Tony Nixon: Well lets discuss the Audition process in general. 
It's been a long time since I auditioned in the UK, but the system there was very different.

Casting Directors are given character breakdowns. Sometimes a casting director may have specific Actors in his or her mind that may fit that role and ask to see those actors to Audition, or more often with smaller roles Character description and "sides" (small section of script) are sent out to Actors agents or may appear on Professional casting websites like AT2 and then Agents submit photos and resumes of Artists who may fit the role.

The casting director then selects from these people who he/she wants to see. In England (or this used to be the case) The Actor would then go in and have a meeting with the casting director (The Director and even producer may be present too .. and sometimes a few people who nobody seems to know why they are there) at the meeting you would do a read of the script, and possibly a cold read of something you haven't sighted. They may or may not video this process. If they like you it can result in call back Audition and sometimes several call backs for a big film.

When I first met Tom McSweeny (Warners) some 12 or 14 years ago he told me the US system was similar.

 
OK, In Australia for any Audition (Or casting as its usually referred to for film and TV) the first part of the process is usually the same, that is to say the selection of the talent to be auditioned, however here is where things differ a little. I have never been interviewed and asked to read for a role (I'm not saying it doesn't happen), I have always been expected to learn and commit to memory the script "sides" sent to me. This is performed in a sterile room usually with few or no props to a small handicam or camcorder with one other person reading any other characters lines back to me.

Good casting directors