Open Online Auditions To Find Undiscovered Talent for CBS Shows & Pilots Nationwide

Video auditions for CBS talent scouts

Open video auditions for new, breakout talent are going on nationwide this month and next.

CBS through its CBS Drama Diversity Casting Initiative is now taking online submissions from actors who would like to get the attention of CBS principal casting directors in order to be considered for principal, speaking roles in upcoming TV pilots that will start production in early 2017.

The goal of the CBS open audition is to reach talent in smaller markets that may not have access to talent agents, find currently unknown actors and bring them to the attention of major Hollywood casting directors and showrunners.

The process to submit for the opportunity is made up of 3 phases. The first phase takes place online. CBS has setup a website where actors from across the country may download a monologue from the site, record themselves performing the monologue and then upload the audition video to the site for casting directors to review. Actors selected from their video auditions will then be contacted to do a live, in person audition. Prominent casting directors in Atlanta, Miami, Chicago, Austin and San Francisco will be contacting selected actors to come in and meet with them. Actors must be able to travel, at their own expense, to one of the listed cities on the audition dates which are listed below. Actors making the cut will then be flown to Los Angeles in December to do a screen test with the network. CBS will be paying for the travel in the final “screen test” round.

Audition schedule:

PHASE 1:

ONLINE OPEN CASTING CALL (“THE AUDITION”)

SUBMISSIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED FROM OCTOBER 13th – OCTOBER 28th, 2016

PHASE 2:

REGIONAL CASTING SESSION (“THE CALLBACK”)

Selected actors (per region) will be invited to callback sessions where they will rehearse their scenes with a CBS Casting Executive and a local Casting Director before going on tape.

Callbacks will take place in five designated cities: ATLANTA, AUSTIN, CHICAGO, MIAMI, and SAN FRANCISCO.

Actors should only apply if they are able to travel, at their own expense, to one of these cities on the dates listed below.

Regional casting sessions are scheduled for the following dates:

• ATLANTA, GA – November 7-9, 2016
• AUSTIN, TX – November 3-4, 2016
• CHICAGO, IL – November 2-4, 2016
• MIAMI, FL – November 10-11, 2016
• SAN FRANCISCO, CA – November 10-11, 2016

PHASE 3: LOS ANGELES (“THE SCREEN TEST”)

SCHEDULED FOR THE WEEK OF DECEMBER 12th, 2016

14-16 Actors total will be chosen from the regional casting sessions and will be flown to Los Angeles by CBS for a screen test.

Actors should only apply if they are available to travel to Los Angeles during the week of December 12th, 2016. Travel and accommodations will be provided by CBS per the Program Terms.

Actors interested can apply through the page that CBS setup for the project.

The announcement from CBS:

CBS announced today the launch of the CBS Drama Diversity Casting Initiative, a nationwide program to find new breakout talent for CBS’s current series and upcoming pilots. The initiative, which is part of the CBS Diversity Institute, is designed to reach untapped talent across the country, including areas with limited access to industry professionals, and bring them to the attention of casting executives and CBS showrunners, culminating with a Network screen test in Los Angeles. The new initiative builds upon the Network’s long-running, successful Sketch Comedy Showcase.

A Nationwide Program Timed to Pilot Season to Find New Breakout Talent

Begins Oct. 13
Selected Actors Will Have Opportunity for a Network Screen Test
New Initiative Builds upon the Network’s Long-Running,
Successful Sketch Comedy Showcase

Beginning Thursday, Oct. 13, through Friday, Oct. 28, actors 18 and older can submit a self-taped monologue via www.CBSDiversity.com. The initiative is focused on increasing opportunities for people who belong to groups that have traditionally been underrepresented, including African American, Asian American, Latino, Native American, Pacific Islander, LGBTQ actors and performers with disabilities. Actors should possess strong dramatic talent and a technical skill set.

CBS casting executives will review all online submissions and make selections for regional callback auditions in Atlanta (Nov. 7-9), Austin (Nov. 3-4), Chicago (Nov. 2-4), Miami (Nov. 10-11) and San Francisco (Nov. 10-11), where the actors will rehearse with casting executives and be put on tape. Following these regional casting sessions, 14-16 actors will be selected to travel to Los Angeles for a Network screen test that will be utilized for casting opportunities for current series, pilot season and beyond.

“This outreach is a real opportunity for CBS to discover actors located across the country, outside of Los Angeles and New York, who haven’t had the chance to meet or be seen by network casting executives,” said Glenn Geller, President CBS Entertainment. “We’ve had great success with our CBS Diversity Sketch Comedy Showcase, which launched the careers of numerous actors, and we are confident this will do the same.”
The Network’s ongoing talent initiatives are part of the CBS Diversity Institute, a comprehensive program designed to identify and develop diversity and inclusion within the writing, directing and talent communities. In addition to the Comedy and Drama Showcases, the CBS Diversity Institute includes the CBS Writers Mentoring Program, the CBS Directing Initiative and numerous actor workshops conducted nationwide, as well as writer workshops conducted in Los Angeles.

For more information regarding the CBS Drama Diversity Casting Initiative and to download an application to submit a monologue, please go to www.CBSDiversity.com.