An open call is an audition or meeting that anyone can attend without an appointment, an agent, or an invitation. You simply show up during the posted hours, sign in, and get seen. No pre-screening, no submission required.
Open calls exist in both acting and modeling, and they serve the same purpose in each: they let productions and agencies see people who would never reach them through the usual channels.
The Two Main Kinds of Open Call
Open calls generally fall into two categories:
- Project open calls, where a production is casting specific roles. Film franchises searching for an unknown lead, reality shows, and large background calls all use this format
- Agency open calls, where a talent or modeling agency holds regular hours to meet potential new signings. Many established agencies hold these weekly or monthly
At its largest and most crowded, a project open call becomes what the industry bluntly calls a cattle call: hundreds of hopefuls, moving through fast.
What to Expect When You Attend
Expect lines, waiting, and a short moment of attention. Depending on the call, that moment might be:
- A brief interview or introduction
- A quick read from provided material
- A walk and a look at your photos, for modeling calls
- Digital photos taken on the spot
Bring current photos and a resume or comp card, dress simply and close to your natural look, and follow every posted instruction exactly. Instructions are the first filter. People who cannot follow them rarely advance.
Are Open Calls Worth It?
They can be, with realistic expectations. The odds at any single open call are long because the volume is high and the criteria are narrow. But real people do get discovered this way, agencies really do sign models from weekly calls, and unknown actors really have booked roles from open searches.
The healthiest approach is to treat open calls as one channel in a wider strategy, not the strategy itself. Most working opportunities flow through posted casting calls that you submit to online, where you can target roles that actually fit you. Learning how to find casting calls consistently will generate far more chances than waiting for the next big open search. Go to open calls when they make sense, and keep submitting the rest of the time.
