By: David Wooddell, Barbizon USA
It’s pilot season in Hollywood! Every year, more than 111,000 actors move to Los Angeles in hopes of hitting it big and being the next lead in a television series or major feature film. The biggest time of year for the entertainment industry is pilot season. Pilot season is a lot like your birthday: it seems to arrive earlier and earlier every year. This year to date, there are over 190 active pilots being cast and produced.
So you may be wondering, what in the world IS pilot season?! It is the standalone episode of a television series that is used to sell the show to a television network. When it is being created, it is used as a testing ground to gauge whether a series will be successful on primetime television. The networks will use pilots to determine whether the concept of the show can be successfully marketed. After the network executives screen the product, they will then determine whether the series would make a great addition to their primetime lineup. The majority of pilots do not make the cut. According to Variety, only a little more than a quarter of all pilots made for American television proceed to the series stage; although, the figure may be even lower. Most pilots are never publicly screened if they fail to sell a series. If a series is “picked up,” pilots are usually – but not always – broadcast as the introductory episode of the series.
Pilot season is the perfect time of year for new actors because it’s a chance for them to audition for many projects. The more shows you audition for, the better chance you have of future auditions. Pilots are the perfect opportunity to get newer actors booked on shows. With so many active pilots being cast, you can imagine how many roles will need to be filled and it is a wonderful time to start your career!
Stay tuned for our next article…. “Best and Worst Times of the Year to Submit to Agents”
Want to learn more about how Barbizon can help you start your acting career? Schedule an audition to meet with your local school!
