The International Casting Directors Association (ICDA) is committed to fostering the highest standards of professionalism, integrity, and respect in the casting industry. Members of the ICDA are expected to adhere to this Code of Conduct, ensuring fair and ethical practices in all aspects of their work.
Professionalism and Fair Treatment
Casting directors must treat all performers with dignity and fairness, providing equal opportunities regardless of race, age, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, socio-economic background, or disability. They should approach their work with honesty and transparency, offering accurate information about roles, audition requirements, and production details. Confidentiality is a cornerstone of professional conduct, and casting directors must safeguard any private information shared during the casting process or within ICDA communications.
Audition Practices and Conditions
When organising auditions, casting directors must ensure performers are given adequate notice, ideally at least 48 hours, with clear details about the audition’s nature, character descriptions, and any specific preparation required.
Safe and respectful auditioning spaces
Auditions should be conducted in spaces that are clean, well-lit, ventilated, and accessible. For performers required to dance, appropriate flooring and, where possible, shower facilities should be provided. Audition attendance should be limited to essential personnel, and observers may only be present with the performers’ consent.
Maintaining a safe and respectful environment during auditions is essential. Auditions should be conducted in professional settings, avoiding private residences or hotel rooms unless there are exceptional circumstances and prior approval has been obtained.
Self-Taped Auditions
Actors should be given sufficient time to prepare and submit self-tapes, with at least 48 hours whenever possible. The same standards of professionalism, respect, and transparency that apply to in-person auditions also apply to self-taped auditions. Additionally, all self-taped auditions must be treated as confidential material and shared only with individuals directly involved in the casting process for the specific project in question.
Best Practice Casting Guidelines on Nudity and Sexual Content
Performers must never be asked to undress or perform simulated sex acts during auditions. Please refer to ICDA’s best-practice casting guidelines for nudity and sexual content for further information.
Social Media and Casting Calls
Social media is a valuable tool for reaching a wider pool of talent, but it must be used responsibly to ensure actor safety and prevent misuse. Casting directors should only request auditions or self-tapes through official channels, such as their verified social media accounts, professional websites, or official email addresses. ICDA strongly discourages direct outreach to performers from unofficial or personal accounts and advises members to clearly state in casting notices that auditions and self-tape requests will only come from official sources.
Clear Communication
Transparency is vital. Casting directors should clearly communicate the casting process, including the number of auditions and any associated expectations. They are encouraged to inform performers promptly if they are no longer being considered for a role.
Avoiding Conflicts of Interest
Working as an Agent
Casting directors must avoid conflicts of interest to ensure their work remains impartial and professional. They must not engage in dual roles, such as representing performers as agents, and any parallel business interests must be entirely separate from their casting duties.
Workshops and Educational Events
Casting directors may participate in paid workshops, provided these workshops are strictly educational and are not presented as auditions or casting opportunities. Workshops must not be structured in a way that implies actors are paying for access to casting directors for professional consideration. Casting directors should ensure that workshops are focused on skill development, industry insights, and audition technique, rather than serving as a means for actors to be cast in projects.
Workshops organised by third-party institutions, such as festivals, universities, or professional organisations, where casting directors are compensated by the organiser rather than directly by actors, are generally considered acceptable. However, casting directors should avoid workshops that exploit actors’ aspirations by offering misleading promises of professional opportunities. Additionally, all workshops should explicitly state in promotional materials and at the beginning of each session that participation does not influence casting decisions.
Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion
The ICDA is committed to promoting diversity and inclusion within the industry. Casting directors should actively advocate for equal opportunity employment and strive to ensure that casting decisions reflect the diversity of global society. Discrimination of any kind, whether based on ethnicity, sex, disability, race, sexual orientation, or gender identity, is unacceptable. Please also review ICDA’s statement on diversity, equity and inclusion.
Accountability and Transparency
Casting directors are expected to maintain accurate credit for their contributions to productions, specifying their roles clearly, such as sole casting director, co-casting director, etc. When possible, members of ICDA are encouraged to advocate for their colleagues to ensure they receive fair and proper screen credit on projects on which they collaborate. They must also ensure confidentiality and fairness throughout any complaint procedures.
To ensure accountability and uphold the integrity of the ICDA, any member, including board members, who violates this Code of Conduct will be subject to a disciplinary committee to be determined by the Executive Board. Depending on the severity of the violation, penalties may range from formal warnings to expulsion from the ICDA.
Conclusion
By adhering to this Code of Conduct, members of the ICDA affirm their commitment to ethical practices, the well-being of performers, and the pursuit of excellence in the casting industry. This Code serves as a foundation for building trust and respect between casting directors, performers, and the wider creative community.
