Advice: Auditioning For the Role of Jill Pole

Since the release of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, we at NarniaWeb have received almost daily inquiries about auditioning for the role of Jill Pole in The Silver Chair. After the release of The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, these inquiries have risen to almost unbelievable levels. We wanted to take this opportunity to give some information about the film industry and answer the questions that folks may have about how to acquire a role.

Pre-Production and Greenlighting

Before casting begins for a film, there are several steps that take place. A script is written (or at least begun), the story is pitched to the studio, and the studio then “greenlights” the film, which means that the production is formally approved and financed. After the film is greenlit, it then enters pre-production, during which the script is finalized and plans are made for the actual shooting of the film. It is during this pre-production stage that casting is done.

Casting and Auditions

The casting process for The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe was somewhat unique in that casting director Pippa Hall held many public auditions when searching for the four Pevensie children. These auditions were generally held at schools around the UK, with children from the drama clubs being invited to attend. This is not typical, though, and usually a casting director will work directly with agents and industry contacts to come up with a list of potential actors to fill a specific role. Several actors are given auditions and the director and producers together decide which one will best play the part. This is the way that Will Poulter was cast for the role of Eustace.

Occasionally there will be open auditions for extras at a film location shoot. When that information becomes available we always post it at NarniaWeb.

Silver Chair Status

The future of the Narnia movies depends on the box office results for each film. If The Voyage of the Dawn Treader doesn’t do well enough in theaters, it is likely that there will not be any further Narnia films. If it is successful (and no one is sure exactly what the threshold of success is in the eyes of the studio), then Walden and Fox will likely move forward and attempt to get another Narnia film greenlit.

In interviews the producers have mentioned that they are considering The Silver Chair as well as The Magician’s Nephew for the next film. This could mean that The Silver Chair would be skipped or passed over temporarily, or that both films could be made at the same time. There are any number of possibilities, but the reality is that the future of the franchise and The Silver Chair is very much in limbo right now. It also goes without saying that production for The Silver Chair has not been greenlit and is not currently looking for any actors for the simple reason that there is no production.

Advice

If you are interested in auditioning for the role of Jill Pole or any other character in a Narnia film, the best advice that we can give is to 1) get involved with a local drama group to hone your skills and 2) hire an agent who can acquire an audition for you with the casting director when the time comes. There likely won’t be any public auditions. This is simply the way that Hollywood works.

Another question that we are often asked is about what the producers are looking for. Again, since there are no producers and no production (yet), we have no idea. During the casting process for The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Pippa Hall was quoted as saying that she felt that there were so many brilliant British actors that there was no need to look for someone who could “fake” a British accent. So our expectation is that the producers would probably look to the UK first to fill the role of Jill Pole.

Conclusion

To sum this all up, The Silver Chair has not yet been greenlit so there are no roles yet to be filled. If you are interested in auditioning for a role when one becomes available, we recommend that you hire an agent who can acquire an audition for you when the time comes. Good luck!

1,747 Responses

  1. Jessi says:

    Hi wow I just read this and you all sound like amazing actresses, Emilee I loved your video…. I think it would be so fun to be be Jill 🙂

  2. Narnia #1 Fan says:

    It's been about a wekk. :/ And thanks.

  3. Lucia says:

    1week…mayb u should wait 1more!
    & ur welcome*sorry i can't help u…

  4. Lucia says:

    yes,i think every1 here is soooo good 4 the role**
    (without me!)
    & about Emilee's video,I luv it2!!
    If i post audition videos(4 the role of Aravis though),any1 watch it…???

  5. Jessi says:

    I will Lucia!

  6. Narnia #1 Fan says:

    I will too! 🙂

  7. archerygirlxx says:

    heey jessi u should watch my video if u type in jill pole audition then look for ellabellabooxxx1 that is mee!!!!!!
    hope u enjoy it!! 😀

  8. Jessi says:

    I thought it was really good…but the camera was was messed up …

  9. Jessi says:

    ya I'll watch it and Lucia I think you would be a really cool Aravis 😀

  10. actress in the making says:

    Ok soon I am going to ask my mom for a talent agent any advice?

  11. Jessi says:

    Hey everyone just watched the old silver chair..Camilla Power played Jill and I think she did a pretty good job..the movie was ok I like Will P. as Eustace better and the effects were a little corny..but it was made a while ago

  12. Narnia #1 Fan says:

    Yeah, I've seen parts of t, but I agree, Will P. is better as Eustace. Right, she is is pretty good. I didn't like what I saw too much though… well, but right, it was made a long time ago.

  13. Ellie says:

    Does Jill Pole have to have brown/blonde hair and blue eyes? I mean, it never really described her in the book…
    Right, so I have black/dark brown depending on the lighting. My eyes are green or yellow, again, depending on the lighting. I have an American accent, but I've been told that my English accent is rather convincing. I'm thirteen years old and 5'1. I've been reciting the lines from the book like a madman! :0

  14. Jessi says:

    Ellie…no I don't think Jill has to have brown/blond hair….but I think that's what some people expect

  15. Lucia says:

    Oh,really?I will*but donnot expect a cute girl!i am really not-cute-girl!!!

  16. Lucia says:

    Yes,& she has light brown hair in the pictures.
    But i think it's ok if the actress act jill has another!!
    Acting skill is the matter***

  17. Lucia says:

    Yeah,i think camilla was pretty good,2!Not only her looks but acting was also nice,i think*
    & about eustace,Will p.was really good,in my opinion.i luv the last scene in VDT,espesially the farewell of Reep & eustace!

  18. Narnia #1 Fan says:

    Yes. Aww! I know! I love the ending scene's!

  19. Narnia #1 Fan says:

    Right. Hair color and stuff can be changed! Don't spend all of your time on your looks, focus on your acting!

  20. Jessi says:

    that was my favorite part!

  21. Jessi says:

    P.S. I was also that girl in the movie theater that started crying 🙂

  22. actress in the making says:

    I totaly agree because I mean their are great actors all over the world the should give us a chance too!

  23. Narnia #1 Fan says:

    Aww, Jessi! 🙂 I was holding back tears thats whole scene, but I didn't want to cry in front of my brother! Haha!

  24. Jessi says:

    ah the brother a truly odd creature 😀

  25. Lucia says:

    My grandma & i were cried,2!

  26. fan says:

    why not they go to oltfa school in swansea to pick the next actorties.

  27. Narnia #1 Fan says:

    Hi guys! I am (maybe) getting a youtube account sometime this month, and I MIGHT- thats the big word- MIGHT make a video of me as Jill Pole, if so, I will post a link on here. Remember… the BIG word is MIGHT… I made one the other day, and I looked REALLY bad in it! Hahaha!! Well.. if I do, it will either be late March or early(ish) April.
    MIGHT! 😀

  28. Jessi says:

    Lucia you said you lived in Japan right….well I was wondering because of that big earthquake and tsunami?

  29. Lizzie says:

    yeah, the girl from Japan, please let us know if you are ok?! i suddenly thought omd theres a girl from japan on here :/ i hope you're okay & my thoughts are with you, i hope you & your family are all ok!!

  30. Jessi says:

    if she is in Japan all the power is out so she woundn't be able to reply…yes we are all praying for you Lucia….if you are in Japan?

  31. archerygirlxx says:

    oh god i hope that her and her family are ok 🙁 i am so worried as soon as i heard i thought about lucia oooh i really hope that she wasn't hurt
    we are praying for you lucia xxxx

  32. Lucia says:

    Every1!!!
    I am FiNe!!!so is my family.but there r so many victims,& everywhere is confusing…
    i was at my restaurant,& my senior hug me.i am not sure but my friends' father hasn't come back2 their home…
    PRAY,PRAY,PRAY…

  33. Lucia says:

    My dear friends,
    I am fine!!!
    It looks my grandparents r all right2.
    i am relatively lucky cuz i live in tokyo,where little bit far from the seismic,& tsunami didn't come to my town.
    but electric systems or gas systems r not work as well as usual.
    Thank u 4 ur worrying,& please pray 4 peoples live near from
    the seismic,& hurt!!!

    Aslan is always with us in anytime,anywhere!!!

    Love u guys,I love u so much*Please pray!pretty pretty please…!!!

    Love & pray,
    Lucia(from japan,11:30am,march 12th)

  34. Lucia says:

    sorry,i meant "for hurt people"
    & my friends r safe,it looks!
    thank u 4 ur praying!!!

  35. Jessi says:

    Lucia I am so glad you and your friends and family are all right!! …and I am still praying for the rest out there

  36. Narnian Wannabee says:

    Thank goodness you are all right! I was worried about you! But what about the nuclear plants? Are you safe from them? I am praying for Japan! Oh and sorry I have not been here in a while. Sorry. But keep me posted. Does anyone have any current news? Thanks bunches!
    Love,
    Kit-Kat

  37. Lucia says:

    Oh,jessi,thank u so much!
    & yes,please keep praying!!!!

  38. Lucia says:

    kit-kat!i am safe from them,thank goodness!
    but i wonder if my friends' grandma is alright…I know she live in fukushima.
    & earthquake is still here,so i am scare…!

    But here is another(bright*)news*I am considering to go to uk in this summer & join a holiday class of a theatre school**

    it looks electronic systems r not working well,so i gotta go!I will keep posting 4 sure,2!

    Please pray 4 all people in japane who r in scare or sadness!

    Love u guys,i love u!!!

    pray,
    Lucia

  39. lis narnia says:

    Yes! but i have written them one more time..I hope they'll write back again.
    Try it… I think one agent will write you back… I think: If they will not write me back i'll write them until they write me back.( hope you understand what i tried to tell you)

  40. lis narnia says:

    oh me too. I think it was so sad. I was there with my best friend and we cried. I luv the song at the end and I think it is so sad that they won't come back…:'(

  41. lis narnia says:

    Oh rhat i nice to hear that you are fine!

  42. lis narnia says:

    It is terrible!I pray for all in Japan and I hope that it wouldn't be so terrible like in Tschernobyl…:(

  43. lis narnia says:

    I wish i could go to a theater school in uk, too! What is the name of the school??

  44. archerygirlxx says:

    i have posted my new audition video!!! if you go on jill pole auditions 2 you will find it!!! please comment xx

  45. GodsGirl says:

    Hey Guys I was wondering If any of you knows how can I fake a better british accent? I'm not really bad but there is just something missing. Please Help me!! And GOD Bless You All<3 (Pray for Japan as well, please).

  46. TheRealEmilee says:

    Lucia Im so glad to hear you are ok. I was praying for you and your fmaily:) My computer has been broken thats why I havnt been on here in a while. Will be posting a Jill Pole video on my youtube account.

  47. Lizzie says:

    why dont you try the whole listening & copying strategy? i dont know where you're from sorry so i have no idea how hard it will be for you, but find an english film or something with english actors with a natural english accent, & try & copy things they say until you get the hang of it? its easier to watch english actors rather than americans or something, because sometimes their accent can slip a little & they can sound a bit fake sometimes but good luck!! 🙂 x

  48. TheRealEmilee says:

    hahah yea Im an american(: hahah its pretty good:) but how could you tell,haha?

  49. TheRealEmilee says:

    Aw thanks(:

  50. Narnian Wannabee says:

    Not trying to freak you out Lucia but today my math teacher said that the radiation in the air from the nuclear plants would blow out to the sea and then come back and hit Tokyo. So just be careful, I am praying for all of Japan right now. I know it was terrible but it was God's will and he knows more than we do so all we can do is trust in God to show us what He wants us to do. I think I am giving up on Narnia but I can't just it seems so far away…..but yet so near……

  51. TheRealEmilee says:

    Hey! I dont think you should give up on narnia. You have to beilve. I mean even if they do not greenlit SC first you can still be on here and get ppls support to follow your dreams so when they do shoot SC you will be ready! DONT GIVE UP!:)

  52. archerygirlxx says:

    so when r u posting your new video???

  53. Lucia says:

    Hi,lis!
    so sorry,i couldn't come here cuz our electricity systems were stopped!
    the school's name is;Sylvia Young Theatre School.u can find it easy online!!

  54. Lucia says:

    Hi,guys!!
    It's Lucia,i am fine*But electricity systems r often stopped(cuz depend is bigger than supply…),so i have2 save it!
    I luv u***

    @archerygirl,
    i watched ur new video!i luv it*i posted my comment,did u notice???

    @Emilee,
    I made my own utube page*i want2 watch ur new video!!

  55. Lucia says:

    thank u,kit-kat!& DO NOT GIVE UP NARNIA!!!!
    i won't give up though i am japanese!
    go4 it!!yes,kit-kat,u can do it**

  56. TheRealEmilee says:

    I'll be posting it tomorrow(: Ill post a link!

  57. TheRealEmilee says:

    Thats great give me a link so I can subscribe you. Illpost a link Im adding it tomorrow.

  58. lis narnia says:

    Tahnk you!
    I pray for all in Japan!

  59. Jessi says:

    hey everyone…I just found this funny video of lucy and edmund on youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nD0tQ_TfWoI&feature=related

  60. archerygirlxx says:

    aww thankyou i will look at your comment now!! xxx