different scene. Again look for the qualites you believe the character would have. If you are sending this to a Director, make sure it's organized and concise, with your reasons why these would make the best actors for these roles.

Contact the agents or actors whom you have picked; sending them the contracts to go over and the scripts. Give them a timeline for when rehearsals and shooting will begin. Staying organized and keeping people in the loop will go a long way to making your film a success.