Filming in Chicago, Detroit, Dallas, Boston, Miami even Los Angeles partner with us to cast your next production.
4E Casting will organize and facilitate the casting of actors for all the roles in a film. This involves working closely with the director and producer to understand their requirements, and suggesting ideal artists for each role, as well as arranging and conducting interviews and auditions. Once the parts are cast, the Casting Director negotiates fees and contracts for the actors, and acts as a liaison between the director, the actors and their agents.
Our negotiation and organizational skills are also invaluable for agreeing actors' fees, and arranging the terms and conditions of their contracts. In order to cast the ideal actor for a key role in a film, directors and producers have to be highly selective, and may be extremely demanding, so it is vital that Casting Directors are patient, hard working and diplomatic at all times.
So why hire a casting director?
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A Casting Director works for you, an Agent works for the talent. A Casting Director will go out of his/her way to find the right look, as opposed to an agent plugging in their talent. A Casting Director will negotiate the rate, have deal memos/talent releases available to you, as well as a cast list.
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Once you hire a Casting Director, you will need to negotiate rate and terms, and get it to the Casting Director in writing ASAP. Once this is done, the Casting Director should be THE ONLY ONE HANDLING ANY CASTING. Though anyone can give suggestions on who they want the Casting Director to see, no one is brought in personally or through and agent without the Casting Director initiating it. This avoids HUGE problems that could arise via mis-communication.
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The Casting Director should do all preliminary casting with the production being involved. Production (director, producer)comes to call backs only. At callbacks, the Casting Director runs the session, with Production giving adjustments.
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No commitments are given to talent during casting sessions. It is the Casting Director who makes the calls to hire the talent, during which time they confirm rates, dates, etc…
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At this point, it is usually up to Production to get deal memos to the talent (provided by Casting Director). This is often done on the set, and the talent needs to have a signed copy as well, so be sure to have two copies. Attached to the contract, you will need an I-9 for talent to fill out, as well as a W-4 if they are not working as Independent Contractors.
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If the project is non-union, the casting director needs:
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Date(s) of shoot • Time (if known) • Director/Producer • Phone number of Production Company
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Payroll company phone number, e-mail and address • Location of shoot • Anticipated turn around for payment • Wardrobe specs • Hair spec
If the project is union, you must consult directly with a very SAG savvy Casting Director, or your project can easily be held up by a lien against your project!
