Steps to Audition for Disney

Have you ever wanted to play a monarch in a made-up kingdom or join a revolt in a galaxy far, far away? Disney, the media behemoth behind hit films and television series like “The Avengers,” “The Mandalorian,” “Encanto,” and countless more, not only creates original content that wins awards and adapts preexisting intellectual property, but it also gives well-known actors and exceptional up-and-comers a platform.

Sarah Halley Finn, a frequent Disney casting director, states that “I think the most important quality is that an actor should always follow their instincts and follow their impulses.” “A performance will be distinct as long as the actor is utilizing [their] personal life experiences, connecting with their true selves, and fusing that with the authenticity of the character.”

We take you through the steps of the casting process and provide CDs and current stars with advice on how to ace your audition in this comprehensive guide to getting cast in Walt Disney Studios and Disney+ films.

Which Disney films and television series are casting or filming right now?

Numerous Disney films and television shows, ranging from “Loki” to “Hocus Pocus 2,” are actively producing new episodes, films, prequels, and sequels—and, therefore, are looking for fresh actors. You can utilize the following sites to remain informed about which projects are casting or filming at any given time:

What is the procedure for casting at Disney?

Disney is renowned for its stern NDAs and extensive measures used to prevent leaks. It is possible that you will be using a significantly edited copy of the screenplay for your audition, or a completely unrelated script that shows you can strike the correct notes for the project but has little to do with what you are applying for.

Jamie Sparer Roberts, chief of casting at Walt Disney Animation Studios, explains, “We release very little information about the projects and characters to anyone outside of the company in order to protect the creative process at the studio.” On occasion, during the live audition, the actor will receive preliminary sketches from the director.

Actually, much of the content that we use doesn’t come from the movie itself. For instance, the majority of the sequences I’ve used in my “Frozen II” audition material for new roles are taken from various stage plays that evoke the same feelings as our movie.

Roberts provides a workaround for any actor attempting to prepare for an audition on a shoestring with less information: “Be ready to use [your] imagination and, in some cases, improvise.” Our audition process is more concerned with identifying the spirit of a character in an actor’s interpreted performance combined with vocal style than it is with the words on the page.

In order to keep things under wraps, Rachel Matthews used a David Mamet monologue—which she describes as “so absurd for Disney”—and a song she picked out, Chris Isaak’s “Wicked Game” to try out for the part of Honeymaren in “Frozen II.” Taking those materials with her, Matthews went on auditions for director Chris Buck of “Frozen” and “Frozen II,” as well as Roberts, her assistant.

I’ve never been in an audition that was as scary as this one. Matthews recalls, “But for some reason, I felt so at peace.” Chris assured me he would be looking at these photos instead of me as I performed my monologue. He quickly produced six pages of Honeymaren, each drawn by hand. I could actually stare at her in that moment. In that absurd moment, I realized that I could play her and do this.

Attending auditions and waiting for a callback from Disney can take months or even years, even in the live-action industry. According to Finn, “there were a lot of actors in the Marvel universe who went in for auditions for one role in a Marvel movie or another project and got cast years later in something else.”

“We pay attention when you put in quality work and show up each day. We keep that in mind, and maybe it may become relevant later on.

Disney casting calls and auditions are held where?

The key is research. Even if you have an agency already, it’s always crucial to keep track of impending production dates and auditions. You can also peruse our frequently updated Disney casting call list.

Also see our roundups with a project subject. Projects from Disney and Pixar as well as works from Disney-owned companies like Lucasfilm, Marvel, Hulu, and FX are included in this list. We also monitor performances of the company’s cruise lines and theme parks.

Which Disney casting directors are the best?

Disney CDs that are most widely distributed include:

• 2014 Backstage Vanguard Award winners Natalie Lyon and Kevin Reher are casting veterans at Pixar Animation Studios in Emeryville, California. The ensembles of “Lightyear,” “Turning Red,” and “Coco” were assembled by these two.

• Jamie Sparer Roberts is the Disney Animation Studios and Disney+ head of casting. She cast Baymax, Encanto, Moana, and Frozen!

• The CD who put together the casts of Ms. Marvel, Thor: Love and Thunder, Avengers: Endgame, and The Book of Boba Fett is Sarah Halley Finn.

• The Netflix Marvel programs “Jessica Jones,” “Luke Cage,” “The Punisher,” “Iron Fist,” and “Daredevil” are cast by Laray Mayfield and Julie Schubert.

• Judy Taylor and Julia Ashton are the cast members of the Disney+ original “High School Musical: The Musical—The Series” and the Marvel Hulu series “M.O.D.O.K.”

How to Attend a Disney Auditions

For any lead, supporting, or recurring part, the majority of Disney acting jobs will probably need you to audition through an agency rather than open casting calls. If you don’t have an agency, though, you’re in luck since Disney, with its enormous global brand recognition, occasionally holds traditional and open casting calls.

According to Taylor, “we send [it] to England and Australia, and we put out a breakdown that has all of Canada and the U.S.” We are aware that some children may not have an agency and are unable to contact us.

We send casting directors who are familiar with our process and our ideal candidates, or we select three or four different parts of the nation and visit them personally. If we can, we’ll attend acting programs, performing arts schools, and conventional institutions to broaden our horizons.

Disney “sometimes [has] a big open call, so that anybody can show up—because you just never know where anyone is hiding or where they might be,” according to Taylor.

She continues, “We don’t want to miss out.” “In addition to the new people we hope to find, we always start with the people we already know. Naturally, we also frequently discuss with agents the people they represent. We have daily conversations with them; they are really valuable. We are truly grateful for our connections with the managers and agents that work with us. A village is needed.

Practicality from the old school still has its value in today’s social media-dominated environment. Do some research on the casting directors of upcoming Disney films, and don’t be shy about making contact.

“Send them a brief note with your picture and resume,” suggests “Hannah Montana” Disney Channel CD Lisa London. Express your want to try out for them to them. Just make sure you’re ready should this chance present itself.

Your best marketing weapon is social media and internet networking, though. Start a personal website with your updated headshots, show reel, and resume, and start curating a social media account.

Variety reports that Iman Vellani, the breakout actress of “Ms. Marvel,” discovered the casting announcement for the series by checking in with her aunt over WhatsApp.

Disney casting directors’ and actors’ finest audition advice

• Speak with others while also using your own voice. According to Lyon, “being able to do a bunch of different voices is important for the larger voiceover world.” It’s intriguing, therefore, because the typical demos don’t actually function for us. People with exceptional vocal abilities are still needed. One thing I hope happens during demos is that folks will speak in a somewhat natural tone of voice.

• Be true to yourself. “Actors who enter the role and give a true acting performance, not [just] a voice, are what I’m looking for.” As said by Roberts on The Ash Taba Show. “I want the complete show; I don’t want just a vocal performance. Rather than merely voice actors, I usually [employ] actors who are actors.”

• Finish your assignments. “Always be prepared,” advises Lucy Bevan, the “Cruella” CD. “Be familiar with the subject matter and prepared to make comments and corrections. If you’re not ready, that’s difficult to accomplish.

• Avoid copying other people. According to “Star Wars” actor John Boyega, “the worst thing actors can do is listen to him and decide, ‘I’m gonna walk in these footsteps.'” Being a sponge is a must. Knowledge is usually an excellent starting point for performing. Forget about building a five-star hotel if your foundation is a mess, rocky, and muddy. Return now. Examine more deeply.

• Try things not in the script. Disney Television Animation’s executive director of casting, Aaron Drown, advises viewers to “go back and think about iconic animated characters.” Should you attempt to mimic the sound of SpongeBob or Mickey Mouse laughing, you should be aware that those are the sounds of actors.
  
  An actor created both the laugh and the noise. However, don’t anticipate the writer to write “Laugh” in the sides. Simply pay attention to what’s going on around the lines and what [what] lets them know. It’s crucial to consider factors other than writing communication during an audition.

• Treat yourself with kindness. “Have patience. I believe that actors often hear this, but I gave up after three years. Josh Gad, the actor of “Frozen,” adds, “I was going to go to law school. “I assumed my mother would be overjoyed when I called to share this news with her. Rather, she expressed her extreme displeasure with me by saying, “I’m really disappointed in you.”
  
  You only tried your hand at acting for three years out of fifteen years of dreaming about it. You should be due more. A few months later, I received my first major Broadway break. It was going to be “Saturday Night Live.” Nothing went according to the plan. The idea was pretty clear: “I’m going to be on Saturday Night Live.” My career didn’t find its purpose until I let go of that desire.