Tag: casting directors
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Finding the Humanity in Drama-Documentary Acting
From heightened retellings to emotionally raw storytelling, casting director Nikki Meadows continues the drama-documentary conversation and explains why non-dialogue is never ‘extra’. Drama-doc is a fascinating space for actors and every choice about tone and style matters. Too much can jar against the factual elements of the show. Too little and the story loses impact.…
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The Winners of the CDA Awards 2025
Pearson Casting for ‘Starlight Express’, Ali Fearnley and Hannah Birkett Casting among the CDA Award winners. The winners of the Casting Directors Association (CDA) Awards 2025 have been announced at a ceremony at St Pancras Renaissance Hotel, hosted by the hilarious Lou Sanders. The awards, created to celebrate the crucial yet often under-appreciated work of the…
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2026 Artios Awards Nominations
The casting teams behind ‘Adolescence,’ ‘Dept Q’ and ‘Bridget Jones Mad About the Boy’ amongst those nominated for 41st Artios Awards. The Casting Society of America (CSA) has announced the nominees for the 2026 Artios Awards. The Awards celebrate the year’s most outstanding achievements in casting across film, television, theatre and new media, with the…
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Meet the Casting Director: Kahleen Crawford on ‘House of Guinness’
Discover how casting director Kahleen Crawford brought the iconic ‘House of Guinness’ to life with her expert eye for authentic talent. House of Guinness, the highly anticipated historical drama from Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight, is set to premiere on Netflix soon, and we couldn’t be more excited! The series delves into the powerful and…
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Kahleen Crawford’s Self-Tape, Audition and Showreel Tips
Casting director Kahleen Crawford’s expert advice on self-tapes, auditions and showreels for actors looking to land their next role. Meet Kahleen Crawford (CDG, CSA), a highly respected casting director known for her work on acclaimed films and series like All of Us Strangers, Living, The Buccaneers, The Lost Daughter and I, Daniel Blake. With a…
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Why I Love Casting Drama-Documentaries
Casting director Nikki Meadows explains why drama-documentaries are a serious, award-winning genre offering actors the chance to tell emotionally truthful stories with integrity. In this article, I’ll showcase why I love drama-documentaries (drama-docs or docudramas) and why I think they offer an exciting opportunity for actors to showcase their skills. Over the coming weeks, in…
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Why Do Casting Directors Use Spotlight?
Get an exclusive look at how casting directors use Spotlight. Hear why industry professionals “couldn’t do their job without it” and how they use its features to cast roles. For many actors, Spotlight is a fundamental part of professional life. It’s the go-to platform for managing your profile, showreels and credits, but what does it…
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Nurturing Connections for the Long-Haul
Tips to turn your new industry contact into a genuine, career-boosting relationship. In my previous article, we tackled that ’icky’ feeling around networking and started building your authentic, system-based strategy. You prepped with purpose, wrangled your contacts into the all-important contacts tracker, and (hopefully!) sent that first crucial follow-up – the one that actually reflected…
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How to Build Genuine Relationships with Casting Directors
Your step-by-step guide to developing genuine relationships with creative industry professionals – without getting the networking ick. Does hearing the word ‘marketing’ or ‘networking’ instantly make you want to find the nearest exit? It often feels… icky, right? Like you have to be someone you’re not just to make connections with casting directors. But what…
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How Casting Directors and Agents Use Spotlight
From searching for performers to making connections, industry professionals shed some light on how they use Spotlight. If you’re a performer, you’re probably aware of how Spotlight can be used to promote your acting career. Your Spotlight profile is the perfect place to display all the useful information that will make casting directors want to…