Roles within the Industry Blog Posts

‘Next Goal Wins’ Casting Director Katie Doyle Shares Hawaii Life, Meeting Taika Waititi
You might think that being a casting director in Hawaii is tricky business, but Katie Doyle has been doing it for a long time, and definitely has it nailed. A former actor who moved to Oahu after having a spiritual… Read More

How Kim Coleman and Her Peers Pulled Together to Create Casting’s Long Overdue Oscar
Kim Coleman is a hero. How else would you describe the woman who was at the forefront of the movement to get the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to finally create an Oscar for casting? It took years,… Read More

Casting Director Leah Daniels-Butler Talks Casting Apple TV+’s ‘Manhunt’ and Her Approach to Historical Dramas
Leah Daniels-Butler, a seasoned casting director renowned for her work on historical projects like The Butler and The United States vs. Billie Holiday—both directed by her brother, Lee Daniels—recently undertook the casting for the Apple TV+ mini-series Manhunt. The project is based on the real-life 12-day manhunt for… Read More

Jennifer Ricchiazzi Discusses the Importance of Script Analysis, Casting ‘Reagan’
If you ever have a casting appointment with Jennifer Ricchiazzi, you might want to factor in a few extra minutes on either side. Not just because you might have to wait, but also because she very well could end up… Read More

Kerry Barden and Paul Schnee Talk Casting ‘Palm Royale’ and Share Self Tape Tips
Kerry Barden and Paul Schnee share a deep-rooted collaboration with filmmaker Tate Taylor. They have cast several of his films, including Pretty Ugly People, The Help, The Girl on a Train, Ma and TV shows such as Filthy Rich. Their partnership with… Read More

Casting Director Rhys Velasquez on Their Core Principles of Conscious, Inclusive and Representative Casting
Rhys Velasquez is an award-winning casting director, advocate and—in their past life—musical theater performer. After graduating from Australia’s Ballarat Arts Academy in 2013, Velasquez was cast in several international and national theater tours, including Shrek the Musical, Once on This… Read More

Casting Director Allison Jones and Associate Emily Buntyn Reveal Larry David’s Wild Audition Process Behind ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’
Take one look at Allison Jones’ filmography, and it’s clear that she is an absolute legend when it comes to comedy. If it were just the movies she’s done, that would be enough. The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Bridesmaids, Lady Bird, and… Read More

How a Craigslist Ad Launched the Career of Disney Casting Director Grace C. Kim
Sometimes we find our career through a lifelong passion for something. Other times, we answer an online ad and find what we didn’t know we were looking for. Grace C. Kim falls into the latter category. Kim is like a… Read More

The Other Side of the Table: What Are Casting Professionals Really Thinking in the Audition Room?
We spend so much time as actors trying to figure out what casting professionals want. What kind of material will they find boring? Do they like me better with short or long hair? Do they prefer glasses or no glasses?… Read More

The Role of a Talent Manager in the Acting Industry
What’s the Point of Having a Talent Manager? In today’s fiercely competitive entertainment and creative industries, having a talent manager by your side can be the defining factor between obscurity and success. Now is a great time to start investing… Read More

Here Are Some Amazing Activities That 5 Casting Directors Do in Their Free Time
Everybody needs a hobby. And no matter what side of the entertainment industry you’re on, we’ve all got a favorite pastime that helps us recenter at the end of the day. Our sister site Casting Networks asked casting directors how… Read More

The Role of a Casting Director
Some think of casting directors as gatekeepers, granting or preventing actors from getting auditions, callbacks or even the role itself. That view can add a lot of pressure to auditions and is enough to make anyone anxious (which isn’t exactly… Read More

Emmy-Nominated Casting Directors Cast Themselves in Their Biopics
As a casting director, finding the perfect actor for the part can sometimes be a daunting task. That being said, when a casting director knows they’ve done their job well, the industry takes notice, and the award nominations start rolling… Read More

Four Casting Directors Share Audition Advice and Audition Mistakes Actors Should Avoid
Whether you’re in the room or submitting a self tape from home, the audition process can be stressful. And although you’re making sure you hit your mark and deliver a strong performance, there’s a chance you’ve made a mistake without… Read More

The Role of a Talent Agent in an Actor’s Career
Everyone loves a great rags-to-riches story. There’s a reason why movies that feature protagonists who overcome impossible odds, like Rocky and The Devil Wears Prada, have captured the hearts of so many. But if we’re being honest, most of the… Read More