The terminology around auditioning can be confusing for new actors. Heck, sometimes even more established actors scratch their heads over the exact meanings! There’s a whole raft of terms that get thrown about between casting directors, agents, producers and actors during the casting process.
Imagine this: it’s the middle of a Tuesday afternoon and you get an email from your agent.
“Congrats,” he says. “You’re on hold!”
Well, that’s great, you think to yourself. But what exactly does that mean? Did I book the gig?! Should I celebrate!?!
We’re going to break down the most common terms you’ll hear when it comes to moving to the next phase of auditioning: ‘sent to producers’, ‘avail check’, ‘pinned’ or ‘on hold’, and ‘callbacks’/testing’. Keep in mind different casting directors and different markets can use these terms differently, so if you’re ever in doubt, check in with your agent to be sure.
For actors who are deep in the auditioning game, knowing exactly what each one means helps you figure out how close you are to the role and when to get excited. It also helps you gauge which of your tapes are landing well with the decision makers! Let’s unpack some of the terms you’re likely to hear when your audition is getting traction.
Sent to producers
Starting at the bottom level, we have ‘sent to producers’ A common misconception among newer or greener actors is that just because you’re auditioning, your tapes will be seen by the producers. Actually, this isn’t the case. The casting department won’t send every audition to the producers.
Naturally, you want them to send your tape. Why? Because before the producers can want you for the role, they have to see you, of course!
If your tape is ‘sent to producers’ it means two things:
One: you were in a select pile of actors to be shown to the decision makers.
Two: the casting director trusts your work enough to back it with their own reputation and send to the producers.
Your tape being ‘sent to producers’ is a great sign that your work is of a certain quality the casting team is looking for. Typically being sent to producers shows that you’re embodying certain qualities that they believe align with character. You’re capturing some of their essence, or you are on track for what the show is looking for in your interpretation.
This is excellent, of course, but being ‘sent to producers’ doesn’t necessarily mean much beyond that. It means the producers are going to watch it (or at least most of it!) once, but it’s not a guarantee that things will go any further.
Avail Check
Next up, we have the ‘avail check’ (short for ‘availability check’). This is often used in commercials but can also appear in film & TV.
This is where things start to get exciting! Definitely be happy if you get this notification. An ‘avail check’ means casting love your tape and it’s most likely between you and a few others. The availability check is mainly to protect the casting team when they take their options to the director, network, ad agency, etc. They want to make 100% sure that you’re still available for the shoot dates before they get too excited. If they start sharing your work with the team if it turns out you’re not actually available, it’s a bad look for them.
In short, the ‘avail check’ is to make sure they don’t shoot themselves in the foot by singing your praises to the rest of the decision makers, only to find out you can’t actually do it because you’re double booked. While it’s by no means a guarantee, being avail checked is a great sign that your work is solid and you’ve made a great impression.
Being ‘Pinned’ or ‘On Hold’
A pin or ‘being pinned’ is similar to an avail check, but slightly higher up on the excitement ladder. Quick side note: pins aren’t often used in the world of commercials. Commercials move fast and typically you’ll go from ‘avail check’ to either booked or released.
In some markets, the term ‘on hold’ and ‘pin’ mean the same thing; in others you might find that you go from an avail check to an on hold. It really comes down to the individual casting director’s terminology preferences.
‘Avail check’ vs. pin
Then what is, in general, the difference between a pin and an avail check? Well, a pin means that they’re not checking your availability because they know you are (or believe you to be) available, instead they are selecting you as a frontrunner for the part. You could technically have an ‘avail check’ and a ’Pin’ or ‘on hold’ for the same role. Make sense?
Being ‘pinned’ is much more frequently used in film and TV casting. Often, you’ll hear the term pin for co-star, guest star or recurring roles in TV. If casting advise you (or your agent) that you’re pinned, it means it’s between you and one, maybe two other people. As we like to say in the business, A pin is a win”. It’s the last step before being booked. If you hear you’re pinned, do a happy dance! Though you can still be released, it’s a reason to celebrate.
If you are pinned, absolutely make sure you keep those dates free for production! You don’t want to confirm you’re available and then mess the casting and production team around by later being unavailable. Being ‘pinned’ or ‘on hold’ means you’re very close to booking a film or television role.
Callback, Director/Producer Sessions, and ‘Testing’
Once you start moving into bigger roles in TV and big film roles, you’ll hear different terminology in the final stages. After you’ve had your avail check, and you’ve been pinned, you’ll move onto the final phase: callbacks and testing. This is really for those series regular roles and the lead or lead-adjacent roles in film and television. It means that big, juicy role is almost yours.
If you’re anything other than a novice actor, you’re likely familiar with the term ‘callback’, but if you are wanting to refresh your memory, we have plenty of resources about how to nail a callback!
These extra steps for bigger roles make sense when you think about it. For the network and producers, the commitment is greater for these kinds of roles. For instance: the actor’s paychecks are bigger, the deals are longer, and there’s a greater level of commitment and investment in the performer. It’s only natural that production would want to be sure before they make their final decisions.
Callbacks, Director, and Producer Sessions
Typically the ‘Director’ or ‘Producer’ sessions happen more in the American market, but they can happen in all major film and TV markets around the world. These sessions are a chance for an actor to read the scene again with either an in person or virtual presence of the creative team. You may be redirected and your performance may be recorded again. These sessions all run relatively similarly, with slight differences based on who is in the room and what they’re hoping to get out of the session!
Callbacks are also the stage where you may be asked to do a ‘chemistry read’. A chemistry read will often involve reading with another actor for a role that has a close relationship to yours in the universe of the show. This can happen for any role where it’s important that the on-screen chemistry between two characters is in line with the show’s vision. It’s not just for romantic relationships, you may also be asked to chemistry read with family members, best friends, or any other dynamic!
Testing: ‘Screen Tests’ or ‘Network/Studio Tests’
Now, let’s break down what testing is. Essentially, you and a few other actors will sign a test deal. You’ll then go test for the role in front of all the key decision makers. This usually happens for pilot episodes of a new TV show.
Testing is serious business. Whereas in an initial audition or even a callback you might only have a couple people in the room with you, in a studio or network test there could be over 20 people watching you do your thing. They are sometimes even held in special screening rooms to make sure all the executives can actually fit!
What is a test deal?
A test deal is essentially a contract that the actor signs when ‘testing’ for a pilot or a series. Typically you will have already signed this test contract before you go in and test. It contains information about how much money you’ll make in each episode, how many seasons you’ll be signing on for, exclusivity, and work dates. This is where your reps come in handy! They’re the experts.
The test deal makes sure that if you are anointed as the one by the powers that be, you’ve already signed the contract. ie. you are locked in to the role. This is to protect the producers so that if they fall in love with you, you can’t back out. It’s basically the pre-nup of film and tv!
Final Thoughts
Booking an acting role is an exciting milestone for every actor. Depending on the size and nature of the part, there will be different steps along the way. Confirming the actors involved in a project is always a puzzle that casting, the producers, and sometimes the studio or network need to fit together. As an actor, knowing more about the different steps along the way empowers you and allows you to celebrate the little wins right alongside the big ones.
To recap, the first thing that happens with a tape on its way to production is it’s sent to the producers and avail checks are sent out to the talent. Beyond that, it goes into pins and callbacks. Finally, if the role is big enough it goes into tests, chemistry reads, and the like. While an actor can be released at any stage before the confirmation, each of these phases is a vital step towards the next great gig! If you’ve made it this far, I hope it means you’ve gotten sent one of these notifications. I also hope you book it! Wooo!
Want to know more about how to increase your chances of getting ‘pinned’ and booked? Come work with us at StageMilk Drama Club.
