Put yourself in the shoes of the casting director. They have to find a few select candidates out of hundreds and have at least one of them meet the expectations of the director.
In turn, the director is juggling hundreds of details to try and produce a marketable commodity that’s going to make money for the investors.
Both of these people are trying to manage their time and dozens of different risks. That’s one of the reasons that the same people, even people with minor roles, keep showing up again and again in film and television - they’ve proven that they’re not going to waste time, and they’re not going to be a risk to the production.
To get a casting directors attention, do the following:
Have a great headshot that looks like you. Your headshot is your business card. Spend the money on a good one.
Have a good reel that demonstrates who you are in less than a minute. Avoid the intense emotional scene or scream fest. Just show them what you look like, sound like, and how you move.
Keep your resume up to date - classes, stage work, commercials, independent film, etc.
Be available via the phone number, email and/or text account you’ve listed on your resume.
