Casting & Production Cheat Sheet

If you touch the work AT ALL, you need to know this stuff

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Use your directors as allies.
Push back respectfully by asking questions. Get to the reasoning behind decisions.

Ask for specifics if you want specifics.
This should include a mix of races, ethnicities, ages, genders, sexual orientations, abilities, body types and more.

If you’re casting a Spanish-speaking role, ask for native speakers.
In your casting specs, consider upping your age bracket a smidge—actors don’t always age like the rest of us.

Diversity isn’t about checking boxes. You don’t need to cram “one of each” into every commercial.
Over the spectrum of each brand’s work, there should be a range of diversity as well as true representation.
As soon as you get a casting link, give it a skim. If you don’t see enough diversity, ask for more.
Don’t use “racially ambiguous” talent as a crutch. True representation takes a variety of shades and backgrounds.
Go beyond tokenism. Don’t be afraid to cast more than one person of color in the same spot.

Watch out for colorism.
Pay attention to lighting as darker skin needs good lighting to read well on video (also important on set).
Cast people with disabilities in everyday situations, not just inspiring roles.
Don’t use a person in a wheelchair as a stand-in for all people with disabilities.
Use actors with disabilities to portray characters with disabilities.
Be open to changing dialogue and other aspects of the work to better fit the diverse talent you cast.

Hire stylists, makeup artists, lighting pros and retouchers who know how to work with a range of skin tones and hair textures.
Watch out for cultural context.

Let production companies know we expect a diverse crew.
Look out for and bring back people who make the work better and/or bring a missing perspective.