INDUSTRY GUIDE · CASTING

What does a casting director actually do?

Behind every role is a larger puzzle. The casting director's job is to help the production find the right people for the project and drive the process from script to final proposals.

01
THE ROLE OF CASTING

Finding the right cast.

Breaking down the script
Identifying the requirements for each role
Creating casting briefs
Contacting agents and actors
Searching for and gathering options
Holding auditions and reviewing recorded material
Creating shortlists and callbacks
Checking availability
Presenting proposals to the production
That is the core of the job.
02
WHO DECIDES?

Does casting decide who gets the role?

Sometimes. But usually not alone.

Casting makes recommendations. The final decision may rest with the director, producers, executive producer, studio or network, distributor, financier, or client.

Sometimes EVERYONE.
03
RECOMMENDATION ≠ THE FINAL SAY

Casting can push for you.

“This is my first choice.”
“This was the strongest audition.”
“I think this person is right for the role.”
“These are the three actors I recommend.”

But a recommendation and the final decision are not the same thing.

04
CAN CASTING GUARANTEE YOU THE JOB?

No.

Even if casting loves your audition. Even if you are their first choice. Even if they are pushing for you. Even if the director likes you.

Another decision-maker can still say no.

05
AN IMPORTANT DISTINCTION

Agents and casting directors have different roles.

YOUR AGENT
works for you.
CASTING
works for the production.

Casting directors should treat actors professionally and respectfully and can advocate for an individual. However, casting is not your representative.

06
WHAT YOU CAN INFLUENCE

Make your part clear.

HEADSHOT

Does it show who you are today?

PROFILE BIO

Is it clear who you are at a glance?

SHOWREEL

Can they see you acting straight away?

LINKS & PROFILES

Is everything working and is the material current?

CONTACT & AVAILABILITY

Is the information easy to find and up to date?

You cannot control who makes the final decision.
But you can make it easy to understand who you are today.
INDUSTRY INSIGHTS

What does a casting director actually do?

And what don't they do?
01
THE ROLE OF CASTING

Our job is to find the right cast.

We break down the script.
Identifying the requirements for each role.
Creating casting briefs.
Contacting agents and actors.
Searching for and gathering options.
Holding auditions.
Reviewing recorded material.
Creating a shortlist.
Presenting our choices to the production.
From script to cast – a big puzzle.
02
WHO DECIDES?

Does casting decide who gets the role?

Sometimes.
But usually not alone.

We make recommendations.
The final decision may rest with:

the director
producers
executive producer
studio / channel
distributor
financier
client
Sometimes: EVERYONE at once.
We suggest. Not the final word.
03
THE DECISION

Who actually decides who gets the role?

The casting director has a major influence, but they don't always make the final call themselves.

Often, several people are involved in the decision:

The director
The producer
The advertising agency or the client
Sometimes others in the team too
The casting director puts forward suggestions – but it is the overall picture that decides.
Many voices. One decision.
04
MORE THAN LOOKS

It is about more than just looks.

Personality, energy, and credibility often carry more weight than what you look like.

The casting director looks at, among other things:

presence and authenticity
how you take direction
whether you fit the role and the world
your energy with others
how you come across on camera
your experience and ability to deliver
The right person is the one who best tells this particular story.
More than just a pretty face.
05
THE BIGGER PICTURE

A role is more than just an audition.

It is the overall picture that counts – from your first impression to how you fit into the production.

The casting director looks at:

your showreel and materials
your profile and experience
how you perform on selftape and at auditions
whether you suit the character of the role
how you work within the team
availability and practical requirements
overall impression and gut feeling
You don’t need to be perfect, just right for this particular role.
The right material can lead to the right role – if everything clicks.
06
PATIENCE

Patience is also part of the job.

Many roles take time – even when you have delivered a really great audition.

It could be because:

multiple candidates are being tested
schedules and filming dates need to align
the client wants to see more options
factors other than performance come into play
the decision has to go through several channels
the role may be put on hold or change direction
Stay active, visible, and ready—the next role could come along quickly.
Sometimes it takes time. But it happens.
INDUSTRY INSIGHTS

What does a casting director actually do?

And what don't they do?
Monika Dalman, casting director and consulting producer, on what a casting director actually does—and doesn't do.
THE ROLE OF CASTING

Our job is to find the right cast.

We break down the script.
Identifying the requirements for each role.
Creating casting briefs.
Contacting agents and actors.
Searching for and gathering options.
Holding auditions.
Reviewing recorded material.
Creating a shortlist.
Presenting our choices for the production.
From script to cast – a big puzzle.
Audition situation in a studio with an actor in front of the camera and the casting team at a table.
WHO DECIDES?

Does casting decide who gets the role?

Sometimes.
But usually not alone.

We recommend. The final decision may rest with:

the director
producers
executive producer
studio / channel
distributor
financier
client
Sometimes: EVERYONE at once.
We suggest. Not the final word.
RECOMMENDATION ≠ THE FINAL SAY

Casting can push for you.

“This is my first choice.”
“This was the strongest audition.”
“I think this person is right for the role.”
“These are the three actors I recommend.”
“I strongly advise against this choice.”
But a recommendation and the final decision are not the same thing.
Casting teams go through headshots and discuss selections around a table.
CAN CASTING GUARANTEE YOU THE JOB?
No.
Even if casting loves your audition. Even if you are their first choice.
Even if they are pushing for you. Even if the director likes you.
Another decision-maker can still say no.
It is one of the toughest parts of casting.
AN IMPORTANT DISTINCTION

Agents and casting directors have different roles.

YOUR AGENT
works for you.
CASTING
works for the production.

Casting directors should treat actors professionally and respectfully and can advocate for an individual. However, casting is not your representative.

MORE THAN LOOKS

It is about more than just looks.

Personality, energy, and credibility often carry more weight than what you look like.

CASTING DIRECTORS LOOK AT, AMONG OTHER THINGS:
presence and authenticity
how you take direction
if you fit the role and the world
your energy with others
how you come across on camera
your experience and ability to deliver
The right person is the one who best tells this particular story.
THE BIGGER PICTURE

A role is more than just an audition.

It is the overall picture that counts – from your first impression to how you fit into the production.

CASTING DIRECTORS LOOK AT:
your showreel and materials
your profile and experience
how you perform on selftape and at auditions
if you fit the character of the role
how you fit into the team
availability and practical requirements
overall impression and gut feeling
You don’t need to be perfect, just right for this particular role.
Actors waiting outside a casting room while a casting associate provides information in the corridor.
PATIENCE

Patience is also part of the job.

Many roles take time – even when you have delivered a really great audition.

IT MAY BE BECAUSE:
multiple candidates are being tested
schedules and filming dates need to align
the client wants to see more options
factors other than performance come into play
the decision goes through several stages
the role may be paused or change direction
Stay active, visible and ready – the next role can come quickly. Sometimes it takes time. But it happens.
THE SIMPLEST VERSION
The casting director’s job is to help the production find the best possible actors for the project.
And driving the major process required to go from “Here is a script” to “Here is your cast.”
We have influence. Sometimes enormous influence.
But influence is not the same as having the final say.
Actors audition on a small stage in front of casting personnel in the room.
CAN CASTING CHANGE A ROLE?

We can suggest changes.

For example:
Broaden the age range
Open up to more ethnicities
Change the role description
Remove an unnecessary requirement
Suggest someone outside the original brief
However, major creative changes require approval. We cannot simply rewrite someone else's project.
THE FILMING SCHEDULE

That is not controlled by casting.

Casting can ask: “Is this actor available on these dates?”
BUT WE DO NOT DECIDE:
which day you are filming
how many hours you work
when your scenes are scheduled
if the production moves a date
when you wrap
When you get your call time? That is the production.
CAN CASTING JUST INCREASE THE FEE?
Usually no.
"I think we need to increase the fee."

Casting can absolutely say that.

We can take the agent's counter-offer back to the production. We can advocate for you.

But we cannot spend the production's money without approval.
WHO MAKES THE OFFER?

Casting often communicates the offer.

That does not mean that casting created it.
PRODUCTION APPROVES:
fee
number of shooting days
credit / billing
travel
accommodation
date
contract terms
special terms
Casting communicates and negotiates within those parameters.
THIS IS WHAT CASTING CAN CONTROL

Responsibility exists even without the final say.

How professionally the casting process is managed.
How clearly information is communicated.
Who we choose to take forward.
Whether we advocate for an actor.
Whether we speak up against unreasonable demands.
Whether the search is inclusive.
Whether people are treated with respect during the casting.
THAT is our responsibility.
One of the strangest parts of the job: sometimes casting has to communicate a decision that they themselves have argued against.
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