ABSTRACT
The producer has a vital role to play in ensuring both that the casting process runs smoothly and that the best possible talent is recruited for a production. Finding the actors often requires being proactive—seeing actors’ work and reaching out to them. Audition sessions must be set up and run professionally, both for the sake of efficiency and to make the best possible impression on prospective collaborators. There are times when hiring a casting director or importing talent from outside your region makes sense, but these steps come with costs and additional arrangements. Often the most experienced and talented actors are members of SAG-AFTRA, a powerful union. The union has special contracts for low-budget and student productions, but all collective bargaining agreements enforce certain rules and procedures on a production. The other side of the coin—working with non-actors—entails its own set of concerns and may require adjusting the way a film is shot. Given that short films usually have very small budgets, staging crowd scenes with lots of extras poses a special challenge on shorts and may require some ingenuity. Whether working with extras, friends or union talent, it is essential to have all performers under contract.
