The work that goes into casting, whether for theater, film, or TV, can seem like a mystery to most actors.
Casting director and artistic director Alexis Confer explains what actually happens on the other side of the table, what casting directors do, and how producers and directors work together to build out a project’s cast.
Alexis has spent years running casting for independent productions, and shared her perspective on how the process really works, from posting a role to making a final decision.
Key Insights
- Casting is a collaborative process where casting directors, producers, directors, and showrunners each play a role in building the right cast.
- Most actors are passed over because of factors beyond talent, including chemistry, availability, and the needs of the production.
- Strong materials, thoughtful preparation, and authentic choices help actors stand out throughout every stage of the casting process.
What Casting Actually Is and Who’s Involved
Casting is the process of finding actors suited for the roles in a project. It usually starts in pre-production, as early as possible once something is optioned or greenlit. A casting director sits at the center of it, working alongside producers, directors, and showrunners in television.
A casting director is not the same as a talent agent. Casting directors are creative professionals hired by the production. They read the script, source talent, sift through submissions, and bring options to the director and producers. Agents, by contrast, only submit their own clients for roles. They’re not involved in the day-to-day of a production.
For many casting directors, the job comes down to genuinely caring about the people walking through the door. Danny Long, who has cast projects across multiple languages and continents, put it simply: “I have a lot of empathy for actors.” That empathy shapes how he runs a room, working to make performers feel comfortable rather than tested.
How Roles Get Posted and Who Sees Them
Legitimate audition opportunities come from breakdowns, which casting offices post on casting platforms like Casting Networks. A breakdown covers the role, the production, submission instructions, and any union requirements.
Casting offices sometimes reach out to agents and managers directly, but breakdowns still go out publicly, since they’re the clearest signal of what’s actually available. Most casting directors also keep a running list of actors they’d consider before a breakdown is even posted.
That internal list matters more than people think. John Papsidera, the casting director behind Christopher Nolan’s recent films, ‘The Odyssey’ and ‘Oppenheimer,’ has described how long-standing relationships shape who gets in the room first. Speaking about his decades-long partnership with Nolan, he explained that familiarity built over time changes everything: “You do develop trust. It’s a valuable currency.”
That’s true at every level of the industry, not just for Oscar-winning casting directors. Casting directors send breakdowns internally first, to actors they already know and trust, before posting them widely. Getting on that internal list, and staying on it, is often what turns into a real career.
What Happens After You Submit: The Selection Process Explained
Casting directors often review hundreds, sometimes thousands, of submissions for a single role, looking through self-tapes, resumes, and reels. That volume is exactly why solid materials matter. A well-formatted resume and a reel that shows range help you clear the first cut.
Three-time Emmy-winning casting director Avy Kaufman says an actor’s confidence and comfort matter. “I just feel like that’s one beautiful thing in seeing actors [auditions]; we can all feel when they’re comfortable. They just mold into the role.”
The Audition Process: From First Read to Final Callback
Auditioning usually follows a sequence. The first round is typically a self-tape or an in-person read.
Preparation is the one thing you can fully control walking in. Part of preparation is trusting what you bring to the role, rather than trying to figure out what casting directors are looking for. David Rubin, who recently cast AppleTV’s ‘Margot’s Got Money Troubles,’ says, “When you bring something fresh, suddenly, the light in the room changes, the energy in the room shifts, and we start to rethink what we thought we were looking for.”
Once you’re prepared, the goal shifts to making a real choice instead of a safe one. Casting director Nancy Nayor, known for her work on Barbarian and Lisa Frankenstein, has said actors who play it safe often blend together, while the ones who commit to something specific become “the auditions that are the most memorable.”
Papsidera has echoed that same idea from the other side of the table. Describing his approach while casting ‘Lessons in Chemistry,’ he said his job is to “create space where actors can share a bit of their soul.” The audition room works both ways. A good casting director is trying to see you clearly, not just check boxes.
How the Final Casting Decision Gets Made
Casting directors are often the unsung heroes of pre-production, but the final call usually belongs to the director and producer. In television, showrunners and network executives weigh in too. A strong audition doesn’t guarantee a booking, because somewhere along the way, someone else may have fought for a different actor.
When Papsidera cast ‘Superman’, the deciding factor for David Corenswet wasn’t a checklist so much as a specific quality that clicked into place. Papsidera was direct about it: “David checked all those boxes.” He’s also said he tries to stay open rather than locking into a preconceived idea before an actor’s chemistry reveals itself.
Before a final decision, actors typically get an availability check or a hold, confirming they’re free to work and won’t be in scheduling conflicts with another project.
How to Get Yourself in Front of Casting Directors
Getting noticed starts with having your materials together: a resume with real credits, a showreel that shows range, and a current headshot. Background work is also a strong entry point for getting seen, especially without representation.
Conclusion
Rejection in casting rarely has anything to do with talent. There are many variables in putting a cast together. As Rachel Reiss reminds actors, the audition itself is proof someone already saw something in you: a casting director chose you to perform, out of hundreds of submissions.
Build your materials, learn your lines, and bring your own confidence and uniqueness to the audition. The rest is a numbers game.
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