The Casting Department The Complete Guide to Film & Digital Production: The People & The Process Lorene M. Wales, Ph.D. © 2017 Taylor & Francis

Casting Director Meets with the director after receiving a cast breakdown to discuss casting possibilities. Searches his/her own previous clients for possibilities for each role. If it is a SAG show, will search the SAG catalogue for possibilities.    © 2017 Taylor & Francis

Casting Director Next, the casting director collects headshots of possibilities for each role and sends these to the director and producer. Next the casting director schedules actors for a casting session. In order to do this efficiently the casting director must know the actors availability along with the production schedule of the show. © 2017 Taylor & Francis

Example Cast Breakdown Regina – Lead Role Early 20’s Caucasian female, petite and muscular. Regina is a beautiful girl, feminine yet strong. She is vulnerable enough to fall in love, yet tough enough to be the leader of the free world. Her stature is demur, yet her spirit makes her a force to be reckoned with. Uomo The villain. Mid-40’s to 50’s, Caucasian male, tall and scrawny. Uomo is a wiry balding, distasteful, miserly looking man. Evil reigns in his eyes. His plot to take over the kingdom is the mark of a desperate man who exudes malice. Donato Uomo’s son. Early 20’s, no preference of ethnicity. Donato is Regina’s love interest. © 2017 Taylor & Francis

Casting Director The casting director gets sides from the director for actors to prepare. Some directors and producers prefer an actor be fully prepared for a scene. Some do what is called a “cold reading.” Once the casting session is set up: Casting director runs the casting session. Casting director provides someone to read with the actors, usually an assistant. May also use the assistant to escort actors in and out of the room, or, may bring another assistant to do this. Casting director also provides a video camera and tapes each audition. © 2017 Taylor & Francis

Other Casting Personnel Local Casting Director Extras Casting Casting Assistants © 2017 Taylor & Francis

How to Set Up a Casting Session Put up flyers in the local area. Put ads in the following low-cost venues; local newspapers, local cable arts announcements, local trade magazines, local high schools or universities and local casting agencies. As actors begin to call you, arrange for no longer than 15-minute sessions. Make sure there is an adequate waiting area with chairs for actors. Procure a camera to tape the auditions. Make sure the producer and director meet and discuss exactly what they are looking for in each character.      © 2017 Taylor & Francis

How to Run a Casting Session Have someone escort the first actor in. Ask the actor if he/she has any questions regarding the character or the scene. You could let the actor know that they are free to move around if they want to. This is a good idea because their ability to move will show you if they have any imagination. Have them slate themselves. Then they should wait until you tell them you are ready and read the scene. © 2017 Taylor & Francis

How to Run a Casting Session If they are really bad, thank them and go to the next person. If you see any talent, ask them to read the scene again, giving them some direction that puts them in another direction. If the second reading is exactly the same as the first, you won't have much to work with. You want to be able to have something to work with. An actor’s ability to act is more important than a particular look you have preconceived. © 2017 Taylor & Francis

How to Run a Casting Session If there is time for callbacks, schedule them so you can have certain combinations of actors read together. Make sure you confirm with the actors that all of the shooting dates are clear for them. Make notes of any conflicts. Thank the actor for coming. Have someone escort the actor out. It is a good idea to make notes on the actor, before seeing the next one. After a while, you may tend to forget what you did or did not like about the actor. © 2017 Taylor & Francis

Other Casting Issues Screen Tests Rehearsals Training Fittings Working with Minors Tutors Working with Parents © 2017 Taylor & Francis

Example Rehearsal Schedule DATE TIME LOCATION ACTOR PART SCENES June 24 9A-5P Rm. 145 Kim, Lane, Regina Regina 2, 10, 14 June 25 9A–5P 11,34,66,83   Jeff Johnson Donato June 26 9A-12P Kim Lane 55, 56, 57 1P-5P 92, 94, 113 Anthony Guerrera King 93, 95, 113 June 27 9A-1P Rm. 140 115 1P-3P 3P-5P 101, 102 June 28 No rehearsals June 29 9A-11A 14, 16, 23 Scott Porter Uomo 11A-12P 86, 99 Anthony Guerrrera © 2017 Taylor & Francis

Other Casting Issues Working with Animals The Taft-Hartley Categories of Actors Lead Supporting Extras Silent Bits/Special Ability Stand-ins © 2017 Taylor & Francis

Other Casting Issues Day Players Weekly Players Stuntmen Stuntwomen Safety © 2017 Taylor & Francis

Casting Hierarchy Casting Director Casting Assistants Extras Casting Coordinator Assistants Local Casting Director © 2017 Taylor & Francis

STUNTS © 2017 Taylor & Francis

Stunt Coordinator Pre-production Meets with the director and producer to discuss how all stunts will look, and how much they may cost. Arranges for the proper gear to perform the stunt. This may involve renting or purchasing. Hires stunt people to perform the stunts. Works with the APOC to travel stunt people to and from the location. © 2017 Taylor & Francis

Stunt Coordinator Prep Meets with and works with the transportation department on car stunts. Meets and works with the 1st A.D. on how long each stunt will take to prepare and shoot. Meets with stunt personnel to discuss how each stunt will be performed. © 2017 Taylor & Francis

Stunt Coordinator Production & Wrap Maintains authority over the stunt people. Coordinates the setting up and execution of each stunt. Once the stunt is complete, announces “Clear” when it is safe to approach the event. Wrap Makes sure the gear is sent back to the vendor (if applicable), Leaves when all stunts are accomplished. © 2017 Taylor & Francis

Conclusion The casting department casts the show according to the director’s vision and producer’s approval. While the casting director will hire distant cast, a local casting director may hire all day players. The casting department sets up and coordinates the auditions until all roles are cast. Cast issues include working with minors, which on a union shoot has special requirements, and working with animals, which has its own challenges. Stunt people also work in front of the camera and are in the same union as actors, SAG. © 2017 Taylor & Francis