At Fishpond, we always want to help you to continuously learn and grow as an artist, and every month, we invite you to listen in to inspiring and enlightening industry conversations.

Usually, the conversation will be live for you to join, and at other times we’ll have a pre-recorded chat to share with you. Either way, you’ll always be invited to listen back in your Video Library so you don’t miss out.

This July, we have part 2 of a pre-recorded conversation with casting director (and Fishpond Founder) Ali Coffey for you, all about the inner workings of a casting office. In this behind-the-scenes conversation, Ali offers a rare and generous look into the casting process from script to screen.

Drawing on decades of experience, she answers:

• What happens on your side before actors and agents hear about a project?
• Do you often make direct offers without any auditions?
• How do you decide who to ask to audition?
• How do you interact with producers and directors?
• Do you approach commercials differently to film and television?
• What kind of actors and performances impress you?
• If an actor isn’t getting audition invites, what can they do about it?
• Do you change your mind about actors?
• What do you wish people knew about casting directors?
• Why aren’t there more open castings for lead roles?
• Will a casting director always show your tape to a director?
• Do you really watch every single self tape?
• Do casting directors know each other and talk about actors?
• How does it feel when you see a project on screen that you worked on?

Visit your Video Library now to find out the answers.

Scroll further back and you’ll find part 1 – Ali goes into great detail about how casting directors work.