What is the difference between a talent agent and a casting director?
A casting director gets paid to hold auditions and secure the best possible cast for productions that originate from advertising agencies, television producers and film production companies. They are expected to be familiar with performance demands, as well as the demands of producing film, television and commercial work and to have direct access to the wealth of talent. A talent agent on the other hand, according to SAG (Screen Actors Guild) and AFTRA (American Federation of Television and Radio Artists), “solicits employment, submits talent for employment and/or negotiates compensation and terms of conditions of employment for the performers.” Simply put, the talent agent is the primary liaison between the talent and the work. Casting (the hiring of talent) is done by the producer(s) or director through the casting director who then contact the talent agent to book the talent for the job. A talent is expected to arrive on the talent agent’s doorstep fully realized professionally, reg
