Overview of the role
The casting researcher is responsible for assisting the casting team with finding the ideal contributors for a production. In this role they will work closely with the wider casting team to provide both creative and administrative support. Under the supervision of the casting producer, they will follow the objectives and workflow as directed in the casting strategy.
A casting researcher will be pro-active, resourceful and have an eye for spotting an engaging contributor and story. They will have a good understanding of different social media platforms and how to utilise them for casting. This job also requires a high level of organisation and subject research as well as attention to detail and a strong desire to learn and develop.
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.
- Understand the casting brief alongside the editorial objectives of the programme and understand the target audience of the channel.
- Identify potential contributors, stories, locations and events that are relevant to the programme subject matter.
- Build up outreach databases with contact details for large organisation and individuals to create large networks that can be approached for casting.
- Make enquiry phone calls to organisations to promote the casting.
- Research and create casting calendar of local and regional for events for team to attend in person.
- Assist casting producer in social media targeting by creating and updating social pages. Target individuals and organisations that can push the social outreach.
- Creating appealing and exciting social media content to generate interest and attract contributors to apply.
- Monitor application phone line, manage application inbox, enquiry emails and online messages. Highlight strong applications and areas of interest and feedback to the casting producer.
- Record and monitor application data regularly to assess how each area of outreach is working and feedback to casting producer and wider team.
- Keep a record of contributor demographics to monitor diversity within the casting process and feedback to casting producer.
- Ensure potential applicants are sent initial casting paperwork application form and general programme brief.
- Assist in placing paid adverts in relevant online forums, social media, newspapers or subject related events. Research costings and share with casting producer.
- Be a central point on contact for the wider casting team, log calls and emails and share with the senior team.
- Once contributors have been shortlisted, assist senior members of the team with online google checks and background checks.
- Carry out subject research to help with new ideas for online, event and street casting.
- Assist the casting producer with well sourced headlines, facts and figures in advance of commissioner meetings.
- Assist in creating biogs, high quality pitch materials and casting edits for pitch meetings.
- Research similar programme formats and cast examples and contribute these new perspectives in casting brainstorms sessions.
- Brief contributors on the stages of the casting process, the programme outline, and the expected contributor commitment.
- Make initial research calls to applicants to gauge their character and story
- Follow casting script and use initiative to ask probing questions to get to the heart of the story.
- Log all casting calls and contributor research notes to create comprehensive application timelines.
- Highlight any duty of care needs, welfare concerns and flag any issues from initial research stages.
- Feedback to casting producer and use editorial judgement to assess applicants’ suitability for the format and discuss these ideas with the team.
- Work with the casting producer to develop contributor story ideas.
- Book in contributors for in-person interviews and assist the casting assistant producer in managing this schedule.
- Recces and auditions should have a clear written criteria, researchers should assist the casting assistant producers in briefing contributors on what to expect on the day.
- Be a general point of contact for contributors on arrival, answer contributor questions and assist in handing out audition paperwork.
- Assist in setting up the audition location, interview rooms and camera.
- Assist casting assistant producer on running interview rooms, filming on second camera or logging interviews.
- Ensure all necessary release forms and paperwork are signed by contributor before leaving.
- Help to create a relaxed and open environment where applicants feel comfortable to share their stores and are excited to be part of the casting process.
- Ask questions and be pro-active, assist the casting producer and casting assistant producer by contributing to the interview process.
- Manage expectations; whilst potential contributors have been shortlisted at this stage, it is still not guaranteed that they will be selected to appear on your programme.
- Write clear, concise and engaging pitch documents with the ability to summarise a strong contributor/ story in succinct headlines.
- Assist the team in creating compelling casting edits, sourcing music and additional footage.
- Pitch your contributors internally to the casting producer and wider team.
- Work closely with the casting producer to use a risk assessment approach to each casting stage beginning with the initial research calls.
- Have a clear understanding of the broadcaster and production company compliance guidelines and be diligent in applying GDPR data protection rules throughout the casting process.
- Highlight and prioritise contributor duty of care needs, welfare issues and accessibility requirements, refer these up to casting producer / welfare executive.
- If filming with under 18s, understand Ofcom guidelines for casting and filming children.
- Be an available point of contact for contributors who have questions, worries and concerns about production and flag these concerns where appropriate.
- Notify contributors of aftercare practices and liaise with casting producer/ welfare executive to handover any notes.
- Keep up to date with industry best practice and OFCOM compliance guidelines with consideration to the genre and requirements of your production, e.g., fairness, harm, conflict of interest and offensive material.
Skills
Check out role specific skills, transferable skills and attributes for the role of casting researcher.
- Confidence: to make outreach calls and have a personable and positive phone manner.
- Research: a genuine passion for people finding and subject research.
- Editorial judgment: use casting and storytelling instincts to spot potential contributors.
- Be naturally inquisitive: ask the right questions to probe and develop the contributor story.
- Organisation: be meticulous in ordering casting documents within the shared drive.
- Administrative support: help the casting team with general admin tasks and be a central point of contact for external organisations.
- Creative skills: assist with the creation of high-quality pitch materials.
- Attention to detail: log interviews and make detailed notes from research calls.
- Social media knowledge: have a good understanding of social platforms and how best to utilise these for the needs of the casting.
- Clear communication and teamwork: work closely with the casting team to juggle varied priorities as the casting process evolves and changes.
- Working under pressure to meet the demands of the casting schedule and responding to new goals and targets as the process evolves.
- Managing data, ensuring information for contributor and outreach databases are inputted correctly with due care taken to follow GDPR guidelines.
- Relationship building and networking, establishing and maintaining relationships with third party organisations to help promote the casting.
- Technical skills, working closely with AP and Producer to edit engaging and impactful casting tapes.
- Be vocal: ask questions and use your unique perspective to contribute new ideas the casting process.
- Be proactive: carry out tasks efficiently and anticipate what team members may need additional support with.
- Integrity: work with honesty and transparency, be an active listener and flag concerns to senior members of the team.
- Resilience: be flexible and adapt to changing work priorities, goals and deadlines.
- Optimism: bring a positive outlook to casting challenges, have a can- do attitude and be an enthusiastic representative of the production to organisations and contributors.