Casting
Process of selecting actors to portray characters in film and television.
Definition
Casting is the process of identifying, auditioning, and selecting actors for roles. Casting directors work with producers and directors to understand character requirements, source potential actors, manage auditions, negotiate deals, and assemble ensemble dynamics.
Casting involves balancing creative fit, commercial considerations, schedule availability, and budget constraints. Major casting decisions can determine whether projects get greenlit.
Why It Matters
Casting choices fundamentally shape how audiences experience characters and stories. Even excellent scripts suffer with miscasting, while strong casting elevates average material.
Beyond creative impact, casting affects financing (certain actors unlock certain budgets), marketing (star power drives awareness), and production logistics (scheduling around actor availability).
Examples in Practice
A casting director's unconventional suggestion for the lead role created the unexpected chemistry that made the film a breakout success despite the studio's initial resistance.
Strategic casting of a social media star in a supporting role gave the film access to a built-in audience that traditional marketing couldn't have reached as efficiently.
The casting process revealed that the original character conception wasn't working in auditions, leading to a script revision that improved the role before offers went out.