During the COVID-19 pandemic, council has adopted the following temporary guidelines for required calls.
EQUITY AUDITIONS FOR PRINCIPAL ROLES
Equity is implementing experimental protocols that employers may use to hold in-person Equity auditions during the continuing pandemic. Under these protocols, employers will be responsible for all aspects of the Equity auditions, including scheduling appointments, meeting all COVID safety requirements (including providing a COVID Safety Manager), and running the auditions. More details are available here.
Employers may solicit video audition submissions in lieu of holding their required Equity auditions for principal roles with the following provisions:
A) Video Audition Submissions: Employers may solicit video audition submissions in lieu of holding their required in-person Equity auditions for principal roles with the following provisions:
- Employers may submit a notice requesting video audition submissions for posting on Equity’s Casting Call website. The notice shall be received by Equity by the deadline for casting notice submission in the employer’s agreement (e.g., if the agreement requires casting notices to be submitted at least two weeks prior to the audition date, the request for video submissions should be submitted at least two weeks prior to the deadline for members to submit their auditions).
- Video audition submissions will be viewed only by those who meet the casting personnel requirements of the employer’s agreement. Once submissions have been viewed and actors are selected for callbacks, video audition submissions will be destroyed.
- Video audition submissions are to be used for casting purposes only and will not be utilized or distributed for any other purpose.
- Employers will offer callbacks to at least five self-submitted Equity members or one self-submitted member per available role, whichever is greater. If the employer will cast the show(s) entirely through electronic means, these callbacks may also be held electronically. If the employer will hold live in-person callbacks, they must invite the members who submitted video auditions to in-person callbacks as well.
- Casting notices asking members to sing will include a link to a one-minute (or longer) cut of accompaniment for each vocal part (low, middle, and high), as well as sheet music with lyrics. The accompaniment may be from a show (or shows) they are auditioning, from a show with a similar sound/feel, or from the public domain. Employers may EITHER ask all members auditioning to use the provided accompaniment to record their audition OR they may give members the option to use the provided accompaniment or to audition with a song of their choosing (for which they will provide their own accompaniment).
- Employers shall provide a way for members to submit their audition without paying any fee or providing personal information (beyond an e-mail address) to a third party.
- Video audition submissions in lieu of in-person Equity auditions for principal roles are being allowed strictly in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and should not be seen as precedent setting moving forward.
B) Real-time Virtual Auditions: Employers may hold Equity auditions via Zoom or a similar platform in lieu of holding their required in-person Equity auditions for principal roles in plays with the following provisions:
- Real-time virtual Equity auditions may not be utilized for auditions requiring members to sing or dance.
- Employers may submit a notice announcing real-time virtual Equity auditions for posting on Equity’s Casting Call website. The notice shall be received by Equity by the deadline for casting notice submission in the employer’s agreement (e.g., if the agreement requires casting notices to be submitted at least two weeks prior to the audition date, the announcement of real-time virtual Equity auditions should be submitted at least two weeks prior to the audition date).
- The number of days of real-time virtual Equity auditions shall mirror the number of days of in-person Equity auditions required in an employer’s agreement (e.g., if an employer’s agreement requires two full days of local seasonal Equity auditions and one full day of seasonal Equity auditions in an Equity office city, that employer will hold three full days of seasonal real-time virtual Equity auditions).
- Employers will schedule 126 Equity members per full day of real-time virtual Equity auditions or all members who request an appointment, whichever is lower.
- Appointments for real-time virtual Equity auditions may be scheduled ONLY for Equity members.
- The employer will provide a monitor in the waiting room or arrange another way to notify members when they are next in line to audition.
- Real-time virtual Equity auditions may not be recorded.
- Participation in real-time virtual Equity auditions will not require members to pay any fee or provide personal information (beyond an e-mail address) to a third party.
- Following the auditions, the employer shall send to Equity a list of members seen during the real-time virtual Equity auditions.
- Real-time virtual Equity auditions in lieu of in-person Equity auditions for principal roles are being allowed strictly in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and should not be seen as precedent setting moving forward.
EQUITY AUDITIONS FOR CHORUS PARTS
Equity has implemented experimental protocols that employers may use to hold in-person Equity auditions during the continuing pandemic. Under these protocols, employers will be responsible for all aspects of the Equity auditions, including scheduling appointments, meeting all COVID safety requirements (including providing a COVID Safety Manager), and running the auditions. More details are available here.
Employers may solicit video audition submissions in lieu of holding their required Equity auditions for chorus parts with the following provisions:
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Employers will submit a notice requesting video audition submissions for posting on Equity’s Casting Call website. The notice shall be received by Equity by the deadline for casting notice submission in the employer’s agreement (e.g., if the agreement requires casting notices to be submitted at least two weeks prior to the audition date, the request for video submissions should be submitted at least two weeks prior to the deadline for members to submit their auditions).
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For singers, employers will include a link to an optional 16-bar cut of accompaniment and sheet music with lyrics for members to use when recording their audition.
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For dancers, employers will include a link to both visual and verbal instruction (with accompaniment) for members to learn and perform the combination(s) requested.
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The combination will be choreographed to be performed within a 10-foot by 10-foot space.
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The instructional video will include both a view of the choreography facing away from the camera and at least one performance-level version of the choreography.
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The accompaniment for the audition must include at least a four-count leading into the top of the combination.
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Video audition submissions will be seen only by those who meet the casting personnel requirements of the employer’s agreement. Once submissions have been viewed and actors are selected for callbacks, video audition submissions will be destroyed.
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Video audition submissions are to be used for casting purposes only and will not be utilized or distributed for any other purpose.
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Employers shall provide a way for members to submit their audition without paying any fee or providing personal information (beyond an e-mail address) to a third party.
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Video audition submissions in lieu of in-person Equity auditions for chorus parts are being allowed strictly in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and should not be seen as precedent setting moving forward.
