Audition Prep · 3 min read
How to Handle Redirects in an Audition
Casting gives a note, you adjust, you go again. The cleanest way to take a redirect - without throwing out the work you came in with.
Published March 18, 2025
A redirect is not a critique. It’s casting watching you rehearse - and seeing if they want to do that for two months.
Most actors over-correct on a redirect. They’re so eager to show flexibility that they throw out the read that got them the redirect in the first place.
The work, step by step
- Take the note literally. "Faster" means faster. "Smaller" means smaller. Don’t reinterpret - adjust the variable they named.
- Don’t reset. Keep the choices that worked. Adjust only what they asked for. They liked something; don’t throw it away.
- Repeat the note out loud - once. "Got it - faster, smaller eyes." Confirms you heard. Buys you a half-second to set.
- Drop the previous take. Don’t carry the disappointment of "they didn’t like the first one" into the second. They might have loved it.
- Go again - different, not opposite. A redirect is a calibration, not a flip.
Common pitfalls
- Apologizing for the first take.
- Asking too many clarifying questions.
- Performing the note instead of the scene.
How Actry fits in
Drill redirects with Actry: take any scene, run it three times changing one variable each time - pace, intent, volume. You’ll arrive in the room able to adjust on a dime.
Frequently asked questions
Can I ask a clarifying question?
Yes - one. Keep it concrete. "Do you want it faster overall, or just the second half?"
What if I don’t understand the note?
Restate it in your own words. They’ll clarify.
How many redirects should I expect?
For a callback, 1–2 is typical. More is a great sign - they’re investing in you.
Filed under Audition Prep. Tagged: redirect, audition, flexibility.