Discover our recommendations for castings
Here you will find practical advice for applying to castings, preparing your profile and showing up with more confidence in front of the camera.
How Should I Prepare for Registering or Updating My Profile in the Agency's Database?
🎬 We recommend coming with natural makeup and clothing that reflects your own style. We want to see you as authentic and expressive as possible!
We'll be using a dark grey-to-black earthy backdrop and a rim light.
We recommend wearing darker colours: navy, cobalt blue or petrol green, olive, graphite, charcoal, or deep cherry, burgundy — or terracotta, buttery white, cream, beige. Go for clothes with texture: wool, leather, denim, heavy cotton, and if you can, wear layers (e.g. a T-shirt and a jacket or blazer).
The rim light will bring out your silhouette, so textures will look fantastic! Avoid horizontal or vertical striped patterns, loud logos, pure white, and neon colours.
Go for a smart-casual look: blazers, jackets, T-shirts.
📸 The session lasts no more than 20 minutes and includes a few casting photos and a video introduction.
📅 You can book a session directly here: https://calendly.com/rhcasting/auditie
💫 We look forward to seeing you!
A Day on Set as a Background Actor: Are You Ready?
Filmmaking is a team effort, and the success of the whole project depends on the contribution and discipline of every member — background actors included.
For actors just starting out, working as a background actor is an excellent school. You'll get to watch up close how the director works, how the crew communicates, and how a film set is run, and you'll learn a great deal about the technical side of production. This will get you comfortable with the environment and prepare you far better for the day when you have an actual role to play.
Essential Discipline
Be Absolutely Punctual: Arrive on time, ready to go. If you're late, you can hold up the entire production.
Be Ready to Wait: Background work involves a lot of waiting. Bring a book, headphones, or anything that helps you pass the time quietly.
Respect the Hierarchy and Follow Instructions: Listen carefully to the assistant directors (ADs), floor managers, and background coordinators. They are your main points of contact.
Be Part of the Scenery — But With Purpose
Your role: The purpose of background actors is to create a realistic, lively backdrop for the main action. You're not there to stand out as an individual.
Be Natural: Act as if you were truly in that situation — in a restaurant, on the street, in an office. Drink your coffee, read your newspaper, talk (mime it, no sound), take a stroll.
Don't Look at the Camera! This is the golden rule of background work. Never, under any circumstances, look directly into the lens. It breaks the illusion!
Be Aware of the Space: Don't block the principal actors or the lighting. Move as directed and hold your position in the frame.
Handling Wardrobe and Accessories
Continuity: Memorize your actions. If you're asked to make a specific move (e.g. crossing from one side of the frame to the other, lifting a cup), make sure you repeat it the same way in every take. If you change something, it can cause problems in editing.
Take Care of Props, Wardrobe, Makeup and Hair: If you've been given objects, specific clothing, or makeup/hair elements (e.g. wigs, moustaches, fake beards), use them and look after them. Don't remove them! At the end of the day, or if you need touch-ups, let someone from the Hair or Makeup department or the background coordinator know. They'll direct you to the right person.
Keep All Your Accessories With You: Make sure you have everything that's part of your costume (watch, glasses, bags, jewellery, specific footwear, etc.) on you when you're called to set. Every detail matters for continuity.
Personal Clothing (where applicable):
If you're not asked to wear a specific outfit, it's best to come dressed casually and comfortably.
Avoid wearing valuables (expensive jewellery, designer watches, exposed phones, etc.) to prevent loss or damage.
If you're filming outdoors in the cold, it's a good idea to wear close-fitting layers (leggings, thermal underwear) beneath your costume. They won't be visible, but they'll help you stay warm.
If you're asked to come in your own clothes according to a wardrobe brief, choose pieces that fit the description — but avoid bringing your best or newest clothes, to prevent them getting damaged on set.
Conduct on Set
Total Silence During Takes: When you hear "Quiet on set!" or "Rolling!", don't talk, cough, or move noisily. Even a faint whisper can be picked up by the microphone.
No Chatting on Set (even during breaks): Even in the short breaks between takes, it's important not to talk. The crew needs to communicate clearly, and the director needs quiet to focus and give direction. Your conversations can seriously disrupt the workflow and break people's concentration.
No Phones or Personal Bags on Set: Put your phone on silent and avoid using it during filming. Also, don't step onto set carrying personal items (backpack, large bag, shopping bags). These should be left in the designated areas or in the changing rooms, so they don't get in the way or accidentally end up in the shot.
Stay in Your Assigned Area: Don't wander freely around the set, especially while the crew is working. Wait for instructions.
Don't Take Photos or Video: Photographing or filming on set is strictly forbidden, especially without permission.
Managing Your Energy and Time
The Length of the Shooting Day: Be ready for long days. A standard shooting day can run 12 hours, though it may sometimes wrap earlier. There may also be situations where overtime goes beyond the 12 hours, if the production requires it.
Pace Yourself: Given the length of the day, it's important to pace your effort. Keep your energy up, stay hydrated, and use the breaks to rest and go to the bathroom before you're called back to set.
Be Patient With Multiple Takes: Each shot may require several takes — sometimes more than 30. It's essential to bring the same energy and focus to every single one. Keep in mind that a high number of takes is a normal part of the process and doesn't mean someone made a mistake or that you're not doing well. The director is simply looking for the perfect version for the edit.
Don't Leave the Set Without Permission: Don't leave the set (or the holding area for the shot) without explicit approval from the people in charge (the background coordinator or the assistant director).
Attitude
Be Positive and Cooperative: A good attitude will help you get called back for other projects.
Be Flexible: Shooting days can be long and unpredictable. Be prepared for extended hours or last-minute changes.
Whatever your role, remember that you're an important piece in a complex machine. Professionalism, attention to detail, and a positive attitude will get you noticed and help you build a successful career in the field!
A Day on Set as an Actor: Are You Ready?
Understand the Scene Fully
Context: Why is your character there? What happened before, and what comes next?
Relationships: How does your character relate to the others in the scene?
Goal/Intention: What does your character want in this scene? What obstacles do they face? What's the motivation behind their actions and lines? Without a clear intention, the character has no direction, and the audience can't understand why they do what they do.
Subtext: What goes unsaid, but is felt by the character? Look for the hidden emotions and thoughts — the things that aren't spoken aloud but that directly shape their behaviour and their lines.
Know Your Lines, but Stay Flexible
Perfect Memorization: It's essential to know your lines flawlessly. You don't want to waste precious time stumbling or searching for words.
Naturalness: Don't deliver them robotically. Try to shape them to your character's emotions and intentions.
Be Open to Changes: On set, lines can be changed at a moment's notice. Be ready to learn and adapt on the fly.
Listen to the Director (and the Crew)
The Director is the Captain: They hold the final vision. Be open to direction, even when it differs from what you've prepared. You're there to bring their vision to life.
Watch the Crew: Pay attention to cues from the assistant director (AD), camera operators, sound technicians, and so on.
Know Your Marks (Blocking)
Marks on the Floor: These are the precise spots where you need to stop, stand, or move. They're crucial for lighting, sound, and framing. Pay close attention to them and hit them exactly.
Rehearse Your Movements: During blocking rehearsals, memorize your path and your interactions with objects and the other actors.
Mind the Props, Wardrobe, Makeup and Hair
Use Props Naturally: If you have objects to handle, practise with them so they look natural.
Respect the Wardrobe and Makeup/Hair: Take care of them. They're part of the character and contribute to the final look of the production.
Handling Wigs/Beards/Moustaches: If you're wearing moustaches, beards, wigs, or any other special makeup/hair element, NEVER remove them yourself! Always go to the Hair or Makeup department to hand them in at the end of the day, or to ask for touch-ups if they come loose or get damaged during filming. Let the assistant director or the relevant department know right away if you need touch-ups.
Keep All Your Accessories With You: Make sure you have everything that's part of your costume (watch, glasses, bags, jewellery, specific footwear, etc.) on you when you're called to set. Every detail matters for continuity.
Maintain Consistent Energy
Always Be Ready: Once you're on set and the camera rolls, you need to be able to access your character's emotional and physical state almost instantly.
Continuity: Be aware of how you move, where you place your hands, how you hold an object — even how your hair falls. These details need to stay consistent from one take to the next, to keep the edit seamless. If you change something, remember the change and repeat it on the following takes.
Effective Communication and a Professional Attitude
Be Respectful: Treat everyone with respect, from the director to the youngest member of the crew.
Got a Problem? Talk to the AD: If you have questions or issues, go to the assistant director or the floor manager — not directly to the director during a take.
Be Ready to Wait: Filming involves a lot of waiting. Use the time wisely: study your lines, observe, relax.
No Phones or Personal Bags on Set: Put your phone on silent and avoid using it during active filming. Also, don't step onto set carrying personal items (backpack, large bag, shopping bags). These should be left in the designated areas or in the changing rooms, so they don't get in the way or accidentally end up in the shot.
Come to casting!
You do not need acting experience to join. We look for professional and amateur Romanian actors, people passionate about cinema, children and teenagers, models, athletes, dancers, musicians, acrobats and performers. We are open to people from all social backgrounds and all ethnicities.
You register once and get access to our casting calls. For many people in our database, shooting days are a flexible way to supplement their income. Registration is free.