How to Be a Movie Casting Director
Casting directors are the all-important link between directors and talent. They troll the theaters, industry news and talent agencies to find solid actors who, when a project comes along, can be called in for auditions. Becoming a casting director takes a sincere knowledge and love for the craft of acting, a keen eye for seeing actors in different roles and an understanding of the different styles of acting and directing. Matching the right actor with the script and director you're working with can make the difference between a decent movie and a brilliant film.
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Instructions
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Gain working or intern experience in film, television or theater. This could be as a production assistant on an independent film, as an assistant in a talent agency or management company or as a theater manager or stage hand.
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Cultivate relationships with casting directors and actors by phone as an assistant in other fields. Your good phone manner and positive recommendations from your boss at a talent agency or production company could eventually land you an interview for an assistant position with a casting director.
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Submit your resume when an opportunity to assist a casting director comes along.
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Watch actors' reels and stay up-to-date with their latest work. Read scripts and sit in on auditions to see the casting director at work. As a casting assistant, you'll have plenty of opportunities to see a master in action.
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See movies, plays, television shows, commercials and any other form of performance with actors so you'll get to know their work, style, background and abilities.
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Read scripts with the purpose of finding actors for them. Think carefully about the psychology of the roles and the actors who could best fill them. Make your very best recommendations to the casting director, but only the very best.
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Talk regularly with actors and their agents or managers and maintain good relationships with them. Gain the trust of directors by recommending shows, movies or actors that they will like, even if only just in a social context. When it comes to calling actors at the last minute for an audition or a callback, or contacting a director about an actor who is perfect for them, all of the time you've invested in these relationships will really pay off.
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Start your own casting office when you've acquired the experience and contacts necessary to be called upon by directors and producers to cast a feature or short film. It's hard to move from an assistant or associate to being your own casting director, but starting on a small film, with solid actors as contacts and recommendations, can eventually gain you recognition and the ability to cast larger movies.
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References
- Photo Credit casting lln 1 image by sebastien tibeau from Fotolia.com
