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THE CASTING DIRECTOR
The Interview
What's your role as a casting director?
My role as a casting director is to simply put the right people in front of the director. I would describe it as a human resource department for actors/actresses.
Some of the things I do include negotiating contracts, holding auditions and making a list of actors/actresses that fit certain roles.
To Be Continued Below...
Meet The Casting Director : About
2. Tell me about the process of casting an actor/actress for a role
Once I receive a script, I create a breakdown for each role.
Contact agencies to discuss if an actor is interested and their availability, especially for lead roles.
Agents and managers receive the breakdowns and then submit to me the headshots and resumes of the clients they believe would be appropriate for the roles being cast.
I then select which actor/actress will actually get the audition. Both the director and producer may also submit a "wish list" of actors they want to be brought in for auditions as well, in which case, I must do my best to schedule an audition for those actors.
After the audition, the directors and producers then tell me who they selected and for which role. If there's a callback session, then I also schedule that.
3. What's a typical workday look like for you?
It varies depending on the project that I am working on. But I get up around 8 am, pray, eat breakfast and then head out to my office. I sometimes read scripts on the way and make phone calls to agencies/studios. I also spend about 2-4hrs attending showcase just to discover new talents. I am always in contact with the directors and producers of the project. I schedule the auditions. I usually work for about 12hrs or longer.
4. What is a misconception about your job?
A casting director makes the final decision on who gets or doesn't get the role .
5. What made you pick A Raisin in the Sun?
I picked it because It's a well, beautifully written piece that I can relate to as an African and woman. It has so many layers that tell a story from the perspective of the oppressed instead of the oppressor.
6. How did select the talent for this project?
I of course first had conversations with the director and producer on what they were looking for. I also did my research and came up with the talent that fits each role. I am very happy with my selection.
Credits to:
McGowan, Carter Anne. (2011). Twittergate: Rethinking the casting director contract. Fordham Intellectual Property, Media & Entertainment Law Journal, 21(2), 402.
Suhling, Chantal, "The Underrepresentation of African Americans and the Role of Casting Directors" (2017). Undergraduate Research. 1. http://scholarworks.gvsu.edu/com_undergrad/1
https://www.backstage.com/magazine/article/inside-look-casting-process-13023/
http://www.barbizoninsider.com/a-day-in-the-life-of-a-casting-director/
https://jobshadow.com/interview-with-a-casting-director/
Meet The Casting Director : About
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