Casting Director
A professional who identifies and recommends actors for roles in film, television, and theater productions.
Definition
Casting directors partner with producers and directors to find the right actors for every role—from leads to day players. They maintain extensive talent relationships, run auditions, negotiate availability, and advocate for casting choices.
Casting impacts budgets (star salaries), financing (package attractiveness), and creative outcomes (performance quality). Great casting elevates material while poor casting undermines strong scripts.
Why It Matters
Casting decisions shape projects fundamentally—the right actor makes a role memorable while miscasting creates viewer disconnect. Casting directors bring expertise that saves time and surfaces unexpected options.
Understanding casting helps producers budget appropriately while appreciating the collaborative process of building ensembles.
Examples in Practice
A casting director's unconventional suggestion leads to breakthrough casting that defines the film and launches an actor's career.
Extensive relationship networks enable securing first-choice talent despite scheduling conflicts through creative deal-making.
A casting director builds an ensemble where actors' chemistry creates magic that transcends individual performances.