Overview of the role
As the senior member of the casting team, the casting producer is responsible for creating and implementing the overall casting strategy for the production. The casting producer will have a detailed understanding of the contributor brief as well as the editorial vision of the production. This overview knowledge is used to shape the strategy to the specific needs and requirements of the production. The casting producer must have a clear understanding of what makes a strong contributor and an engaging story. They will be expected to assess a contributor’s suitability for the world of the production and foster inclusive and responsible practices with diversity and accessibility in mind.
The casting producer will be expected to find contributors and talent, create team schedules, devise outreach plans, and manage junior members of the team. They manage the activities in the different stages of the workflow process.
This role also includes working closely with senior team members including executive / series producer and the production management team. As a team lead, the casting producer can also be expected to attend commissioner meetings and be well versed in GDPR, duty of care and compliance.
Core responsibilities
These core responsibilities are provided as a guide and are not exhaustive. The exact responsibilities in a particular job will vary depending on the scale / budget band / genre of the production.
- Create a casting schedule with clear targets and goals to ensure production deadlines are met.
- Understand and identify ideal contributor demographics to target the specific editorial requirements of the programme.
- Devise a tailored outreach plan that considers the format and tone of the show to reach the most suitable and impactful contributors. This may include social media outreach, event and street targeting and developing relationships with formal organisations.
- Create casting copy and application paperwork. This may include designing flyers and social media adverts as well as the application form and research call script. This paperwork will be signed off by senior team, compliance and commissioner.
- Manage the casting budget effectively to ensure that paid adverts and social campaigns can happen periodically throughout the casting period.
- Organise large scale audition tours and smaller in-person recce visits
- Provide clear direction of casting targets, goals and deadlines to team and highlight developing priorities.
- Delegate specific tasks to team members and provide support in managing workload.
- Lead on casting brainstorm sessions for new ideas for outreach and casting headlines.
- Provide feedback on team members casting biogs and contributor edits.
- Manage casting team online contributor databases make sure all data is kept securely and with restricted access.
- Hold regular team meetings for casting updates, feedback on team pitches, brief team on changes to the editorial that may affect the casting process.
- Be a point of contact for casting questions and update commissioner on ongoing process eg. identifying any contributor gaps and the proposed solutions going forward.
- Work with the wider team to prepare casting tapes and biogs for regular routines.
- Pitch contributors and story ideas to commissioner, be able to summarise key ideas in headlines to highlight the strongest story points.
- Provide briefing on contributor background checks/ welfare information and character references.
- Brief applicants on the casting process and stages. Explain the programme tone, channel, expectations and level of commitment so potential contributors can give informed consent.
- Record and interview potential applicants, this requires a clear communication style and an ability to put people at ease to share their personal stories.
- Use editorial judgement in the selection and shortlisting process, be confident and clear on the headlines. What is the contributor story? What do they add to your cast? What do they add to the world of your production?
- Organise large scale auditions, at home recces and scheduling online casting interviews.
- Oversee the edit of casting tapes to ensure each cut showcases the contributors strongest points and is clear, concise and shows character.
- Be approachable and available to both team members and contributors. Create a transparent and responsible working environment where concerns can be discussed.
- Be a troubleshooter, regular catch ups with the team to anticipate potential problems before they arise.
- Be pro-active and confident to raise any issues involving the welfare of applicants.
- Encourage junior team members to contribute to the casting shortlisting process.
- Respond to last minute casting changes, make sure you are prepared with stand-by contingencies.
- Provide constructive commissioner feedback to the team after pitch meetings
- Create a respectful, inclusive and collaborate team that is open to new ways of working. Empower open and honest discussions that allow people to bring their unique perspective and new ideas to the casting process.
- Implement the principles of the Ofcom risk matrix into the casting strategy and include broadcaster compliance guidelines.
- Be diligent in applying GDPR data protection rules in casting processes, ensure all personal data is stored in a safe and appropriate way, with limited access.
- Create and manage a welfare log throughout production, highlighting vulnerable contributors, mitigating risk and applying appropriate safeguarding measures.
- If filming with under 18’s, understand Ofcom guidelines for casting and filming children.
- Work with senior team and welfare executive to oversee medical and mental health assessments.
- Complete welfare and background checks and, where applicable, character references prior to casting sign off.
- Employ aftercare practices for contributors after production has finished.
- Keep up to date with industry best practice and OFCOM compliance guidelines with consideration to the genre and requirements of your production eg. fairness, harm, conflict of interest and offensive material.
Skills
Check out role specific skills, transferable skills and attributes for the role of casting producer.
- Personable: approachable and the ability to put contributors at ease.
- Strong interview skills: using initiative to ask the right questions to get to the heart of a story.
- Highly organised: implementing systems to manage casting team and contributors throughout production.
- Industry knowledge: in welfare protocols, compliance, safeguarding and GDPR.
- Communication: liaising with various departments including production management, welfare team, filming team and senior team and commissioner.
- Confident: in leading creative brainstorms and pitching contributors to senior team and commissioner.
- Problem solver: has a can-do attitude to issues as they arise and works collaboratively with the wider team to troubleshoot solutions.
- Active listener: is a supportive presence to contributors at every stage of the process ensuring their voices have been heard.
- Excellent writing skills to create casting adverts and pitch documents.
- Strong editing skills to create and oversee casting edits.
- Logistical planning, to organise recces and large-scale audition processes.
- Networking and establishing relationships with external organisations to promote casting opportunities.
- An understanding of social media campaigns and targeting.
- Delivering under pressure, working to tight deadlines to meet contributor goals and responding to changes in the editorial brief that affect the casting process.
- Proactive: lead the casting team with drive, determination and explore new ways of working.
- Honesty and integrity: have clear and transparent communication with contributors and wider team to disclose and troubleshoot issues at the onset.
- Confidentiality and discretion: make sure personal and sensitive information is managed with professional discretion and in line with GDPR guidelines.
- Ability to prioritise managing the workload of the team to ensure the casting strategy is carried out in the most efficient ways.
- Resilience: be able to adapt to an evolving production schedule and any changes in the casting and editorial brief
- Positive mindset: Keep the team morale high particularly during challenging casting periods.