Cast Contingent
Financing commitment dependent on attachment of approved cast members.
Definition
Cast contingent refers to financing commitments that depend on the attachment of approved cast members. Investors, distributors, or sales agents offer conditional financing that only closes when specified casting requirements are met.
Cast contingent deals reflect the commercial reality that star power drives box office and foreign sales. They create a chicken-and-egg challenge where financing depends on cast, but cast commitments often require confirmed financing.
Why It Matters
Most significant film financing is cast contingent. Understanding this dynamic helps producers navigate the complex interdependence of casting and financing.
For financiers, cast requirements protect against investing in projects that can't attract commercial talent.
Examples in Practice
A streamer offers cast contingent financing requiring attachment of an A-list star from an approved list.
A sales agent's minimum guarantee is contingent on casting that meets specific name recognition thresholds in key territories.
A producer secures a star's conditional commitment, then uses that to close cast contingent financing.