Alastair Stout, who will play Ron Weasley in the new series, was reportedly chosen after around 32,000 children auditioned for the three lead roles. Before landing the part, his previous screen experience was said to include an advert for Jersey Royal potatoes.

That is an important reminder for any young performer. You do not need a perfect CV to begin. You do not need to have everything figured out. What matters is preparation, confidence and being ready to show what you can do when the opportunity comes.

Auditions can feel exciting, but they can also feel scary. Casting teams are not just looking for talent. They are looking for performers who can listen, take direction, stay focused and bring something truthful to the role.

That is where preparation makes a difference.

Whether you are filming your first self-tape, auditioning for a school production, attending a workshop or preparing for a professional casting, the same skills matter. You need to understand the material, make clear choices and feel confident enough to give it your best.

At Audition Ready, we help young performers build those skills step by step. From audition advice and self-tape guidance to acting, singing, dance and industry-led coaching, the app gives performers practical tools they can use at home, in their own time.

Because big roles may seem magical from the outside, but behind every opportunity are real skills, real preparation and real confidence.

Your wand may choose the wizard.

But your preparation is up to you.

Start building your confidence with Audition Ready today.

You don’t need a complicated setup. In fact, simple is better.

Focus on:

Avoid:

A clean, distraction-free setup helps casting focus entirely on you.

Lighting is one of the most important parts of a self-tape.

Best options:

Key tips:

If casting can’t clearly see your face and eyes, your tape won’t work — no matter how strong the acting is.

Casting directors need to hear every word clearly.

Keep it simple:

You don’t need a microphone — your phone is usually enough if the space is quiet.

Your framing should be consistent and professional.

Standard framing:

Sometimes casting will also ask for:

Avoid:

This is one of the most common mistakes.

When performing:

If there are multiple characters:

Only look into the camera if the brief specifically asks for it.

Self-tapes for TV and film are very different from stage performance.

Keep it:

Think about:

Small, truthful performances work much better on camera than big, theatrical ones.

You don’t need a costume — but you should look right for the role.

Simple rules:

You can lightly suggest the character:

The goal is to help casting see you in the part — without overdoing it.

If your scene involves another character, you’ll need someone to read the other lines.

This can be:

Important:

Before submitting:

Then:

Late submissions create stress and may not be accepted.

This is the most important part.

You can:

Casting is about:

Not just talent.

If you’ve prepared well and sent a clear, confident tape — you’ve done your job.