Casting Director

The casting director suggests actors for each role to the director and producer. He reads the script, envisions the characters, searches for talent, organizes auditions, and assists with the final selection, right through to negotiations with agents.

What does a casting director do?

It all starts with the script. The casting director analyzes it closely with the director to define each character: age, appearance, acting style, and voice. He then compiles lists of well-known actors and up-and-coming talent, drawing from agents, acting schools, theaters, short films, and casting calls.

He organizes the auditions: he has the actors perform scenes, films them, and presents the best candidates to the director. He then tracks their availability, arranges meetings, and works with the production team to negotiate contracts.

For supporting roles and extras, he often works with an assistant or an extras coordinator. On a TV series, the work is repeated every season and sometimes every episode.

Casting director or agent: What's the difference?

The casting director works for the film: he is hired by the production company to find the right actors. The agent works for the actor: he represents the actor’s interests, finds him roles, and negotiates his contract.

The two work hand in hand: the casting director calls agents to offer a role, and the agents introduce him to the actors they represent. In France, casting directors have their own professional association,the ARDA.

Who does the casting director work with?

He works primarily with the director, who makes the decisions, and with the producer, who approves the budget and the names that will help secure funding for the film. He follows the schedule set by the production manager.

While preparing for the shoot, he coordinates with the first assistant director regarding the actors' schedules, and with the costume and makeup teams, who are preparing for the screen tests.

What skills do you need to become a casting director?

You need a very broad knowledge of actors, film, television, and theater, and an eye for spotting talent before anyone else does. You also need to know how to direct an actor during an audition to bring out what they can bring to the role.

Finally, the job requires tact, organizational skills, and discretion. A casting director manages dozens of candidates, delivers rejection notices, negotiates with agents, and keeps projects that haven’t been announced yet confidential.

How much does a casting director earn?

On a feature film, the minimum salary for a casting director is €1,551.31 gross per week, based on a 39-hour workweek. The assistant casting director earns a minimum of €1,070.37.

These amounts are taken from the wage scale in the collective bargaining agreement for film production (IDCC 3097), effective as of May 1, 2026. For low-budget films listed in Appendix III, the wage is lower but is supplemented by a share of the film’s box office receipts. Television and advertising are subject to different rules.

These are minimum figures, and the work varies from project to project. France Travail does not yet publish employment statistics for this occupation.

What kind of education do you need to become a casting director?

France Travail notes that this career is open to those with a degree 's degree in the performing arts, film, or theater, and recommends practical experience in casting or working with artists. People often start out as casting assistants.

At ESRA, the ESRA Cinema program is a three-year course leading to a state-accredited “ degree ” degree (Bac+3), and includes casting direction among its career paths, with at least two productions per year screened before a jury. The DHEC Screenwriting and Directing program extends this path to a state-accredited “ degree ” degree (Bac+5), featuring workshops in directing actors.

What career opportunities and prospects are there?

Casting directors work in film, television drama, streaming platforms, advertising, and live entertainment. According to France Travail, they may be freelance, salaried employees, or self-employed, and work on a project basis.

The profession is gaining recognition: On March 15, 2026, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences presented the first-ever Oscar for Best Casting to Cassandra Kulukundis for Paul Thomas Anderson’s *One Battle After Another*. This trend is leading to opportunities in major film and television projects, production, and art direction.

Sources: Légifrance, IDCC 3097 collective bargaining agreement, pay scale as of May 1, 2026; France Travail, fact sheet L1317; Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Verified on September 24, 2026.

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