Casting on an independent film is part creative decision and part paperwork. The director picks the actors. Around that choice sits a pile of production work: the character list, the day counts, the union agreement, the offer, clearance, and permits for any minors. Most of it has to be settled before an agent will take an offer seriously, and the sections below follow the order a casting office runs into it.
Know what you're casting
Casting starts from the breakdown. Every speaking character gets a cast ID number there, and the script breakdown path explains how. The casting breakdown template is what a casting director sends to agents, managers, and casting sites: project details, union status, rate, shoot dates and location, then one entry per role. Background is counted separately, scene by scene, and extras breakdown shows how to turn "the diner is busy" into a number with descriptions. Learn the difference between background actors, a featured extra, and a stand-in now, since each is booked and paid differently.
Know how many days each actor works
An offer names a start date and guaranteed days, and both come from the schedule. The day out of days turns the stripboard into each actor's work, hold, and travel days, and its totals tell you what a role costs before anyone negotiates. Pay particular attention to its section on drops and pickups. Under SAG-AFTRA theatrical rules, a day performer can only be dropped and picked up without pay for the gap if the firm pickup date (more than 10 days later) is set when the actor is engaged, and only once per production. That means casting needs the drop plan before the offer goes out. If the DOOD grid is new to you, go through shooting schedules first.
Pick the agreement before the offers
Union status changes rates, who you can hire, and what you file. SAG-AFTRA low budget agreements compares six agreements chosen mainly by total budget, from Micro-Budget (up to $20,000) through Ultra Low Budget ($300,000) and Moderate Low Budget ($700,000) to Low Budget Theatrical ($2,000,000). Read the day rates there, and remember that pension and health is added on top.
Then read how to become a SAG-AFTRA signatory. The application asks for the script, a line-item budget, chain of title, and financing documents, and SAGindie recommends starting four to six weeks before performers first travel, rehearse, or shoot. The SAG-AFTRA producer's guide covers clearing each performer through Station 12 and what's due after wrap.
Indies often want to cast someone who isn't a member. Taft-Hartley explained lists the reasons that hold up and the report you file. The rest of the union picture is in unions and compliance.
The offer and the deal
Terms go on a cast deal memo: role, agreement, start date, guaranteed days, rate, overtime, billing, fittings, and travel, with paid days taken from the DOOD. Two clauses come up constantly with agents, pay or play and favored nations, and you should know what each commits the production to before agreeing. Anyone on camera without a performer contract should sign a talent release.
Casting a child
Minors bring state work permits, a trust account, a studio teacher, and hour limits that shape the board. Working with minors on set covers California and New York. How to schedule around child actors shows a 10-year-old's school day blocked out, with the child's coverage shot first and adult coverage finished with a stand-in. Read both before you cast a child in a large role, because the hour limits cap how much of that role fits into one day.
Once cameras roll
Performer times go on SAG-AFTRA's Exhibit G each day, and the Exhibit G walkthrough fills one in for three performers. Background is booked by the extras casting director and tracked on set by the AD department.
The casting office
The casting director runs auditions and callbacks, presents choices to the director and producers, and negotiates deals with agents, with a casting associate running pre-reads and submissions. The casting directors page describes the day-count side of the job, and the Backstage integration page covers bringing actors from Backstage into a Storiara project.