Casting is one of the most important contributions that a Director makes on a production and the DGA supports and encourages in-person casting. However, with the advent of new technologies and pressure to cut costs wherever possible, many productions have moved to a hybrid model and most casting now takes place electronically. In response, the DGA has bargained numerous improvements to Director’s creative rights in television to ensure the Director’s role in the casting process is not diminished through the use of new technologies.
During the 2023 negotiations, the Guild won the following right related to casting:
- When casting is conducted electronically, the Casting Department should coordinate with the 1AD, Line Producer and Director’s designee when casting links will be distributed. This permits the prepping team to amend the schedule and allow the Director to efficiently review and respond with casting recommendations
Additional rights:
- The Director has the right, if reasonably available, to participate in all casting decisions
- The Director must be informed of the casting protocols and schedule no later the first day of prep.
- During prep, the Director must be invited to the casting concept call or meeting.
- Casting links must be sent to the Director at the same time they are sent to the Writer/EP or any other Producer.
- Except when time does not permit, the Director must be provided a reasonable opportunity, ideally three hours, to provide casting input before casting recommendations or decisions are communicated to the studio and/or network.
- If in-person casting sessions are conducted, the only individuals who may attend are those with a reasonable purpose for being present and have been invited by the Producer, Studio or Director.
These new rights are intended to provide a consistent, reliable time so Directors can anticipate during prep when casting links will be distributed, and they are meant to address reports that Directors would receive casting links at inopportune times — like in the middle of a scout — which limits their ability to promptly weigh in with their recommendations.
Since casting occurs in closed sessions or, more frequently, via email links distributed among the prepping team, it is challenging for DGA Field Reps and other Guild staff to identify casting issues in the same manner they discover other contractual violations. In efforts to raise awareness to Director’s rights in casting, the Guild has increased outreach to others involved in the process — ADs & UPMs, Producer/Directors, casting departments and SAG-AFTRA — and published this one-page document reviewing the casting rights Directors are afforded when working in scripted television.
Please review this information to increase awareness and familiarity with your contractually protected creative rights. You are encouraged to share it with anyone who may benefit.
Many Directors have requested the Guild increase efforts to educate themselves, their representatives, studio executives and crew members of a Director’s Creative Rights. This series of articles is designed to help raise awareness of your rights, which span all phases of production and are foundational to the role of the Director. There is more information on the rights outlined here in the Creative Rights Handbook and in Article 7 of the DGA Basic Agreement. We encourage you to share this with fellow Directors and crew members.
If you find yourself with any creative rights questions or problems, please consult a DGA Field Representative or call the DGA Contracts Line at (310) 289-2010 or Jed Smith at (Jsmith@dga.org). For more information on Creative Rights and to download a copy of the Creative Rights Handbook, click here to visit the DGA’s Creative Rights Section.
