Photoplayer Hater

There's a notion among a certain section of the acting population that believes the ultimate measure of an actor is skill. Skill might get an actor roles in small productions and might help them get better grades in acting classes, but it is not the reason an actor will be cast in most movies.

Interest Financiers

Movies are not cheap to make. The biggest of the big budgets require north of $100 million and sometimes over $200 million. Many producing entities don't have any money or enough to produce a film. Your average movie is funded not by the filmmakers but by outside interests. These entities want to reduce the risk as much as possible, which for them means featuring bankable talent. So to get the money needed to shoot the film in the first place, stars are needed to the ease the nerves of the money people.

Marketable Personalities

You needn't have an outside financier to have somebody on the filmmaking side want to include big-name talent. It is often necessary to have famous actors in the movie to get the funding, but they also see it as a way to market the movie. So they won't be looking for the actor that best fits the part or is technically the best actor, they want the actor that a lot of people are willing to pay to see on screen.

They Are Familiar Faces

Movies have a particular look and feel that your average moviegoer has become accustomed to. It doesn't feel like a movie if it's missing certain elements. Along with widescreen photography, clear dialogue recording, and high production value is the presence of people they've seen in other movies. Many people come to expect films to be filled with people from the film world only. Even though you may be better in many ways than the other actor who has a more familiar face, you will often lose out to this actor anyway.

Play A Stereotype In A Small Role

Nobody on earth completely can be described with a single stereotype. Every human is unique and no two are alike. In film often times they don't want you for your one-of-a-kind qualities but rather your broad characteristics. So people who have certain looks will find themselves in similar roles throughout their career. The guy with the fat face will be the best friend and not the leading man, the chunky brunette will be forever the bridesmaid and never the love interest. If you are of an ethnicity other then white you may find yourself speaking in accents with the mannerisms of an immigrant a lot of the time.

Favors, Backscratching

Along with visual considerations, lots of people are awarded roles simply for past services rendered or existing social relationships. The son of a producer may beat you out for a role or someone who did the director of favor once might edge you out for a part. The filmmaking industry may seem large but in reality it is small and relationships and social politics play a large part in many decisions.

To put it bluntly they mostly want stars or stereotypes. It may not seem fair the way actors are chosen for parts, this is the reason I encourage you to take your career in your own hands and get active in making opportunities for yourself that you are proud of. If you wait for opportunities to come to you, you will have to take what you get. With a little effort you can have a hand in creating a part for you that you were born to play.