What follows is an honest, genuine, and hopefully helpful post about having “try outs” for movies.
I get this question a lot. As in every day. As in multiple times a day.
In fact, I’ve already answered it several times, but such is the way of the world. I will answer it here and…you know…tomorrow someone will ask it again. And yet I feel myself compelled to answer it tonight because tonight is the night I snap.
Okay. Here goes.
Again, I don’t want to be flippant or condescending. I’m trying to HONESTLY answer your question.
So the 100% truth is that there are not—nor will there ever be—open auditions for movies based on books. At least not my books.
I think they did it for Harry Potter but, dude, that was Harry Freaking Potter. The normal rules DO NOT APPLY.
If there is a movie (which right now there are no movies in the works), then the studio and production company will likely hire someone do to the casting. The casting person will work with TALENT AGENCIES who will say “hey, I have this super talented actress” and so on.
Also, the producers and studio will likely have someone in mind. Will they get that person? Maybe. Maybe not. Will that be the case for every role? Probably not. Does this mean “Ally is opposed to casting an unknown as Cammie! Ally sucks!!!!”
No. It really doesn’t mean that.
It just means that basically, (and, again, I don’t mean to sound flippant, but it’s true), a $30 million dollar movie doesn’t happen in the same way a school play happens.
It just doesn’t.
It can’t.
So…you want to be an actress. Great! Awesome! Then I’d suggest you get to work building your resume with local theater and maybe commercials. I’d recommend you start preparing TO BE AN ACTRESS. That may mean moving to Los Angeles. It may mean classes. It may mean head shots and a huge investment of both time and resources.
It does not mean finding out when “try outs” are because, again, 1: there is no movie in the works at this time. and 2: if and when there is a movie, there will likely be no try outs. There will be auditions and those auditions will likely go to people who are pursing acting professionally and have professional representation.
I genuinely hope this helps,
Ally
PS: and please remember, I’m not involved in the movie industry. I write books. I don’t have any real advice on becoming a working, agented actress beyond what anyone can find on Google. But Google is a pretty darn good place to start.
Well said, Ally. It boggles my mind how many times authors need to say the same things over and over again (especially when the information is right on their websites most of the time). So stoked for GG6! I can’t believe I’ll be a college freshman when it comes out.
Dear Ally, It is really annoying how, some times you need to say it again, but sametimes you got to repeat your self to be heard.
Liz Slama
Yes I know how you feel. When someone asks you the same question over and over again and you keep answering. Finally, one day you just want to snap. Love ya Ally and Shellie!!
xoxo Bea
p.s. Can’t wait ’til GG6!!! p.p.s. My name is pronounced Bay-yuh =D
Miss Ally, I totally get what you’re saying. I never even expected open auditions, so I’m not, you know, heart broken. I would love to be an actress, and I’m persuading-or at least trying-my mom to let me audition for Sight&Sound Theatre this summer. I’ve been an extra in a Hersheypark commercial, but none of the shots had me in it. But while we were there, my mom met this woman who offered to give her her son’s agency information, but sadly, my mother declined. Oh well. I’m allergic to makeup anyways.
i know completely how you feel! ppl should just get up of their butts and look at the bloody website!
i am so excited for gg6
luv u and ur books loads
Maeve Power
When i read the title, the first thougth that came was “finally a movie is comin out”
Lol same here!
I was about to freak out.
lol i did freak out but i was sad after this post. Lol
Yea me to.
I would love for a gallagher movie to come out. But at the same time, not. Because when a book becomes a movie, they always delete alot of important stuff.
I still really want it to become a movie. I dont think theres nothing really to delete:/
Yeah me to. But you know how they are :/. It would be a amazing movie.
Yeah. But i still really want it to be a movie:)
yeah. who do you think would make an awesome Cammie?
Ummmm…. idk. I never really thought about it but i do picture her in my head. What about you?
Same. But i do have a zach 🙂 drew roy
So true… I see authors answering this question over and over again… It gets annoying. I really think that want to be in a movie, they should actually start pursuing the career PROFESSIONALLY. So, well said, Ally.
Thx for mentioning this!
Whatever happened to the Heist Society movie?
It’s going to be this year
I’m suprised you lasted this long because every post I’ve been on has posts about movies.
But you know what I say?, movies ruin books and Ally’s writing is a work of art (something Kat would try and steal)
HA, I got all excited for a moment reading the title ‘MOVIE TRY OUTS’. Not that I’m interested in becoming an aspiring actress anytime soon, I just got really hyped up about a possible Gallagher Girls movie. Unfortunately, yet expectedly, my dreams are crushed yet again. It’s alright, though. As much as I would have loved to watch a Gallagher Girls movie and be the happiest girl in the world, I’m totally satisfied with Ally’s remarkable writing style. BUUUT… At least HEIST SOCIETY was optioned for film by WARNER BROS. STUDIOS. *Flailing and hyperventilating* With DREW BARRYMORE producing and probably directing, ALONGSIDE screenwriter Shauna Cross who is set to adapt! I’m not even upset that they’re thinking of aging the characters up a bit. I actually agree (not that I didn’t like the idea of teenage romance in the Heist series, Ally). I think it’d add a lot of thrill to the movies! I JUST… *Hyperventilates*
Really? I would think aging the characters would ruin the movie and book. But ruining book movies is what they do except Hunger Games for an exception they almost followed the book all the way.
No way! 🙂 Hunger Games was good but it chamged things. Same as Inkheart. I for one am glad that there won’t be a movie just yet because movies don’t do the books justice. But that’s not t say that i wouldn’t buy the GG movie/s the second I possibly could… 😀
That is very true good point.
I agree … movies always ruin books. Though I must say, I found The Hunger Games rather pathetic. In fact, it was comically bad …. The only movie I’ve found truly tolerable is the 1995 Pride and Prejudice, though I sonehow doubt Ally’s books will get 6 hours … oh well!
You are right that pride and prejudice was good. For Olivia I was meaning the movie makers didn’t change it to make it all different and to their liking. They kept to the book and changed a few, okay a lot of minor things but it still kept to the book.
I agree with you. The Hunger Games Was ALMOST Exact. Think Of Some Young, Fresh People to do it. Like, Selena Gomez, or some young actress. And for the boys. Pick someone who would fit like, a Blackthorne bad boy image. Like, Drew Roy. And It all depends on how the book and movie are related.
I totally understand you Ally. Mostly I would have thought they would pick the actor, which is a bad idea if they ever did. Also I think it tiring that they keep asking if there will be a movie. I have been watching the live videos that you set up talking about the series. Each live video, I think, a person has asked if your book series will be made into a movie. Seriously you can look it up on Google there are no signs of a real actual movie in production. Heist Society will probably never happen, never trust websites coming from Google.
Well, it’s not that you can’t trust websites from Google, but some happen to be more reliable than others. I do think that aging the characters wouldn’t be as fun, but it wouldn’t necessarily ‘ruin’ the movie. The age of the characters does not define the quality of the movie itself. ‘They’ haven’t ruined movies. Some are exceptionally impressive. It isn’t easy directing/producing a movie, let alone writing a book in general. Anyway, let us keep things lighthearted. Not that things got out of hand, but I am simply just expressing my opinion as you are. 🙂
Well said Nadia and Ally. I think the reason (1 of the reasons
Actually it would ruin the complete movie if it still had aged characters. Really? It would be a complete disaster to the book it would make Hollywood look stupid. The characters do define the movie. Guess who makes the movie a movie even with the amazing plot? The actors do. It would give the Heist Society series of books a bad impression. It is also from your opinion that other ones with aged characters are impressive to you but what about us. We probably don’t like. Instead of an exciting TEEN movie it would be a movie full of adults trying to act like they have younger minds and create what the book is. Wouldn’t you agree?
I agree they should be teens at least. or early twenties:/
And you never know, anything is possible in the life we are living in now. Heist Society could be made into a movie, as well as Gallagher Girls. Even though Heist Society appears to have a better chance than GG. There are probably a few books, at least one or two, that you have read and had some doubts about them ever making it to the big screen – but they did!
Actually no I haven’t had read any books that I had any doubts on. Also how do you know that heist society has more of a chance. The Gallagher girl series has as much potential as heist society does.
Personally, I REALLY don’t mind if you won’t turn your books into a movie. I like thinking of what the character looks like/ does in my head. I like to imagine what the places in the book look like in my head as well. I guess just prefer my own perspective rather than a director’s perspective since I know my taste well enough. 🙂 Anyways I apologize for the people who make you snap and hopefully they won’t make you snap ever again. 😀 Oh yeah, I just want to say that you are one of my favorite authors and I love your books SO much!!!! Keep on writing please!!! =)) xoxo
Haha movies aren’t made ‘to do books justice’. They’re just for some entertainment and such, they’re different. If Heist Society were to be made into a movie, they’d have to follow the book. Calm down about movies :/
Actually Hollywood doesn’t care about fans who are devoted to the book. It is what they think is right for the movie.
Hollywood has different directors who care about there fans of the book others dont. But whoever maybe someday if there is a movie hopefully the director will care.
It’s not that they don’t care, but more of they try to do what will be best on the big screen. Casting people can be a lot harder than how it seems-I most likely have a different idea of what Hale looks like to another person. And the directors, producers, and if Ally were to consult-they’d all have to somewhat agree on casting. Also, you have to think what people are going to come see; how can they get a larger audience? Early twenties, like, if they were to be in college, would probably slightly broaden the ideal audience-especially to those who haven’t read the book. With Heist, I don’t think it would absolutely ruin the movie if the characters were to be aged slightly, whereas with Gallagher Girls…it’s 7-12 grade, so it has to stay true to the plot.
again, love your books Ally, thank you so much!
it would still ruin it I say
I LOVE YOU ALLY!!!! I’ve met a lot of casting directors and I completely respect and marvel in the work they do-sometimes it doesn’t work as well as fans hope, but they work absolutely CRAZY hours. Totally hope one day there will be a movie and fingers crossed(and by God’s grace) I would be able to get to that level to even audition for it!
Thank you for your books and your blog! (:
Hey ally ummm… This is hard but I don’t have a talent agencie but I would really like a try out. I dream about it evry night no joke. My sister and I even fight about if it came down to us who would get the part. But I would be so stoked if I at least got a try out. I fit the discretion perfectly my mom even has to make sure I’m in the car even if I’m right in front of her that’s how I’m like her but not only that way and I would like a shot.
Lol Thats funny about your mom not seeing you when your right there> That happens to me to i was sitting in the front seat of the car when i wasnt suppose to and my mom looked at me about twenty times and never saw me there. I told her when we got home and she was like you where not in the front seat stop lying. Lol!
I would really like to try out to! Its like my dream!
I think Ally should hire professional Actors And Actresses.
Hi Ally, I just want to say that I am a HUGE fan of the Gallagher Girl series. I will support (although my support is not much to offer, but hey 🙂 why not ) you one hundred percent in whatever you chose for the movie tryouts. But you pointed out that Harry Potter was ‘Harry Freaking Potter’ so the rules don’t apply. But the Gallagher Girls series is ‘Gallagher freaking Girls’. Gallagher Girls is one of the (forgive me, THE) best series ever written, and I am positive that many other girls would agree with me. I just want to make sure that you know that the GG series is just as good as Harry Potter (and if you are sitting there rolling your eyes, stop, because it is true). So if you want to hire and professional, that’s great. But don’t feel like you have to, because your series isn’t good enough, because it is. Oh, and thanks for being one of the best writers, and role models ever.
~ Aly
Ps. Nice name 😉
Ally,
Ok so my friend told me about your series and I was super excited to read it because she said it was the greatest and best written book series that she has ever read. I 110% agreed. I just read the whole series in the last 2 weeks and i keep on rereading it because it is just so amazing. I thought divergent and the hunger games were the best books ever written but they look like nothing compared to your books. I love the character Zach Goode he is the perfect boyfriend. I really movies are done about all of your books because they are simply amazing. But if someone does make a movie make sure it’s done right, don’t let them turn the gg series into something it isn’t. I love your series so much!
~Caroline
I love your comment, I couldn’t have said it better. I totally agree with you on everything
I really loved that series my friend told me I would make a good bex I was so excited about them possibly making a movie and then was even more excited when she came out with a sixth book and I read it right away. I will never stop loving that series because I love sci-fi
I will cry if there is no movie!
Dear Ally,
Is there even going to be a movie of the series Gallagher Girls
Hi, I think that if you do make a movie (which I am all for) you should use new face actresses. And I think Cammie should be a dirty blonde or a light brunette btw.
Hiya !! I’m Rebecca and I love the books so much ( I read them all in 2 weeks)!!! I was wondering when the movie (if there is one coming out ) would take place. I’m an aspiring actress and would die even to be an extra or something (probably like everyone else here) Thanks x
Hiya I’m Rebecca. I adore the Gallagher Girls series so much! I was wondering if and when the movie was going to be made? I’m an aspiring actress and would die for a place as an extra or anything! I agree with Megan but something about Cammoe has that fiery edge that I think a red head would also incorporate.
I am excited this is under optioning.
And by excited I mean, JUMPING-OFF-THE-CHAIR-AND-SCREAMING-AT-THE-TOP-OF-MY-LUNGS-SAYING “ZAMMIE’S COMING TO THE SCREEN!”
The Gallagher Girls was my first and favorite fandom, and even though I read it around 6 months ago, I STILL OBSESS over it today.
My phone literally had more pictures of quotes and fan art of the series then anything else combined.
Unfortunately, I have not read Heist Society, but I swear it’s on my reading list I plan to finish this summer.
Ally Carter, you are my favorite author.
And please don’t think I’m being biased, I’ve read LOADS of great books. Hunger games, Divergent, you name it.
I used to stay up all night reading your books. THEY ARE THE BOMB.COM
SO PLEASE, PLEASE, I BEG OF YOU, LET GALLAGHER GIRLS BECOME A MOVIE! I WOULD JUST DIE IF IT HAPPENED.
I WILL FIGHT LIKE CAMMIE TO HAVE THIS HAPPEN, EVEN IF I HAVE TO MAKE THIS MOVIE MYSELF. It would be really bad if I made it, cuz I’m only twelve, but it would follow the book, I swear.
One more thing before I go back to fangirling, Ally, Shelly, whoever’s there, please, please, DO NOT ALLOW THE MOVIE PEOPLE TO PICK THE WRONG ZACHARY GOODE. THE FANDOM IS COUNTING ON YOU.
Love your writing,
Deanna The Fangirl
Ally I understand what you are saying, but if you really want the letters to stop coming you should show the people that are looking into making your movie how much people want it to come out, so when and if castings are held people would bug them not you.
P.s you are my favorite author ever I love you and make more books.
I’m a hopeful young actress, I am doing agent auditions and I have to say now it’s not a glamorous business!! And also Gallagher girls will be such a big movie you can trust me when I say most people wouldn’t want to be in it (unless you are very well trained and can find time to sleep!!) but that’s just my opinion. Plus I feel bad for you ally I hate having to repeat myself!!
You are an amazing writer and I agree with you.
I would love a gallagher girl movie and I would buy it straight away but its your choice so I really don’t mind either way.
P.S I just finished the gallagher girl sieres and once I started the first book I fell in love with it
P.P.S I love your work
I think you should try and let other girls or guys that want to act be able to let them do this to start like I really want to nut I’m not an actor but I would like to do this