Casting Society of American Banner / Photo Credit: Awards Watch - CSA
CASTING SOCIETY OF AMERICA (CSA), IN MOTION
PICTURE PRODUCTION… (In the Entertainment industry. Casting Society of America (CSA)
Bruce
Bisbey…please follow me at: https://dumbdogproductionsllc.blogspot.com or https://www.facebook.com/DumbDogProductionsLLC/ thank you.
Casting Society of America (CSA), in Motion Picture
Production
Casting Society of America (CSA),
The Casting Society of America (CSA), founded in Los
Angeles, California, in 1982, is a professional society of about 700 casting
directors for film, television and theatre in Australia, Canada, India, France,
Germany, Ireland, Spain, Italy, the United Kingdom and the United States. The
society is not to be confused with an industry union. The Teamsters represent
some (though not all) casting directors in Hollywood. Members use the
post-nominal letters "CSA".
Membership eligibility
The following requirements must be met in order to join
the CSA:
Sponsorship letters from at least two current members of
the CSA…
Two years of screen or stage credit as Primary Casting
Director…
Casting directors who are also personal managers are not
eligible for membership in the CSA…
Casting Associates: Associates is the second chain of
command in a casting office. Once a casting associate has worked for two years
in the field of casting, they can apply for membership in Casting Society of
America. Typically, the work under a Casting Director running pre-read
sessions, prepping deal memos, and doing any calls to agents. Many associates
begin to take on smaller scale projects so they can amass enough credits to
move up in rank in CSA to a full-fledged Casting Director.
A studio or production company hires a casting director to
find and audition actors for every role in a television or film production—from
extras to leading characters. To handle the massive task of casting dozens and
even hundreds of roles, the casting director will employ one or more
assistants, or associates. Casting directors and casting associates may work as
union members or non-union freelancers, and may be members of the Casting
Society of America (CSA), a professional organization.
Duties
The specific duties of a casting associate vary based on
the size and budget of the production, as well as the amount of responsibility
the casting director is willing to delegate to the associate. The first task
may be to read through the script with the casting director to identify the
principal and supporting roles, compile a list of possible actors for each
character, and contact the talent’s agent to check availability. When a very
specific type is required—say, a leggy “Angelina type” who can surf and knows
Brazilian jiu-jitsu—the associate will have to get creative and pound the
pavement to find potential candidates. During the audition process, the casting
associate will operate the video camera, collect and catalog résumés, and
ensure that the process runs smoothly. At times this may mean wrangling large
crowds at cattle calls for extras. After auditions the associate will edit each
actor’s video, working with the casting director to select the best takes and
create a short list of names for each character. These tapes must be labeled
and packaged with pertinent materials (résumé, availability calendar, etc.) and
delivered to the director for his or her final approval.
Casting associates also serve the role of secretary and
personal assistant. Getting coffee, answering phones, and managing the casting
director’s schedule and correspondence are all part of the job. Between
projects (when working full-time at the casting director’s firm) the associate
will also constantly be adding to a mental roster of familiar faces by watching
new shows, movies, plays, and commercials for new talent. A fat database of
actors coupled with a near-photographic memory for faces is a casting
professional’s best friend.
Skills & Education
There are no specific educational requirements to work in
this field, but experience in film, television, or theater is necessary. It is
possible to land a gig as an associate with a rich résumé of amateur theater
experience and student films. Classes in acting and directing and workshops
given by accomplished casting directors are a good way to learn the specific
skills of this position. A two- or four-year degree in entertainment business
can give you a firm understanding of the pre-production process, working with
SAG (the Screen Actors Guild), and entertainment contract law. Most of all, you
must be a master networker. Casting directors love an associate who learns
quickly, stays organized, and anticipates needs.
What to Expect
Your primary responsibility is to support the casting
director. There will be opportunities to schmooze with the stars, but don’t
make the mistake of getting overly chummy with the talent. The worst mistake an
associate can make is to step on the boss’s toes. Casting associates who can be
a shoulder to lean on and go-to crisis manager will earn the respect of the
casting director and see doors open with a glowing endorsement from their
mentor.
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,
THIS ARTICLE
IS FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. THE INFORMATION IS PROVIDED "AS
IS" AND BRUCE BISBEY MAKES NO EXPRESS OR IMPLIED REPRESENTATIONS OR
WARRANTIES, INCLUDING WARRANTIES OF PERFORMANCE, MERCHANTABILITY, AND FITNESS
FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, REGARDING THIS INFORMATION. BRUCE BISBEY DOES NOT
GUARANTEE THE COMPLETENESS, ACCURACY OR TIMELINESS OF THIS INFORMATION. YOUR
USE OF THIS INFORMATION IS AT YOUR OWN RISK. YOU ASSUME FULL RESPONSIBILITY AND
RISK OF LOSS RESULTING FROM THE USE OF THIS INFORMATION. BRUCE BISBEY WILL NOT
BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, SPECIAL, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL OR
PUNITIVE DAMAGES OR ANY OTHER DAMAGES WHATSOEVER, WHETHER IN AN ACTION BASED
UPON A STATUTE, CONTRACT, TORT (INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION NEGLIGENCE) OR
OTHERWISE, RELATING TO THE USE OF THIS INFORMATION.
Casting
Society of American Banner / Photo Credit: Awards Watch - CSA
No comments:
Post a Comment