Casting Director

Description

The Award-Winning team at SIDE UK is looking for a passionate Casting Director to join our crew. SIDE has been producing best-in-class game audio for over 25 years and built an enviable portfolio and brand. Recent hit releases SIDE have provided dialogue services for include Cyberpunk 2077, Assassin's Creed Valhalla, Hitman III, Returnal, It Takes Two, Final Fantasy XVI and more. The ideal candidate for this role is excited about what we do, who we are and is ready to be a part of our growing business.

As Casting Director, you will be responsible for the casting of actors for everything from indie mobile games to AAA console games and occasionally for other tech & digital media, working with a multitude of clients from around the world. You will be responsible for the timely completion of agreed deliverables and milestones, to a very high standard, while keeping to the client's budget.

Duties and Key Responsibilities

Cast actors by breaking down a character brief, compiling longlists & shortlists of actor options, overseeing auditions, casting clips, self- tapes.

Maintain talent agent relationships, including attending meetings, networking, advising on and negotiating fees, as required.

Oversee Casting department working on both game and non-game projects, making sure castings are allocated to correct team members, anticipating bottle necks on resources, successfully oversee use of freelancers & casual to meet production needs.

Ensure that the client's needs are met or rationalise any push backs in a clear and decisive way

Ensure castings are progressing in a timely manner, are delivered as per the agreed timeline, to a high quality.

Work flexibly and reactively to a high volume of workflow by managing your own workload & time.

Be a trusted resource for Casting and actor-related questions & issues, including but not limited to diverse, unusual, high profile & child castings.

Assist other members of the team with Casting requirements, including joining calls and meetings, as required.

Communicate any problems or issues to line manager or senior management in a timely manner.

Find & develop new freelancers & casuals, working with HODs to allow time and resources for this to occur.

Hold weekly Casting meetings to establish project status updates, blockers, challenges and highlight upcoming workflow

Lead the team by overseeing initial briefs, establishing, and maintaining workflows as well as hands on approach for the more high-profile pieces of work

Continuously improve Casting team operations, quality, performance, and ways of communicating with our clients

Set a good example for colleagues, especially junior team members

Motivate, support and resolve issues and challenges within the team

Support, mentor and identify development needs of the team. Contribute to positive growth & potential development paths of team members.

Train Production team members on Casting basics.

Advocate for the team to Management

Understand that sometimes as a manager, we must take the brunt of responsibility even if fault lies with other members of the team or outside parties

Set expectation of executing first class project work that is consistently on time, on scope and on budget

Support new initiatives/workflows and analyse processes for improvements.

Promote SIDE's Casting Services & Role of Casting Director. Assist Marketing efforts, including proactively promoting Casting, and contributing to marketing campaign and other ways to grow industry awareness and relations.

Establish & maintain healthy relationship within the industry by attending events (Equity, Spotlight, drama school showcases)

Leadership Duties

Hold weekly Casting meetings to establish project status updates, blockers, challenges and highlight upcoming workflow

Lead the team by overseeing initial briefs, establishing, and maintaining workflows as well as hands on approach for the more high-profile pieces of work

Continuously improve Casting team operations, quality, performance, and ways of communicating with our clients

Set a good example for colleagues, especially junior team members

Motivate, support and resolve issues and challenges within the team

Support, mentor and identify development needs of the team. Contribute to positive growth & potential development paths of team members.

Train Production team members on Casting basics.

Advocate for the team to Management

·Understand that sometimes as a manager, we must take the brunt of responsibility even if fault lies with other members of the team or outside parties

Promote SIDE's Casting Services & Role of Casting Director. Assist Marketing efforts, including proactively promoting Casting, and contributing to marketing campaign and other ways to grow industry awareness and relations.

Support new initiatives/workflows and analyse processes for improvements.

Set expectation of executing first class project work that is consistently on time, on scope and on budget

Requirements

Previous experience in casting for animation, television, film, video games, theatre, and/or audio dramas

Interest and/or experience in video games, especially story & character, and/or Casting experience or interest in the performance arts (theatre, TV, cinema)

Experience with contracts, licensing, negotiating usage fees etc

Capability to work independently as well as part of a team, be responsible and take ownership of the work delivered

The ability to manage multiple deadlines, multiple accounts, multiple stakeholders and prioritise work accordingly

Excellent verbal and written communication

Experienced knowledge and use of Microsoft Office, in particular of Microsoft Excel