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“Seventy-five percent of directing is casting.”
— Alfred Hitchcock
Want to make a great movie? Get a great cast! Learn where and how to find the best actors, regardless of your budget, and what to do when they are standing in front of you, awaiting your brilliant direction. This comprehensive guide explains every step in the casting process — from filing union paperwork and posting effective audition announcements, to running successful casting sessions and tracking down the agents representing who you want to cast.
What People Say
“Schell puts the art and process of casting into a clear perspective. This should be required reading for any first-time filmmaker, and even old pros will find this valuable.”
— Steve Michelson, Executive Producer – Lobitos Creek Ranch Productions
“There can never be too much good information about the casting process! Read and learn!”
— Sarah Kliban, casting director, San Francisco – International Talent Casting: Milk, All About Evil, NBC’s Trauma
“… an excellent resource for directors, producers and new actors. Clear and concise, it steers the reader from common pitfalls when choosing and working with actors. It’s a must-have for anyone embarking on a new film or video. Bravo!”
— Nanci Gaglio, award-winning writer and director, co-creator/executive producer: Venus Rising, BBC
HESTER SCHELL is a master acting teacher, stage and film director, writer, producer, actor, mentor and coach. Her academic background includes: Professor of Theatre Arts at De Anza College in California, where she pioneered the film acting and stand-up comedy programs; Adjunct Professor of Theatre at Notre Dame de Namur University; and Guest Faculty at University of London, San Francisco’s Film Arts Foundation, and the San Francisco School of Digital Filmmaking.