Most casting directors start as an intern or casting assistant in a casting office, learn on the job, move up to casting associate, and eventually cast projects of their own. There's no required degree. We read the career stories of 28 casting directors in our library: at least seven started as interns, six were actors first, and many said they simply fell into it.
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A casting director finds the actors for every role and brings the best options to the producers and director, who make the final choice. Casting director Faith Martin put it simply: you work closely with the producer and director on how to make the film happen, including getting it financed and distributed, then run the auditions to get there.
The day to day is breakdowns, reading submissions, running sessions and negotiating deals with agents. Our page on what a casting director does covers the job itself; this page is about how you get it.
From the bottom, learning on the job. Deirdre Bowen called casting "very much an apprentice world": she began as a casting assistant at a Canadian broadcaster, and a casting director later asked her to join as a junior partner. Of the 28 casting directors whose career stories we read, at least seven started as interns, and most of the rest as assistants, receptionists or helpers in a casting office.
Almost none planned it. Lisa London didn't know casting was a job when she was at college; Gayle Pillsbury, Bonnie Zane, Dave Newman and Kerry Barden all described falling into it.
Intern, then casting assistant, then casting associate, then casting director. Gayle Pillsbury climbed it exactly that way: intern for a casting director, then their assistant, then associate, then on from there. Dave Newman was assistant, associate and finally casting director on some of the same shows.
Kym Jackson explains the office structure: the assistant works for both the associate and the casting director, often handling first passes through submissions; the associate takes delegated work such as supporting roles and early sessions. Some offices skip the associate title. See casting office staff positions.
No, but a course with a built-in internship was the door for many. Seth Yanklewitz did his internship at a commercial casting agency during his acting degree and started his casting career at 19. Meg Morman's acting program required a 12-week internship in a major casting office, and Anya Colloff found casting through a college internship. Erica A. Hart cast her first student film in her first year at film school.
Others had no such route. Lou Mitchell was a 16-year-old receptionist whose desk sat in front of a casting department; she was offered a casting job at 19.
Yes, and it's common. Six of the 28 had worked as actors first, including Greg Apps, Dave Newman, Lisa Zambetti and Thea McLeod, who kept acting while casting commercials before stepping back to focus on casting. Amanda Mitchell realised she loved actors, but not being one.
Kerry Barden said nearly everyone in his office has an acting background, and that it helps because they understand what an actor goes through walking into the room.
Taste, memory for actors, organisation and people skills. Faith Martin traces her ability to a lifelong habit of watching people closely. For assistants she wants great detail, reliability and commitment; for associates, inspiration, ideas and taste.
Bonnie Zane used to make actor lists for her sister's projects as a hobby, which is how her sister spotted the knack. Thea McLeod loves both sides of the job: directing actors in the room, and the producer side of doing deals with agents.
Ask, keep asking, and be useful. The routes we heard:
Scot said his years in other jobs helped: he already knew how to answer a phone. Be reliable and keep track of actors.
Most casting directors run or work in independent casting offices hired project by project. Studios and networks also have in-house casting executives who hire and oversee those offices. Erica A. Hart interned at a network casting department for a year, seeing both studio casting and a show cast by an outside office. Jessica Daniels described moving between independent casting and an executive role at a studio.
There are also specialist areas, such as commercials and background (extras) casting.
Yes, both. The Casting Society (CSA) is a professional society. As of November 2026, a full casting director member needs at least 100 weeks of casting principal roles in the last five years, without an "associate" or "assistant" title, or a director-level studio or network casting job; associates need 75 weeks. Extras casting doesn't count. Erica A. Hart, who sits on its board, told us it covers casting professionals across every medium.
In Los Angeles and New York, Teamsters Local 399 and Local 817 represent casting directors and associates under their agreement with the studios. In Australia, the Casting Guild of Australia asks for four years as a casting director for full membership, or two as an assistant for associate membership.
Yes. The Academy created the Academy Award for Achievement in Casting, first presented at the 98th Oscars for films released in 2025. The 2026 Emmys had four casting categories: comedy series, drama series, limited or anthology series or movie, and reality program. CSA presents its own Artios Awards for casting.
For who has been honoured, see Oscar casting directors.
It varies hugely by market, title and whether the work is union. We couldn't find a current, official pay figure on a primary source, so we haven't quoted one. In LA and New York, union terms come from the Teamsters agreement above; elsewhere, ask the local guild.
Most start as an intern or casting assistant in a casting office, move up to casting associate, then become a casting director. Of 28 casting directors whose stories we read, most began this way.
No. Some got in through college internships, but others started as receptionists or assistants with no film degree.
Several years. As of November 2026, CSA asks for 100 weeks of principal casting in the last five years for full membership, and the Casting Guild of Australia asks for four years as a casting director.
Yes. Six of the 28 casting directors whose stories we read worked as actors first, and Kerry Barden said it helps his team understand what actors go through.
Yes. The Academy Award for Achievement in Casting was first presented at the 98th Oscars, for films released in 2025.
The Casting Society, a professional society for casting directors, associates, casting executives and unscripted casting producers. It also presents the Artios Awards.
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