A Casting Director (sometimes referred to as the CD) assists in putting together the cast for a project.

Before a script ever reaches their hands, a Casting Director must have comprehensive knowledge of the acting world so that they can make informed selections for each project.

When provided the script for a production, the Casting Director will carefully analyze each role and create breakdowns that explain the type of Actor or Actress needed for them. They’ll then sift through candidates and either bring in talent for auditions or request self-tapes to screen and review.

What does a Casting Director do? This video explains.

Once a Casting Director has found a selection of Actors and Actresses who are a solid fit for each role, they’ll send those options to the Director, Producer, and any other decision-makers who make the final hiring decisions.

Because of their eye for talent, Casting Directors play an integral part in bringing film, TV, and commercial projects to life.

But how do you become a Casting Director? What skills, experience, and education do you need to build a career in casting?

We spoke to the following Casting Directors to find out:

• Tiffany Little Canfield (Mean Girls (2024), The Color Purple (2023), Only Murders in the Building)
• Jessica Daniels (Single Drunk Female, Master, Helpsters)
• Lisa Ystrom (Letters to Santa, Invitation to Murder, My Big Fat Greek Wedding)

According to ZipRecruiter, the average annual salary for a Casting Director is approximately $71,554. The salary range for Casting Directors runs from $61,000 to $82,500.

Casting Directors typically get paid as independent contractors, which means they’ll usually be hired temporarily by a production company or studio to determine the casting choices for a project.

It’s important to keep in mind that numerous factors can impact a Casting Director’s salary or rate, including the scope of the project, the experience of the Casting Director, and the number of projects a Casting Director is hired for over the course of a year. Some of the highest paid Casting Directors include Sarah Halley Finn, Janet Hirshenson, Jane Jenkins, Debra Zane, and Allison Jones.

Thinking of becoming a Casting Director? This video offers advice on how to create your career.

A Casting Director who is a Teamsters member will likely also make more on account of the regulations implemented for base pay rates within the union.

The aim of a Casting Director is to find the right talent for a given project whether it’s a coming-of-age romance, graphic horror story, historical biopic, or other type of project.

Not only must a Casting Director have an in-depth understanding of what is needed for each genre and role, but also they must find Actors and Actresses who can fit the vision of the Director and budget constraints of the Producers.

“With each project, the knowledge on the other side (the studios, Producers, and networks) is different,” says Lisa Ystrom. “So we provide them with the choices.”

To assess these choices, a typical day for a Casting Director can include:

• Interviewing with Producers and Directors for potential project collaborations
• Analyzing each character and role in a script
• Releasing a breakdown casting call to Agents and Managers
• Auditioning Actors
• Holding callback auditions and screen tests for Actors who made it to the next round
• Watching demo reels
• Reviewing list of known Actors
• Creating new lists of potential picks
• Checking availability of Actors (called “avail”)
• Sharing ideas and options with the filmmakers
• Offering roles to Actors

All that being said, a Casting Director who can successfully fulfill those needs is a Casting Director who will be in high demand.

Like many other specialties in the production world, the career of a Casting Director can be a competitive one.

Renowned Casting Director Avy Kaufman offers tips and insights for beginners to the craft.

Just as there’s normally only one Director, Cinematographer, or Editor on a given project, so too are there only so many job openings for Casting Directors – especially when it comes to high-profile, studio-backed productions that typically are the most lucrative gigs.

Much of what determines a Casting Director’s success goes beyond their knowledge of the acting world and who will work best for a given project. That success also depends on the relationships a Casting Director forms with Directors and Producers and the trust built between them.

In short, when a Casting Director shows that they can deliver what a Director and/or Producer is looking for in talent for a project, Directors and Producers will be more likely to want to work with that Casting Director again in the future.

It’s a common refrain in Hollywood, but there’s no one way to becoming a Casting Director in the entertainment industry.

“[You] have to have a fair amount of bravery, because it’s not a field where there’s any clear path,” explains Daniels. “You don’t necessarily know what you’re going to be working on any given year. You have to be willing to take chances.”

That being said, many aspiring Casting Directors begin their careers as Interns, Casting Assistants, and Casting Associates. Each position represents a professional steppingstone towards becoming a Casting Director with increasing levels of responsibility.

An Intern will most likely come on board while still in college, which is another common facet of an aspiring Casting Director’s career. Because Casting Directors work so closely with Actors and Actresses, someone entering this field may start off by studying acting or film in college.

What does a day in the life of a Casting Director look like? Jane Frisby gives an insider’s look.

Depending on the production opportunities available to students, an aspiring Casting Director might also have the chance to cast for student films or small, local short films.

Emerging Casting Directors may also take entry-level positions in talent agencies that represent Actors and Actresses as a way to better familiarize themselves with talent.

Some Casting Directors even begin as Actors themselves!

No one knows better than an Actor or Actress what it takes to bring a role to life, which is why Actors who transition to Casting Directors are often so successful at their jobs.

Even the most ambitious and dedicated Casting Director has to start somewhere. As mentioned, no one makes the leap immediately into this role.

Typically, a future Casting Director will work their way up from Casting Assistant or Casting Associate. This allows them to gain experience working with talent and understanding how to anticipate and fulfill the needs of Directors and Producers.

An encyclopedic knowledge of different Actors can certainly be a plus for an aspiring Casting Director, as well as a strong network of connections with Directors and Producers. However, perhaps one of the most essential skills for Casting Directors can be boiled down to one word: taste.

“Your taste is something that’s eventually going to be what leads people to hire you, so it’s something that’s great to develop early,” says Daniels. “A lot of times, it’s hard to put a finger on what your taste is, or describe it through words, but start making lists (which is something that Casting Directors do all the time) of who you like and why.”

This video provides a comprehensive look at what Casting Directors look for in talent.

Casting Directors must also understand how to communicate effectively with all these different creatives in the entertainment industry.

While it’s not the job of a Casting Director to inform an Actor’s performance for a role, they should understand how to give instruction during an audition to determine if the Actor in question is receptive to feedback.

Likewise, a Casting Director may need to “read between the lines” of a Director or Producer’s notes to discern what it is they are looking for in an Actor or Actress for a given role, and whether or not an Actor or Actress can deliver.

Once the Director and/or Producer decide to cast a particular talent, the Casting Director will also be involved in the negotiation process with the talent’s Agent regarding their salary and other compensation. They will likewise oversee their contracts for the duration of production.

This means that a Casting Director must be up to date on the general rates for various types of productions, especially those that use SAG talent and understand to put forth only talent for which a production can budget.

A formal education can be beneficial for an aspiring Casting Director, but it’s not a must for someone wanting to pursue this career.

Some colleges and universities offer casting classes that can help emerging Casting Directors better understand what will be expected of them in the professional world. More often than not, though, it’s the theater classes and general film production classes that will help aspiring Casting Directors get a leg up on learning what this job entails.

In particular, seeing the world of casting from the viewpoint of the Actor can be immensely helpful to aspiring Casting Directors for understanding how to anticipate interactions with talent during the audition process.

“I have a BFA in Directing for the Theater,” explains Little Canfield. “I do feel like it provided me with my understanding of the Actor’s process and the language to communicate with them. Communication, listening, and dramatic imagination are skills that are really helpful.”

She continues, “Even though you might not be a performer in your soul, take some acting classes so that you understand how an Actor prepares and develop your taste for the styles of acting that you particularly respond to. It helps to have a language for that.”

Aspiring Casting Directors can also look to organizations like the Casting Society of America to become part of a like-minded professional community. Specifically, the CSA can be a resource for those looking to make connections with established Casting Directors and potentially mentor under them as an Intern, Casting Assistant, or Casting Associate.

A Casting Director duo discusses what their professional lives are like and what you can expect entering into the industry.

Outside of having comprehensive knowledge of the acting world, strong connections with Directors and Producers, and great communication skills with different creatives, Casting Directors must also have keen organizational competency.

Especially if a Casting Director is juggling more than one project at a time, it’s essential that they understand how to focus and keep the details of one production separate from another.

Considering that there is a definite ebb and flow to the production world, and therefore the jobs available at any given time, an aspiring Casting Director should expect to handle multiple projects at a time to make up for the periods when there is no work at all.

Outside of the CSA, acting courses, and filmmaking classes, emerging Casting Directors can gain a great deal of knowledge by reading up on the profession.

Jen Rudin’s Confessions of a Casting Director: Help Actors Land Any Role with Secrets from Inside the Audition Room is a well-known book on the casting profession.

Casting websites like Backstage, Actors Access, and Casting Networks can also teach emerging Casting Directors how roles are listed and Actors are addressed for auditions.

As far as getting Casting Director gigs, it often comes back to the common refrain of building solid professional relationships that may translate into gigs and referrals. To get started, many aspiring Casting Directors may work for free or a low rate on student films, short films, and micro-budget films.

As they gain more experience in the profession, more connections can be made that hopefully will further a Casting Director’s prospects of getting future work.

Finally, according to Ystrom, one of the best things aspiring Casting Directors can do is simply watch as much as possible. She explains, “If you’re really, truly interested in casting, start watching a ton of TV and film. Start becoming a little encyclopedia for who the different Actors are. That’s certainly really helpful information.”