As Live - Skills Needed For Roles

Casting Director

Casting Directors must have an extensive knowledge of actors and their suitability for a particular role. On larger productions, Casting Directors may supervise casting assistants, who will support and assist them in this work.Casting Directors organize and conduct interviews and auditions for each part, and are also in charge of offering each actor an appropriate fee to appear in the film, as well as drawing up and negotiating the terms and conditions of contracts with agents, once casting is complete. Casting Directors need a vast knowledge of a huge range of actors, and an extensive understanding of their abilities, as well as a thorough appreciation of changing talent trends within the film industry. This requires a strong instinct for acting talent, and great dedication and commitment. A deep passion for the craft of acting is essential. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills are vital in order to liaise with a range of people, including other production staff, talent agents, and the actors themselves.
Negotiation and organizational skills are also invaluable for agreeing actors' fees, and arranging the terms and conditions of their contracts. In order to cast the ideal actor for a key role in a film, directors and producers have to be highly selective, and may be extremely demanding, so it is vital that Casting Directors are patient, hard working and diplomatic at all times.

Essential knowledge and skills:
Casting Directors must have a wide knowledge of cinema and actors. An interest in the theater and stage actors is also a prerequisite. A basic understanding of how to operate a video camera (framing, focus, etc.) is also an advantage. Casting Directors must be computer literate.

Key Skills include:

• excellent communication skills
• ability to recognize talent
• a good memory
• excellent organizational skills
• precise attention to detail
• ability to take and give direction
• knowledge of the requirements of the relevant health and safety legislation and procedures

Assistant Floor Manager

He serves as the most important link between the director and the crew members on the floor. He is responsible for communicating the instructions given by the director to the people on the floor, and again back to the director. He ensures that all the equipment is in place and that it has been checked. He is responsible for coordinating the rehearsals, briefing the talent, guests, and presenters, providing vital information like time to the crew members, preparing and controlling the audience, conveying the off action camera details to the director, maintaining the equipment, etc. He ensures that all safety rules and regulations are being adhered to. He is also responsible for conveying important details about the progress reports, and for liaising with the public relation and venue staff. He may also deal with resolving the technical issues and may assist in planning of the shows. Thus, he is in complete charge of the production floor by providing assistance in planning and organising the production work; be it on stage or on some outside location

Essential Skills

To ensure success as a floor manager, you should possess at least some of the following essential skills:

• Should be able to demonstrate excellent planning, time management, and organizational skills
• Should be able to work and remain calm even under pressure situations, and should be able to address and resolve any relevant issues
• Should be able to work with a diverse range of people and communicate with them effectively
• High levels of confidence, maturity, and competence are required