From Craft to Career - A Casting Director’s Guide for the Actor

Practical, positive and uplifting, the advice in this book is designed to lead to the best outcomes possible for you, the actor, making the transition from craft to career

The reader is given insight into the various types of casting directors across the industry and how that practical knowledge can benefit you and increase your chance of success

While providing an in-depth insight into the role of the casting director, this book explains the jobs of all the other people involved in the casting process – including producers, network executives, writers – and how they influence casting decisions

As the collected wisdom Merri Sugarman's 20+ years of experience in different aspects of professional casting within television, film and theater, this book is a treasure trove of advice to help the actors and those who support them in their career goals, learn what it takes to be a pro

For those who choose to make their craft a career, it's an invaluable resource

Table of Contents

Foreword
Introduction: My path from actor to casting director
Chapter 1: What exactly does a casting director do?
Chapter 2: How to begin
Chapter 3: Where to live and why there?
Chapter 4: Your two different day jobs
Chapter 5: Unions: when it's time to join
Chapter 6: Representation and submissions
Chapter 7: Pictures, resumes, reels and websites
Chapter 8: The self-tape and virtual audition
Chapter 9: The casting director and audition process
Chapter 10: In the audition room
Chapter 11: Auditions: Being prepared
Chapter 12: Curious kids
Chapter 13: Where do I find the work?
Chapter 14: Booking it - or not
Chapter 15: The first day of school
Chapter 16: Networking
Chapter 17: Continuing education
Chapter 18: Alternate career path
Chapter 19: That's a wrap
Chapter 20: Casting in a post-pandemic world
Appendix 1: Useful resources
Appendix 2: Glossary