CASTING ASSISTANT IN MOTION PICTURE PRODUCTION… (In the Entertainment industry. Casting Assistant)

Casting Assistant Needed / Photo Credit: The Wilmywood Daily

CASTING ASSISTANT IN MOTION PICTURE PRODUCTION… (In the Entertainment industry. Casting Assistant)

Bruce Bisbey…please follow me at: https://dumbdogproductionsllc.blogspot.com or https://www.facebook.com/DumbDogProductionsLLC/ thank you.

Casting Assistant in Motion Picture Production

What does a Casting Assistant do?

Good casting is crucial to making characters credible on screen and is an important part of a film's success. The duties of Casting Assistants vary according to the scale and budget of each film.

They are usually hired during development casting when they read the script and help the Casting Associate and Casting Director draw up lists of possible Actors for the main roles. They will then call the Actors' agents to check availability.

Casting Assistants provide general running duties in the office, including answering phones, sending faxes and e-mails, liaising with couriers, making teas and coffees, etc.

They also help during casting sessions when actors perform screen tests on camera. Casting Associates usually operate the camera, and Casting Assistants ensure that the sessions run smoothly, by making tea and coffee for the actors and providing general support.

After each session, Casting Associates make selections and edit together the best takes. These must be labelled correctly and sent to the Director, Producer and/or Financiers by the Casting Assistant.

Casting Assistants finish work on a film when most of the cast have been contracted.

Casting agencies vary in size but are usually quite small, comprising of the Casting Director and Casting Associate. As work on a film usually lasts no longer than ten weeks, Casting Assistants must always be on the lookout for their next job. They are employed as freelancers on a film-by-film basis by Casting Directors.

You will need to: 

• Have a wide knowledge of cinema and actors…
• Have an interest in the theatre and stage actors…
• Have a basic understanding of how to operate a video camera (framing, focus, etc.)…
• Be computer literate…
• Be an excellent communicator…
• Recognize talent…
• Have a good memory…
• Have excellent organizational skills…
• Pay precise attention to detail…
• Be able to take direction…
• Know about relevant health and safety legislation and procedures… 

What’s the best route in?

You can expect to start your career at a junior level as an Assistant in a Talent Agency, gaining experience of selecting and working with actors, or as a Runner for Production companies and/or on feature films. However, there is no typical career route for this role.

If you are involved in Casting, you should constantly keep up-to-date with new and interesting actors, and must develop the confidence and taste which are vital for any Casting Director.

Where might the role take me?

Eventually, you may be promoted to Casting Associate. However, many talented, hard-working Casting Assistants work for many years for the same Casting Director, before they are offered more responsibility.

Sources, References & Credits: Google, Wikipedia, Wikihow, WikiBooks, Pinterest, IMDB, Linked In, Indie Wire, Film Making Stuff, Hiive, Film Daily, New York Film Academy, The Balance, The Numbers, Film Maker, TV Guide Magazine, Media Match, Quora, Creative Skill Set, Investopedia, Variety, No Film School, Daily Variety, The Film Agency, Best Sample Resume, How Stuff Works, Career Trend, Producer's Code of Credits, Truity, Production Hub, Producers Guild of America, Film Connection, Variety, Wolf Crow, Get In Media, Huffington Post, Backstage, Nick Maccarone,

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Casting Assistant Needed / Photo Credit: The Wilmywood Daily