Talent directors audition and interview performers to select the most appropriate talent for parts in stage, television, radio, or motion picture productions.

  • Audition and interview performers to match their attributes to specific roles or to increase the pool of available acting talent.
  • Prepare actors for auditions by providing scripts and information about roles and casting requirements.
  • Select performers for roles or submit lists of suitable performers to producers or directors for final selection.
  • Contact agents and actors to provide notification of audition and performance opportunities and to set up audition times.
  • Serve as liaisons between directors, actors, and agents.
  • Negotiate contract agreements with performers, with agents, or between performers and agents or production companies.
  • Arrange for or design screen tests or auditions for prospective performers.
  • Review performer information, such as photos, resumes, voice tapes, videos, and union membership, to decide whom to audition for parts.
  • Maintain talent files that include information such as performers' specialties, past performances, and availability.
  • Read scripts and confer with producers to determine the types and numbers of performers required for a given production.
  • Attend or view productions to maintain knowledge of available actors.
  • Direct shows, productions, and plays.
  • Hire and supervise workers who help locate people with specified attributes and talents.
  • Teach acting classes.
  • Locate performers or extras for crowd and background scenes, and stand-ins or photo doubles for actors, by direct contact or through agents.
Work Context
  • Electronic Mail — 94% responded "Every day".
  • Telephone — 79% responded "Every day".
  • Contact With Others — 81% responded "Constant contact with others".
  • Structured versus Unstructured Work — 65% responded "A lot of freedom".
  • Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results — 52% responded "Important results".
  • Indoors, Environmentally Controlled — 71% responded "Every day".
  • Face-to-Face Discussions — 72% responded "Every day".
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Work Activities
  • Getting Information — Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
  • Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships — Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
  • Communicating with Persons Outside Organization — Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
  • Thinking Creatively — Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
  • Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates — Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
  • Making Decisions and Solving Problems — Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
  • Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or People — Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.
  • Scheduling Work and Activities — Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
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Detailed Work Activities
  • Audition or interview potential performers or staff members.
  • Study scripts to determine project requirements.
  • Collaborate with others to determine technical details of productions.
  • Select staff, team members, or performers.
  • Audition or interview potential performers or staff members.
  • Maintain records, documents, or other files.
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Knowledge

English Language
  • Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Customer and Personal Service
  • Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
Communications and Media
  • Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.
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Skills

Active Listening
  • Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Speaking
  • Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Reading Comprehension
  • Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Social Perceptiveness
  • Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
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Abilities

Oral Expression
  • The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Oral Comprehension
  • The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Written Comprehension
  • The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
Inductive Reasoning
  • The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
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Personality

People interested in this work like activities that include ideas, thinking, and figuring things out.
They do well at jobs that need:
  • Achievement/Effort
  • Persistence
  • Initiative
  • Leadership
  • Cooperation
  • Concern for Others
  • Social Orientation
  • Self Control
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Technology

You might use software like this on the job:

Presentation software
  • Microsoft PowerPoint Hot Technology
Operating system software
  • Microsoft Windows Hot Technology
  • Linux Hot Technology
  • UNIX Hot Technology
  • Microsoft operating system
Object or component oriented development software
  • Oracle Java Hot Technology
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