The director wants an unknown face for the lead and a well-known actor for the father, but the father is only free for six days. The casting director has seen two hundred self-tapes, called four agents and knows which actor can fit in those six days without breaking the cast budget. The casting director is the person who finds the actors and helps the producer and director choose them.

What a casting director does

The casting director works for the producer and the director. On independent films they are often involved during financing, because a well-known name attached to the lead can help raise money. The main work happens in pre-production. They read the script, draw up lists of possible actors for each part, contact agents and organise auditions and self-tapes (short recorded auditions sent in by actors).

Once the director has chosen, the casting director makes the first offer to the actor's agent and agrees the outline of the deal, such as fee, number of working days and billing. The production lawyer or business affairs then turns that into a contract. Smaller roles are often cast during the shoot itself, as schedules change.

Responsibilities

  • Read the script and build lists of suitable actors for each role
  • Contact agents and check availability against the shooting schedule
  • Organise auditions, recalls and chemistry reads between actors
  • Advise the director and producer on choices, including new talent
  • Make offers and negotiate the outline of cast deals within the budget
  • Work with extras casting on featured background roles
  • Keep track of availability changes and recast when an actor drops out

How the role touches the budget

Through two lines. The casting director's own fee is a budget line, and the cast fees they negotiate are usually the largest part of the above-the-line costs after producers and director. They work within a cast budget set by the line producer, and know how many shoot days each actor needs, since that drives the fee. A casting director who can find the right actor for fewer days saves real money.

How people become casting directors

Most start as a casting assistant or associate in an established casting office, often after working at a talent agency, in theatre or in the production office. They learn by watching auditions, building contacts with agents and keeping their own files of actors. Over time they cast smaller projects under their own name.

In TV and commercials

In television, casting directors often work on a series for several seasons and cast guest roles episode by episode. In commercials the brief is short and visual, many roles are non-speaking, and the casting is often done in a few days with the client and agency watching the shortlist.