Zoom (for Callbacks & Chemistry Reads)

Zoom remains the most widely used platform for remote casting callbacks, chemistry reads, and producer sessions across the entertainment industry. Nearly every casting office uses it as their primary tool for live virtual auditions, making it essential for actors to be comfortable and technically proficient with the application. Familiarity with Zoom's features is now a baseline expectation for working actors.

For audition purposes, actors should pay particular attention to their Zoom setup: camera positioning at eye level, proper lighting that illuminates the face without harsh shadows, and audio settings that minimize background noise. Using an external microphone and ensuring a stable internet connection can make a significant difference in how an actor presents during a callback.

Key features actors should master include the virtual background option for creating a clean backdrop, the touch-up appearance filter for a polished look, and the gallery view toggle for chemistry reads with multiple participants. Getting started is straightforward — download the app or use the browser client, create a free account, and test your audio and video settings before your first callback. Zoom's free tier allows meetings of up to 40 minutes, which is generally sufficient for a single callback session, and knowing how to quickly troubleshoot audio and video issues demonstrates professionalism during live sessions.

Zoom's audio processing features deserve special attention from actors — the platform offers an original sound mode that bypasses noise suppression and audio processing that can flatten vocal dynamics, and actors should enable this when performing scenes since the default noise suppression can strip away subtle vocal qualities. While newer platforms offer higher recording quality, Zoom's ubiquity in casting offices means it will remain the standard for the foreseeable future. The platform has become standard not just for callbacks but for table reads, rehearsals, and production meetings as well, making mastery of Zoom as fundamental a professional skill as knowing how to find your mark on set.

Every working actor in the current industry landscape has participated in Zoom callbacks, from emerging performers auditioning for their first co-star roles to A-list actors reading for feature film leads, and casting directors report that actors who are visibly uncomfortable with Zoom technology create a distracting impression that can overshadow their performance. Chemistry reads conducted over Zoom present unique challenges including the slight audio delay that can disrupt natural dialogue timing, and experienced actors learn to adapt their listening and response patterns to account for this latency. Actors who book roles increasingly find that early rehearsal sessions, wardrobe fittings discussions, and pre-production meetings are conducted over Zoom, further underscoring the need for fluency with the platform.

Zoom's free tier allows one-on-one meetings of unlimited length and group meetings of up to 40 minutes, while the Pro plan at $13.33 per month removes the 40-minute limit and adds cloud recording capabilities, and the Business plan at $18.33 per month includes additional features unlikely to be needed by individual actors. Since casting offices host the Zoom sessions for callbacks, actors generally do not need a paid Zoom plan for audition purposes — the free tier is adequate for joining hosted meetings. A paid plan only becomes worthwhile if the actor regularly hosts their own sessions for coaching, reader meetings, or content production, and the investment is minimal compared to other professional tools but unnecessary for most audition workflows.

Zoom proficiency is non-negotiable for any working actor — the platform will be used in your career regardless of your feelings about virtual auditions, and the actors who thrive in remote callbacks are those who have made Zoom an extension of their performance toolkit. There is no category of actor for whom Zoom is irrelevant, as even actors who prefer in-person auditions must be prepared for Zoom callbacks since they are now integrated into standard casting workflows at every level of the industry.

Create a dedicated Zoom profile for auditions with a professional display name and headshot photo, keep your Zoom app updated to avoid last-minute software update delays before callbacks, always log in five minutes early and test audio and video in the waiting room before the host admits you, and enable original sound for music in your audio settings before performing scenes. Position your camera so that your eyeline to the lens mimics the angle you would have with a scene partner — slightly off-center and at natural eye level — minimize the Zoom window or position it directly below your camera lens so your eyeline is as close to the camera as possible during callbacks, and have a printed copy of your sides as backup in case your digital device fails during the session.