 |
 Gone
are the days when studios signed actors to long-term contracts.
Casting a film now starts as soon as the “greenlight”
is given by a studio because most of the other phases of production
revolve around the lead actors. Sometimes, a lead actor is already
attached to a project and has approval over his or her co-leads.
Once the leads are set, the other actors are cast. The
casting director is responsible for organizing auditions,
making casting
suggestions and providing the director with names and headshots
of potential actors for each role. Managers and agents often
call the casting director to get their clients in the door.
Well-known actors often meet with the director rather than
audition. Some directors make every actor audition and read
the “sides,” or selected scenes from the script.
On
a typical day of casting, the director and casting director
sit through hours of auditions. Each actor is videotaped for
later reference. The casting process begins with the larger
roles and continues with supporting and smaller roles. Once
all roles are cast, the casting director and producers negotiate
the actors’ contracts with their agents and managers,
taking into account everything from salary and credit placement
to trailer size, choice of hairstylists, and personal trainers.
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