Casting Agents and Casting Directors
When someone is new to entertainment, it can feel a little intimidating trying to understand some regularly used industry terms. For actors, one of the most commonly asked questions has to do with the difference between casting directors and casting agents. Regardless of the type of acting you do, you will hear these two terms used frequently. Whether you enlist the help of a talent marketing company, like the popular center InterFACE, to gain access to industry professionals, or if you decide to try making it on your own, you will need to understand these two terms.
What is a casting director?
A casting director is the person who initiates casting calls and works closely with the director and his or her particular vision for a project. However, it is important to note that there can be many preliminary casting calls before a choice is made. In these instances, it is usually an assistant who oversees the audition process. If the assistant deems that someone may be good for a role, they are given what is called a “call back.” Many times, a casting director is in charge of choosing who will fill the spoken roles in a job. The casting director also works in the hiring of extras, or background actors, who help to fill in the scene and make it appear more believable. For a large scale project, casting directors have been known to see thousands of people, and choose from a large pool.
What is a casting agent?
Today, a casting agent is more commonly referred to as a talent agent. These people work closely with casting directors by trying to find talent to audition for projects that fit their skill level and physical description. When casting agents receive information about upcoming auditions, they search within their client base, or for aspiring skilled performers and attempt to secure an audition spot for them. You may be asking yourself, “Are casting agents talent scouts?” The answer is no. Talent scouts strictly work to find new talent for talent agents or even production companies, whereas casting agents are typically affiliated with talent agencies that represent a variety of performers. If a client is booked on an acting job, the casting agent receives commission for their efforts.
Now that the differences between these two types of industry professionals has been clarified , you can begin your path as an actor or actress by using the services of a talent marketing center to have a professional photo shoot and to create your very first composite card to be marketed to casting agents and more!.
