What does Pre-Read mean?
Pre-Read is an informal audition or meeting arranged by a casting director, casting associate, or producer before the official audition process begins. Pre-reads are typically smaller, lower-stakes sessions used to assess a performer’s suitability for a role before deciding whether to bring them in for a formal producers’ session or network test. For child actors specifically, pre-reads are common because productions want to gauge a young performer’s comfort on camera, their ability to take direction, and their readiness for the demands of the role before investing time in a full audition.
Example:The casting director scheduled pre-reads for thirty young actors before narrowing the list to eight who would be brought in for the producers’ session — the pre-read was her way of finding out who was ready before the pressure of a formal callback.
Example: The child actor’s agent called to let the family know she had been requested for a pre-read — not yet a full audition, but an important first step where the casting director wanted to see how she handled the material in person before deciding whether to move her forward.
Did you know?
Pre-reads are particularly common in children’s casting because the range of readiness among young performers varies enormously. A casting director might see fifty children in a day of pre-reads and advance only five to the next round. For parents, understanding that a pre-read is not a full audition — and that not advancing from a pre-read is not a rejection of the child’s talent — is important for managing expectations and keeping the experience positive.
You can also find “Pre-Read” and related terms in this category: Acting Jobs and Auditions.
