Casting Director: Salary, Job Description & Education Requirements

Production companies and studios hire casting directors, also called talent directors, to spearhead the casting process for commercial and print advertisements, theater productions, television shows, and films. Formal education is not required, but casting directors must have strong interpersonal and communication skills, and an eye for acting ability.

Sources: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, **PayScale.com

The casting director definition is a somewhat broad one. Casting directors read scripts and collaborate with producers, directors, and writers to create breakdown notices, which are brief descriptions of the physical attributes, skills, and experience sought in actors to portray particular characters. With the aid of casting assistants, casting directors submit these breakdown notices to agents and talent agencies. Casting directors then receive actors' headshots and resumes, which they must sift through to select the most qualified actors and schedule them for auditions, often with the help of casting assistants.

Depending on the size and scope of a production, a casting director may hold an initial round of auditions and personally decide which actors to call back for the producer and director. After each round of auditions, the casting director becomes responsible for notifying and scheduling selected actors for additional rounds of auditions, until a final casting decision is made. Although the decision of which actors to cast is ultimately up to directors or producers, casting agents often directly influence the decision of which actor is cast for a particular role.

Desirable Qualities of a Casting Director

Since casting directors must find and choose appropriate talent for the films, television shows, or other productions that they work around, they must possess a number of desirable qualities for this job. Some of these include:

• Communication skills - Casting directors must be able to communicate clearly with other members of the production team.
• Creativity - Casting directors must have creative problem-solving abilities to find and nurture the right talent for a particular role.
• Diplomacy - Since casting directors must make or influence decisions about who will or who will not be right for a role, they must know how to reject candidates with grace and diplomacy. This quality also helps them to bring out the best in the talent they choose.
• Patience and Persistence - It can be a challenge to find just the right talent for a role, and casting directors must be patient and persistent in order to do this effectively.

Employers and Schedule

According to the Casting Society of America (CSA), casting directors work directly for studios and production companies, and their agencies function like human resource departments. Casting directors typically work on a freelance basis, charging a set fee for each production in which they're involved. They must possess strong interpersonal and communication abilities, because they work closely with producers, directors, writers, casting agents, and talent agencies. Being a casting director also requires a flexible schedule, because the job requires long hours and often frequent travel to find talent or meet with producers, directors, and other key production staff.

Formal education isn't required to become a casting director, but experience is necessary. Many casting directors begin their careers as casting assistants to CSA casting directors, by apprenticing for casting agents or as interns for talent agencies and production companies. Although the best way to learn how to be a casting director is to gain practical experience, individuals seeking careers as casting directors can increase their opportunities by completing bachelor's degree programs or taking classes in theater or film production, acting, or business.

Relevant Majors, Classes and Extracurricular Activities

Those who wish to become casting directors can prepare themselves by taking relevant classes and choosing majors that are related to this career. Some of these include:

• Theater - Those who choose theater as a major learn about the operation of a theater production and can get experience in screenwriting as well as acting and directing.
• Film history - This type of major offers courses in the history of film and television and in the production of works in various media.
• Fine art - Studying various forms of fine arts, such as photography or painting, help to develop the creativity of a student who wishes to become a casting director.

Aspiring casting directors can also start to build skills and acquire experience by participating in extracurricular activities that are related, like doing casting in a local community theater.

So, you're wondering how to become a casting director? Beginning a career path for becoming a casting director can involve some work without pay. Even though it's not paid work, it can still be valuable experience that will lead to more lucrative work. Some career path options include:

• Intern - A casting director intern begins by actually working to help the casting director by managing auditions and helping to organize processes in various logs. This is usually unpaid work.
• Casting Assistant - A casting assistant works alongside the casting director, sometimes running a camera or helping with outreach for new talent. This is paid work with a real salary.
• Casting Associate - Casting associates are also paid workers whose salary is greater than that for casting assistants. Casting associates reach out to actors for taped auditions and help to decide which ones will audition in person. They then assist with casting decisions.

Those who are wondering how to become a casting director often ask similar questions before they begin their career path. Some of the most frequently asked questions include:

• Do you need a college degree to become a casting director? - While a college degree is not necessary to become a casting director, it can help. Obtaining a bachelor's degree with a major in any discipline that is related to the film industry in some way shows employers that you're serious about this career and also gives you relevant knowledge.
• Where are casting directors employed? - Casting directors are hired and employed by film studios, by entertainment companies, by production companies of various kinds, or by some employment agencies that deal with this type of work. In general, casting directors work on a freelance basis.
• What is the difference between a casting director and an agent? - Casting directors audition actors for roles while agents represent actors and help them find roles and projects. These two often collaborate with one another.

According to PayScale.com, talent directors earned a median salary of $91,407 as of November 2020. Although the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS, www.bls.gov) does not provide information specific to the field of casting direction, the BLS did project that the employment of producers and directors would likely grow by ten percent, which is much faster than average between 2019 and 2029 for all occupations.

A casting director finds the right actor for the role they're seeking to fill, and they need strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work long hours. They primarily learn on the job as an assistant or intern, and a degree in theater, film production or business may be helpful in this field. Producers and directors, including casting directors, can expect to see an increase in job opportunities through 2029, which is much faster than the average.

Highest Paying Industries and States

A casting director salary can vary tremendously depending upon what particular industry they work in and also on how much experience they have. The casting director job description may also vary somewhat according to industry. In general, a casting director who is employed independently with a famous performer, producer or writer will have the highest income, while those who work in radio or television broadcasting make significantly less. Casting directors who work in the motion picture industry tend to make more than those working for cable television productions.

The five states that employ the highest numbers of casting directors are California, New York, Florida, Texas and Georgia. The pay in California and New York is highest in the United States, which is not surprising since Hollywood, a city known for the film industry, is located in California.

Professional Organizations for Casting Directors

There are a number of professional organizations to which casting directors may belong, but the most popular one is the Casting Society of America, or CSA. This organization offers certification as well as valuable networking sources for casting directors. Other organizations include the Commercial Casting Directors Association (CCDA) and the Independent Film and Television Alliance (IFTA).