If you’re lucky enough to be in the final stages of auditioning for a screen role, you could be called for a screen test. This is an on-camera audition that lets casting directors, producers, and directors judge your suitability for a film or television role. Here’s what you need to know.
JUMP TO
A screen test is a critical step in the casting process, particularly for key roles that have a substantial influence on the success of a film or TV show. It comes after the initial auditions, once casting directors have narrowed down the pool of potential actors. More common in larger productions, it tests how you look and act on screen, assesses your chemistry with other actors, and determines if your interpretation of the character aligns with the director's vision for the project.
Auditions and self-tapes are the first stage in the casting process. Self-tapes are recorded at home and sent to casting directors, who then draw up a shortlist. Auditions are generally held in a casting studio or rehearsal room and involve actors performing a prepared monologue or reading lines from the script. They’re often filmed so they can be viewed by others involved in the casting process, but they don’t constitute a screen test as they are usually performed to a static camera, which could even be just an iPhone on a tripod, and are more about assessing the vocal and emotional performance rather than the auditionee’s interaction with other actors.
Screen tests usually involve performing key scenes from the script so the casting team can see how you handle the character's dialogue and interactions. You may also be given makeup and costume and asked to perform. This allows the director to fully envisage how you’ll embody the role. For example, actor Henry Cavill was asked to wear a replica of the Superman costume worn by Christopher Reeve in his screen test for Man of Steel.
The director will be looking to see how naturally you perform on camera, as well as what your facial expressions and body language look like onscreen. They also want to see how you perform with potential costars and whether you will fit in with any cast members already involved in the project.
Expect to be asked to change the way you deliver the lines or challenged on your interpretation of the character, as they’ll also be looking to see how you take direction.
The main goal of a screen test is to recreate the conditions of actual filming to make sure you’ll deliver a performance that works for the project.
Preparation for screen test acting is similar to any other audition, but with additional focus on interaction with the camera and possibly other actors. Before your test, make sure you fully understand the character and have gone deep into their backstory, motivations, and relationships. This will inform your acting for the screen test and enable you to talk persuasively about the choices you’ve made.
It’s also a good idea to practise the scenes in front of a camera. Get a friend or coach to read with you and analyse the recordings to monitor how your performance is translating.
Lastly, find out everything you can about the project so you can talk confidently. A screen test is all about finding out if you’re right for a role, and this means bringing yourself and your enthusiasm to the room.
Tom Holland for Spider-Man
Holland's screen test for Marvel's Spider-Man is famous not only because of his acrobatic display, but for his instant chemistry with Robert Downey Jr. This screen test played a crucial role in him landing the part of Peter Parker/Spider-Man. In a Q&A with co-star Zendaya, Holland described the process, which began when he was 18. “That process was five months. I did eight auditions. I did five self-tapes, and then a screen test with Robert Downey Jr. and a screen test with Chris Evans. … I was like, ‘Shall I do a backflip?’ And all the Sony guys were like, ‘Can you do a backflip?’ ‘Fuck, yeah. I've been sending you videos for the last five months of me doing a backflip. How do you not know this?’”
Daniel Radcliffe for Harry Potter
It’s fascinating to watch 11-year-old Radcliffe in his screen test for the title role in Harry Potter. You can see how the directors wanted to bring out both his lighter, cheerful side and his more sombre side by giving him contrasting scenes to read.
Audrey Hepburn for Roman Holiday
In Hepburn’s 1953 screen test for Roman Holiday, she is asked to speak about what she did during the war, and she describes helping the Dutch resistance during her time in Arnhem. We then see her wearing several costumes that help the director envisage her as the runaway princess Ann in William Wyler’s film, a role that launched her Hollywood career.
Kate Winslet for Titanic
While it wasn't her first film, Titanic was the title that made Kate Winslet a household name, and this was largely down to her onscreen chemistry with Leonardo di Caprio. In this early screen test, we see Winslet's ability to embody the character of Rose, and the spark with DiCaprio is evident from those early moments.
Understanding what a screen test is and preparing adequately for it can mean the difference between landing that career-changing role or just being another audition. Remember, a screen test is your opportunity to prove not just that you can act, but that you can bring a character vividly to life onscreen. Prepare thoroughly, embrace the process, and use every screen test as a chance to hone your craft.