Screen test auditions are usually defined by the fact that the participant in New Orleans gets a piece of paper and he/she is then asked to learn a short excerpt of the scripts. There you may be actually called again to showcase the same thing again in front of an Audition panel or officials. This is mostly the case in the auditions done in the Television and Film industry. Sometimes the participant is asked to send a video containing their dialogue from that script excerpt into the jury so to speak and then they will watch that video footage to determine whether the candidate looks good or bad on camera and exudes what they are looking for, for that character.
Though you should know that screen tests are not always held before casting large roles in New Orleans and they are never used for smaller roles. Now that pretty much all auditions are digitally taped by casting directors, a “screen test” is often redundant, because literally every step of the audition has been a screen test at that point. But they can be useful when it’s impossible for all the decision makers to be in the casting room in New Orleans.
Screen tests are important for the final decision on a larger role to see how the actor will look on film there in New Orleans, oddly enough some people may come to life on film where others seem to disappear. Finally, it can also be important to do a screen test if the actor needs to transform their look drastically, so the director and producers can see how that new look will work. They are also sometimes used after an actor has been cast to try out different hair and makeup options before filming, especially if the look is expected to be an iconic one.
Most screen tests are done in simple casting offices that look like conference rooms, but some are done in full wardrobe on a soundstage with an entire crew. You don’t have to worry about which one your child will be facing if they are fortunate enough to get to that stage in the audition process in New Orleans--your agent will let you know exactly what to expect. In general the process is not as exciting as it sounds.
If auditions are the primary activity for an actor, then rejection is the primary experience of this business. It is hard on anyone to feel rejected, but it can be especially hard for kids, who just haven’t been around long enough to have much perspective. There will always be another role, another audition. And frequently, when you look back, it seems like everything happens for a reason.
