• key decisions at this stage: why is casting critical from the very beginning?
• collaboration with producers, directors, and screenwriters – identifying the project's needs.
• the impact of casting on securing funding and partners (co-productions, distribution).
• building character profiles: age, type, background, temperament, and cultural context.
• finding the "casting key" – what is most essential to the story?
• balancing established names with new faces.
• what does a professional casting proposal look like?
• casting recommendations: alternative versions, "spot-on" choices, and "outside the box" suggestions.
• considering international or co-production options (e.g., actors from partner countries).
• actor databases and industry platforms.
• talent agencies and managers – effective communication regarding availability.
• auditions as a "creative laboratory."
• creating a safe space for experimentation and risk-taking.
• discovering non-obvious paths for character interpretation.
• actor availability within specific windows.
• project budget vs. talent fees – is a "star" feasible?
• shooting schedules and logistical casting constraints.
• production materials (shooting schedules, actor days, contracts).
• casting as a sales tool – selecting names that "sell"
• the project.the importance of "packaging" in co-productions and fundraising (cast, director, theme).
• the role of casting in the pitching process and project presentations (e.g., at film markets and pitches).
• ensuring casting choices align with the project’s values.
• representation, diversity, and accessibility (gender, ethnicity, disability).
• the actor – casting director relationship.
• exercise: script analysis and creating a casting proposal.
• workshop: presenting proposals to a "producer" or "director" (simulated session).
• case study: analysis of casting choices in existing films.
• casting based on reflection, collaboration, and sensitivity.
• casting as a message to the audience, partners, and the festival circuit.
• "signature casting" – how original acting choices define the project’s identity.