How do you manage casting during pre-production?

1 Plan ahead

Before you start looking for actors, you need to have a clear vision of your characters and their requirements. You also need to know your budget, your shooting schedule, and your distribution goals. These factors will influence your casting decisions and help you narrow down your options. You should also create a casting breakdown, which is a document that describes each role in detail, including the age, gender, ethnicity, personality, and skills of the character. A casting breakdown will help you communicate your expectations to potential actors and casting agents.

2 Hire a casting director

Unless you have a lot of experience and connections in the film industry, you will benefit from hiring a casting director to assist you with the casting process. A casting director is a professional who has access to a large pool of actors, knows how to negotiate contracts, and can handle the logistics of auditions and callbacks. A casting director will also advise you on the best fit for your roles, based on their knowledge of the actors' abilities and availability. You should look for a casting director who has worked on similar projects and genres as yours, and who shares your vision and style.

3 Conduct auditions

Auditions are the best way to evaluate the actors' performance and suitability for your roles. You should prepare a script or a scene for each role, and ask the actors to read it or perform it in front of you and your crew. You should also record the auditions, so you can review them later and compare them with other candidates. You should be respectful, attentive, and constructive with the actors, and give them clear feedback and directions. You should also be flexible and open-minded, as you might discover new possibilities and talents during the auditions.

4 Make callbacks

After the initial auditions, you should narrow down your choices and make callbacks. Callbacks are second or third auditions, where you invite the actors who impressed you the most to perform again, either with different scenes, different partners, or different directions. Callbacks are a way to test the actors' range, chemistry, and consistency, and to see how they fit with your vision and your team. You should also use callbacks to discuss the actors' availability, expectations, and compensation, and to address any questions or concerns they might have.

5 Finalize your cast

Once you have made your callbacks, you should finalize your cast and offer them the roles. You should do this as soon as possible, as actors might have other commitments or opportunities. You should also have a backup plan, in case some actors decline or drop out of your project. You should also prepare and sign contracts with your cast, which should include the details of their roles, their payment, their schedule, their rights, and their obligations. You should also keep in touch with your cast and inform them of any changes or updates in your pre-production.

6 Prepare your cast

The last step of the casting process is to prepare your cast for the production. You should organize rehearsals, workshops, or table reads, where you and your crew can work with the actors on their lines, their movements, their emotions, and their interactions. You should also provide your cast with any materials or resources they might need, such as costumes, props, makeup, or research. You should also establish a rapport and a trust with your cast, and create a positive and collaborative atmosphere. Preparing your cast will help you enhance their performance and avoid any problems or delays during the production.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?